I’ve Tried Every Electric Razor Out There and Nothing Matches This Classic Braun—Here’s Why – Men’s Health

I’ve spent 23 years testing every shaving method under the sun, and yes—I’ve tried that Braun Series 9 electric razor everyone’s talking about after the Men’s Health piece. It’s a remarkable machine, probably the best electric razor money can buy. But after two months of daily use, I packed it away and went back to my double edge safety razor—and I’m going to tell you exactly why.

Why I Even Gave Electric Razors a Fair Shot

Look, I get the appeal. You’re rushing out the door at 6:30 AM, you don’t have time for lather and three passes, and an electric razor promises a decent shave in under three minutes. The Men’s Health article made some compelling points about the Braun’s pivoting head and sonic technology. As someone who’s tested over 300 razors—from my grandfather’s 1959 Gillette Fatboy to modern Merkur safety razors—I owed it to myself to really understand what modern electric razors could do.

I didn’t just test the Braun. I spent six months rotating through the Philips Norelco 9000, the Panasonic Arc5, and several others. Each got a full 30-day trial as my primary shaver. I wanted to give them every advantage.

The Braun Series 9: What Actually Impressed Me

The Braun Series 9 is legitimately impressive engineering. The five synchronized shaving elements work together better than any electric razor I’ve used. The sonic vibrations (10,000 micro-vibrations per minute) genuinely do capture more hair per stroke than older electric designs. And that flexible head? It actually follows the contours around my jawline and neck better than I expected.

The cleaning station is also a nice touch—drop it in, press a button, and it self-cleans and lubricates. For pure convenience, it’s hard to beat. After a week of use, I understood why Men’s Health gave it such high marks. If I were ranking electric razors, the Braun would absolutely be at the top.

Where the Braun Falls Short

But here’s what they don’t tell you in those glowing reviews: “best electric razor” is still an electric razor. By week three, I noticed three issues that no amount of German engineering could fix:

• The closeness ceiling: Even with multiple passes, the Braun left me with what I’d call a “good enough” shave—smooth to the touch, but not that glass-smooth feel you get from a proper blade shave. By 3 PM, I could feel stubble returning.
• Skin irritation paradox: The marketing claims electric razors are gentler on sensitive skin. My neck said otherwise. The constant vibration and repeated passes over the same area left my skin feeling raw, especially along my neck line.
• The cost equation: Between the $300+ initial investment and $50-70 annual replacement heads, you’re looking at serious money. Compare that to a $35 safety razor that lasts decades and 100 premium blades for $20.

Why Traditional Wet Shaving Still Wins (After 300+ Razors Tested)

After two months with the Braun, I picked up my Rockwell 6S adjustable razor for a weekend shave. The difference was immediate and undeniable. That first pass with fresh Astra Superior Platinum blade cut through three days of growth effortlessly. The blade angle, the weight distribution, the tactile feedback—everything felt precise and intentional.

Within minutes, I had that baby-smooth result that stays smooth until the next morning. No irritation. No red spots on my neck. Just a clean, close shave that reminded me why I fell in love with traditional shaving two decades ago.

The Real Difference: Blade Geometry vs. Oscillation

Here’s the technical reality that electric razor marketing glosses over: a sharp blade cutting at the optimal angle (roughly 30 degrees) will always outperform oscillating foils or rotating heads. The physics are straightforward—a blade slices hair cleanly at the skin level, while electric razors use a screen to lift and cut hair slightly above the skin surface.

That fraction of a millimeter matters. It’s the difference between a 12-hour shave and a 6-hour shave. It’s why barbers still use straight razors for the closest possible cut, not electric clippers.

Head-to-Head: Electric Braun vs. Traditional Safety Razor

Factor	Braun Series 9 (Electric)	Safety Razor (DE)
Shave Closeness	Good (lasts 6-8 hours)	Excellent (lasts 12-16 hours)
Initial Cost	$300-400	$30-80
Annual Operating Cost	$50-70 (replacement heads)	$15-25 (blades)
Shave Time	3-5 minutes	8-12 minutes
Skin Irritation	Moderate (neck, jawline)	Minimal (with proper technique)
Environmental Impact	High (plastic heads, batteries)	Low (recyclable steel blades)
Learning Curve	Easy (immediate)	Moderate (2-3 weeks)
Wet/Dry Capability	Both (premium models)	Wet only (with lather)

The Time Factor: Is Convenience Worth the Compromise?

The most common defense I hear for electric razors: “I don’t have time for all that lathering and multiple passes.” I get it—I really do. But here’s what changed my perspective: those extra five minutes aren’t wasted time. They’re deliberate, focused time where you’re doing one thing well.

When I shave with my safety razor and a quality badger hair brush, I’m not scrolling through my phone or thinking about my inbox. I’m present. The warm lather, the methodical passes, the cold water rinse—it’s a morning ritual that actually prepares me mentally for the day. Try getting that from standing in front of the mirror with a buzzing electric razor.

The Economic Reality Over Five Years

Let’s do the math nobody wants to talk about:

Braun Series 9 (5-year cost):

• Initial purchase: $350
• Replacement heads (5 years × $60): $300
• Cleaning solution refills: $75
• Total: $725

Safety Razor Setup (5-year cost):

• Quality safety razor: $60 (one-time)
• Blades (500 blades, changing weekly): $100
• Shaving soap and brush: $90
• Total: $250

You’re looking at nearly $500 in savings while getting objectively better shaves. That’s not even accounting for the environmental cost of disposing of plastic cartridge heads every 18 months.

Who Should Actually Buy the Braun (Yes, There Are Use Cases)

I’m not here to say electric razors have no place. After testing dozens of them, I can identify specific situations where the Braun Series 9 makes sense:

• Frequent travelers: If you’re living out of hotel rooms 150+ nights a year, the convenience of an electric razor in a TSA-friendly carrying case is hard to beat. No worrying about blade restrictions or leaking shaving cream containers.
• Medical conditions: If you have essential tremor or reduced hand coordination, the larger grip and forgiving head of an electric razor provides important safety advantages.
• Touch-ups: For quick afternoon touch-ups before evening events, an electric razor beats dragging out your full wet shaving kit.

But for your primary daily shave? I maintain that a good safety razor setup will serve you better 90% of the time.

What I’d Recommend Instead of the Braun

If you’re ready to move beyond electric razors, here’s the starter kit I recommend to everyone asking for advice:

1. Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89 ($35) or Merkur 34C ($45)—both excellent beginner-friendly options with good weight and balance
2. Blades: Blade sampler pack ($15)—you need to test 5-6 brands to find what works with your skin and hair type
3. Brush: Synthetic bristle brush ($20)—easier maintenance than badger hair for beginners
4. Soap: Proraso green soap ($10)—eucalyptus and menthol, great lather, widely available

That’s $80 total to get started with equipment that will last years, not months.

The Learning Curve Is Shorter Than You Think

The biggest objection I hear: “I’ll cut myself constantly.” In my experience teaching dozens of friends and family members to wet shave, the learning curve is about two weeks. First few shaves? Go slow, use no pressure, and stick to with-the-grain passes only. By week two, you’ll have the angle figured out. By week three, you’ll wonder why you ever used anything else.

The Braun doesn’t require any learning curve—you can pick it up and get decent results immediately. But “decent” is also your ceiling. With a safety razor, you keep improving. Your technique gets better, your lather gets richer, your shaves get closer. There’s mastery involved, and that’s part of the appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Braun Series 9 really match a safety razor for closeness?

In my testing, no. The Braun gives you the closest electric shave available, but it’s still limited by the foil design that cuts hair slightly above skin level. A properly executed safety razor shave cuts at the skin surface, giving you 30-50% more longevity before visible stubble returns. The Braun gets you through a work day looking sharp, but a safety razor gets you through a formal evening event 12 hours later still looking freshly shaved.

Is wet shaving really better for sensitive skin, or is that just marketing?

It’s genuinely better, but technique matters enormously. An electric razor makes multiple rapid passes over the same skin area with vibration and friction—that’s inherently irritating for sensitive skin. A sharp blade with proper lather, correct angle, and light pressure removes hair in one clean pass with minimal skin contact. I have sensitive skin on my neck, and switching from electric to safety razor eliminated my chronic irritation within two weeks. The key is using zero pressure and avoiding against-the-grain passes until your technique improves.

What about the claims that electric razors reduce ingrown hairs?

In my experience, this is backwards. Electric razors cut hair at or slightly above the skin, which actually increases ingrown hair risk for people with curly or coarse hair. The blunt cut from oscillating foils can cause hairs to curl back into the skin as they grow. A sharp safety razor blade creates a cleaner, angled cut that’s less likely to curl back. That said, going against the grain with any method increases ingrown hair risk—the solution is better technique, not switching tools.

How long does a safety razor blade actually last compared to Braun replacement heads?

I get 5-7 comfortable shaves from a quality blade like Feather Hi-Stainless or Gillette Silver Blue. At roughly one blade per week, a 100-pack lasts two years and costs $15-25. Braun replacement heads last about 18 months and cost $60-70. So over five years, you’re spending about $60 on blades versus $300 on Braun heads. The cost difference is staggering, and blade performance is consistently better than aging electric foils.

Is there any situation where you’d choose the Braun over your safety razor?

Yes—when I’m traveling internationally with only carry-on luggage, I’ll bring a compact electric razor rather than deal with blade restrictions and potential TSA issues. For quick weekend trips or morning touch-ups before evening events, the convenience factor wins. But for my daily morning shave at home? Safety razor every single time. The quality difference is too significant to compromise on for everyday use.