12 Best Foil Shavers in 2019

If you’re anything like us, you have a hard time finding the right shaver to use. With all of the choices available on the market, narrowing down your options can seem like a daunting task. While it might be tempting to go cheap on your purchase, you shouldn’t compromise quality to save here.

Where do you start? It’s often tempting to swing to either extreme – save big or splurge on a razor with all the new tech updates. However, we would advise you to start your search out slow and take time to weigh your options. The shaver you choose will affect the health of your hair and skin. Foil shavers provide a smooth cut and are beginner-friendly. All you need to do is pick it up, grab a little shaving cream, and go. Post-shaving serums and oils will also help to repair your skin post-grooming session. The best foil shaver for a comfortable shave will differ depending on personal preference.

Electric shavers are more convenient and often higher quality than their disposable counterparts. Here we have chosen the best foil shavers based on their quality, affordability, usability, and user reviews. We have ranked these foil shavers according to their popularity with buyers, so you can choose the foil shaver that matches your needs.

The best foil shaver is a specific type of electric shaver that uses a thin layer of foil to cover the blades. The layer of foil helps lift the hair away from the skin and is gentler to the face since the blade doesn’t touch your skin directly as often as in other cases. They are available at a variety of price points.

The foil shaver has straight heads with oscillating blades underneath. Above the cutters, the foil has convenient mesh holes that catch stray hairs that fall when you shave. It also gets the cut close to the skin at a high yet safe speed. Foil shavers are ideal for men with fine facial hair or sensitive skin who desire a close shave. To ensure a more thorough grooming experience, most of these electric shavers have two or more built-in foils. Multi-blade trimming systems and micro combs are two popular designs in foil shavers.

In contrast, standard rotary shavers typically have three circular heads. An outer stationary guard helps to catch stray hairs. You may be wondering why there are so many types of shavers on the market and what the difference between them is. We’re here to help you simplify your shopping experience. For men, the two most popular electric razor styles are the foil and rotary shavers. So what is the difference?

Foil head electric shavers have been around for a long time. They were invented by Jacob Schick back in 1923 (you may recognize his last name). As we previously mentioned, a foil shaver has oscillating shaver blades which help to achieve a smooth, close shave. However, one of the major drawbacks that come with using a foil shaver is that it is a little harder to shave the contours of your face. Since the foil head is generally triangular in shape, it has a harder time pivoting around those areas. They are also a little noisier to use than the average electric razor.

When using a foil head shaver, you should move it either up to down or from the left to right. Don’t try to use it in a circular motion like you would with a rotary shaver. As you shop around, something you have probably noticed on the packing is the number of micro-vibrations per minute the electric shaver has. The higher the number, the more hair will fit into the foils at a time to be cut.

Looking at a rotary-headed electric razor, you will find they have three discs. Since they were first introduced during the 1960s, they have come a long way in terms of design. Each of the three discs is equipped with spinning razors to trim your facial hair. Unlike the foil shavers which you use in an up and down motion (or side to side), rotary shavers should be used in a circular counterclockwise motion.

Since foil shavers are a type of electric shaver, you may be wondering if they are hard to clean. The answer is that most electric shavers can be cleaned without much of a hassle. The simplest way to clean an electric shaver after use is to take off the attachment head and gently tap it over a trash can to remove any stray hairs. If the stray hairs are clogged inside the blades from a shaving cream or beard oil, take a shaving brush and clean out the remaining hair.

Some models are waterproof and corrosion resistant. These models can be rinsed out under a faucet and used in the shower. Even if you decide to rinse out your shaver, be sure to remove as much hair from it as possible first. This will prevent you from clogging your drains with shaved hair.

Believe it or not, even though these hairs are small, it can happen. Always unplug your shaver from the electrical outlet before rinsing. Do not use an electric shaver that is plugged into the wall while showering. Some shavers also have a self-cleaning function, including a space to catch stray fallen hairs and a vacuum for sucking them out of the shaving device. While these models of foil shavers typically cost a bit more, it is worth saving yourself a bit of extra time.

