First you gotta identify whether you’re more suited for a foil or a rotary shaver. Things like how sensitive your skin is, how coarse your hair is, how sharp/defined your facial features are etc.
I tend to prefer rotaries as they’re easier on my sensitive skin and especially the newer models adjust to my face’s contours waaay better. Any newer gen Philips Norelco can work well in such cases. Think 7000 series or upper — the 5000 series isn’t that great for close facial shaves. Like this one: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Philips-S7786-54-Electric-Precision/dp/B08T24LRR9/?th=1 I’ve always found Norelcos to be extremely easy to wash/clean too.
Foils shave closer but I found they absolutely wreck my skin and they’re clunkier to use around my face (due to my facial features). I use the Braun Series 5 to shave my head and it’s decent. If I were to use a foil on my face, though, it’d be the Series 8 (a somewhat recent buff to Braun’s mid line) as the extra perks are great for facial shaving. Like this: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/8340s-V-Electric-Shaver-System-Shaving/dp/B08HMLQ1MG?th=1 (I don’t like getting the bundles with a cleaning station as it’s not worth the $$$ IMHO)
If you’re ready to splurge, just go one generation higher. Like Norelco 9000 or Braun 9+. I think Panasonic’s Arc series are all overpriced for what they offer.
Super Stubble Man here. Over the years I’ve used rotary and foil shavers: Philips, Panasonic and Braun. Every couple of years I find a new perfect solution and then, a couple of years later, I’m looking for a new perfect solution. I find foils work really well above the jawline and rotaries work well on the neck. Naturally, I’ve had a phase during which I used both a foil and a rotary shaver in tandem. These days I use a Panasonic for a first pass and finish up with a wet shave. I’m not going to give you specific model recommendations because they are just so many models that do so many things; but I personally tend to go mid-range simply because (a) the top-of-the-line stuff comes with those blocky cleaning stations which I just don’t like and (b) my stubble wears them all down within a year. My current shaver is a Panasonic ES-LT2B. If I had to pick an excellent starter model, Braun 3010s – outstanding value for money!
If you’re in or around Tokyo head to a Labi (Shibuya has the biggest) and you’ll find an entire half floor of electric foil and rotary shavers to pick from. I myself prefer Panasonic foil wet/dry ones and my current one has lasted over a year without the need for a foil replacement.
Whatever you take, do not buy one that cannot be used when plugged.
I have a philips like that, and when the battery dies you can’t change it, and you can’t charge it ‘enough’ either. As soon as you unplug it after charging and turn it on, it goes into ‘not enough battery, cannot start’ mode.
Completely ridiculous for a few years old machine. Never again your ewaste Philips, or any other brand. No buy if it does not work plugged.
My second criteria is that it works on 220v too, for travel.
I recently discovered Xaiomi’s shavers, which are insanely cheap compared to the traditional brands and also quite high-quality. They have cool designs and support USB-C charging, which is handy. You can’t buy them directly in Japan I think, but tons of shops sell them on AliExpress. They have foils and rotaries and are like 1/5 the cost of the major brands.
Also, for that weekend shave, I’d like to suggest a wet shave with a shavette. After a few months of practice, you can be slightly faster with that than an electric razor 🙂
Doesn’t matter the size of your stubble, it’s one swipe and that area is done 🙂
Panasonic Lamdash 5 works very well. It’s the same as the Arc5 in the west. It’s the only electric I’ve ever gotten a good shave from, and I’m comparing to an old school safety razor.
I have very sensitive and dry skin and even a very careful wet shave with a DE razor and top-notch shaving soap leaves me red and pock-marked. Shame because I used to love the ritual of a good shave.
