Alexander the Great Conquered the World – And Got a Great Shave

About 25% of men use an electric shaver on a regular basis. If done right, an electric shave can give you the closest shave ever. How is this possible you may ask?  Well when you use an electric shaver, it rolls up your skin. It literally forces the hairs up and then cuts them off.

So not only do you get a smooth shave, but you also avoid being cut and scraped. So if you are a man who uses an electric shaver or a man who is thinking about using one, here are a few tips to help you get a great shave.

Tip #1 – Wash And Dry Your Face Before Shaving

You should always wash your face before you shave. If you can’t, try splashing some alcohol based pre-shave lotion on your face. When you do this you remove the oil from your skin and cause your beard to stand out. This in turn will make for a great, smooth shave.

Tip #2 – Find Out What Direction Your Beard Is Growing in  

Before you shave you should find out what direction your beard is growing in. To do this take your fingers and gently rub your face.  The direction could be different on different parts of your face.  Take your fingers and press down firmly on your face. Push up so that the hairs slightly lift up. This is the area you want to shave.  With an electric shaver remember to shave against the grain. This is how you get a close shave.

Make sure you don’t press down too hard or go over the same spot over and over. This will only cause your shaver head to wear out within a matter of weeks.

Tip #3 – Clean The Saver And Cutter On A Regular Basis

Keeping the shaver clean is the probably the most important thing. When the shaver has dust and hairs caught in it, it won’t give you a clean, close shave. It is best to clean your shaver after ever shave. However, if you don’t feel like it, make sure you at least clean it once a month.

When cleaning make sure you don’t touch the screen as it is very fragile. If you clean your shaver on a regular basis it will last much longer and you will only need to replace the screen and cutter about once a year.

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Here are a few tips to help you get a great shave with an electric shaver.

Tip #1 – Get The Proper Equipment

You want the best electric shaver if you shave on a regular basis. And in the long run it will prove to be a money saver. With a regular razor you will have to buy new ones all the time. After a few shaves the blade can get very dull. With an electric shaver you will only have to replace the cutter about once a year.  And since most women shave in the shower, it is a good idea to get an electric shaver that is waterproof.

Tip #2 – Prepare Before You Shave

Proper preparation is very important when it comes to shaving. If you have long hairs, clip them before you shave. This will make the process easier. You should also take a hot shower or bath before you shave so the hairs will be easier to shave. This is especially important if you have sensitive skin.

The warm water will soften your hair and give your skin more elasticity. It is important that you wash your skill well so you can avoid an open cut getting infected. You should also try to shave at night.  Anytime you shave you are taking off dead skin cells. This means right after a shave your skin is more susceptible to being affected by outside elements.

Tip #3 – Apply A Gel Before Shaving

Before you start shaving, apply a shaving gel and let it sit for a few minutes. And it doens’t matter what type of gel or cream you get as all of them are pretty much the same.  And if you don’t have any cream on hand, you can always use hair conditioner. When using an electric shaver some say you should shave against the grain. While that might work for some, it won’t work for all. Try shaving both ways to see which one gives you the smoothest shave.

#1 – Make Sure The Shaver Is Cordless  

Unlike men, women shave in a variety of different places. That’s why you need a cordless shaver. It also good to have if you travel a lot. Cords take up space. And if you are traveling overseas you will probably have to buy some sort of adaptor.  When choosing a cordless electric shaver make sure it has a long battery life. You don’t want to have to recharge the battery everyday.

If it has a recharging station make sure it doesn’t take up too much space.  A lot of cordless shavers come with a power cord as well. So if you want both that would be no problem.

#2 – Make Sure Your Razor Is Waterproof

Most women prefer to shave in the shower. That’s why it is important you get a shower that can be used it both wet and dry situations.  Most electric shavers for women come this way. However, be sure you read the descrpition to ensure it is.

#3 – Make Sure It Is A Combo Shaver

A combo shaver will allow you to shave various parts of your body. That means you can shave your bikini line, underarms and legs with this one shaver. Some models even have an epilator. I personally would prefer not ot inflict pain on myself with an epilator.

#4 – Get A Pivot Head

Women have a lot of curves. And when shaving you want a shaver that can easily get around all of them. That’s why you need a pivot head. When you shave with a pivot head you get a much smoother shaver with less bumps and irritation. You will still need to use a moisturizer with a pivot head.

#5 – A Fast Motor

Fast motors can be expensive so just get the fastest one you can afford. The better the motor, the better shave you will get. The shave will also be a lot closer with a fast motor. And if you are a little lazy you can get a self cleaning shaver to save you time.

Follow these tips when shopping and you should have no problem finding the best electric shaver for you.

If you can, bring a shaving kit with you. The kit should include a bowl, a brush, all natural shaving cream, a mirror, a razor and an all natural after shave. The reason you want all natural is because you don’t want to worry about breaking out or anything like that while traveling.

Wet Your Face

This first tip is for those who are traveling through the great outdoors. Make sure you have a pot so you can warm up some water. Dip the cloth in the warm water and squeeze it out. Do not soak the cloth.  Take the cloth and press it against your beard for about three minutes. If you don’t have a cloth you can just splash the warm water on your face.