For those of you who are new to the world of shaving, you might be confused about the difference between shaving with a wet foil vs. a dry foil. If you are in a hurry, it might be tempting to just grab a razor and go for a quick trim. However, it’s not worth the possible nicks and cuts you could get on your skin. Getting a razor burn is never a good feeling. To prevent skin irritation (and scars), always use shaving cream and water.

Make sure the electric razor you invest in is waterproof. An advantage to a wet shaver is that you will get a closer shave as opposed to doing it dry. Those seeking a smooth look will appreciate this style.

Battery life is often one of the most overlooked factors when it comes to choosing an electric shaver. Luckily for you, most electric shavers have a very fast charging speed. Charge up your device for five minutes or so, and you will be able to get a full morning shave from it.

It is important to note that most electric shaver styles do not allow you to use them while they are charging. Manufacturers implemented a safety switch to prevent people from attempting to use the device in the shower while it is plugged in. The average battery life of an electric shaver ranges from 40 to 50 minutes. Another key feature to look for when purchasing is a travel lock. This feature is exactly what it sounds like. When you are on the go, put your device on lock mode. This way, you won’t risk having it turn on accidentally and waste the battery.

One of the fastest ways to get acne is to forget to clean your skincare products. Shavers are no different. Even if you do not end up buying a wet shaver, you can still pop the head off and wash it out under running water. The convenience of being able to rinse your shaver makes cleaning simple. Most foil shavers come with brushes to clean out shaven hair in those hard to reach places and leave you feeling smooth.

The best foil electric shaver will come with a docking and cleaning station. One of our favorite things about this cleaning system is that it is multifunctional. Not only does the dock help to clean the head of the shaver, but it also charges it, lubricates the blades, and dries your shaver. All of this is done when you place the shaver in the dock and press a button. It really is that easy.

However, there are some additional costs that come with having a cleaning station. Every cleaning station requires cartridges (these contain the alcohol and lubricant). As to be expected, you should clean the shaver and replace the cartridges often to avoid skin irritation and acne breakouts. Cleaning cartridges are fairly affordable. Each cartridge will last for 30 or so uses on average. In the long run, this is much more economical than using disposable shaving razors.

Another tip to prevent breakouts and have a good shaving experience is to make sure you are using your foil shaver correctly. Remember that a foil shaver should either be used up or down or from side to side. One of the biggest causes of skin irritation is going over the same area multiple times with your razor.

Electric foil shavers have come a long way. If you are on the fence about whether or not to buy one, read up on these things to consider before you invest.

How Fast is the Shaver?

While speed isn’t always everything, it matters when it comes to choosing the best foil shaver. Those seeking a nice, clean shave will want a style with fast blade speeds. The speed of an electric shaver is measured in cycles per minute (CPM). Top-selling shavers generally have linear motor speeds ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 CPM. Shavers with low rates of CPM increase the likelihood of getting a cut while you groom. Remember to use plenty of shaving cream and regularly rinse your shaver under running water.

How Long Will the Battery Last?

No one wants to be lathered up with cream mid-shave and have the battery die. Nothing will ruin your shaving experience more. One of the most important things to consider when you’re on the search for the best men’s foil shaver is battery life. Look for a model that lasts for at least an hour when fully charged.

Another thing to consider is whether the shaver has an additional power source. For example, can it function with and without a cord? Cordless shavers are very convenient.

Is Spending More Money on an Electric Shaver Worth It?

In a word, yes. One of the simplest benefits of having an electric shaver is convenience. As we previously mentioned, you’ll actually cut your expenses in the long run. They are great for achieving a smooth and comfortable shave when you are running late and need to get out the door quickly.

With this said, the price of electric shavers varies widely. Some models can be purchased for around $20, whereas others are well over $100. It depends on your personal preference, blade speed, and how many accessories that shaving kit comes with.

Does the Shaver Come with Replacement Foils? How Often Do the Shaver Blades Need to Be Replaced?

