Sly Bald Guys Forum
Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => Head Shaving => Topic started by: andrewswenson on April 23, 2014, 02:21:40 PM
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Hello gentlemen, I have recently been burned out on how long it takes me to shave manually. I've used lots of different kinds of cartridges and safety razors along with different blades and I've come to the conclusion that wet shaving is not only a long pain in the ass, it wastes a lot of water, costs me more money in the long run, and irritates my skin. However, growing hair on my head or face is not an option for me.
I'm at a new point in my life with shaving and now I really want to convert over to the electric shaver side and just use it quickly every other day and be done with it. I've tried a couple Norelco electric shavers in my lifetime and I thought they sucked, and then assumed probably all electric shavers suck that aren't $60+. Then I paid like $80 for a nice panasonic arc 4, and that pulled through with a strong motor but it didn't get my neck well. THEN, I even tried this new product called the "skull shaver" on my head and face and that did the worst of all.
I need some reviews from men that know what I'm talking about and have experience with electric shavers and refuse to pay a lot of money for an expensive one. What worked for you? What didn't? What is your take on foil vs rotary? I keep reading rotary is supposed to be better for thick and curly hair, which mine is extremely thick and curly, but from what I remember the norelco rotary barely chopped off any hairs at all with its weak ass motor.
Help me out! Thanks.
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Hi Drew: How long does it take you to perform a head shave? Wow... sorry to hear that. Just do a search: electric shavers in the search button of SBGs. There is no electric razor that shaves as close as any real razor. Hope you find the one electric razor that suits your needs.
WARHAWK O0
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Thanks man, I just searched a bunch of different key words and read what some people were saying on this subject. Seems like the Philips Headgroomer could be a good solution but I'm reading in different reviews on Amazon that there are no replacement parts for it and I don't see it being sold in stores. Looks like it might be getting discontinued??
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I use a Braun series 3 (340) foil shaver. It does quite a good job. I do still wet shave the top of my head though as that is the only bit that feels a little rough after the Braun. Some places, like others have said, are very hard to get smooth either with or without a wet shave! I have some stubborn areas that would only get 100% smooth if they were nuked!
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I have a Panasonic Linear (ES8243K) that I use in between blade shaves. True enough that it doesn't shave as close as my blade but it does give me a sufficiently smooth dome that qualifies me as sly and that is what matters to me.
If you do decide to check out a Panny go online to a place called the Panasonic Premium Store. Much better prices than anyplace else I looked.
For some informative threads on the Panny shavers look up a guy in here by the name of Simply Red, he is the resident Panny Guru.
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I've read good reviews on both the panasonic and the braun shavers. And like I stated, I tried an arc 4 one and the motor was a beast but it just didn't catch the longer hairs. That seems to be my main issue, I don't care about my head or face being baby smooth cause you're not going to get that from a dry electric, but I just need one that will cut EVENLY and cut all the hairs, not leaving random ones all over the place untouched.
I found the best reviews to be of this Remington F5-5800A and it's a really good price of around $40. I'm going to Target today and picking one up and seeing how it does. I just can't do these Norelcos. The motor is so weak and it barely cuts my beard. They're junk.
Thanks for the recommendations and if you'd like I can let you know how this remington does when I go to shave with it in a couple days (wet shaved this morning).
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I don't like shaving my own head either so I go to a barber once a week.
My barber uses a straight razor; first with the grain and then against the grain. But after that he feels my head for any stubble and uses - an electric razor - to get it super smooth. He uses this: http://www.amazon.com/Wahl-Professional-8061-5-star-Rechargeable/dp/B000FJ2I2O%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-d-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000FJ2I2O
He stretches my skin with one hand and goes against the grain with this electric razor and there is NOTHING left!
I think that you can get them even cheaper if you search the net or try Sally Beauty Supply.
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I've read good reviews on both the panasonic and the braun shavers. And like I stated, I tried an arc 4 one and the motor was a beast but it just didn't catch the longer hairs. That seems to be my main issue, I don't care about my head or face being baby smooth cause you're not going to get that from a dry electric, but I just need one that will cut EVENLY and cut all the hairs, not leaving random ones all over the place untouched.
