Review (4/5): After 1 year of using the product, great traveling shaver
First of all here are some points to put into consideration before buying. This shaver is for...
1. Someone who is looking for a TRAVEL shaver that is small and convenient to carry. It comes with a neat carrying case, and only requires two AA batteries that can be found anywhere. One set of batteries can approx. last up to 20 days/shaves-ish. It will still go on, but I can feel the motor running at lower speed.
2. Someone who prefers WET shaving experience whenever possible. (Wet shaving with this product is great. Dry, not so much.)
3. Someone who needs to shave everyday or simply want that clean shaven look everyday. ( It's still a foil electric shaver, it's fast, efficient, everyday.)
4. Someone who needs his travel shaver to have a trimmer. (Frequent long trip? just like me.)
5. Someone who doesn't want to spend 15 minutes cleaning the shaver. Who wants hassle-free and easy cleaning shaver.
This shaver however isn't for someone who is looking for a blade replacement shaver. I say, wake up, electric shaver will never give you that baby "skin" shave like you get from a proper blade shaving method. However, for $15 this shaver can deliver a very decent shave, very close, but definitely not alike. It also isn't quite for someone who plan to use it 7/365 days. You will probably be better off buying other wet/dry panasonic shaver that is rechargable, and have more than one moving blade, linear-super fast motor and on.
It's been a year and I still use it on every one of my trip. no problem. Impeccable reliability there, and well made.
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If you decide to buy it, here are my tips and tricks for you. It's based on my experience with it so perhaps it will help you get a better shave with this shaver.
1. YES, it will take up to 2-3 weeks if you are coming from blade for your skin to adjust. This is normal and all you need is patience to get through it.
2. It's miles apart better wet shaver than dry. DO NOT shave dry unless absolute necessary.
3. With that said, all the techniques in wet shaving apply. You should shave in the shower, or right after you come out of it. Your skin should be clean prior to shaving. One trick is that this shaver works better if your shaving gel/foam/cream is "light" or "not dense". Lather up too much or a very dense cream can make the foil/blade hot during operation. (Thick cream will cause more friction and blade moves pretty fast.) Last, don't forget a splash of cold water to seal in and a good aftershave.
4.DO NOT press the shaver, or foil against your skin. You will only get irritation out of it. The trick is to shave everyday, go against the grain, let it GLIDE SLOWLY on your skin, rinse it whenever you feel there is too much foam in the shaver, use trimmer to take out long stubborn hair like those on the neck, and under the chin. DONE.
Thank you for reading my review. I know it's long but this shaver, for $15, deserves a decent review from me imo.