You likely remember that first shave with a brand new electric razor: the smoothness, comfort and closeness provided by the sharp cutters were incredible.
But it’s all downhill from there as the blades and foils will begin to wear and will eventually need to be replaced with new ones.
The good part? This is a very gradual process and there are also a few things you can do to prolong the life of the cutting block.
There’s a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding this topic, so in this post we’ll cover everything related to changing the blades and foils, when you should do it and how to get the most out of them.
Why you need to replace your foils and blades
A sharp edge that constantly executes a cutting operation will eventually become dull.
Unlike a chef’s knife, you can’t just sharpen the blades of an electric shaver due to physical limitations and the precision needed for this operation.
As a result, your only option is to replace the blades with new ones.
Apart from the blades becoming dull, there’s another aspect that’s specific to electric shavers: the wear and stress induced to the metal.
The shaving head of an electric shaver is made out of parts that are machined with great precision and low tolerances. This is needed in order to provide a very close shave.
The Panasonic Arc 4 ES-LA63-S has two inner blades and two more integrated into the foil assemblyThe oscillating inner blades of a foil shaver will actually touch the foils, especially when pressed against the skin.
The same goes for the cutters of a rotary shaver that rotate inside a metal guard/comb.
Philips Norelco comb & blade pairThe friction will generate heat and will induce stress to the metal, causing it to warp and deform. I’ve seen blades that have eaten through the foils. You can imagine how dangerous this is and how it can easily cause serious injuries.
Remington MS2-390 foil wear. Don’t let it get to this stage.When the blades become dull and the foils start to wear the performance of the shaver will suffer.
When should you replace the blades and foils of an electric shaver?
The correct answer is whenever they need to be replaced. The manufacturer’s recommendation should only serve as general guidelines as in real life this depends on various factors:
- How often you shave
- How coarse and dense is your facial hair
- The quality of the foils and blades
- How well you care for your shaver (cleaning and lubrication)
- The use of mineral-based pre-shave talcum (this will accelerate the wear)
As a result, you may need to replace the foils and blades after a few months or after a couple of years.
For example, Braun recommends changing the shaving head called a cassette (which encompasses both the blades and the foils) every 18 months.
The 4 blade shaving head of a Braun Series 9 9290ccDepending on the factors outlined above, you may need to buy a new cassette after one year or even sooner. Or you can even get past the 18 months if you’re lucky.
The 52s cassette used by the Series 5 line of shavers from Braun.So how do you know when it’s time to buy new parts?
Well, there are a few signs that usually signal precisely that:
- The closeness of the shave starts to suffer. If you find yourself constantly going over the same area repeatedly and pressing harder in order to get a close shave, it probably has something to do with the blades becoming dull.
- You begin to experience some pulling and tugging. If the shaver starts to yank the hairs this is usually caused by the wear of the cutting block.
- The shaving head gets excessively hot. This is a sign of advanced wear of the foils and blades, caused by the increased friction between the deformed metal parts.
- The comfort of the shave suffers. This happens because you’re forced to use more strokes, apply more pressure, while the shaving head of your razor can get increasingly hot. Completing your shave will also take longer and cause the shaving head to become even hotter.
If you notice at least one of the signs above and nothing else in your shaving routine has changed, it’s probably time to buy new parts for your shaver.
Even though some manufacturers like Panasonic offer the possibility to buy just the blades or the foils, I highly recommend changing them both every time.
Panasonic foils and blades. Unlike Braun, Panasonic also offers them separately.If for example you only change the inner blades as upon a visual inspection, the foil seems to be in good shape, it has most likely suffered from wear and deformation, even though it’s not that obvious.
As a result, the new blades won’t fit perfectly inside and as you begin using the shaver they will wear a lot faster and the shaver won’t perform at its best from the get-go.
I guess you could buy just the blades or the foils in the case of an accident for example when only one of the parts was damaged and the other is still practically new.
Other than that, do yourself a favor and change both of them.
How to care for your blades and lengthen their lifespan
I will assume that you’re not looking forward to spending money on new replacement parts very often. I know I’m not.
Luckily, there are a few easy to implement steps that will help you save money and also improve the quality of your shave.
1. Lubricate your shaver.
This is by far the most important and often overlooked operation you can do in order to prolong the life of the cutters and foils.
Regardless if you’re using a spray or a light oil, lubrication will minimize the friction between the moving metal parts. This reduces wear and generates less heat.
