Anyway…just FYI…. As for the Series 9 reliability issues, there were definitely some, especially with the very first iteration (the models starting with 90 that used the old cassettes). I made sure to click through from your site in hopes of helping in some small way. You mentioned using aftershave as well as shaving before washing your face. And it’s definitely more comfortable as well. In that case, I would suggest saving some money and going for a Panasonic Arc 4 or even Arc 3 — I’ll get to them later on. That kind of worked but the translated version had no pictures which was a bummer. Especially plastic. While in the past I used to recommend the Philips 8900 due to its decent performance and excellent value for money, that model has been discontinued and it’s getting difficult to find nowadays. However, I think that one electric shaver that would be ideal in this case is the Braun Series 3 3010BT which comes with a clipper attachment that works great for edging / trimming right up to the hairline and getting that clean, crisp edge. It’s a wonderful product, it smells amazing, it’s very calming and doesn’t have a greasy texture. I'm currently having the same problem with my 2003 Honda Accord. he’s in his 70’s and always used a blade as far as i know, never electric. Also, an electric shaver works best on short hair, so when using it for the first time it would be a good idea to use a trimmer (even the long hair trimmer on the shaver will do) to reduce the length of the hairs prior to shaving. Just like we did previously for individual shavers, we can do that for foil and rotary shavers in general. If budget is not an issue, check out the Braun Series 9 and the Panasonic Arc 5. My beard and moustache grow very close to both and the PhiliShave couldn’t get close due to the amount of none cutting area between the edge of the shaver and the cutting blades. The Norelco 2100 cannot be used with the cord plugged in, despite being a dry only shaver. Just like the Arc 5 and pretty much any other Panasonic, the Arc 4 is not quite as comfortable as a Braun Series 7 or 5. In that price range, I would go with a Panasonic Arc 5 (like the ES-LV65-S) or one of the Arc 4 models referenced in this post. And they CAN be more comfortable. One thing that does seem to make a difference for some Series 9 users is the orientation of the cassette. I had never used a pre shave lotion before this experiment, and once I used it, I cannot see myself ever shaving without one. I’ve never used/owned a Panasonic; – cleaning station is a plus; – I’m not rich, but in this case, budget is not important. After a few weeks noticed all the loose debris that should collect in the head was going all over me. You’ll probably agree that those are some pretty significant aspects. Thank you in advance! I put some oil on the shaver head once in a month. In my opinion, a pre-shave lotion is beneficial in most cases. However, this didn’t prevent a lot of Series 7  owners to successfully use their solo models with a station. You’ll want to have at least 30-40% battery charge in this case, otherwise you will likely experience some hair pulling and the closeness of the shave will suffer as well. You should choose based on availability, budget and maybe your son’s preference towards one or the other and what they have to offer. Cleaning was relatively easy. XThis is a helpful essay, especially since the manufacturers themselves present a lot more puffery than information about their products. Its awesome. I changed the orientation of the cassette a few times and the problem went away, but then I was feeling that the shaving performance suffered because of the incorrect cassette orientation. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. I actually use both the ES-LF51-A and the ES-LV65-S pretty often and I think they are fantastic performers. The 5190cc (5195cc) is suitable for wet & dry use, but to be perfectly honest, shaving cream doesn’t do much for the Series 5 or 7 in terms of improving the results. I used your flushing both sides to the heater core aa d it worked like a charm. It works surprisingly well for a foil shaver and seems to be very efficient at capturing those annoying flat-lying hairs. Anyway, I already returned the Series 9 because I thought it was defective. It is however very expensive, so you could also consider a foil shaver. This may sound like “health care 101”, but shaving before your shower is spot on! At least the SH90/62 don’t have the prohibitive price of the older SensoTouch 3D heads and they seem to be quite a bit better than the RQ12+. One downside of the Panasonic ES8103S is that unlike newer Arc 3 models, it doesn’t have a travel lock. I tried everything to fix it but to no avail. it was by far the best shaver i had. I also wrote a very detailed review of the Series 6000 6880/81 where I go over all the pros and cons. Out of all foil shaver brands, I think Braun does it best when it comes to floating foils and flexible heads. Good morning sir, I read your articles not only for the information you furnish us with, but also for linguistic style. It costs less than a Series 7 with similar specs and the replacement shaving head (52s/52b) is also cheaper. I’ve had my eye on the Panasonic arc series based on your articles, would you recommend grabbing one of those, or sticking with my series 7? In time, this can lead to dirt, dead skin and hair buildups inside the shaving head. Glad you found the information useful and I hope you’ll enjoy shaving with your new Series 9. The reason why I chose the Series 7 7865cc over other variations is that in 2021 this model still seems to be the most reasonably priced cc model and it’s also widely available. I dry shaved, but I have bought a pre-shave lotion (never done that before) to try out. I happened upon my ideal solution. Some users don’t seem to experience this type of discomfort and that’s great. Braun eventually sorted out the problems by fitting the Series 9 with new shaving heads (press release). Many thanks for sharing your experiment, those are some really interesting insights. Also, they can be a bit harsher and more aggressive than Braun. I do have sensitive skin. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Xiaomi-Mijia-Reciprocating-Electric-Shaver-Razor-5-Cutter-Heads-15-000rpm-Type-C-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Omnidirectional/4000809496015.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.54674c4dsJNwK2. Wrapped his black hair. I’m really glad you found the information useful and you finally got the right shaver. I have been using a Braun 3020s for years. I own all the shavers mentioned in this post and have used them extensively, but only to shave my face. Just let the shaver do the work, take your time, and again, do not apply excessive pressure. Featuring meta-learning, mental models, mind mapping, active recall and the Feynman technique. As a middle-aged guy, I need to wear glasses now to shave, and it is a pain. I got the Philips Norelco 6880/81 (Shaver 6800) which is also the model I would recommend for users living in North America. In order to keep the price low, the cleaning stations included with the Series 5 don’t have any of these. You can buy Braun original refills or third-party solutions (which are usually a lot cheaper). The price of the 9 Series cassettes are currently significantly cheaper…..$45 and on several vendors at less than $50…I just placed an order for a spare cassette for $45…free shipping and no tax…I don’t know how long it’ll last but for the price is reasonable. Panasonic makes some great shavers too, but given that you’ll be shaving every 3 to 4 days and you do get some irritation on your neck, I would lean more towards Braun. I’ve checked in my area, the Braun liquid cost USD 15 per pcs. He liked the close shave and the ease. Which of the 2 models should I get? There are a few that are quite good at shaving longer hairs (like the Philips S9000 Prestige or the Braun Series 9), but they are way over your budget and even so, they may not be what you need. While it won’t wow you with the closeness, it is a great all-rounder and will be a suitable choice in most cases. Thank you so much for the kind words, I’m glad you found the information useful. But using shaving cream is the most effective method in case a pre-shave still doesn’t help. BUT – when looked into reviews, i came across the 7000 series and your reviews of the ARCs. I gather that Braun (or Remington is good if I wish to use foil) is the way to go if I want something basic, but good. The powerful 13 000 cycles per minute motor and the high-quality blades make it suitable for a coarser beard as well. Also there’s the matter of pride. Which shaver would you recommend for African tough hair that picks all the hair including long laid hair. I was in the market for a reasonably high end shaver to replace an old Panasonic ES-SL41 and eliminate the razor . It is however noticeably better than the Panasonic Arc 3 in this regard. Since you’re coming from a rotary shaver, I suppose that this would be your first shave with a foil razor. I think you should go with the Series 3, it seems to be just right for your needs. I feel like Norelco 3100 is a safer choice. Panasonic manages to deliver this excellent performance by using extremely thin foils machined with great precision and high quality, sharp blades that feature an aggressive 30 degrees bevel for effective cutting. Also it is sensitive on the points of my chin and upperlip after shaving. Apart from cleaning and lubricating the blades, a spray cleaner will also remove mineral deposits and stubborn dirt. Although my skin is not particularly tough I have never found any electric shaver uncomfortable having tried Braun, Panasonic and Philips, so my first priority is closeness. Thank you Ovidiu for the great amount of time and effort you have invested in the reviews. That wasn’t always the case as they used to cost a lot in the past. I didn’t get the chance to use the 8894XL, so I cannot compare it directly to the Series 9000 (Prestige). But again, in terms of intensity, they are the same. It is very comfortable and probably only the second rotary razor that I would consider to be suitable for users with sensitive skin. My 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 was blowing cold on the drivers side and lukewarm on the passenger side. Is this normal for a rotary shaver? It even looks and smells almost identical to the original cleaning solution. I was looking at the proraso sensitive skin line because of the good reviews and I want your opinion on it. I looked at various reviews and found yours to be the most impartial and you also offer advice on how to choose a shaver which not many reviewers do. Is Series 7 a good shaver? I tried the Braun series 9, the best and latest one I could fine. I have quite coarse stubble and like the idea of the close shave of a ES-LV95, and also that it’s easy to clean – but I have slightly sensitive skin…so thinking the Braun might be better.. LOL, I am so indecisive! Thank you for your kind comment, much appreciated. The actual performance will be the same. 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