I found the best reviews to be of this Remington F5-5800A and it's a really good price of around $40. I'm going to Target today and picking one up and seeing how it does. I just can't do these Norelcos. The motor is so weak and it barely cuts my beard. They're junk.
Thanks for the recommendations and if you'd like I can let you know how this remington does when I go to shave with it in a couple days (wet shaved this morning).
Let us know how you get on
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BBBA, I've checked out that shaver a few times on Amazon. Seems like a lot of black men are swearing by that cause of the ingrown hair issues a lot of them seem to have with wet shaving.
My issue is I can't find that thing in a store. I've gone to my only options around here: Walmart, Walgreens, Best Buy, and Target. They carry mostly Norelcos, some Brauns, some Remingtons, and maybe a couple Panasonics. Mostly all of the models they carry of the different companies are the expensive ones and the cheap ones I just know are junk.
I think that ordering online is just not an option in this case because I don't have the time or money to spend on trying one, sending it back and waiting....and waiting....
So I'm trying to narrow it down to just ones I can get at a store. Giving this Remington F5-5800A a try in a couple days and then if that doesn't work, I may try one last time and try the Braun 3Series 340-S4. Apparently, Braun is putting on their box "7 Year Guarantee" and I like that. Don't see any other companies with a built-to-last guarantee like that currently.
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Cool, let me know how that works for you. I have been sly now for over 30 days but if I am going to keep this up I am going to have to start shaving this bublle-head myself so that it can look is Bald Bad Best! For me, that means using an electric razor. I tried shaving with a blade a couple of times and it was like donating a pint of blood!
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Braun Series 3 is a good shaver. Quite happy with mine but i do have to go over a couple of places with a wet shaver, namely the top of the head. Otherwise it is a great shave! Well happy with it.
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I may have to try that one eventually. Just a little more expensive than I'd like.
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I use the Panasonic ES8103. How does the Braun 340 and this Wahl trimmer linked in this forum compare?
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Alright so I used the Remington F5-5800A this morning. It got some areas closer than a frickin' blade. I was really impressed with that. However, it took so long to go over other areas and it didn't touch my neck in some areas at all. I'm returning it and ordering the Wahl 5 Star Shaver from Amazon.
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Alright so I used the Remington F5-5800A this morning. It got some areas closer than a frickin' blade. I was really impressed with that. However, it took so long to go over other areas and it didn't touch my neck in some areas at all. I'm returning it and ordering the Wahl 5 Star Shaver from Amazon.
Let us know how you get on with the Wahl
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Alright so I used the Remington F5-5800A this morning. It got some areas closer than a frickin' blade. I was really impressed with that. However, it took so long to go over other areas and it didn't touch my neck in some areas at all. I'm returning it and ordering the Wahl 5 Star Shaver from Amazon.
Why didn't you go with the Braun 340s out of curiosity?
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I'll let you know about the Wahl just ordered it today so I'll get it some time next week. The reason why I didn't go with the Braun is because it's more expensive and also Wahl is a company that has been around for a long time. Braun has too, but Wahl is top of the line, and most barbers say the 5 Star Shaver is very reliable. It has to be when you're shaving a ton of heads almost every day of the week.
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I look forward to your review of the Wahl. It is one i was looking at myself before i bought the Braun.
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So...I tried the Wahl today. It took FOREVER but it did get my entire head baby smooth. Just as close as shaving with a razor against the grain. But, as far as my face goes, again it's the same problem. Got everything from the jawline up smooth but still left random hairs untouched on some parts of my cheeks. Then from the jaw down it just did terrible.
I didn't press hard, then after trying that for a long time I did press hard and it didn't make any difference. Went up and down, side to side a hundred times...and my neck is seriously a massacre of burning welts from using the electric shaver and then following it up with a razor.
The point was for this to end the time and money I spend on wet shaving, and I've learned that using an electric shaver actually doubled the time it takes, while performing terribly, and giving me worse razorburn than a razor.
I'm thoroughly disappointed and I'm not going to spend anymore time trying any other electric shavers out.
:(
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I am going over to DE shaving myself. Going to give it a go anyway.
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Yeah, I've never had great success with electric because a) it either doesn't shave close enough, or b) hair grows back way faster and there's stubble in just a few hours, or c) it takes a LONG time to get a good shave.
I've got my shaving routine down to 10 minutes in total from prep to shave using the Headblade.