A properly lubricated shaver will perform better and the blades and foils will last longer before needing to be replaced. Here’s my detailed guide on how and when to do it.
2. Clean your shaver thoroughly.
Hairs, dead skin, dirt buildup, and other nasty things will have a negative impact on the performance of your shaver.
It’s highly recommended to clean your shaver after every use according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Most of today’s shavers can be easily cleaned with liquid soap and hot water.
If yours also includes a cleaning station that’s even better as it will take care of the lubrication as well.
3. Handle your shaver with care.
The cutting parts, particularly the foils, can be easily damaged by mechanical shocks.
Avoid anything that could damage them like tapping too hard on the countertop or using hard objects to clean them.
For example, you can’t use the included cleaning brush directly on the foils — that’s how sensitive they are. Also, always use the protective cap or a hard case when traveling.
Buying new parts is no fun, but regularly changing the blades and foils of your electric shaver is a necessity.
Hopefully after reading this post you’ll have a better understanding of the importance of this operation, when to do it and how to keep the foils and blades in top shape for a longer time.
Dear Ovidiu,
I have just purchased a Panasonic ES-LV65 shaver which currently sells at half of the price of ES-L6N. I believe it is still the top of Panny Arc 5 line, pretty much identical besides a few minor improvements such as a different lock/power button etc. And the top of the shaving head/outer foil area has undergone a bit of a change (in their newer models such as ES-L6N) by incorporating those two golden elements. However, I suspect at least the replacement blades are identical in both mentioned models. Are also the outer foil parts identical?
Of course, the manufacturer would not want their customers replacing their ES-L6N/L9N foils with (now) much cheaper ES-LV65 ones, or owners of ES-LV65 upgrading their outer foils with the more advanced ES-L6N spares. I could not tell much by simply (visually) comparing spares packs WES9032Y and WES9034Y as the pictures of respective outer foils that I could find on the Internet have apparently been taken from different sides. Can you please advise? I am not going to ask the manufacturer as their reply would be logical and rejecting the idea…
Hi Yves,
You are absolutely correct. The outer foil and inner blades of the newer ES-LV6N/ES-LV9N will fit the older Arc 5 shavers. Also, the older foils and blades (like the ones on the ES-LV65) can be used on the newer ES-LV6N/ES-LV9N. And I totally agree, the ES-LV65-S is a fantastic shaver for the (current) price.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
What if the triple heads blade/wheels and there respective troughs razor heads become mixes up
Which is what I think happened to me
It seems that they were factory seated (Broken in)a which means to me that protrusions in a respective blade wheel and trough gauge each other so that the concentric circles of friction are congruent with each other
Because the shaver failed to shave more or less after that’s can infer that all three blade-wheels got placed in the wrong trough
Or two were switched as my shaver head assembly scattered them randomly when it became detached from the chasi
Hi Alan,
Your explanation is spot on, that’s actually how the matching pairs work in the case of rotary shaving heads. If you mix them up the performance of the cutters will likely suffer and it may or may not fully recover after a couple of weeks of use. It’s best not to get there in the first place and take extra care not to mix the cutters and guards.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, have you seen the DIY sharpening solution for using toothpaste? I have the ES-LV95-S and purchased replacement blades because I’m starting to get ingrown hairs and don’t understand why. I’d really like to not purchase the foil replacement without knowing first if that’s the problem. This is a really great and helpful post by the way. Hard to find this info online.
Hi Patrick,
Thank you for your comment. I’ve seen a few videos on this topic, but it’s not a viable solution in my opinion. It might work a bit better with rotary razors, but again it can’t solve the problem and you’ll still need to eventually replace the parts. And that’s because the dulling of the blades is just one part of the problem and even if you somehow manage to sharpen them, there’s still another issue. The friction between the blades and the foils will scrape off tiny bits of metal from them and as you continue to use your shaver the gap between the foils/combs and the blades will just get larger and larger, the metal will warp and the friction will generate more heat. This will have a negative impact on the closeness of the shave and the razor will start to pull the hairs and cause discomfort.
