Electric Shaver Care & Shaving Tips

Cleaning Your Electric Shaver

It's best to clean your shaver after every shave. On Braun, Panasonic, or Remington foil shavers you can lift off the head frame, which holds the screen (foil), and gently brush out the whiskers from the under side with the cleaning brush the manufacturers supply. Do not touch the screen itself with the cleaning brush. It is very fragile. Below the screen is the cutter (blades) and that’s the part you need to brush out. Get all the accumulated whiskers out of the cutter, so that it can properly cut your beard. Whisker residue builds up on the cutters and can prevent you from getting a good shave.

If your shaver is equipped with a cleaning station, run it through the clean and charge cycle every day. This will clean, lubricate and recharge the shaver, making it seem like a brand new shaver every time you shave. This also is the best way to extend the life of the shaving heads.

For Philips Norelco rotary head shavers, lift off the razor head assembly and brush out the under side of the three cutters and the razor chamber. Do not tap heads on the sink to remove whiskers. This may dent or damage the precision-made combs. Every other month (or more if necessary) remove each of the cutters and combs from the retaining plate, keeping each set as a matched pair. Brush whiskers from the cutters and soak in liquid cleaner and lubricate.

Caring For Your Shaver

After you clean your shaver, it is important to lubricate the metal surfaces of your screen and cutter. Spray a product such as Remington's "SP4 Shaver Saver" on the shaving screen while the shaver is running. This immediately frees up any metal against metal binding. Use this lubricant sparingly. No need to wipe it off. Proceed with your shaving. You’ll notice a pick up in the sound level of your shaver’s motor which tells you that it is then operating at its maximum power level.

Replacing The Screen & Cutter

To get a good close shave, you must start with a smooth screen and sharp cutters. Over a period of time, usually one year, the screen will become thin and may wear through and the blades will become dull. For best results, we recommend that you replace these parts annually during the life of the shaver. If you don't, you'll be inclined to press harder to get a closer shave, or you may go over the same area of your face repeatedly. Either of these actions will often result in irritated skin.

Electric Shaver vs. Blade Shaving

Properly used, most electric shavers can give you a shave that is every bit as close as, if not closer, than a shave obtained from a blade razor. How is this possible? An electric shaver rolls up the skin ahead of the whisker, forcing the whisker up above what would be considered the skin line, where it is then cut off. You might think of this as shaving your whisker off below the skin line, since the whiskers are forced up before they are sheared off.

Every time you shave with a manual razor you actually take off a very thin layer of skin. This can be a problem for people who have difficulty healing or even dangerous for people who are on blood thinning medication. This situation can be difficult with seniors who have wrinkled skin. Seniors may also have an unsteady hand making it possible to have nicks and cuts. With electric shaving, you are shaving at or below the skin line, without actually shaving the skin. When shaving with a blade there is replacement scar tissue produced after every razor blade shave. You don’t produce this scar tissue with electric shaving.

Preparing Your Beard

Some people like to shower or wash their face before shaving which helps to soften their beard. Softening your beard hairs doesn’t just apply if you shave with a manual razor and shaving cream, electric shaving can also be improved if the beard is softer. Other people find that if they shower or wash before shaving it swells the tissue on their face and they don't get as close a shave as if they shave a dry face and beard. One could also try an alcohol based pre-shave or a powder stick such as the Remington SP5. If using a pre-shave lotion, wash your hands before picking up the razor, pre-shave lotion can affect the finish on your shaver.

Shaving Technique

Gently rub your fingers over your face to find out what direction your beard is growing. It may vary from one part of your face to another. Now pull the skin gently with one hand, while dragging the shaver against the direction of growth with your other hand. This will give you the closest shave. In the case of a rotary-type shaver like Philips, make small circular motions of the shaver head on your face. Remember, do not to press hard or go over the same spot repeatedly.

Sensitive Skin

Many men who have very sensitive skin report that it helps them to shave the most tender areas of their face (the neck area below the jawbone) first, and then move up to the tougher areas of their face in the areas between the ears, nose and mouth. Some shavers generate heat on their shaving surfaces and heat can cause irritation. So shave the tender areas of your face first while the shaver head is coolest.

Ingrown Hair

Some customers have a problem with ingrown hair. This may result from abrasions on the skin that have healed and scabbed over the follicle. In other instances, a dull cutter may shred curly hair follicles causing them to snag the skin’s surface and grow inward. In either case, what is required is a fine hair trimmer to cut the hair to the skin, then a foil to shave you close.

If ingrown hair and razor bumps are a frequent problem for you, it may not be the best advice to shave against the direction of hair growth. Some dermatologists believe that shaving against the hair growth isn’t a great idea. You may be actually getting a shave that is too close and prone to ingrown hairs. If you’re using an electric razor that lifts the hair before it cuts it, the tip may actually become embedded under the surface of the skin when your hair springs back into place, which may lead to ingrown hairs. This, however, is not a common problem.

Adjusting To Your New Shaver

If you have been using a different brand of electric shaver than the one to which you are switching, please allow for some break in time. Although most shavers have somewhat similar shaving principles, their "in use" applications differ. Give yourself a week or two for your face to adjust to the new shaver.

If you have been using a blade razor, then you must give your face a minimum of two to three weeks to adjust to electric shaving. Why? Well, every time you shave with a razor you actually take off a very thin layer of skin. With electric shaving, you are shaving at or below the skin line, without actually shaving the skin, so you need this two to three week adjustment time to get rid of the replacement scar tissue that the body produces after every razor blade shave. You don’t produce this scar tissue with electric shaving. Do not switch back and forth between blade shaving and electric shaving if you want to achieve the many benefits of electric shaving. Be determined and stick with your decision to use an electric shaver.

Remember to keep your shaver clean and lubricated, replace the screen and cutter when necessary, use a light touch and stay with it.