Rotary blade or foil shaver?

If you look at electrical shavers, you will basically find two types. The rotary blade technology, used by Philips and some of Remingtons models, and the foil technology used mainly by Braun and Panasonic. Both  types do the same job – but in very different ways. I have decided – as your Shaving Detective – to find out what you should go for!

The Rotary Blades

The rotary blades used by companies such as Philips/Norelco and Remington (Photo by Philips)

But first let me explain the differences between the two.

The rotary blade shavers have a series of rotary cutters attached. Typically three rotating blades placed in a triangular pattern. To get the best shave, you will have to move the shaver across your face in slow, rotating movements – almost as if you were applying a nice skin tonic.

The foil shavers

Braun has chosen a different approach to electrical shaving. Their shavers consist of a series of knifes hidden under a rectangular metallic foil, designed to raise the hairs and guide them close to the vibrating knifes. Long, even movements of the shaver is the key to success here.

Which to choose?

So which one should you buy? Well, for me the answer has been quite clear. I need both! For the last 7 years, I have used a combination of the two types.

Honestly, I must have a strange face… For my face and cheeks, the rotary blades really do a great job. But on my chin and neck, where the skin is slightly looser, the foil shaver is so much better for me.

If I use my Philips shaver for the entire shave, I will have to spend much more time shaving my chin – and I will eventually end up with irritated skin. Using my Braun foil shaver for the entire shave, will result in a beautiful chin – but will leave the cheeks less soft compared to the Philips shaver.

Not for everyone?

The foil blade shavers, like the ones from Braun and Remington, tend to be better on looser skin (Photo by Braun)

Compared to a shave with a razor, the electrical shavers win by far when it comes to convenience and time. It is so much easier to just pick up the electrical shaver, switch it on and get the work done, compared to preparing the razor, foam and water and slowly working your way across your face and chin.

But the dry shaving methods used by most electrical shavers may cause some irritation to your skin. If your shaver allows you to shave on a wet face, you could apply loads of warm water or a good pre-electric shaving oil just before shaving.

If your shaver cannot cope with the wet face, you could try to put a warm, wet towel on your face for a few minutes and then dry your face afterwards. This will warm your whiskers a bit, and probably lessen the skin irritation.

You should expect the skin irritation to be worst in the first few weeks of using the shaver. This is true if you have never used an electrical shaver before – OR if you are trying to switch between a rotary blade and a foil blade shaver (or the other way around).

In Denmark, where I live, both Braun and Philips offer a 30 or 60 day money back guarantee. You can buy the shaver and use it for some weeks before deciding if it’s the right one for you. This is fantastic, as it will allow you to try out the different methods before deciding which shaver to use for the years to come.

I am very interested to know about your personal experiences. If you use an electrical shaver, please comment below and let me know how you decided on your current model.

About Shaving Detective

Hans is your Shaving Detective, founder and owner of ShavingDetective.com. Apart from writing about shavers and shaving techniques, he also works as a freelance webmaster, runs the software company Toastforums - and acts as an air traffic controller at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark. Hans tries to shave every day - but sometimes find himself with a dark shade on his cheeks... That's when he realizes that he has spent too much time writing articles and developing websites! He is really glad whenever someone signs up for the Shaving Detective newsletter - or decides to follow Shaving Detective on Twitter... ;-)