I couldn’t tell you precisely if this is the cause of your problem; with my Panasonic shavers I first notice a performance drop (the closeness is not so good anymore) and the foils get really hot. I don’t get ingrown hairs, but I do get some nasty razor burn. Before buying new blades and foils, try using a spray lubricant and cleaner. They’re very cheap and in my experience they work great — assuming your blades aren’t completely worn out. I use Remington Shaver Saver and it makes a world of difference. Plus, it’s still a good idea to have it around for your next set of blades.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
What would be the main cause of a dull shave should both the blade and foil be replaced because i feel the foil would be easier to replace considering I don’t know what I’m doing
Hi Carlton,
Changing both the foil and blades would be highly recommended because you may not get the best out of a new set of blades and they may also wear out faster if the foil is warped.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I have had a Braun 340s-4 wet/dry shaver for about 2 years, since I bought the shaver I have always followed a good cleaning and lubrication process after each shave or every 2-3 shaves when I feel a bit lazy to clean it after I finish shaving, but no more than that I can’t leave my shaver without proper cleaning and lubrication state and this has paid off; still it has the original foil/cutter and it shaves as good as new; I prefer dry shaving although I wet shave once a week but then after using gel or foam for the wet shave I rinse-clean the shaver, let it air-dry and then put some light sewing machine oil in the cutter/foil and in the trimmer as well; this process has made the shaver work on its pick conditions and foil/cutter last till now that makes me feel happy about this wonderful and very efficient shaver; in the past I had other shavers, foil and rotary brands like PHILIPS, SANYO, REMINGTON and BRAUN; having the same cleaning work on them, some lasted me 9 years with just 2 changes of foil/cutter (BRAUN foil dry shaver, REMINGTON foil dry shaver and SANYO foil wet/dry, and two very good rotary shavers PHILIPS and REMINGTON both dry rotary shavers.
the cleaning and lubrication have a very important part in the life, efficiency and performance of the shaver; keeping this process will give the shaver very long lasting life of good service and will save you money along the way; also the draining of the batteries and full charging the batteries again every 2 to 3 months will keep the recharging batteries running for longer.
Hi Edinson,
Thank you for the detailed post. Those are some excellent tips and the longevity of your shavers is the ultimate proof that cleaning and lubrication are vital.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Edinson,
I have a Braun series 5 wet/dry that uses the 52S foil and cutter. This is my 3rd Braun (7000 and 8000 previously). The Braun made shaving comfortable after years of hell from the straight edge razors. I use the clean and renew system religiously 3x per week. On the 7000 and 8000 I was lucky to get 10 months from the foil and cutter. I use shaving cream with my Series 5 wet/dry shaver. The last two foil and cutters lasted 6 months. Now the most current one is just over 3 months old and I have a serious case of ingrown hairs and suspect a dull cutter.
I have a very thick head of hair that is course and my facial hair is the same, though I have never had a beard.
At this point I have to sop shaving until the ingrown hairs heal.
Can you offer some advice?
Thank you,
Garrett
I used to get terrible ingrown hairs also – after much experimentation I realized that the only way to eliminate them was to shave dry. Completely dry, like when you wake up in the morning and wash your face/shower AFTER shaving. Took me too long to figure this out – but it works for me, and hopefully for you…
Enjoyable post. I buy/sell shavers on eBay, but for my own collection I’ve purchased new and used Remington XLRs…which I found to be the best-shaving. They lasted so long and were so durable, Remington found just selling foils and cutters didn’t make them much money, so they developed other shavers. But these high-speed 60hz shavers are ideal. They are getting harder to find. I found your tip about the talcum pre-shave helpful…I use that at the gym where it is humid and didn’t realize it could accelerate cutter wear. It makes sense as it has, I believe, a metal-based element and the friction of pushing that with the cutter could definitely put wear on the cutters. After each shave, I clean the inside/outside foil with a Q-Tip dipped in alcohol as well as the top of the cutter blades. Then I Shaver Saver it, or sometimes put a clipper fluid on the inside foil. As I tell buyers, the friction from the cutter and foil touching is like the friction a car engine gets, and why an engine needs oil too. Thanks for your good information. By the way, I’m a senior citizen and old-fashioned…I’ve phased out my battery shavers and now only use pure electric…I got tired of waiting for shavers to charge, having them die out, and then either discarding the shaver or paying for expensive batteries. These new old stock XLRs, DA, and DF Remingtons will last years. Thanks again. You’re helping many people.