Don’t Forget To Lather

Lathering is a very important part of shaving. And if you are traveling outdoors all natural is the best way to go.  Create a lather the same way you would at home. Use the pot of warm water to soak your brush. If your beard is not thick, you can actually get away with a dry shave. If you have never done this before I suggest you don’t try it while on vacation.

Make Sure You Have A Mirror

Its hard to shave if you can’t see what you are doing. So make sure you take a mirror with you while traveling. You need both of your hands free so you can see what you are doing. You need one hand to shave and the other to hold the skin. If all else fails look in the mirror of a car.

Finish it up

Rinse your face and apply after shave. If you will be out and about make sure it is SPF 15 at minimum. Now clean off your tools and pack them up. The most important thing here is to put together a shaving kit with everything you will need. This way you won’t have to run out and buy it while you are traveling.

Panasonic ES8243A Arc IV Shaver

The Panasonic ES8243A Arc IV Shaver is a top of the line electric shaver.  It has a four blade system and vibrates at 13,000 rpm. It will give you the closest shave you have ever had.  It is also very well designed. The rubberized grip makes it very easy to hold.  And since it is a wet/dry shaver you can use it in the shower or right over the sink.

The great thing about this shaver is that it is high quality and very affordable. It will run you around $100 and performs better than some of the more expensive shavers.

Panasonic ES-LA93-K Vortex

Some call the Panasonic ES-LA93-K Vortex the best shaver of 2011. It is an extremely fast shaver producing 14,000 micro vibrations every 60 seconds.  It also have flexible heads that press firmly and comfortably against your face. This makes for a very close and smooth shave. It also has a very cool black design that has a blue led light. And with the four nanotech blades you will get the fastest shave of your life.

The biggest drawback of this machine would be the price tag. While it is a great electric shaver, many don’t believe it is worth the $200 price tag. However, if you can afford it, its a great buy.

Philips Norelco 1250cc sensotouch 3d electric shaver

If you prefer a rotary shaver, then the Philips Norelco 1250cc sensotouch 3d electric shaver is the shaver for you.  This is probably the newest electric rotary shaver to hit the market. As far as technology goes this shaver is pretty advanced.  No matter what length of hair you have, there is a special track for it. That means you will get the closest shave possible.

And with the GyroFlex 3D system the rotary heads will flex and bend to perfectly fit your face. This means you will never miss an area because you can’t get to it. And with the jet clean stand you never have to worry about cleaning the shaver. It will clean, lubricate and charge the shaver when you are done using it.

#1 – Brand

While generic brands can be less expensive, quality brands are much better. Top brands such as Braun,  and Philips Norelco give you a closer, more comfortable shave than the generic brands. They also tend to last longer which means you won’t have to replace it as quickly as other brands.

On top of that, you can also find very affordable models of some of the top brands. If money is an issue, you can also opt for a model that has fewer features.

#2 – A Minimum 30 Day Trial Period

It takes your face at least 30 days to adjust to a new shaver. Only after that time can you truly determine If a shaver is working for you. That’s why it is vital that the shaver you choose has at minimum a 30 day money back guarantee. If at all possible, try to get a 60 day trial period.

#3 – A Quick Charge Option

While most shavers come with all sorts of fancy features, the one you really want is a quick charge option. Quick charge allows you to quickly charge your shaver if you forgot to charge it overnight. With quick charge you don’t have to wait the normal 8 hours it takes to fully charge the shaver.

#4 – Wet/Dry Capabilities

Being able to shave when your face is wet or dry is a very important feature to have. Some men like to shave in the shower and some like to shave over the sink. No matter what your preference, with wet dry capabilities you can shave wherever you like.

#5 – Comfortable Hand Grip

There is nothing worse then an electric shaver that is uncomfortable to hold. It can make shaving a task you would rather not do. So when looking for an electric shaver, make sure a comfortable hand grip is one of the features.

When it boils down to it, all men are different and will therefore prefer a different shaver. You have to figure out which one will work best for you. Just know that things such as LCD display have nothing to do with the performance of the shaver.

So instead of looking for the snazzy features, look for features that have a positive impact on the performance of the shaver.

This shaver has a pretty unique feature where the foil protector itself actually vibrates. This is supposed to lift up the hairs so they are prepped for cutting. The closeness and comfort of the shave that this razor delivers is heavenly. It’s like going to a barber and having it done professionally so it makes you feel pampered and really smooth afterwards. For those of you that shave their heads, this is a great shaver to use for that. The 7-760cc body has a great design that makes it easy to maneuver and it does a great job shaving tricky areas like this.

It has an automatic cleaning system so you don’t have to worry about cleaning it manually. With the touch of a button it disinfects, lubricates, cleans and then charges the shaver. That is some smart technology if you ask me. The refill cartridges can be somewhat expensive seeing as though they need to be replaced once a month, but the benefits and convenience far outweigh the cost in this instance.

