To summarize, the shaving head and battery capacity are the main differences between the standard and the ProSkin models. Several solo Braun shavers will work with a compatible station purchased later on or from an older cc shaver, but that depends on the particular series or even on a specific revision of that series. The more advanced and more expensive Braun series have specialized cutting elements (in addition to the basic foils) for capturing and cutting more difficult facial hair. We tried Philips Norelco’s lower-end rotary models but determined that the brand’s 9000 series performed better, and it was so closely priced that it was a better buy for most people. In our experience, the 4000-series razor didn’t shave closely enough to be worth their bargain prices. However, one member of our test panel has been using a 4000-series model for years, and they still love it, even after trying much more expensive models.
A world-renowned manufacturer of small electrical appliances in a number of different sectors, Braun was founded by Max Braun in 1921. After getting its start with radios and record players, the company innovated the “S 50” electric shaver in 1950. The manufacturing principle that combines razor foil and a cutter block was the basis of the first Braun electric shaver, and more advanced versions of this same technology are still in use today. Braun was acquired by the personal care giant Procter & Gamble in 2005, which added another layer of trustworthiness to its brand reputation. The Braun Series 5 electric shaver for men makes shaving easy with three flexible blades that adapt to your facial contours – efficient even on tough beards.
You can refer to each of the series overviews above for detailed info on the cleaning stations. Another important aspect regarding the Braun cleaning stations is the cross-compatibility between the different series. For me, the closeness is easily good enough and along with the comfort and the effectiveness on difficult hairs makes the Series 9 one of my favorite shavers. The S9 and S9 Pro/PRO+ are arguably the most capable foil shavers in that regard. Speaking of the station, the 84 and 85 Series 8 models (like the 8457cc or 8567cc) come with a better station, with 3 cleaning modes and an active drying system, so those are the ones I would actually recommend. They are very effective and catching and cutting hairs in fewer strokes and work particularly well when shaving dry plus a pre-shave lotion like the one from Speick.
“Cleaning your razor is so important, because if you don’t, it can get clogged with excess hair which can cause it to break down faster.” The best higher-end electric razors in our roundup come with a cleaning systems. Quallis says that cleaning your electric razor regularly will help reduce razor bumps. Most of us are trying our damnedest to go carry-on-only these days, and that means packing a whole lot lighter.
Using a manual razor raises slight risks of getting ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and razor burn—especially if you’re not prepping your shaving routine properly and not using a clean blade. If a close shave is your top priority, you may find that an electric razor simply cannot compare to a manual one. In addition to use with facial hair, they can also be used on the chest, back, legs, etc. While it is okay to use your shaver on the edges of your scalp, using a Braun Series device to completely shave your scalp can prematurely dull the blades. It’s on the simple side in terms of features, but that doesn’t mean it sacrifices on power.
Only a handful of 93xx models come with a less advanced station that only has one standard cleaning mode (for example the 9310cc or 9370cc). I’m usually in favor of buying a cc Series 9 or 9 Pro as the models that come with the station don’t cost a whole lot more than the solo variations. All these shavers come in a variety of colors with different accessories, some of which are really interesting like the charging case available with several Series 9 Pro models. The S8 is very easy to use thanks to the slim 3-blade shaving head and represents a safe choice for most users. It’s a gentle and highly capable electric razor that handles longer stubble well (up to 4 days, maybe even more if your beard grows slowly).
And because the usefulness of a cleaning station is relative, I will share my personal take on this. The Braun Series cc or 9370cc are usually the ones to get if you want a cleaning station as well. You should buy a Series 9 or 9 Pro/PRO+ if you shave less often, braun hair removal and have coarse/wiry/flat-lying hairs or sensitive skin. With other shavers (like the Arc series from Panasonic) the improvements are more significant. It’s the most capable and powerful and it can effortlessly deal with pretty much any type of facial hair.
I was still stuck on the pre-shave, shaving cream, razor, aftershave hamster wheel and couldn’t seem to get off. No matter what I did, and no matter what product I tried, I couldn’t seem to get rid of them. The flagship models from the Series 9 PRO will shave close enough for most users, but if you’re very demanding in that regard, there are other foil shavers out there that will provide a closer shave. The Series 8, with an almost identical shaving head as the old S7, is a highly capable, comfortable and easy-to-use 3-blade foil shaver that will be a safe choice for most users, provided you have the budget for it. Braun markets the Series 1 as a beginner-friendly electric razor which does make sense since it’s a small, simple, single-foil shaver, easy to use and easy to clean.
As with the more expensive Braun models, this Remington comes with a two-year warranty. Remington recommends annual replacement of the shaver’s cutting block and foil, which are sold as a combo pack for about $40. Braun’s Series 9 clean-and-charge base uses the same cartridges as the Series 7 base (and those of all other braun electric shavers) and is functionally identical. Replacement cartridges last about three months and cost about $25 for a four-pack. Replacement foils are considerably more expensive for the Series 9; they currently run about $50, compared with about $30 to $40 for the Series 7. For a consistently close shave, plus the convenience of an included automatic cleaning system at a reasonable price, we recommend the Braun Series 7.