If you’re switching from a manual to an electric, or even from one electric style to another, generally you’ll need to give your skin two weeks to adjust to the new tool. A little warm water and a gentle brushing will clean your razor as well as a standard cleaning system. So even if you’re not a clean shave guy, you can still use it to trim and detail your facial hair—even your body (just make sure to use a different blade for your body to avoid cross-contamination).

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It’s still our favorite razor, and it has become an even better choice because it’s significantly less expensive than it used to be. That’s because ultimately it’s the most important thing—and because nearly all of the shaver makers offer versions of their various devices with and without bells and whistles. Because of their shape, Philips Norelco razors need to be held in the cleaning base by a kind of stalk-like support, which means an extra step of inserting the razor. In terms of speed and shaving power combined, it blew every other razor we’ve tried out of the water, including its own "little brother" models, like Braun's own Series 7 and 8.

Some brands recommend replacing the blades every 6-8 months, others recommend annual replacement, and some even mention as far out as 18 months. What else to consider: Whether you're limited on counter/drawer real estate at home or you're looking for the smallest electric razor possible to stash in your luggage, you want a compact option. The Series 7 razors consistently produce close, comfortable shaves and are easy to use and maintain. While we looked at a variety of features, we decided early on that our judgment of the winning shaver would be based almost exclusively on the closeness of the shave.

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We also love that it comes with a protective storage pouch (perfect for travel) and a basic charging stand. But if you prefer a rotary style, consider Philips Norelco’s Shaver 9300 (or another model in the brand’s 9000 line). Once I passed through that window, I was amazed that my razor bumps decreased significantly and never really came back. I was still stuck on the pre-shave, shaving cream, razor, aftershave hamster wheel and couldn’t seem to get off. But since it’s generally sold via pro barber-supply sources, we opted for a close cousin, the company’s Custom Shave, which is no longer available.

A manual razor works via a multi-blade system, where the first blade pulls your hair follicle outward, and then the remaining blades chop down the hair lower and lower. When Dan tried it on his three-day beard, he found that it worked better than any electric shaver he had ever used—though it paled in comparison to a standard blade when confronted with his iron curtain of a half-week’s whiskers. It’s efficient, powerful, and incredibly intuitive to use without a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles that could muddy the shaving experience. Nearly every shaver manufacturer—in a tacit admission that these devices don’t really shave as close as a blade—recommends that you snag your longest, toughest facial hairs first, using the shaver’s built-in trimmer.

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First off, electric razors and manual razors both operate by guiding some version of a blade across your face to trim down hair follicles. And if you're just starting out using an electric razor, give yourself a grace period for your skin to adjust (we touch on the reasoning for this more down below). If you observe the razor when you turn it on, you’ll see that the trimmer has openings that vibrate when activated; the idea is that the vibration captures the toughest parts of a beard with a high-speed scissoring action.

One thing that makes choosing an electric shaver confusing: Nearly all manufacturers offer their razors in accessory- and feature-laden (or not) “Series” sales schemes. The SkinSafe ceramic blades on this upgraded hygiene shaver minimize nicks and cuts and make body grooming a much less harrowing experience. The best known of these is Williams Lectric Shave, an alcohol-based solution that helps “the shaver glide with less irritation. If you have a dry shaver only, then you can use a light amount of pre-shave oil or you can wash your face and then pat yourself dry with a towel—these types of shavers work best with stubble that's stiff and void of any moisture. Since beginning our long-term test more than a year ago, we take ours everywhere, and it’s earned a permanent place in our grooming routines.