Anyway I have just been using a generic clipper thing to keep my stubble at an even 2mm. I am fair-skinned with blondish hair so it doesn’t really stick out, but I haven’t had any problems at work or otherwise for not being totally clean shaven. YMMV
I can grow a full beard quite easily. I used Panasonic Arc5 for 10 years, then got the Arc6 last year. Both really get my face smooth like a baby’s skin around my cheeks and jaw line, but I still have to use a tweezer and a razor to get some stubborn spots around my neck. Not so much if I shave everyday. But because the shaving head is so big, I have to use a razor around my side burns and right under my nose or else it’ll miss those spots. Especially the Arc6. But the Arc6 is way better when I don’t shave for 2 days and have a stubble, which happens often. In that case it was worth the upgrade.
I have very sensitive skin, and splurged on a Braun wet and dry electric razor some years ago (today it would be Series 9). Without doubt the most comfortable home shave I have ever had, but the consumables were a significant cost on an ongoing basis. I have now gone full Hagrid, even during the Japanese summer!
Safety razors provide a closer shave than mechanical razors. As a hairy man myself, once I switched to a safety razor I never went back to electric. It’s better for the skin too.
I keep a beard and tend to do well in society.
I have a heavy beard as well. I use a Philips Series 5000 and I’m quite satisfied with it. It’s several years old, though, so IDK what the latest models are.
Has anyone tried Izumi branded shavers? I’ve seen them in department stores with the top models being up to 50000 yen. They look and feel quite good, but little to no reviews I can find online.
Phillips one blade is a good electric shaver. Personally I prefer wet shaving, Id just stick with a Gillette Mach 3 and some cheap shaving cream you’ll get a closer shave with a manual razor
I use a Phillips oneblade to hack it down to tiny stubble and a cheapo multiblade razor with a standard shave to finish. I don’t need to do much with the multiblade, so it’s not too harsh on my skin.
I have a Panasonic lambda 2 shaver and while it does my baldy head a treat 👨🦲it barely makes a dent when it comes to my neck. So I still use a disposable on my face.
TLDR: can’t recommend for Panasonic lambda 2 if you have fairly thick beard 🧔♀️
17 comments
First you gotta identify whether you’re more suited for a foil or a rotary shaver. Things like how sensitive your skin is, how coarse your hair is, how sharp/defined your facial features are etc.
I tend to prefer rotaries as they’re easier on my sensitive skin and especially the newer models adjust to my face’s contours waaay better. Any newer gen Philips Norelco can work well in such cases. Think 7000 series or upper — the 5000 series isn’t that great for close facial shaves. Like this one: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Philips-S7786-54-Electric-Precision/dp/B08T24LRR9/?th=1 I’ve always found Norelcos to be extremely easy to wash/clean too.
Foils shave closer but I found they absolutely wreck my skin and they’re clunkier to use around my face (due to my facial features). I use the Braun Series 5 to shave my head and it’s decent. If I were to use a foil on my face, though, it’d be the Series 8 (a somewhat recent buff to Braun’s mid line) as the extra perks are great for facial shaving. Like this: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/8340s-V-Electric-Shaver-System-Shaving/dp/B08HMLQ1MG?th=1 (I don’t like getting the bundles with a cleaning station as it’s not worth the $$$ IMHO)
If you’re ready to splurge, just go one generation higher. Like Norelco 9000 or Braun 9+. I think Panasonic’s Arc series are all overpriced for what they offer.
Super Stubble Man here. Over the years I’ve used rotary and foil shavers: Philips, Panasonic and Braun. Every couple of years I find a new perfect solution and then, a couple of years later, I’m looking for a new perfect solution. I find foils work really well above the jawline and rotaries work well on the neck. Naturally, I’ve had a phase during which I used both a foil and a rotary shaver in tandem. These days I use a Panasonic for a first pass and finish up with a wet shave. I’m not going to give you specific model recommendations because they are just so many models that do so many things; but I personally tend to go mid-range simply because (a) the top-of-the-line stuff comes with those blocky cleaning stations which I just don’t like and (b) my stubble wears them all down within a year. My current shaver is a Panasonic ES-LT2B. If I had to pick an excellent starter model, Braun 3010s – outstanding value for money!
