I wonder if people know that electric razors last like … ten years. I’ve owned, I think, two electric razors in my life, and I’m in my late thirties. I never have to replace any part of it.
My biggest issue with electric razors is that they never gave me as smooth a shave as using a razor-blade (or cartridge). That annoyed me enough to stop using it.
For some reason, my time shaving with cartridges gave me the worst acne of my life by far -- including one zit that somehow festered into a massive welt that continuously refilled with fluid and wouldn't go away for several years. (I still have the scar) I still think there was something wrong with the shaving cream because my dermatologist was just as perplexed as I was and he was clearly out of his element as he seemed to be blindly throwing whatever he could at the problem.
These were the inexpensive mail-order discount razors and the special shave butter they advertised, I forget the name of the company but it was the first one I was aware of that bypassed the Gilette racket by doing everything via mail. (edit- DollarShaveClub?)
Smooth or not, I'm sticking with my electric razor.
Smoothest shave I get from an electric shaver/razor is by shaving in the shower with some face wash as "shaving cream" and using a wet shaver e.g. from the Philips AquaTouch line. Quick, easy, everything is clean after etc.
I'd say it gets very very close to a manual razor in terms of smoothness.
You’re supposed to replace the heads of electric shavers every year or two, they do dull. Whether you need to or not probably depends on your face and whether the blade irritates your face.
I’ve never replaced any heads on my shavers either. I lose them before that.
I'm not particular about keeping a specific look so don't shave every day. Some days I'm clean shaven, other days with shadow+ and sometimes with more.
The most convenient thing was a Gillette Styler that would last for I can't count how many months, but was ultimately disposable. I later found a MINISO brand that was less than half the cost that was rechargeable with only minimal paper packaging. Not as close but good enough. Ultimately it's disposable too but I'm still on my first one.
I don't think the article was attempting to say there are only two choices, just that some choices are pretty shitty compared to some alternatives that exist and that it's gotten harder and harder to access some of those alternatives.
I'm in the electric clippers camp personally. A good model can easily last you 10+ years and keeps my dry skill happier. I'm lucky they are still easy to find. Good luck finding a straight razor in your local shops if that's what you're into though.
Straight edge razors are the best when you've gone a bit too long without shaving, bar none. Nothing to clog up. It's a bit interesting and cathartic to basically watch a wall of itchy hair fall off your face.
While I don't think they require as much skill as people think, they are a bit harsh IMO. Some people probably can shave daily with them, but when I tried it was pretty rough on my skin.
1. Don't shave. Grow a wild and wooly beard.
2. Electric clippers. For that permanent five o'clock shadow look.
3. Electric shaver. Easy.
4. Cartridge + foam. Smooth.
5. Double edge safety razor. Very smooth. Requires some skill.
6. Straight edge razor. Super smooth? No idea personally.
7. Laser. Also no idea personally.
What this article completely misses, is that there are more than two options.
I personally switch it up depending on what I am doing that day.
There is no right way to shave.