If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best electric razor for a teenager is then I’d recommend the Braun 3 Series ProSkin as the best one.
Looking to up your shaving game with the best electric razor for you or your teenager?
Man, this is a topic that brings back memories! I was sooo excited -- even a little nervous -- when I started shaving.
Electric razors can be a great tool for guys who are new to shaving. But you are still gonna wanna know how to use the thing as well as wanting to grab one that is right for you.
I’ve sorted through the contenders: reviews and recommendations below.
Capiche? Sound good? Let’s Get it Going!
Are electric razors really good for teenagers?
If not done properly, teenage shaving can be like a scene from Nightmare on Elm Street. A good electric razor, however, can transform this rite of passage into something more like American Pie: a joyous combination of bro jokes and pie. (I’m so old. What are the kids watching these days?)
A major stumbling block is naturally going to be price. After all, you could be foolish like I was back in the day and try to start shaving with just a Bic disposable razor.
It is definitely true that an electric razor is going to have more *upfront* cost than a disposable. But, you are also going to throw out that Bic disposable after just a week or so. Remember: a half-way decent electric razor can be used for a couple years. That adds up to a *lot* of shaves, even if you are just getting started; and, a lot of shaves would otherwise take up a lot of disposable razors.
More importantly still, if you or your teenage son is cutting up his face with a disposable blade, well then it only makes sense to switch things up. An electric razor is going to be safer - that is just a fact. He can run that weed whacker across his face for a while, and then who knows he might come back to straight razors eventually. Give the young guy some time and space to learn the art of self-care!
So, from those two perspectives of cost over time and overall value, i would argue that electric razors can be a very good fit for today’s teenager. It is really up to you, of course, but if you are interested in an electric razor, I’ve combed through the market to share some recommendations for the novice shaver out there.
Here is a look at the factors i considered in preparing my reviews and recommendations
What to look for when sorting through electric razors for today’s young buck
My rankings are not based on past glory.
I’ve gone through major brands as well as the specialty and newer offerings. Here are some factors you will want to consider when tracking down the right electric razor for a teenager
Price
Some electric razors cost more than my monthly rent when I was back in college. Crazy!
High prices might - *might* - make sense for a guy with thick facial hair and a need to climb the corporate ladder. But, as a teenager, you are probably more focused on the important things in life, like video games, or pie!
Ease of Use
You are just starting to shave but you still want to get a nice clean look.
A first consideration here is whether the device is battery operated, and if so whether the batteries hold a proper charge. Long-lasting, rechargeable batteries are definitely recommended.
Second is design. Some electric shavers may be either overly fancy or just look down right weird. You probably don’t want that. What you may want instead is a simple unit that will sit comfortably in your hand.
Hardware
Think of the blades and the motor in your electric razor like the hardware in your computer.
Does your laptop need the same specs as a gaming computer? In the same way, the blades and motor in your first electric razor do not need to be especially incredible.
What you do need are hardware that is consistent and reliable, right? Make sure the blades are stainless steel. This is especially important if you are gonna get your razor wet.
We are talking about electric razors here so there is no avoiding the need for a quality motor for your weed whacker. In most cases, this will mean avoiding a ‘rotating’ motor
Pivoting Head
This is important. A pivoting head is probably more important than the hardware in your first electric razor, but people freak out when i say that …
Let’s go back to the computer analogy. Say you have a super computer from the 1970s but it comes without a mouse - is that going to work? The underlying hardware is powerful enough to send a man to the man, but neither you nor I are going to know how to use the f*cking thing.
Old school electric razors only moved along a single-axis: back and forth, up and down. The result was rigid, and not very comfortable.
New school electric razors, at least the good ones, are gonna have a privoting mechanism that is installed between the motor and the razors blades. This little beauty is technically called a ‘pivoting head’ or more simply still a ‘shaving head’. It is what gives today’s electric razors a flexible, dynamic feel.
There are still stranglers that insist on churning out electric razors without a pivoting head (cough Wahl, cough). All of the electric razors recommended below have a pivoting head, because it is important.
Foil v Rotary
There was once a time when this was a big debate among guys who like to argue about grooming instruments.
Some guys swear by rotary, but here is my question: who are these guys? Unless you go out and spend several hundred dollars, it is almost guaranteed that a rotary razor is going to pull, yank, and jerk at your facial hair. Is that what you want?
An increasing consensus is emerging that foil and especially ‘micro foil’ is what you need to look for. You are going to find that the leading manufacturers are now heavily invested in foil razors.
Why is everyone going foil? It’s simple, actually: foil delivers the closest shave you are gonna get without going old-school wet shave. And, thanks to the pivoting head introduced above foil shavers have become faster and more flexible.
Do You Also Need a Trimmer?
Just to be extra clear, we are reviewing razors here. If you have long facial hair that you want to shorten without removing, then you are going to be better off with a slightly different tool that is called a trimmer.