If you’re in or around Tokyo head to a Labi (Shibuya has the biggest) and you’ll find an entire half floor of electric foil and rotary shavers to pick from. I myself prefer Panasonic foil wet/dry ones and my current one has lasted over a year without the need for a foil replacement.
Whatever you take, do not buy one that cannot be used when plugged.
I have a philips like that, and when the battery dies you can’t change it, and you can’t charge it ‘enough’ either. As soon as you unplug it after charging and turn it on, it goes into ‘not enough battery, cannot start’ mode.
Completely ridiculous for a few years old machine. Never again your ewaste Philips, or any other brand. No buy if it does not work plugged.
My second criteria is that it works on 220v too, for travel.
I recently discovered Xaiomi’s shavers, which are insanely cheap compared to the traditional brands and also quite high-quality. They have cool designs and support USB-C charging, which is handy. You can’t buy them directly in Japan I think, but tons of shops sell them on AliExpress. They have foils and rotaries and are like 1/5 the cost of the major brands.
Here’s [their top rotary](https://www.mi.com/sg/product/xiaomi-electric-shaver-s700/), for example.
Also, for that weekend shave, I’d like to suggest a wet shave with a shavette. After a few months of practice, you can be slightly faster with that than an electric razor 🙂
Doesn’t matter the size of your stubble, it’s one swipe and that area is done 🙂
https://www.feather.co.jp/en/bh_Products/professional.html
Panasonic Lamdash 5 works very well. It’s the same as the Arc5 in the west. It’s the only electric I’ve ever gotten a good shave from, and I’m comparing to an old school safety razor.
I have very sensitive and dry skin and even a very careful wet shave with a DE razor and top-notch shaving soap leaves me red and pock-marked. Shame because I used to love the ritual of a good shave.
Anyway I have just been using a generic clipper thing to keep my stubble at an even 2mm. I am fair-skinned with blondish hair so it doesn’t really stick out, but I haven’t had any problems at work or otherwise for not being totally clean shaven. YMMV
I can grow a full beard quite easily. I used Panasonic Arc5 for 10 years, then got the Arc6 last year. Both really get my face smooth like a baby’s skin around my cheeks and jaw line, but I still have to use a tweezer and a razor to get some stubborn spots around my neck. Not so much if I shave everyday. But because the shaving head is so big, I have to use a razor around my side burns and right under my nose or else it’ll miss those spots. Especially the Arc6. But the Arc6 is way better when I don’t shave for 2 days and have a stubble, which happens often. In that case it was worth the upgrade.
I have very sensitive skin, and splurged on a Braun wet and dry electric razor some years ago (today it would be Series 9).
Without doubt the most comfortable home shave I have ever had, but the consumables were a significant cost on an ongoing basis.
I have now gone full Hagrid, even during the Japanese summer!
Safety razors provide a closer shave than mechanical razors. As a hairy man myself, once I switched to a safety razor I never went back to electric. It’s better for the skin too.
I keep a beard and tend to do well in society.
I have a heavy beard as well. I use a Philips Series 5000 and I’m quite satisfied with it. It’s several years old, though, so IDK what the latest models are.
Has anyone tried Izumi branded shavers? I’ve seen them in department stores with the top models being up to 50000 yen. They look and feel quite good, but little to no reviews I can find online.
Phillips one blade is a good electric shaver. Personally I prefer wet shaving, Id just stick with a Gillette Mach 3 and some cheap shaving cream you’ll get a closer shave with a manual razor
I use a Phillips oneblade to hack it down to tiny stubble and a cheapo multiblade razor with a standard shave to finish. I don’t need to do much with the multiblade, so it’s not too harsh on my skin.
I have a Panasonic lambda 2 shaver and while it does my baldy head a treat 👨🦲it barely makes a dent when it comes to my neck. So I still use a disposable on my face.
TLDR: can’t recommend for Panasonic lambda 2 if you have fairly thick beard 🧔♀️