Shaving is an integral part of a man’s life (unless you’re growing a beard of course).
Unfortunately for some of us, shaving is something we loathe rather than enjoy.
And that really is a shame because with the right shaver and some basic adjustments to our routine, we can transform our shaving experience into something we actually look forward to.
This is particularly important in the context of shaving daily since you’ll be doing it, well, every single day.
An electric razor has a couple of clear advantages over traditional shaving: they are very practical to use and your skin takes less of a toll compared to using a razor blade.
However, shaving daily with an electric shaver poses a few specific challenges, so in this article we’ll cover just about everything, from recommended shavers to practical tips.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Pros and cons of shaving daily
There are a few reasons why you would want to shave daily.
For example, it could be a job requirement for someone working in the military or in a strict office environment.
Or maybe shaving daily yields better results for you compared to shaving less often. Or you simply prefer the tidy, clean-shaven look.
Whatever the reason, there are advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of shaving daily
- Almost all electric shavers perform better when used on short facial hair. This means that you can even use an entry-level, less expensive shaver and still get very decent results. No pulling, tugging or missed hairs.
- If your hair grows in different directions or tends to lie flat on the skin, this is less of an issue if you shave daily. With short stubble, any potential problems are greatly reduced.
- Shaving takes less time and also requires less effort on your side. Usually getting all the stray hairs is time-consuming as it requires more passes. Also, the constant adjusting of stroke direction in order to always shave against the grain is another inherent issue that is almost non-existent if you shave daily.
- Looking sharp and tidy. This one is pretty self-explanatory.
Cons of shaving daily
- Irritation, rashes and razor burn. Even if electric shaving is less taxing on your skin compared to using a razor blade, subjecting your skin daily to a potentially irritating factor can cause some problems. If you have very sensitive skin, your skin may need a day or two between shaving sessions to heal. It’s therefore extremely important to minimize the irritation by using a suitable shaver and proper technique.
- The blades and foils will wear out faster, meaning you’ll have to replace them more often. You’ll also go through a cleaning cartridge faster if your shaver comes with an automatic cleaning station. There are ways to minimize these shortcomings and we’ll get to them as well.
- More stuff to do daily: the actual shaving, charging, cleaning and lubricating your razor. That’s why choosing a good everyday shaver is so important.
Hallmarks of an electric shaver suitable for daily use
Let’s now see what to look for in a shaver suitable for everyday use.
1. It must be reasonably comfortable and gentle to the skin.
I consider this to be by far the most important trait.
The main problem with shaving daily is an increased risk of irritation and rashes, so getting a gentle shaver is absolutely necessary.
2. It must be easy to clean.
A lot of shaving also implies a lot of cleaning.
A shaver that comes with a good automatic cleaning station can also be considered.
They are however more expensive to buy and you’ll have to spend some money on cleaning cartridges, but in some cases the costs are well worth it.
If your budget only allows you to get a shaver that doesn’t include a cleaning station, make sure it is easy to clean manually (more on this in the next section).
3. While this isn’t mandatory, it would be nice to have a quick charge option.
Or at least to allow you to shave with the razor plugged in.
This last feature is only available with shavers suitable for dry only use.
The wet/dry models can’t be used when charging as a safety precaution. A 5-minute quick charge option can be a lifesaver in those hectic mornings when you’re in a rush.
4. It must have decent power.
As I said before, pretty much all electric shavers perform better when your facial hair is short. And that will certainly be the case with everyday shaving, even if your beard grows pretty fast.
This also means that you can get away with a more basic shaver and get decent results.
However, I would suggest opting for one with a more powerful motor. Even if the final results probably won’t be that much different, how you actually get there will be.
A powerful electric razor makes shaving faster, easier and more enjoyable. The difference will be even more significant if you have a coarse beard.
Let’s now take a look at a few shavers that would make excellent choices for everyday use.