Bob, thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed comment, I truly appreciate it. I’ve heard about the reliability of the old XLRs, haven’t got the chance unfortunately to own and use one.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
i have a braun series 7 had it for probably 8 years. i don’t notice a lot of pulling. i shave 2 or 3 times a week. i have an air compressor so i take off the head and i blow razor and the head out then put in on the cleaner/charger. the one advantage i have found with that is the cleaner lasts a long time since it is mainly just lubricating the razor and not filling up with hair. i can’t really judge when to change my head so every couple of years i just change it. i figure the money i save on cleaning canisters easily pays for new heads
Absolutely, removing as much hair as possible from the shaving head helps with saving cleaning fluid. Since I discovered cheap third-party cleaning solutions for my Braun shavers, I’m not so thorough with cleaning the cassette — I simply tap it on the sink to get most of the hairs out and then let the station do the rest.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
In your article you say that tapping the head on the counter too hard can damage the foils/blades. Do you just give it a gentle tap to get some hair out, or do you really have to knock it hard to cause damage and normal efforts to dislodge hair aren’t an issue?
Also, how often do you use the cleaning station with the cheap, third-party cleaner? I’ve been doing weekly, but I’m not sure that’s enough when I shave 5-7 times per week.
Thanks,
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
Just some light taps to get rid of the bulk, never knock it hard.
I use the station around twice a week, but even once should be enough for good hygiene if you rinse the shaver with water in the meantime. I would however lubricate it at least once a week (with a spray lubricant or light oil).
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thanks!
Doesn’t the cleaning station lubricate also when used with either the stock cleaner or the CC-Cleaner solution? Does the shaver require additional lubrication beyond that?
No problem. Yes, the solution (original or third-party) does lubricate the blades as well. But if you only use the station once a week and shave daily, it would be beneficial to lubricate the shaver manually in addition to that.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I was cleaning my Panasonic ES-LA63 today and I noticed a few minor issues in the outer foil. Very small bends in the foil. Not sharp dings, but very small bends. The shaver is only 5 months old. The shave I’m getting is still pretty good. I wonder if I accidentally dropped the outer foil one day and it got damaged. Should I replace the outer foil and inner blades now? It seems to me the action between the outer foil and blades should be extremely precise. I can send a pic if you would like to see it.
Hi Jim,
In these situations, getting a new foil + blades would be the safest (and recommended) approach. That is correct, the fit between the blades and outer foil is extremely precise and even small dings can affect the cutting action significantly. A few years back something similar happened to me after I dropped my shaver, however I could immediately tell that there was something wrong (it sounded different + some vibrations and the damaged foil would snag hairs). If you won’t replace them right away, make sure to do it as soon as you notice anything unusual; if the foil breaks during use you can get seriously injured.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Interestingly, Braun’s seven series owner’s manual only recommends using light machine oil on the screen and trimmer if you either shave wet or clean the shaver with water. They describe cleaning the shaver without water by tapping out the hairs on the counter followed by brushing out the top of the shaver and the bottom of the cauterize/screen cassette with the enclosed brush. I have been following those directions cleaning my Braun 7893s. It will be interesting to see if the cassette lasts the entire 18 months.
Hi Bob,
That is correct, if you don’t use soap and water to clean your shaver there will be some residual lubrication left and you can get away with doing it a lot less. I would still add a drop of light oil on the foils every once in a while, I find that doing this reduces the heat and makes shaving overall smoother. And speaking of the longevity of the cassette, it definitely can’t hurt.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I don’t shave every day, so I was wondering after how many shaves should I need to change the cassette of the Braun Series 7. My beard is not that thick, so I shave every 3-4 days.
Hi Carlos,
In this situation, the cassette should last for quite a long time, maybe a few years given proper care. You should simply replace it when it doesn’t provide a decent shave anymore.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have a phailincos 360 5 in 1 how long before i need to change the heads? And. Should you lub the heads?
That really depends on the quality of the blades (I have not used that shaver model) and the other factors outlined in the article, like the coarseness of the beard and how you take care of your shaver.
Normally, electric razors that use a foil or rotary system need to be lubricated in order to keep them in top shape. Here are more details on this topic.
I have a Panasonic ES-LT7N that I like alot. After 4 years the foil looks intact but the blades need replacing. I’ve been unable to locate the parts in inventory on the Panasonic website nor Google search. No parts for a 4 year old shaver? Their Chat is turned off. No tech support phone. Shame on you Panasonic.
Any idea who might carry the parts at a reasonable cost?
Thank you.
Hi Mike,
The inner blades have the part number WES9068PC (they’re actually the exact same blades used on the previous generation Arc 3). You can find them at this link on Amazon.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I’ve used the Phillips Norelco Bodygroom for over 15 years for shaving my bikini area & have 2 say it’s one of the best products I’ve ever owned. I can’t remember what exactly caused me to buy a men’s shaver in the first place but I’m so glad i did! I’ve tried a few other brands over the years but always came back to the BodyGroom. I’ve bought 3 different/identical pair within my years of using it but it’s never been due to them breaking, it’s just bc I figured i might as well buy a whole new set since the price wasn’t much more than the cost of the shaver head.
