Review (4/5): Best electric razor I've used
I've been using Norelco razors my entire adult life, and they've never been perfect. Prior to the 9160XL, I owned a relatively modern design, a 3-head 4865XL stamped with logos like "lift and cut" and "micro action." I was grousing to myself about the random hairs my old razor left, which occassionaly prompted a "you missed a spot" comment from my wife. Typically in the corners of my jawline, but now and then I'd notice that some hairs on the easier to shave areas, like my cheeks. Neck hairs of course were always a problem. I purchased the 9160XL in the hopes that the 3 concentric cutting rings on each head would fix that problem.
My initial reaction to using the 9160XL was a bit underwhelming. It seemed there were still hairs that I had to run over multiple times at different angles, trying to find the magic gesture that would lift it up enough to cut it. True, it was much quieter, and my skin did smoother than before, indicating a closer shave, but I thought perhaps that was my imagination.
In truth, it does shove significantly closer than my old razor. One recent evening, my wife asked me if I'd just shaved. It was at least 12 hours after I'd shaved, and my skin felt roughly as smooth as it did immediately after shaving with my old razor. I do have bristle that's evident to the touch the next day, but it's not visible like it was after 24 hours as it was before.
Being able to clean the razor under the tap is a big advantage too. Electric razors generate tiny little hairs that behave like a fine powder, and which stubbornly stick to surfaces inside the razor through any amount of dry cleaning. Running the heads under water is much more effective, and much easier.
There are some other minor improvements, like the fact it's quiet, and the battery charge lasts 4 times as long, at a guess. Neither of those is terribly important to me.
It's not a magic wand, though, which is why it doesn't get a prefect score from me. As I said, some areas still require multiple passes, and bristle on the neck is never perfect. But it's still a step up from what I was using before, so I don't regret spending the money.
- Gus