Best Electric Razors for Elderly Men
As you get older your skin changes, which can make shaving more difficult.
It’s the sad truth that, as we age, our bodies change, and the combination of softer, saggier skin can make it more vulnerable to cuts. At the same time, the surface of the skin can roughen, making it more likely to catch a razor.
Finally, hands can shake and hand-eye co-ordination might be a little off. All of this added up means that an electric razor, with its ease of use and built-in safety features, becomes a much more attractive prospect.
Best Electric Razors for Elderly Men in 2020
Braun Series 9
The Series 9 is the top of the range model in Braun’s electric shaver series, and what a monster it is.
German-made, the entire thing is exceptional quality and boasts Braun’s best shave yet. It’s been tested and proven to shave more hair in one pass than any other premium electric razor on the market.
5 titanium blades work together to deliver a close, clean shave, all constantly adjusted by the onboard computer that reads your face to change motor power and blade speed when needed, with no effort on your part.
Built-in sonic technology vibrates the blades a tiny amount, reducing friction and helping you get a gentle shave without razor burn, and the 10D head reads the contours, lumps, and bumps of your face, ensuring you’re clean-shaven even in the difficult areas.
Safe for wet and dry shaving, and waterproof down to 5 meters, the chassis itself is tough and hard-wearing and rated for 7 years of life under normal use.
The Series 9 also comes with a bespoke charging and cleaning station. Insert the razor and the station does the rest, cleaning blades, lubricating and oiling, as well as charging at the same time, extending the life of your investment even further.
When it comes to the best razors on the market right now, the Braun Series 9 is a definite contender, if not hitting the top spot. It’s that good.
Remington Heritage Series 9000
Resembling the kind of electric razor you’d see back in the day, before smartphones and the internet, the Heritage Series 9000 packs impressive performance into its compact body.
First off, it’s worth discussing how ridiculously tiny this is. It’s just over 10 square inches in surface area, smaller than a wallet or a standard phone. It’s also light, making it really easy to hold and maneuver around your face.
Three foil shaver blades made from stainless steel adapt to your face contours, with patented hybrid intercept technology designed to lift hairs from any angle, no matter what direction you’re shaving from.
Usable wet or dry, the Heritage can be rinsed under the faucet to clean it down, and lasts for around 60 minutes on full charges, recharging in under 2 hours.
Easy to use, easy to transport, and easy to maintain, the Heritage is a great choice if you’re looking for a simple electric razor that’s going to last.
Panasonic Arc5
Powerful, and stuffed with tech, the Arc5 shaver is a modern razor that packs a lot in such a small frame. Primarily in its motor. Compared to a lot of other razors, the Arc5 boasts almost 50% more speed and twice as much cutting force. That means a smoother, simpler, faster shave every single time.
5 ultra-sharp nanotech blades stick close to your skin, following the contours of your face for a close shave, even in difficult areas. The pivoting head and outer foils adjust to your face shape, and Panasonic’s Arc5 sensors read your face and beard thickness, boosting power to the motors to effortlessly cut through thicker hairs and difficult areas, and saving power where it’s not needed.
Unlike some electric razors, the Arc5 also boasts a wet shave feature. You don’t just have to use this dry. Lather up with your favorite shaving foam and have a close, luxurious shave, just like with a straight razor.
The kit comes with the shaver, power adapter, cleaning brush and travel pouch.
Braun Series 3 3040s
Braun are well known for their exceptional razors, and the Series 3 3040s exemplifies all of this. Ultra simple to use, it’s designed to make shaving as easy as possible.
3 foil blades use Braun’s patented SensoFoil technology to keep the shave close without irritating your skin. Microcombs capture more of the hair on each pass, making clean up easier and minimizing the number of times you have to shave each area.
Long beards or sideburns can be trimmed with the precision trimmer mounted on the back, and difficult areas like around the nose are simple to reach with the precision head.
