By Christopher Szaz
Electric razors have come a long way since Fred Flintstone first used a clamshell to catch a bee in order to start his morning shave. Or even from the days (many epochs ago) when I would borrow my Dad’s electric razor (which was missing one of the blades!) and shave off my peach-fuzz.
I am just one of many guys who, after stumbling out of bed in the morning, bleary-eyed and looking for that first cup of coffee – with a face full of stubble, dread this most basic of morning rituals. Somehow, at 7AM, the last thing you want to do is scramble around looking for your handheld (razor) and shaving foam. Or pick up an electric razor that was first manufactured in the Bronze Age, only to have it pluck out the hairs on your face with all the tenderness of a blind acupuncturist.
Fortunately, the same modern technology that has given us hi-def televisions, iPods and hands-free can openers has arrived in the realm of men’s shaving. The two products mentioned below are on the “cutting edge” of more comfortable, humane, speedier shaving.
The first savior to the rescue is the Titan All-in-One Razor by Shavemate. A nifty handheld razor that sports a neat little trick: shaving foam that resides within the razor. By simply twisting a knob and pressing the bottom of the handle, the foam will come out of a small hole into your hands and BOOM, it is ready to be applied to your face. A real time-saver when you are in 7AM Caveman Mode and forget where the heck you placed the shaving foam.
The three blade system that the Titan uses is very effective. The blades cut very close to the skin without nicking, while the handle uses S-3 Flex Neck Technology to ensure an even application of the blades all over the face and neck. No having to force the blades to your skin in order to get a close shave in those hard to reach areas (the Adam’s apple, for example). The Lubricated Glide Strip contains Vitamin E and Aloe to help keep skin comfortable and smooth during shaving. The blades are coated to help maintain sharpness and precision and you should be able to get a week or more of quality shaves from just one razor. It also comes with a handy little shower hook. Not bad at all for a product that only costs $3.99.
I have owned a lot of handheld razors over the years and I found this to be the easiest and most effective one I have ever used. The end result was a smooth face and only a few minutes of effort. This razor is perfect for everyday use. Highly recommended. Available at www.walgreens.com
The second savior is the Norelco Speed XL-8150 electric razor from Philips. This is certainly a different kind of electric razor. The first thing I noticed about it when taking it out of its container was how light it was as compared to all of the other electric razors I have used in the past. The size of this razor helps a lot with gliding it over your face almost effortlessly.
The second thing I noticed about the XL-8150 razor is how quiet it is. Unlike older electric razors which sometimes have the decibel level of a jackhammer, this one is whisper quiet and you will hardly know it is on without looking at the LED lights that are on unit’s front.
The individual floating heads ensure a close and consistent shave and can cover 50% more shaving surface then older models. This model sports more blades and more holes for maximum efficiency. It can cut every hair on the face and neck– short or long –without discomfort. The Patented Reflex Action adjusts to all of the curves on your face and really hugs it, making it feel more like you are getting a face massage than yanking hairs from your face. The pop-up trimmer does a fine job cutting and shaping moustaches, goatees and sideburns. Cleanup is a breeze; you just pop open the top and rinse the blades under warm water and let air dry. A heck lot easier than my old electric razor, where cleaning the blades and base area was about as easy as shoveling fleas across a barn.
As for accessories, it comes with a charging stand that can store a charge for 17 days of use. It also comes with an AC adapter, a storage travel pouch, protective cap for the razor heads and a cleaning brush. An optional DC adapter can be purchased for an additional $14.95. It also sports two LED lights on the front, one for the power indicator and the other for warning when the batteries are getting low.
As for performance, I must say that this razor gave me the closest shave I have ever had. My skin might not have been as smooth as a baby’s bottom, but even after using this razor just once, it was darn close. And unlike other electric razors I have used in the past, my face did not feel like it had been scrubbed with an SOS pad afterwards. This is a razor I actually look forward to using and hope to use for many years. Highly recommended.
Available at www.philipshomestore.com, www.amazon.com and fine retailers.
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