What are some of the best electric shavers for daily use (updated 2022)?
1. Braun Series 5 5040s
This one would be one of my top picks as it ticks all the right boxes.
The Series 5 theoretically sits somewhere between Braun’s Series 3 and 7, but to be honest, it’s a whole lot more similar to the Series 7 in terms of actual performance.
And that’s not a bad thing to start at all. Moreover, the Series 5 costs less than the Series 7 and the replacement shaving heads are also cheaper.
To keep the price low, the Series 5 ditched the micro-pulsations technology found on the 7. Whether that makes any difference to the actual shaving performance is debatable; I would say that the differences are minor.
So what makes the Series 5 a suitable option for daily use?
First of all, it is very comfortable, just like the bigger brother, the Series 7.
It’s also fitted with a powerful motor and it’s reasonably easy to clean manually with tap water.
There are variations that come with a cleaning station as well like the Series 5 5190cc, but those can be a bit pricey. But if it is within your budget, you can safely get it as the shaving performance is the same.
The Series 5 can handle reasonably well even longer hairs, so it’ll have no problems with a one-day beard.
You can find the Series 5 in several variations, suitable for wet/dry or dry only shaving and can come with or without an automatic cleaning station.
It’s also adequately powerful and will provide a fast and enjoyable shaving experience.
As of 2022, the Series 5 5140s (no cleaning station) seems to be the best buy as it’s widely available and costs less than other similar variations.
Important: there’s a newer Series 5 generation as well, but it is in fact a downgrade from the previous one with models like the 5040s.
2. Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV65-S
Until the recent launch of the 6-blade Arc 6, the Arc 5 was Panasonic’s range-topping shaver.
And while there are currently lots of generations and revisions available, the Arc 5 ES-LV65 continues to be the best buy thanks to its excellent performance, reasonable price and availability.
Tip: You can also get the ES-LV67 Arc 5 which shaves exactly the same if you can find it for a better price. In Europe it is usually cheaper than the ES-LV65.
The Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV65 has 5 individual cutters, a very fast motor and it’s reasonably comfortable.
It’s one of the closest shaving electric razors you can buy today, so if that aspect is particularly important to you, the ES-LV65 is the one to get.
Panasonic foil shavers work best when used on shorter facial hair, so it’ll be a prime choice for a daily shaver.
Even though it can be a bit more aggressive than the Series 5 above during a dry shave, it’s still comfortable enough for most users.
The addition of a pre-shave lotion often helps with that and you can even get a closer shave.
If however you have very sensitive skin, the Series 5 is probably the one to buy.
Men with very coarse beards should also consider the Panasonic Arc 5 as it’s one of the best performing razors on that type of hair.
You will be able to get really close and fast shaves especially if you shave daily.
The Arc 5 ES-LV65 doesn’t come with a cleaning station, but it’s very easy to clean manually. It even has a special cleaning setting called sonic mode that makes the blades oscillate really fast and dislodged any hardened dirt buildups.
All you need is some warm tap water and (optionally) some liquid hand soap.
You should also lubricate the blades of your shaver regularly to ensure optimal performance and to prolong the lifespan of the foil and blades.
The Arc 5 works great with shaving cream, so if you’re not against turning back to wet shaving, treat yourself and enjoy one of the closest shaves you’ll ever get.
Among all the different Arc 5 models out there, the ES-LV65 is usually the most reasonably priced, especially if you can get a discount on it.
That said, there’s an even more affordable Panasonic with similar performance if your budget is rather limited.
Also, the Arc 5 with its 5 blades can be overkill for someone with a light to medium beard.
3. Panasonic Arc 4 ES8243AA
UPDATE: This Arc 4 model is getting more and more difficult to find in 2022. An equally good alternative would be the Panasonic Arc 4 ES-LA63AA.
The Arc 4 line from Panasonic is probably one of the most underrated families of electric shavers you can currently buy.
