Shavers

How to choose a shaver

The right shaver is the one that suits your stubble, skin and morning routine: a quick dry shave before work calls for a different machine than a wet shave in the shower. Choose on five points.

• Rotary or foil. A rotary shaver's three spinning heads follow the contours of chin and neck and cope with 2–3 days of growth. A foil shaver moves in straight lines, shaves short stubble closer and is gentler on sensitive skin.
• Wet and dry. A Wet & Dry model is waterproof: shave with gel or foam in the shower and rinse the head under the tap. A dry-only shaver is cheaper but must not be dunked.
• Battery. A lithium battery lasts 60–90 minutes, or 2–3 weeks of daily shaving; a budget NiMH model manages 20–45 minutes. A 5-minute quick charge for one shave saves the morning.
• Trimmer. A pop-up trimmer tidies sideburns and moustache; a separate trimmer head with combs (as on the Braun Shave&Style) turns the shaver into a beard trimmer too. The OneBlade hybrid trims, edges and shaves with one blade.
• Spares. Blades wear out — replace rotary heads every 2 years, the foil every 18 months, the OneBlade blade every 4 months. Philips SH91 heads and OneBlade QP225 blades are in stock.

Shavers in our range

The backbone of the range is rotary shavers: Philips S1142 and S3244 for starters, Shaver 5000 (S5466, S5884, S5885, S5886) as the golden mean with a 45–60 min battery, S7886, S9975 and XP9202/XP9403 at the top; Cecotec PrecisionCare (Skull with 7 heads, X-Trimm Triple, Aluminium Pro with an 80 min battery) and Xiaomi S101, S200 and S301 (90 min, wet/dry) give plenty for the money. Foil shavers come from Braun Series 3 — 300s, 300BT and Shave&Style 3000BT with trimmer heads — and for women by the Philips BRL114 Wet & Dry with an 80 min battery. Hybrid shavers Philips OneBlade QP1424, QP2734 and OneBlade Pro 360 QP6542 (90 min) suit stubble and edging. The cheapest are Adler AD 2910 and AD 2923 and ETA Jason and Charlie (90 min, lithium battery), plus the Dreame S7.

Brands

Philips is the market leader in rotary shavers and our biggest brand — from the Shaver 5000 series to the top models, plus OneBlade and a women's shaver. Braun is synonymous with the foil shaver: Series 3 shaves close and lasts for years. Xiaomi gives a 90-minute battery and wet shaving for a couple of tens of euros. Cecotec plays on features — 7 heads, trimmers, an aluminium body. ETA and Adler are the budget end for travel or a spare.

Care and delivery

Rinse the head under warm water after every shave , let it dry open and oil the blades once a month — the shaver stays sharp twice as long. A shaver is a small parcel: it reaches an Omniva, DPD or Venipak parcel locker in 1–2 working days.

Related products

For a longer beard see hair clippers, for legs and the bikini line epilators. The morning routine gets electric toothbrushes and personal care accessories, and for the face by skin and nail care. The full selection is in beauty and health.

Frequently asked questions

Rotary or foil — which is better? They are simply different: rotary suits contours and longer stubble, foil suits a close daily shave and sensitive skin.

Can I shave in the shower? Yes, if the model is Wet & Dry — these are waterproof and work with gel. A dry shaver must not go under water.

How long does the battery last? Lithium models 60–90 minutes, roughly a month of 3-minute shaves; budget NiMH models 20–45 minutes.

How often should the heads be replaced? Rotary heads every 2 years, foil and cutter about every 18 months, the OneBlade blade every 4 months.

Is a shaver suitable for women? The Philips BRL114 is a foil shaver made specifically for women, for wet and dry use.