I was looking this topic up bc a few mts ago my boyfriend’s shaver stopped working and he’s since just been helping himself to sharing mine. that wouldn’t be so bad if he actually bothered to clean it but that’s not the case & it’s gotten a lot more use than usual since his facial hair needs daily maintenance.
recently when i went to use it i noticed the foil was starting to come unhooked.. it’s not broken but it’s like the foil got pushed in a direction that made it come off the prongs that hold it in place. I’ve tried pushing it back but i can’t figure out how to get it reattached! i was hoping to find some knowledge online about this but your article is the closest there is! do you have any idea how the foil hooks in, like what angle it shld be held at or something? i know i need to just get another replacement head but I’d still really like to know how to fix the one that’s on it now in the meantime. thx 4 this article btw!
Hi Heather,
Thank you for your comment.
Can you please tell me the exact model of the shaver? You mentioned BodyGroom, which is a line of trimmers/shavers intended for body hair only, but you also say that your boyfriend uses it to shave his face. So it would be really helpful to know exactly which model it is so I can help you with the foil. If you can also snap a pic of the damaged foil, you can send it to me at contact@shavercheck.com.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Thank you for most informative website out there per electric shavers! Your time, research & clear concise info is greatly appreciated.
I bought my dad Braun series 7 with older cleaning station (fast clean option & heated dry) & hard case, back in Dec 2016. I think it’s a dry use only model but not sure as no model # on shaver. He says it’s black & only says Braun & series 7 on it.
The first foil cartridge lasted 2 yrs & second one lasted 18 months. The 3rd only lasted 4 months & now 4th replacement only lasting 4 months. (He’s 94 living in a different state from me so calls me to order for him online). He said each replacement head came in sealed Braun wrapper so assume origin Braun parts.
He uses original Braun clean & renew cartridges – but had to get lemon scented about 8 months ago as couldn’t find original without scent.
Dad swears he hasn’t bumped foils or dropped shaver & says they look fine – no dents, warps, etc – just not getting quality shave. He only shaves every other day, unless going out when he’ll shave next day.
He can’t tell me his “beard type” but I’ve never noticed pokey whiskers even after 3 days no shave.
Are the replacement blades poor quality now? Or maybe I’m buying wrong ones? Last ones are 70-s (I didn’t know ‘s’ meant silver & he said they fit/work for few months. He needs new & I considered getting 70-b to see if different quality but if not sure if worth price increase.
Only # he can find on shaver is under head – removed – on shaver itself not cartridge: 19029 as I had him look to try determine model #.
Any suggestions which blade I should buy? If 70-s not correct I’d think it wouldn’t fit or work but maybe this why not lasting more than 4 months compared to original lasting at least 2 years.
He really likes this shaver, especially the cc convenience & doesn’t want one with bigger head/more blades & foil works best for his sensitive older skin.
Are others having problems with replacement blades quality?
Thanks again for your time.
Hi Kim,
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated.
The 70s (or 70b) shaving heads are indeed the correct parts for your father’s Series 7. From the description, it’s probably an older iteration of the 790cc, one of the very best in my opinion. There’s absolutely no performance difference between the 70s and the 70b shaving heads, so it’s not worth paying more for either of them.
The older Series 7 shavers (and cassettes) are thought to be of better quality, so that might explain why he’s only getting 4 months of use from the more recent ones. The experience of other users with the replacement Series 7 cassettes seem so be inconsistent. And since there are lots of variables affecting the life of the blades, it’s really difficult to pinpoint the cause. I personally haven’t had any issues with the Series 7 replacements, in the sense that I got at least one year of good performance from them.
My only recommendation would be to buy genuine Braun parts. The use of lemon-scented cleaning solution definitely didn’t affect the performance. I think Amazon still carries the older variation as well.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Afterthought – could the addition of lemon scent in Braun clean & renew cartridges somehow affect blades causing them to dull faster?
Does Braun still make these cleaning cartridges without scent, if so, do you know where I can order? (Then I could have him try it with new foil cartridge & see if any difference)
Thank you tons!
I just received my LK-1800, which is the best the wet shave or dry shave?