They are very reasonably priced and offer fantastic performance for the money, especially when it comes to sheer cutting power and closeness.
The Arc 4 (regardless of the variation) would make an excellent choice as a daily shaver in several situations:
- If you prefer to use shaving cream/gel with your electric shaver. The Arc 4 is easier to clean manually compared to a Braun Series 5 as the foils and blades can be taken apart. Also, you can still get a model that comes with a cleaning station like the Arc4 ES-LA93-K if you really want to.
- You will clean your shaver manually. Skipping the cleaning station will allow you to save some money, so if you decide to do so, manually cleaning the Arc 4 (or any other Panasonic) is very simple and fast. It literally takes less than a minute to clean it with warm tap water and a bit of liquid soap. The Arc 4 also offers the sonic cleaning mode that makes the blades oscillate very fast and dislodge any stubborn dirt.
- You have coarse facial hair. The Arc 4 shavers come with a very fast 13 000 or 14 000 CPM (cycles per minute) motor. The latter is to my knowledge the fastest motor fitted to any electric razor and even the latest Arc 5 shavers use them. The powerful motor, along with the very sharp blades will mow through the beard with ease. The Arc 4 has 4 cutting elements as opposed to 3 in the case of the Series 5/7, thus contributing to a very fast shave.
- You want a very close shave. The Arc 4 is slightly better than the Series 5 or 7 when it comes strictly to the closeness of the shave.
- You don’t have very sensitive skin. That extreme closeness also means that the Panasonic Arc 4 is not as forgiving as the Series 5 or even the Arc 5. The shaving head tends to get warm, particularly the middle trimmer. I would suggest using the Arc 4 as a daily shaver if you don’t have very sensitive skin. Otherwise you may experience some irritation or razor burn. Using a quality shaving cream will definitely improve the comfort, but wet shaving also means a lengthy prep and it’s overall more time-consuming.
My pick would be the Panasonic ES8243AA or ES-LA63AA as those are usually cheaper than other Arc 4 variations.
Bottom line: if you don’t have sensitive skin and you want a very close shave, you definitely won’t be disappointed with the Arc 4, whether you use it for wet or dry shaving.
If you decide to get the Arc 4 that comes with a cleaning base, the ES-LA93-K, the cleaning cartridges are pretty cheap to buy. But again, I think you should just go for a shaver only variation like the Panasonic ES8243AA or the ES-LA63AA.
4. Philips Norelco Shaver 7100
Let’s now check out the first rotary shaver in this list that would make an excellent choice for daily use.
Rotaries are usually not the first choice in this situation: they’re not as comfortable as foil shavers and usually fare better with longer, flat-lying hairs.
The new Philips Norelco Series 7000 though is an exception.
It is a very comfortable and gentle rotary razor that actually works best on short stubble.
If you’ve used rotaries before and had good results, this one would be one of the best choices you can get today.
You can use it wet or dry and even get it with a unique cleaning pod:
The model that includes the cleaning pod is called Philips Norelco Shaver 7700 and you can check out my review of it here.
It is a bit more expensive than that shaver only (7100) though.
The closeness is definitely adequate, but a Panasonic Arc 5 or even an Arc 4 will provide a closer shaver in most cases.
5. Braun Series 3 ProSkin 3040s
If you are on a tight budget, the new Series 3 ProSkin from Braun can be a very good option.
While they can’t compare to the Series 5 or Arc 5 in terms of performance, the Series 3 electric shavers can still yield very decent results when used for shaving daily.
The Series 3 is arguably the most comfortable entry-level electric shaver, making it an ideal choice for a daily shaver on a budget.
The replacement shaving heads (32b) are also cheap and widely available.
The 3040s is a wet/dry variation of the Series 3 that doesn’t include a cleaning station and it’s usually the pick of the bunch due to its reasonable price and the inclusion of a hair trimmer.
If you don’t have very coarse facial hair and you’re not particularly concerned with getting a very close shave, then the 3040s would be an excellent choice.
