For dry shaving, it’s best to start with clean, dry skin—no deodorant or lotions. Both of my top picks have a pivoting head, but I found that this one was the easiest and most comfortable to use for multiple types of hair removal. It was the only one with an efficiency philips shaver guard, which I found useful for eliminating more hair on the first pass, and a quick-charge mode. We’re also testing the Panasonic Arc6, a six-blade version of the quiet-but-bulky shaver we recommend as a Braun alternative, as well as additional rotary shavers.
Some of the electric shavers for women that we have available are suitable for sensitive areas as well as your legs. Features may include massage rollers, smartlight technology and SoftLift tips. Massage rollers make the shave more comfortable by gently stimulating the skin. Smartlight technology illuminates your hairs to help you detect them. The Philips SatinShave Prestige has two foil blades and a cutter made of hypoallergenic stainless steel.
If a close shave is your top priority, you may find that an electric razor simply cannot compare to a manual one. Based on our research and testing, we believe a foil shaver produces a better shave for most facial hair. But if you prefer a rotary style, consider Philips Norelco’s Shaver 9300 (or another model in the brand’s 9000 line).
Unlike our picks, the lightweight Andis ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver is not waterproof, and it is warrantied for only one year (whereas all of our picks are covered for two).
It handled daily shaves without complaint and powered through more days of growth without too much issue. You’ll need to replace the foil on your shaver more or less annually, depending on use. My face was left with some redness that faded within an hour or so. It wasn’t a huge deal for me, but I could see how that would really irk someone’s nerves.
Some of the other razors I tested include more attachments, such as an eyebrow groomer. (I don’t trust myself to get near my eyebrows with a razor.) Most options come with a bikini trimmer for detailing and manicuring body hair—in fact, that might be your primary reason for wanting one of these tools. The Philips razor comes with a 1-inch-wide bikini trimmer to use on its own to completely remove hair or to top with a comb to trim it to 0.125 inches long, something you might prefer if you’re prepping for waxing.