What To Look For
When buying a beard shaver, you must first decide if you are looking for a product to shave away your beard completely, trim the beard down or get that designer stubble look. An electronic beard trimmer will do the job of cutting down the beard and tidying it up, and an electronic beard shaver will allow you to get that smooth shave right to the skin or the designer stubble look. Check the product specification to see how close a shave the model will provide; often the most expensive models are those that provide the smoothest result. Look for a model that can be battery operated with a rechargeable battery giving at least 10 hours of continuous use.
Common Pitfalls
If you have sensitive skin and want to shave every day, choose a foil blade shaver, not a rotary blade shaver. A foil blade shaver will prevent the cutting blade from coming into direct contact with the skin through the presence of a thin metal foil. The downfall of this model type is that it is not able to cut longer hair like a rotary blade model can. This type contains spinning discs, which adjust to the shape of your face as you shave, giving a closer shave. Avoid models that are difficult to clean, particularly if you have sensitive skin. An untidy and unhygienic shaver coming into contact with this skin type could land the user a nasty infection.
Where To Buy
You should buy your beard shaver from reputable electronic manufacturers such as Phillips, Braun or Panasonic. Beard shavers from these manufacturers can be bought online, in specialized electronic stores, at health and beauty retailers and at discount retailers. Braun officially recommends Target, Bloomingdales and Walgreens as some of the retailers to buy its products from.
Cost
The cost of a beard shaver depends on the specifications of the model and often the reputation of the manufacturer. Prices range between $35 and $300, with top models containing the most innovative technology starting at around $170. Braun's latest range of shavers, series 7, have sonic technology, allowing for 10,000 micro vibrations with every stroke to give a thorough and comfortable shave. Shavers in this series, including the Braun 720 model priced at between $230 and $260, come with a two-year manufacturer guarantee. The Philips Philishave QT4075 Vacuum Stubble and Rechargeable Beard Trimmer is an alternative, priced at $85 to $90. This model will trim your beard down to one millimeter and is battery operated or can be plugged into a wall socket.
Insider Tips
Look out for beard shavers with an in-built lotion dispenser, such as the Phillips Coolskin, especially if you have sensitive skin. A moisturizing lotion will soften the skin before contact with the cutter, leading to a smoother result with less irritation. Consider this if you experience rashes or cuts with your current electronic or manual shaver. According to the National Health Service, "men may find that using an electric razor, rather than a blade, helps reduce skin irritation."
If you have little time free to clean your shaver regularly, choose a foil blade shaver over a rotary blade model because cleaning the latter can be more awkward in the small gaps between the three circular cutting heads.
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