A trimmer will be most useful for the older guy who is looking to rock a beard (or moustache). But, even if you want to shave your entire face, a trimmer can still be useful. You might want to trim hair down before you go in for the final shave. Or, you might want to use the trimmer to maintain a line around, for example, your sideburns.
Some electric razors come with an add-on trimmer.
From an Old Man to a Young Man: Words to the Wise about Shaving and, yes, electric razors
This topic really brings back memories! I was sooo excited -- even nervous -- when I started shaving. I still remember it now: I cut my chin while trying to “shave” with handsoap and a bic. L O L
The following is a quick and dirty list of things that you should know before you start to shave, especially if you are using an electric razor. (I am working on a longer guide. Feel free to drop an email if you are interested.)
First, keep it simple: go lightly, don’t press, and don’t scrape across the same area over and over again like a ferret on adderal. When you are first starting, just treat it like practice: gently pull the skin taut with one hand and use your other hand to guide the foils over your face. Use slow, steady, and consistent strokes. Experiment with circular motions if you must.
Second, an electric razor will require some break-in time. A good rule of thumb is two-weeks. No one can really explain why this happens, but it will take a couple of weeks of shaving with the same electric razor before your face gets used to it. At first, there might be some patchiness and even a little pain - it does not mean that you are failing at puberty. It just means that things take time.
Third, there is no free lunch and there are no miracles in this world. Electric razors offer convenience and, over time, potential cost savings. But, if you absolutely need a skin tight shave, than you are actually better off with a hot towel, a mug of shaving cream, and a straight blade.
Fourth, so long as it is cordless (!) you should be able to use your electric razor in the shower. The advantage with this is that your face is already going to be softened. But, do remember that the mirror might also be fogged up because of the humidity. Also, in terms of getting a close shave, its better to use your new weed wacker *after* the shower: the foil mechanism is going to work best on *dry* skin.
Fifth, if you break the razor then its not going to work well, so try not to break it. For example, the foil heads are fragile, so don’t dent or bend them. Most electric razors are rinsable, and in that case you should rinse it. (More expensive units may come with a ‘cleaning station’ that will require a cleaning cartridge. Those things will need to be replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.)
The following introduces five electric razors that will have your teenage face looking soft and hairless.
Scroll down for my specific reviews
I got you, little hommie.
Braun 3 Series ProSkin
The Braun Series 3 gives you what you need when are just getting started without a whole bunch of fancy schmanzy add-ons.
First, this an affordable electric razor that will have you looking shiny like an apple (or, if you prefer, polished like a future captain of industry). It is also easy to use: it is 100% waterproof so you can use it in the shower, and it has a lengthy runtime that is shown on its built-in LED monitor.
Second, let’s talk about the actual shaving mechanism, which I described above as the ‘hardware’. The Braun Series 3’s hardware is very hard to beat at this price point.
Your new weed whacking device is going to be running a “Triple Action Cutting System” - a combination of two foil guards and a floating trimmer in the middle. That use of three shaving elements is, by the way, also why they call it a ‘series 3’.
What do the different elements do? It is basically a two-step process: the floating trimmer in the middle is going to take care of longer hairs. It will trim longer hairs down to a tight stubble-length. Then the foil guards are going to come in and trim your stubble down to just about nothing.
The result? Braun’s Triple Action Cutting System should give you a very close shave even if your facial hair is irregular in length. It will do this without pulling at longer hair and the resulting irritation. Heck, unless you are sprout hair like some kind of mutant, you won’t even need to shave everyday.
It is hard to find a disadvantage here.
Braun has been an industrial powerhouse since your grandfather was a young whipper-snapper. When it comes to at-home facial hair grooming the guys at Braun just taking things very, very seriously.
This is not an accident.
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Panasonic Milano Arc 3 (ESSL41A)
I love American brands and made-in-America products, but I also respect the craftsmanship and excellence in engineering that goes in to *some* foreign products. Japan’s leading manufacturers, such as Panasonic, produce particularly polished and pleasing products.
Your first advantage with the Panasonic Milano will be the blades. As the name suggests, it comes with blades that are packed under three shaving elements - two foils and a trimmer. Panasonic describes its blades as ‘nanotech stainless steel’ and they are sharpened to 30°. The result is closeness that you are unlikely to find in any other brand. In fact, these are the same blades that are used in Panasonic’s more expensive models.
Two other design features are going to compliment the closeness and sharpness of the blades: the arched (dome-shaped) foil guards, which move independently and thus adjust to the contours of your face, and a quick-pivoting shaving head.
What is a “quick-pivoting shaving head”? It's jargon for the mechanism that positions the blades in place. In this case, it pivots back-and-forth, up-and-down with grace to lift and position your facial hairs. Ultimately, you get a gentler shave than with a stationary or fixed head.
At 60 minutes of run-time for a 60 minute charge the battery is another advantage and even has a 3-minute quick charge option. The Panasonic Milano is also wet/dry, which means it is easy to clean by simply rinsing the unit under running water. Another nice although not exciting feature is the Panasonic Milano’s pop-up trimmer, which can be used for a simple line-up, i.e. on your sideburns, or to clear around your moustache.