One way to save some money is by buying a shaver that already comes with replacement foils. Just like traditional razors, foil shavers also need to have their blades replaced from time to time. No one likes shaving with a dull razor blade.

How often you need to replace the shaver blades depends on the model of razor you have. The manufacturer’s model will typically list how long the blades last and when you can change them out. While it is tempting to try and stretch the life of razor blades to save money, don’t fall into this trap. Shaving with an old, rusted blade is not only bad for your hygiene, but is more susceptible to cutting and scarring the skin.

As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to replace your foil shaver blades (aka razor heads) and cutters about once a year. If you have thick,  course, or fast-growing hair, you may need to replace your shaver blades more often. Use discretion.

Shaving with a foil shaver is different than with a rotary style. Here we’re going to go over some best practices and how to get a clean, close shave.

Follow a Pre-Shave Routine

Before shaving, you should always prep your skin. This means opening your pores, moisturizing, and doing what you can to prevent nicks and cuts. If you plan on dry shaving, use a shaving pre-lotion or powder to provide a layer of lubrication for your skin. Not only does this tone and prime your skin but it brings the hairs to stand up straight.

Next, make sure your shaver is fully charged. Nothing is more annoying than running out of a charge mid-shave. Keep in mind that the blades can be more sluggish if the shaver is only partially charged. Sluggish shavers tend to pull and tug more on your facial hair.

It’s also important to make sure that the blades are sharp. Dull blades cause cuts and skin irritation. Plus, it takes so much longer to get the job done when you shave with dull blades. While this isn’t something you have to frequently stress about, you will probably need to change out your blades and foils at least once a year.

Finally, make sure your whiskers aren’t too long. A foil shaver won’t cut very long hair as efficiently as it does short hair. If it’s been a while since you’ve shaved and your beard is long, consider trimming it with beard scissors before you take to the blades.

image via: ImgFlip

Alright, let’s get to the good stuff. We’ve read countless customer reviews, tested out the styles, and compared top-sellers on the market. Here are our choices for the best electric foil shaver in no particular order.

Braun is a company known for making superior men’s shaving products. So when they come out with a style that they call one of their best yet, we couldn’t help but wonder. After reading countless customer reviews, we decided to try it out for ourselves. Needless to say, it didn’t disappoint. This high-end quality shaver is one you need in your bathroom cabinet.

There are several reasons why we included it on our list of the best men’s foil shavers. First, it’s tried and true. It works well on long and short beards alike, and that factor should not be overlooked. Its technology includes five synchronized shaving elements that allow you to trim more hair in the first stroke than most others do.

The five elements of the Braun Series 9 9290CC include four cutting elements and one skin guard. The combination is a clean, close shave and safe use. The titanium-coated blades and flexible shaving head allow you to get close and contour the edges you want to. Two specialized trimmers capture even the most stubborn of hairs, and the 10,000 CPM auto-sensing motors get the job done.

Last but certainly not least, this handy shaver is waterproof. Use it for wet or dry shaving. When you’re in the shower, you can give it a quick rinse to clean up. While rinsing it is easy, the Braun Series 9 9290CC also comes with a clean and charge station (a hygienic solution to your grooming needs). Did we mention that the battery life lasts for fifty minutes of uninterrupted grooming time? We’ll just leave it off on that note.

Decide Whether You Want to Shave Wet or Dry

When we refer to shaving wet, we mean using a cream or gel with water. If you decide to use a shaving cream apply it liberally and make sure to cover all the parts of your face that you want to shave. A quality shaving brush makes this process easy.

Follow the Proper Shaving Technique

Shaving experts advise that you begin with the most sensitive areas on your face first when using a foil shaver. Use short strokes and straight lines; do not attempt to use circular motions as you would with a rotary shaver. Make sure you do not press the shaver too hard against the skin. Deep cuts could lead to scarring.

Pull back your skin while you are shaving. Not only does this help you to get a cleaner cut but you will also eliminate creases and make it easier for the shaver to glide over your face. Start with your neckline, moving up your face to your jawline. After you have covered these areas, you can move on to your chin and cheeks.