All Braun shavers are waterproof down to 5 meters, so you can use this in the shower or over a full sink without worrying about damage, and it’s powered by a premium NiMH battery that fully charges in around an hour, or can be quickly charged for a single shave in around 5 minutes.
Philips Norelco OneBlade
Simple but effective, the OneBlade is a hybrid cross between an electric shaver and a replaceable, disposable razor. The head of the shaver is designed to be replaced, lasting around 4 months on average, ensuring that you always get the closest shave possible.
Slim and easy to hold, it fits well in the hand and moves around the face easily. It features a dual bladed head, so you can shave in both directions, which is a huge help when you’re styling facial hair or working around difficult areas like the nose and ears.
The rechargeable battery lasts around 45 minutes on a full charge, and charges overnight, in around 8 hours. Water resistant, it can be cleaned off under the faucet, and is also perfectly suited for wet shaving, and use in the shower.
Trimming lengths are adjusted with snap-on heads. 3 are provided with the kit, as well as a charge. Finally, it’s all covered by a rock solid Philips 2 year warranty.
Philips Norelco 6880/81
Rotary shavers are simple to use, and tend to be more comfortable on the face, because the cutting heads flex and move around in 8 different directions, a whole lot more than straight foils.
72 self-sharpening SkinProtect blades follow the contours of your skin, with the three ComfortGlide rings reducing friction and the chance of razor burn even more. For sensitive areas, you can activate the guard mode, which reduces the motor speed and gives you a softer, gentler shave.
The head snaps free for easier cleaning, and the kit contains a precision head that can be used for difficult areas. The Lithium Ion battery charges in around an hour, giving you over a dozen shaves on average, and also quick charges in less than five minutes for a single emergency shave.
Finally, the 6880 is incredibly easy to use, with an impressive set of LED indicators that tell you everything from battery life, to when the blades need cleaning, and even when the blades need replacing!
SweetLF 3D
A more budget oriented option that doesn’t skimp on features, despite the lower price. While it doesn’t excel in any area, what is on offer is solid and functional, and does exactly what you need it to do.
Three stainless steel rotary heads ensure a close shave, each one mounted on a 4 direction floating head that flexes to match the contours of your face. There’s a built in beard trimmer that pops out from the back, to help with difficult areas and longer hairs.
Waterproof, it’s safe for shower shaving or wet and dry shaves with soap or shaving foam. It charges in around an hour, and boasts an impressive 120 minutes of shaving time, with a 5 level LED indicator letting you know how much juice is left. The provided charger is USB.
PriTech Rotary Shaving Kit
A budget kit with a lot of included options and accessories. If you’re looking for something that can handle your beard, moustache, and even things like excessive ear and nose hair, you may have found the right shaver.
The kit contains a huge amount including; the shaver body, electric shaver head, sideburn trimmer head, nose trimmer, charging cable, US power adapter and carry bag.
The rotary heads are quality stainless steel, mounted to a 4D system that allows it to flex in 4 different directions so it can match the contours of your face. Fully waterproof, with a long lasting battery, while this might not boast the sheer quality of something like a Braun or Philips shaver, what’s on offer is incredibly impressive, and more than worth the asking price.
Philips Norelco Multigroom Series
A full grooming kit that’s similar to what you’d see at your local barbers, the Multigroom series is a powerful set with a huge amount of add ons and attachments, making it suited to dealing with almost everything, whether you need to shave your face, head, or body.
The shaver itself is built around a full metal motor and drive train, which is made from tempered steel for a longer lasting lifespan, and the DualCut blades are self sharpening and rated for up to 5 years of full service.
The kit contains a massive 18 different shaver heads and attachments, including the full range of hair trimmers, which will also work on your beard. You also get a beard foil for closer shaves, a precision trimmer, as well as a rotary nostril trimmer.
Because it’s designed for heavy duty use, the battery lasts a lot longer than anything else on this list, with a massive 5 hours of runtime. Tough, hard wearing, suitable for business use but also perfect for homes, the Multigroom is a one stop shop for men’s grooming needs.
