Battle of the Electric Razors
After lots of hands on research including the Panasonic Arc 6 and the Braun Series 9 Pro. Here's my feedback. 1. Panasonic Arc 6 will give you a closer shave than the Braun Series 9 Pro. Whether you shave dry or wet. 2. A closer shave can mean more razor burn and this is equally true with the Panasonic Arc 6. The Braun Series 9 pro won't shave as close as the Pan Arc 6 but it will be a bit more comfortable (wet or dry), less razor burn. However, here's the important facts to keep in mind. Fact: Dry shaving will never get you as close a shave as wet shaving. It cannot. The physics are simply not in favor of drying shave closeness. Closeness however is a relative term. Some people don't want to shave that close and that's perfectly ok. It's a personal preference. If you want the maximum comfort at the cost of a shave that is not as close, then the Braun Series 9 pro will save you some money and serve you well (wet or dry). If you are in pursuit of the closet shave you can get with an electric razor, here's what I found to be true. Take your shower in the morning before shaving. Apply a nice shaving cream with a shaving brush. Avoid the canned stuff. Then use the Panasonic Arc 6. You'll get the closest shave you can with an electric and the razor burn will be nearly eliminated. That's it. No secret. No magic. Wet shaving (shaving with real shaving cream) and the Pan Arc 6 will get you the super close shave you might want with an electric. The upside on days when you are in a rush, before you shower, you can use a pre-electric shaving lotion gently pass the Pan arc 6 over your face and get a quick and dry shave. Not as close as wet shaving but likely good enough for the vast majority of people. Dry shaving is just dry shaving you cannot make it more than what it is. It is fast and with a little bit of practice you can avoid razor burn by not trying to get a closer shave than the shaver is capable of doing dry by avoiding pressing the shaver hard against your face or going over the same area too many times. Accept that it's going to be "less close" but you get the advantage of speed and convenience. Wet shaving is the real ticket to a close shave no matter what method you use. That takes a nice hot shower, and high quality shaving cream (not the canned stuff). Here is the larger question. If you're committed to a wet shave why not just use one of the really good cartridge razors? and the answer is....... You can. A Gillette proGlide shield will give you a shave that is a bit closer than the method I describe above. So if you already using a proglide, and wet shaving (obviously), then you can stick with what you're doing and avoid electrics althogether. The one recommendation I would give is that even the proglide can be dramatically improved by dropping the canned foam and buying a nice shaving cream and using a shaving brush. After a full year of researching all the different shaving paraphernalia, I've come to the conclusion that a hot shower and really good shaving cream makes the biggest difference no matter what you shave with. What your dad told you when you were just a kid; turns out to be right. :) Shavers come and go, but a hot shower and a good shaving cream are here to stay. Start with that then pick whatever shaver makes you happy. Read more