Perfect Your Post-Shaving Routine

Following a post-shaving routine protects your skin and prevents irritation. Redness and bumpiness are common after you get a trim. To save your skin and a hassle, invest in a quality aftershave. Cleaning your shaver after each use is important too. Most shavers come with a small cleaning brush to get out any stray hairs. Rinse it with water and a cleaning solution after each use.

Practice Patience

Be patient. Perfecting the art of shaving isn’t always easy. After using a manual shaver or rotary style, it can take some time to get used to using a foil one. Practice your shaving techniques and follow our tips.

You’ll be seeing quite a few Panasonic razors on our list of the best foil shavers for men. This is a well-known brand that delivers quality products. Take one look at this style, and it’s easy to see it will give you one of the smoothest shaves you have had. Five blades positioned at a thirty-degree angle help you to get in close to those hard to reach places. In addition, a variety of foil patterns cut and capture stray hairs for effortless cleaning.

Furthermore, the blades offer an astounding speed of 14,000 CPM per minute. But that is not all. Here is the best part. Regardless of whether it is low on the battery, the Panasonic ES-LV65-S Arc5 Electric Razor consistently delivers an excellent shave.

Why do we love this razor so much? There are so many reasons. First and foremost, we have to recognize the sophistication of the shaving system. Stainless steel Arc4 foils perfectly capture and lift hair, getting close to the base. This not only saves you time but also results in a less irritating shave for your skin. Since it uses four blades instead of the standard three, you’ll achieve that clean shave you have always wanted.

It’s never been easier to contour your hair. Not all shavers do this. Thanks to the flexible pivoting head, you can maintain even strokes while shaving your chin, jawline, and neck. Another thing we love about the Panasonic ES8243A is that it’s good for both wet and dry shaving. If you’re rushing out the door to the morning meeting, you can do a quick dry shave without worrying about accidentally cutting yourself in the process. And when you have more time, you can lather up and rinse.

Customer reviews also praise the LCD indicator. This handy feature helps you to know when the battery is low and display its charge status. It will even give you a heads up when your shaver needs to be cleaned. Here’s the bottom line – with these unique features and its versatility as a wet-dry shaver, this style from Panasonic is well worth the investment. . Panasonic ES3831K Electric Travel Shaver.

Starting our list is this Panasonic travel foil shaver. This is by far the most affordable foil shaver on our list, and it’s our pick for the best foil shaver for travel. It’s great for those who mainly use their shaver on their face, or who would like to try out the experience of using an electric foil shaver without investing in an expensive model. Cordless and lightweight, it offers a pretty close shave for only using one blade (most full-size foil shavers use three or four).

It’s a wet/dry shaver and most effective on already-trimmed hair. However, it is not especially optimized for those with sensitive skin. With rechargeable batteries, it might be less convenient than a recharging cord like many full-size models. However, the battery lasts for 90 minutes, which is the longest battery life of any foil shavers on this list.

Here’s an in-depth review of the Panasonic electric shaver which you can read to see if this fits for your shaving needs.

The Remington F5-5800 foil shaver has an intercept shaving technology, which allows the shaver to trim long hair preparing your skin for a smooth shave. The Remington F5 foil shaver is the best foil shaver for thick hairs. This is because it has a flex head that adjusts instantly to different contours.

Furthermore, the Remington F5-5800 shaver has a detail trimmer to help you detail your sideburns and mustache. It uses sharp stainless steel blades. However, keep in mind that you cannot use it for a wet shave, as its design is only for dry shaving.

The Braun Series 3 is an affordable yet reliable shaver. It features 3 shaving elements and, with a specialized “micro comb,” it gently captures hairs. Even more so, it comes with a pop up trimmer. It has rechargeable batteries, which may not be the most convenient way to power your shaver, depending on how often you shave. It offers up to 45 minutes or so of shaving time on each battery.

This Braun Series 3 foil shaver is completely waterproof, designed to be used for both wet and dry shaving. This model doesn’t have a pivoting head, so it may be better for those who don’t typically have trouble reaching around the curves of their face with a foil shaver. It’s a great option for a wet/dry shaver with no frills at a good price.

Check out our in-depth article on the ProSkin shaver and see if it would definitely suit your shaving needs.

The Wahl LifeProof foil shaver boasts floating shaver heads that shave hair growing into different directions. They are made of stainless steel, while also having a precision trimmer, which gives you the freedom to shape and style beards, mustache, and sideburns.

With a shockproof housing, the shaver is protected from damage in case you accidentally drop it. One last thing: the shaver is waterproof, so you can use it in or out of a shower.

The Panasonic Arc3 features 3 blades, a pivoting head, and a pop-up trimmer. It’s designed to be used for either wet or dry shaving. It offers a close shave without nicking the skin. The Arc3 Panasonic shaver is rechargeable and features an LCD display that shows you when the battery is running low.

With an average battery life of 42 minutes, this shaver doesn’t last as long as some others. One highlight of this shaver is its “cleaning mode,” which makes it easier to get the blazes clean under water. The Arc3 is easy to use for beginners.

This Andis foil shaver fits comfortably in the hand and it is easy to hold and use. With hypoallergenic foil heads made of gold titanium and staggered blades to help you catch every hair, this best foil shaver is suitable for sensitive skin. It’s less likely to cause razor bumps than other shavers.

The Andis Profoil shaver can be used cordless or corded. It offers up to 80 minutes of shaving time on one charge thanks to the lithium-ion battery. Powerful and offering a close, safe shave, it’s easy to use by people of all experience levels. It’s best for using on already-trimmed hair, being designed for dry shaving.

This foil shaver from Wahl is quite similar to the Andis foil shaver, but has higher ratings and is more popular with users. The 5-Star shaver uses hypoallergenic gold foil that makes it gentle on sensitive skin. It’s rechargeable and cordless, offering 60 minutes of use on each charge. With an appealing, old-school aesthetic, this best foil shaver will make shaving all the more enjoyable.

While it’s intended to be used by professionals, we believe this foil shaver can be used by anyone with some experience using an electric foil shaver. This shaver is especially good for those who tend to suffer from razor bumps. This shaver is lightweight and easy to grip. It should be used for dry shaving only.

Here’s our full review of the Wahl Professional foil shaver for you to read. This will offer an in-depth image about its capacity.

This runner-up pick for the best foil shaver is appealing due to its low price, usability and high ratings. The Remington F5-4800 features a pivoting head and offers a precise, close shave. It’s not as close of a shave as some high-end foil shavers, but, for the money, it’s the best foil shaver you’ll find.

This shaver is made for both cordless or corded use. It offers up to 60 minutes of use on one charge. The shaver also features a detail trimmer. It’s suitable for most skin and hair types, including sensitive skin. It’s easy to clean by simply running the head underwater, but it is meant for dry shaving only.

This is best foil shaver comes with four sharp nanotech blades which offer a fast shave, thus giving you a smooth shave in a single pass. A thin stainless steel shields the blades so as to offer you a close shave. One of the main feats of the Panasonic Arc4 foil razor is that its cutting head glides and quickly adapts to the contours under your chin, on the neck, and the jaw.

With 13.000 cuts per hour thanks to its high-power motor, the foil shaver offers a guaranteed consistent shave. You can use it in a shower or for dry shaving.

Our top pick for the best foil shaver for men is the Braun Series 7 cordless foil shaver. This shaver is waterproof, has 4 blades, and usable for up to 50 minutes at a time after charging. One highlight to this foil shaver is that it comes with a “clean and charge” station on which to dock your foil shaver while charging it. That means that your shaver will stay feeling newer for longer without any extra effort on your part.

This Braun Series 7 foil shaver is easy to use for all experience levels, especially suitable for sensitive skin. It automatically adapts the power of the shaver to the density of the hair. Perhaps the only downside to this foil shaver is its price, but we say it’s worth the investment.

Our in-depth analysis of the Braun Series 7 foil shaver will come in handy in deciding if it suits all your shaving needs and if it is worth the money.