OriHea 4 in 1 Cordless Face and Head Shaver
A razor designed for use on your head, as well as on your face, if you or your loved ones favor a shaved head, then this is the perfect option.
Small and easy to hold, the compact design makes this much easier to use when you’re trying to shave lesser reached areas like the back of your head, or under the chin. It’s also much easier to hold than a conventional electric razor, especially considering its lightweight, so it’s a great option for someone lacking grip.
The shaver comes with 5 different heads, including the shaver, beard trimmer, hair clippers, and guide combs, a nose hair trimmer, and a soft brush to clean your face. 5 4D flex heads float over your skin, ensuring a close and even shave.
Charging is easy and convenient, and can be charged from anything that accepts a USB socket, charges in around 90 minutes, and lasts just as long. It’s also water-resistant, and all heads are waterproof, making it super easy to clean.
The Best Electric Razor Buyer’s Guide
Most high-quality electric razors follow the same general principles, but there are some key changes between manufacturers and models that you should be paying attention to. Here’s what you should be looking for when buying an electric razor:
The blades
As they’re the part that’s in contact with your face and doing the majority of the work, you should invest in good blades.
Most good electric shavers will have stainless steel blades, meaning they are corrosion and rust resistant, as well as holding their edge for longer without sharpening.
The best razors have titanium blades, which are more expensive, but sharper and will hold their edge for longer.
The motor
The motor drives the blades, so there’s no point in having a high quality set of blades without any power to drive them.
Almost all good razors will have a powerful motor, as decent motors are relatively cheap. What differs between razors is their special features, including power boost features and low power modes.
The battery
All good shavers will have a Lithium Ion (Li-ion) or Lithium Hydroxide (LiHd) battery. Batteries like these are used in almost everything, because they charge quickly, hold their charge for a long time, and have a good lifespan.
Avoid any electric shavers that don’t have batteries of this type.
Some shavers also used to have a fully wired connection, meaning it won’t work unless it’s plugged into a wall socket. Considering how cheap a shaver with a good battery is, and the flexibility and option to take it other places a battery gives you, it’s generally the better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use an electric razor?
The main reason to use an electric razor is convenience. An electric razor is so much simpler to do than a traditional wet shave. It requires almost no preparation, and minimal clean up. Simply turn the razor on and shave down your face, then wipe away any hair residue and you’re done.
Most good electric razors also have the option for wet shaving, giving you the best of both worlds. That means you can use a shaving foam or a soap to get a significantly closer shave.
For elderly gentlemen, there’s another advantage.
Electric shavers are easy to use. A straight razor, or even a cartridge razor, is easy to cut yourself with, whereas an electric razor is almost impossible to cut yourself with, even if you’re trying, and the chance of major injury is almost minimal.
Finally, even though an electric razor is a reasonable investment up front, they can save you money in the long term. A decent razor will last several years, and if you add up the costs of razors, shaving gel, and other incidentals, the cost is at least equal, if not far more if you’re buying premium razors.
Are electric razors waterproof?
The answer is complicated, because most electric razors have some degree of waterproofing, but it varies hugely between models.
There are three main variations to look out for:
Splash resistant: Otherwise called rinsable or washable, a splash resistant razor can be washed clean under a faucet, but should not be submerged in water.
Water resistant: A water resistant razor is safe to use when wet shaving, can be washed clean, and is generally also safe to use in the shower.
Waterproof: A waterproof razor will generally have a rating, such as 5m. Waterproof razors will be safe to use in and around water, and can be submerged up to their rated depth, meaning you don’t have to worry if they get dropped into the bath.
Do electric razors give you as close a shave as a wet shave?
In the past, electric razors were known for giving razor burn, leaving stubble, giving an uneven shave and being all round worse than using a straight or cartridge razor.
Thankfully, the advancement of modern technology has eliminated pretty much all of these problems. A good electric razor will deliver a close, clean, even shave. Will it rival the closeness of an expertly finished wet shave?
No. But it will be very close. To anyone watching, it’s going to look almost exactly the same.