I feel your pain....good luck, bro!
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Thanks man...And Goatee in my opinion DE shaving is hyped. It takes longer, requires more precision, and does not do well on the head. You can use a Mach 3 on the head and face way quicker than a DE takes and it does just as well of a job. Also, razorburn was worse for me with a DE. Really the only benefit I could see is it's less wasteful and costs less than cartridges or disposables. But to each his own..
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Thanks man...And Goatee in my opinion DE shaving is hyped. It takes longer, requires more precision, and does not do well on the head. You can use a Mach 3 on the head and face way quicker than a DE takes and it does just as well of a job. Also, razorburn was worse for me with a DE. Really the only benefit I could see is it's less wasteful and costs less than cartridges or disposables. But to each his own..
Well, i am going to give DE a go. I know that it is a steep learning curve but more than willing to give it a go.
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Good to try and say it wasn't for you instead of wishing you had tried :)
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Read that perseverance and method has a lot to do with a good DE shave. Good preparation too.
Just ordered the gear. Will post up a review when i have done my first shave with one!
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So I have some good news I'd like to share. I'm not really sure why...I guess I didn't want to give up, so I went out and bought a Norelco PT724 for $50 and used it today on the face and head. I really don't understand how this thing did better than the Panasonic, Wahl, and Remington that I tried but it actually WORKED! Pretty damn good for how weak and quiet the motor is, but I'm very thankful.
I guess maybe it was foils that just didn't cut it for me? I have thick curly hair so maybe there is a pattern that rotarys work better for hair types like mine. Anyways....I'm very happy and can finally be at peace with electric shavers and take a long needed break from wet shaving.
Who knew this would be such a journey :px
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So I have some good news I'd like to share. I'm not really sure why...I guess I didn't want to give up, so I went out and bought a Norelco PT724 for $50 and used it today on the face and head. I really don't understand how this thing did better than the Panasonic, Wahl, and Remington that I tried but it actually WORKED! Pretty damn good for how weak and quiet the motor is, but I'm very thankful.
I guess maybe it was foils that just didn't cut it for me? I have thick curly hair so maybe there is a pattern that rotarys work better for hair types like mine. Anyways....I'm very happy and can finally be at peace with electric shavers and take a long needed break from wet shaving.
Who knew this would be such a journey :px
What type of shave did it give you? Extremely close? A review would be good. Cheers
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Sorry about that. It got what was most important to me - an EVEN shave all the way around - but it did still leave a few here and there untouched. Nowhere near as bad as other ones I've tried though. It got some areas as smooth as an against-the-grain shave, and others like a with-the-grain. That's mainly cause my hair is thicker in the back than on top.
If you go to amazon and search "rotary shaver" and then do the sorting as "avg. customer review", you will find this one is the highest up on the list after the expensive ones. That was the main reason why I tried this one. Sure enough...it worked. But if you're a Braun guy, I guess there's no reason to switch if it's working for ya. Did you order that DE razor?
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Sorry about that. It got what was most important to me - an EVEN shave all the way around - but it did still leave a few here and there untouched. Nowhere near as bad as other ones I've tried though. It got some areas as smooth as an against-the-grain shave, and others like a with-the-grain. That's mainly cause my hair is thicker in the back than on top.
If you go to amazon and search "rotary shaver" and then do the sorting as "avg. customer review", you will find this one is the highest up on the list after the expensive ones. That was the main reason why I tried this one. Sure enough...it worked. But if you're a Braun guy, I guess there's no reason to switch if it's working for ya. Did you order that DE razor?
Hi
Yea, i got the DE but massive learning curve with it! Not 100% happy with it but apparently it takes some time with a DE. I am still using the Braun though. Used just the Braun today and had a good shave with it. Only place it fails to get smooth is top of my head and lower rear neck! Otherwise it is very good indeed. Think is, i do like the very smooth shave so usually finish off with my proglide on top. Didnt today as i have a spot on the top of the head!!
Looking at trying a Mach 3 as i dont rate the 5 blades.
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Mach 3 is great, I recommend buying a pack of disposible ones, and then one other pack of schick quattro titaniums. That's what I did and I found schick actually beat the mach 3 by a long shot.
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Many thanks. Will try them O0