Otherwise, you may want to invest more in Series 5 or Arc 4 instead.
For more details, you can read my full review of the 3040s.
6. Panasonic Arc 3 ES8103S
Panasonic also offers a budget-oriented line of electric shavers, the Arc 3. It is similarly priced to the Series 3, but it shaves a bit closer in my experience.
On the other hand, the Series 3 is more comfortable to use. You can read my detailed comparison of the two for more details.
Some of the Panasonic Arc 3 models like the ES8103S or ES-LL41-K are fitted with very powerful 13 000 CPM motors, making them noticeably faster than other Arc 3 variations.
Because of this, they’re able to tackle a coarser beard and provide very good results, especially when used daily.
Foil vs rotaries when shaving daily
You have probably noticed that I didn’t include many rotary shavers for daily use.
That doesn’t mean you can’t successfully use one. If you prefer rotary shavers, then by all means you should be using one. Here you can find a selection of some of my recommended rotary razors.
However, for most users, I think foil shavers make a better choice for everyday use.
They are generally more comfortable, faster, work great on short stubble and are easier to clean thoroughly if you don’t have a cleaning station.
Depending on your budget, my recommendation would be the Series 7000 listed above or even the cheap Shaver 2300.
Another budget-oriented rotary shaver is the new Philips Norelco Series 6000 which would be perfectly suitable for daily shaving.
Tips for shaving daily with an electric shaver
Finding the right everyday razor is just one side of improving your shave.
The other one refers to making small adjustments to your daily shaving routine and further minimize any potential problems.
Here’s what I consider to be the most important and easy to implement changes:
- Don’t stress too much about getting a very close shave. Pressing too hard and using excessive strokes every day will only cause irritation and discomfort. Close enough is good enough and even if you don’t get that perfectly smooth shave, you’ll probably be the only one to notice it. Remember that you’ll have to shave again the next day and any rashes and soreness from the previous shave will cause more problems. Aiming for moderation is probably the best approach here.
- Use a pre-shave lotion if you shave dry. This is probably the simplest, fastest and most efficient addition to your pre-shave routine. Lotions and gels are less messy than talcum powders and they take less time to apply and to clean the mess afterward.
- Use the cleaning station less often. Even if you shave daily, you don’t have to use it every time. You can squeeze more cycles out of a cleaning cartridge by using the station two times a week for example. A quick manual rinse/clean during the other days will probably suffice. Also, keep in mind that Braun uses an alcohol-based cleaning solution, meaning it will evaporate pretty fast. It’s therefore a good idea to get the cartridge out of the base and put the cap back on if you won’t be using it for a few days. Here are more tips on that.
- Make sure the shaver is clean, charged and lubricated. If you use a cleaning station you don’t need to worry about this as the shaver will always be fully charged, lubricated and ready to be used. If your razor of choice doesn’t include one, cleaning and lubricating are vital for optimal performance, comfort and for minimizing the wear on the blades and foils. I highly recommend a spray cleaner and lubricant.
- Apply a soothing after-shave balm. Post-shave treatment is important, especially in the context of subjecting your face to daily shaving. Never skip this step.
That’s pretty much it. If you have any other questions or you’d like to share your experience, just comment below.