The battery is Energy-Star compliant so if you are more ecologically minded you can rest assured that it is a very efficient unit. It also has an automatic voltage adjustment which lets it charge it in any country. Unlike previous models in the line it now automatically charges when you place it on the dock. The battery lasts about a week which seems to be standard fare amongst modern shavers but if you forget to charge it you can use it with the power cord. Usually it will run for 50 minutes on a 60 minute charge and has a useful 5 minute quick charge too for emergencies. The 7-760cc comes with a protective case and cleaning brush along with the dock and power cord.

The only real letdown with this shaver is the fact that it is not waterproof so shaving in the shower is totally out of the question. If this is your preferred method of shaving, look elsewhere.

If you want an amazing shave and a razor that cleans itself really well, then check out the latest price for the Braun Series 7-760cc at Amazon.

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This is one of the few shavers that actually works just as well in a wet or dry scenario so you can take it into the shower with you and you don’t need to use a pre-shave gel if you want to shave dry. It works just fine as it is.

I found it to be really smooth and I would have no problem substituting this for a proper razor for even the most important business meeting. The shave was so close only I could tell I didn’t use a razor. I can’t see people getting ingrown hairs with this shaver at all. If you have persistent issues with cutting yourself with normal razors then you definitely want to try out the Panasonic ES8249S.

This is a very quiet shaver. How they managed to make it so quiet I don’t know but you can actually hear the hairs being shaved under the motor noise. I timed my shave with the built-in timer on the unit and true to the advertising it took me a little over 5 minutes to complete my shave from start to finish.

An interesting thing is that this shaver cleans itself very well. All you need to do is put it under running water while the blades oscillate at a very high rate and this pushes out all the hairs, shaving cream and skin particles.

The battery lasted over 5 days for me, which, for an electric razor, is outstanding and makes it really great for traveling too. The power unit also does automatic voltage conversion so most of countries are catered for with this charger. Pretty cool.

While this is a great shaver there were 2 issues I had with it: The first being that the base is pretty unattractive (this is a personal thing however). The other issue is the cleaning cartridges. These need to be replaced regularly and are not exactly cheap. All these great features make this less of an issue in the bigger picture.

It has 213 customer reviews on Amazon and an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. That says a lot and marks it as pretty much the best electric shaver out there. The Panasonic ES8249S is highly recommended, you can check out the latest price at Amazon here.

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The grip is also really nice and has a rubber ridge along the side that makes it very comfortable to hold and stays secure in your hand even in the shower. It has a great quick charge feature which allows you to do a fast charge when the battery is flat and you are in a hurry. This should make those mad morning rushes to get to the office much easier.

Many electric shavers have difficulty with neck hairs because they tend to be rather thick and at a very sharp angle. Well this razor handles them just fine. The contour capabilities of the individual head rotors probably play a part here since they flex in and out quite a bit to adapt to your face.

The battery lasted more than a week in our tests and this is exactly what you want in a razor. It is a waterproof too so you can definitely use it in the shower if you are a shower shaver like me.

Cleaning the Norelco 1150x/40 is pretty simple. All you need to do is pull off the top plate and run water into the shaver head unit.

If you travel a lot the travel lock, head protector cap and pouch will keep it safe from damage while the base also does automatic voltage adjustment from 100 to 240 volts. This means you won’t need to carry annoying adapters that take up space.

On the down side it doesn’t seem to handle long hairs very well so you need to make sure you shave regularly with it to keep them short. The base is pretty large too so you will need some space on your bathroom shelf.

It is recommended that you shave half your face with shaving cream and the other half without to see what suits you best. Some people have found that after years of shaving with shaving cream that this unit works better for them without.

If you need a new electric shaver check out the Philips Norelco 1150x/40 from Amazon, who often have it at discount. Chances are it will be perfect for you if the price is within your budget.

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The closeness of the shave with this razor is just as good as any of the more expensive electric razors out there. It’s so close to shaving with a normal razor it’s scary. The other major plusses of this razor are of course it’s very low price, it’s great shave quality, it’s quiet operation and how easy it is to clean. It’s really great that they made it waterproof at this price point so you can use it in the shower without any issues.

The fact that this shaver is so cheap might be an issue for some. It might make you wonder what is wrong with it or how long it will last. Well, checking the customer reviews of people who have owned one for more than a year all say that theirs is still working just fine. Most electric razors last between 2 and 4 years (including this one) so it might make sense to save your money and buy this model instead of a super-expensive one. They will probably last the same amount of time anyway.

The replacement heads for the 7310XL razor are very expensive, however, you can definitely get a few years out of them before they need to be replaced. I recommend getting your money’s worth and wearing them out completely before buying new ones.

This shaver is unbelievable value for money and a great buy overall. At this super-low price it’s a real no-brainer. It is definitely one of the most popular shavers made by Philips and has had a whopping 650+ customer reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4 stars. This is very impressive. It comes with a 2-year warranty, an LED indicator, cleaning brush and a super-comfortable grip. Of course it also comes with the must-have pop-up trimmer for your mustache and sideburns too.

If you’re looking for a no-frills shaver that doesn’t cost the earth but performs just as well as the big boys then the Philips Norelco 7310XL is definitely the right electric razor for you. Click here to check out the latest price at Amazon.

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