What are the drawbacks of the Panasonic Milano Arc3?
There are a few limitations that you might want to consider.
First, ARC 3s are no longer made in Japan.
Second, there is a fair amount of confusion around the wide-range of model names associated with this product line. Some are going to be considerably more expensive and some are gonna be surprisingly cheap. You need to know the specific product number.
As noted earlier, an electric razor is going to require a modest up-front investment and you should be able to rely on your investment to last for a long time. If you know the various product numbers, you can find that Panasonic sell high-quality shavers at a relatively modest price resulting in excellent value. The best example of this is the Milano Series Arc 3.
Remington (F5-5800)
Hey! Seen anything good on Netflix recently? I personally love me some Mad Men.
Don Draper, that guy is ice cold. I was surprised to see the Don using an electric razor in Series 7. He used to rock the old-school straight blade shave with lather. But, in Series 7 he is “moving with the times” and using an electric razor.
Well, there is no info about exactly what electric razor he is using in that episode but I am pretty sure that Don would have used a Remington. There is something cool about even just the name -- sounds like a weapon. Remington is definitely a classic, all American brand. Times change but the Remington aesthetic remains both classic and attractive.
Remington is no longer a luxury brand. But, some of its razors now provide excellent value for money. The Remington F5-5800 has outperformed similarly priced electric razors from Braun and Panasonic in testing.
THe Remington F5-5800 uses a dual-foil system with a center lift-and-cut trimmer on a pivoting head. It will definitely deliver a close shave. (It is not going to give you the world’s closest shave, it is going to deliver a sufficiently close shave.)
- Surgical Stainless Steel Blades - Shave quickly and cleanly with the sharp, long-lasting blades housed beneath two durable foils.
The battery is gonna last for about 60 minutes on a full charge. Tgat is a bit less than what Braun delivers, but 60 minutes should be more than enough for most people, even teenagers.
There are a couple potential shortcomings of the Remington F5-5800 that you should bear in mind, tho.
First, although it has a pivoting head, that head only pivots on a single axis. So you don’t have the multi-axis movement of a more expensive electric razor. The Remington F5-5800 is only going to pivot up and down. This means that the shaving process is going to be a bit more time consuming.
Second, some users of the Remington F5-5800 are less than impressed with the sounds this thing makes. Some people describe it as ‘buzzy’. Furthermore, you are gonna want to maintain a light touch in order to avoid irritating your skin. But, that really is common sense and part of mastering the ‘art of shaving’.
I am gonna give it to you straight: some of Remington’s products are more Walmart and less Mad Men; but, the brand also has some excellent value-for-money electric razors. This razor delivers good-enough performance at a strong price point.
Andis ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil Cordless Shaver (17150)
Speaking of Mad Men, are you looking for something with a strong ‘Americana’ vibe? If you are interested in a tried-and-true workhorse from the classic barbershop game, check out the Andis ProFoil.
Ask just about any barber and they will know this little beauty. The Andis ProFoil is simple and produces a close shave time after time. In fact, the ProFoil is among the closest shaving electric razors out there, and its competitors in that regard will be much more expensive.
Traditionally, the ProFoil has been used by barbers for the following key tasks
- finishing fades
- Cleaning up neck lines
- removing stubble
The result has been, to put it modestly, that ultra-close, smoothly shaved feeling you get at the barbershop.
Additional advantages of the ProFoil are gonna be the staggered hypo-allergenic foil heads. These thing provide a clean and irritation shave in areas where there is minimal hair and only short stubble.
Furthermore, this little puppy comes with a great, lithium ion battery. It offers 80 minutes of nonstop run time on a single charge. I use my ProFoil 4-5 days a week and it often runs for a couple months without needing a charge.
The ProFoil also offers the option of both corded and cordless operation. This means that you never have to stop shaving. Even if your charge gets low, you can just plug it in to the wall and keep going.
Traditionally, the wrap against the ProFoil for home use has been that it does not necessarily deal well with either longer hairs or very dense facial hair. You definitely need to keep that in mind. But, since this post is about electric shavers and electric razors for teenagers, well i think those factors are less relevant.
After all, when was the last time you met a teenage guy with super thick facial hair? I’ve never seen it to be frank. What I would say, tho, is that if you are going to go with the Andis ProFoil you need to be sure that your beard is not going to grow out between shaves.
What does that mean practically? You need to ready to either use it regularly, like every second day, or you need to have a trimmer that can get your stubble down ‘close to the bone’ before you start applying the Andis ProFoil.
Can this all-american bad boy make an excellent first electric razor for today’s teenager? I would argue in the affirmative.
Conclusion
Ah, to be young again. … I mean, being middle aged has its (admittedly, pretty lame) perks. But, being a teenager - that is pure glory man!
Live it up!
As for the question of which electric razor to use. It is not really that big a deal. I do personally recommend the Braun 3 Series ProSkin as the best choice for a teenager. But, really just get the one that you like and that you feel comfortable with.
Any questions about shaving, just send me an email. I got you guys.