For the sake of sensitive skins, wet & dry shavers are the best. In my opinion Norelco 7500 & Braun series 9050cc are the best for daily use on sensitive skins. Great post
I have Braun 340s-4 wet/dry shaver, I have owned this shaver for 15 months so far and the shaving performance is just great; in the past I have had other shavers (mainly fro dry shaving) and then I had the first wet/dry foil shaver, it was Sanyo wet/dry foil shaver, pretty good but a bit noisy; then I went for some rotary shavers (Philips and Remington) but they had the tendency of irritating my skin and I decided to go for this Braun 340s-4 and it was a great choice; it shaves very close to skin, no irritation or redness and the facility of using it wet or dry gives you the versatility of shaving under the shower (wet shaving) using gel, oil or cream, or for faster and practical use doing it dry (better using pre-electric lotion for a closer and smooth shave); this is a great shaver but the downfall is that the replacement head (foil and cutter block) comes in a single unit and it can be ever more expensive than a new shaver, pity though as the shaver is great and I try my best to keep it in a good conditioning cleaning it very other day and using lubricating oil after I use under the shower so the blades keep sharp and rust free for a longer good performance ………the point will be when I have (I will have no choice) to change the cutters and foil unit…….then the shaver will be almost 2 years old then to buy the replacement unit that is around £35 pounds, it would be better to buy new shaver in my opinion …….and it is a pity as I live the saver but in this case it would be better in buying new shaver.
I can definitely relate to this as I also live in Europe and the price for certain replacement heads is outrageous. In your situation it would probably make more sense to just buy a new shaver. In the USA for example the shaving cassette for the Series 3 costs around $21, which is considerably less.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
As I’m now retired I no longer need to shave every day, but when I did I found that to get a good close shave I needed to lubricate my skin as it’s somewhat dry. I used either Atrixo hand cream or Nivea cream. I also got a free tub of face cream from my Turkish barber when he first opened, and that also works well.
I only wet shave occasionally using a shaving cartridge, but I recently bought the much recommended Sandalwood Shaving Cream from Taylor of old Bond Street and I must say that it’s brilliant stuff. I’m not sure that it would be suitable for an electric shaver though as it produces a thick creamy lather, quite different to Proraso which is shown on your site. I have used Proraso which is undoubtedly good, but Sandalwood is much better, for wet shaving with a blade anyway.
Even though I no longer shave every day I still have to lubricate my face before using my Panasonic ES-LV61 or I end up with a poor shave and very dry skin, but as you point out we’re all different with different needs.
Thank you for your comment, Tony.
I’ve used various TOBS shaving creams in my wet shaving days, the Sandalwood is indeed really good, although my favorite was by far the Avocado one. It was one of the most hydrating, protective, and enjoyable shaving creams I’ve ever used. You made an excellent point — thick, fluffy, rich lather doesn’t go well with electric shavers. You’ll only want a thin, slick, watery layer of lather to get the best results. My recommendations (Proraso, Speick, Nivea and so on) come in a tube and have a very soft consistency and you can lather any of them in your palms or on the face (again, using nothing more than your hands). You can also get some very thick, rich foam from them if you use a brush and bowl, but that isn’t necessary with electric razors and may even be detrimental to the quality of the shave.
That would be the reasoning behind my recommended creams, otherwise, definitely feel free to use the ones you like the most.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
Greetings from Australia.
Thank you for providing such an awesome site!
I’m keen to get your views on the current 7000 SkinIQ (MODEL: S7783/50) vs. 5000 SkinIQ (MODEL: S5582/20) Philip series. Based on a spec comparison, it appears they are the same except the 7000 series includes:
Protective SkinGlide coating – not sure if this is important
Motion Control sensor – believe to be a gimmick
App for Android/IPhone – believe to be a gimmick
Travel case – not of any personal value
Am I missing any other considerations when considering the 5000 instead of the 7000 model? The price differential is US$60.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Richard,
Thank you for the comment, glad you found the site useful.
You’re pretty much bang on — I would also add the cleaning pod to the Series 7000, but that’s pretty much it. While I haven’t yet tested the new Series 5000, I do believe its actual shaving performance will be extremely similar (if not identical) to the Series 7000. The main reason for that is that both use the same SH71 cutters.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I don’t see the Series 9 on this list. Is there a reason why?
Simply because it’s a bit overkill and there are cheaper shavers that would still work fine for daily use (like the old Series 7/5 or the Series 8). But the Series 9 can definitely be suitable too if you have the budget for it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu