A good, old-fashioned shave can elevate men's grooming to a whole other level. But you can get very good results at home with the right electric shaver.
So what's all the buzz about? Consumer Reports say 36 percent of men are ditching their razors and going electric for their shave.
Consumer Reports tested a variety of electric shavers, 13 in all. Two cost as little as $10 - and one was as much as $240.
"The $10 shavers we tested didn't do so well. Our testers said they wouldn't buy either one," Gayle Williams said.
Tests included both foil and rotary shavers.
"Foil shavers have blades that oscillate behind a perforated screen, while rotary shavers have circular heads, with cutters that spin behind a fine grid," Williams said.
Testers shaved with either the foil or the rotary shavers for at least a week. Then Consumer Reports sensory panelists compared the feel of the post-shave mugs to various grades of sandpaper to size up the closeness of the shave. Testers also assessed battery life, and how easy it is to clean the shaver.
When all the stubble was washed away, the top-rated foil shaver was the Braun Series 7 Shaver System 760 for $240. It has the longest battery life and gives a very close shave.
And while you can wash it under running water, it comes with a cleaning station - which can be a plus. But it can take up valuable counter space.
More of a rotary guy? Try the Philips Norelco Sensotouch 3D 1250X for $200.
It has very good battery life, can be cleaned by rinsing under running water, and it ranked highest among rotary shavers.
Consumer Reports named a foil shaver a best buy. It's the $55 Remington Pivot and Flex Shaver, model F57-90. While it's not quite as good as the top-rated Braun Shaver, it delivers a very good shave and very good battery life at a more affordable price.