That really varies among different users. I haven’t used that particular shaver, so I can’t speak from experience. You will have to try both and stick to the method that works best for you.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I purchased a FLYCO FS305US shaver, where can I find replacement blades and shaver for model. Thanx.
Hi Steve,
Your best bet would be Amazon, eBay or some large retail store that carries Flyco shavers. With very cheap electric shavers replacement blades are not always available for purchase. That’s usually not the case with big brands like Braun, Philips, and Panasonic.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Great article!
Would you recommend lubricating the Philips prestige? I don’t believe the manual mentions lubrication of the blades.
Thank you, Brent, much appreciated. Philips never mentions explicitly any information regarding lubrication, but I think it can only be beneficial, especially if you clean your shaver with water (and soap). I wrote a detailed post on that topic as well if you want to check it out.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
its ironic but some times its actually cheaper to buy a new razor than replace the foils. I have a Wahl foil razor and it cost me $36 on Amazon. I looked up the foils for it and they cost $47 for a pair. I can just as easily just repurchase a brand new version of my razor when the foils start to wear out and then not only would I have a complete replacement of all the parts BUT I also now have a spare charging cord in case mine gets lost or damaged.
I can see doing this kind of maintenance on those $200+ versions as its cheaper to just do the foils but for the common razors under $40 just replacing the entire thing is the better option.
Thanks for the comment, James. That’s definitely the case sometimes, especially in the case of very basic or travel shavers.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have a Andis 17220 Shaver, the foils are cracking constantly (a hole on the end of the foils) the metal sticks up, it scratches my head and hurts when i shave. I have had the shaver less then 3 months and i have replaced the foils twice already.
After each and every use, I clean and lubricate the blades, i blow out any hairs on and in the foil assembly.
How do i make the Andis Foils on my Andis 17220 shaver last longer ?
Please send an answer to my email.
Thank You
I shave my head every 2 to 3 days.
Hi Jason,
The foils on the Andis ProFoil and the ones on the Wahl Finale are really thin and aren’t very durable in time. That said, twice within two months is just too much. You’re definitely doing things right by cleaning and lubricating the shaver after each shave. Any chance you’re pressing the foils too hard on the scalp or doing anything else that would accelerate the wear?
This type of double foil shavers are really good for finesse work like blending a shave or shaving the cheeks to the beard for example. But for shaving the entire head on a regular basis, it might end up too expensive. The BaBylissPRO FOILFX02 for example seems to be better in this regard if you want a similar shaver. I would however consider something like a Panasonic Arc 5 (or even an Arc 4) that shaves pretty much just as close, but the foils will last significantly longer.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Please could you let me know if lubricant spray (eg Braun or Philips) as effective as shaver oil (eg Panasonic) to clean the head and cutter blade of a Panasonic LV65 shaver ?
Hi Robert,
Yes, should work fine — I found the Braun spray to have slightly better lubricating properties compared to Philips. My favorite is a spray called Remington Shaver Saver, if you can get it, I highly recommend that one as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have used Braun S3 for years. What do you get with the much more expensive Braun shavers that you don’t get with the S3.
Hi Alan,
The Series 8 and especially the Series 9/9 Pro are the ones that are noticeably better than a Series 3 ProSkin. The new Series 5, 6 and Series 7 360 Flex aren’t much better — in fact, I prefer a Series 3 ProSkin over a new Series 5 or 6.
Regarding your question, the most obvious advantage of a more capable Braun Shaver like the S8 or S9 over the S3 is the ability to shave difficult hair a lot more effectively and also the increased power. I wouldn’t say they’re way better for closeness, but you will likely get a smooth shave with less work.
A Series 8 and especially a Series 9 will be much better than a Series 3 if you shave less often and you have lots of patches with flat-lying hairs and/or with different grain. And finally, a Series 8 or 9 will be more enjoyable to use, especially if you don’t shave very often.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I have to say THANK YOU. As you talked about what not to do, I realized I have done most.
1. I like to shave dry so I have the shaver in my office. When done, I bang it on my hand and then try to get the cuttings out, if there is some left, I bang again. -Not realizing I am damaging my blades.
2. I only clean when the “clean” symbol shows up. I guess I need to do it much more often. The list continues.
Since I only shave every 3 or 4 days I figure I would not need to replace my blades very often. It’s been 3 years. Recently I saw all this beard stuff between the blades and used a tooth brush to get it you. I think that was the final straw. The shaver has done poorly ever since. Dum me. Your description of symptoms of a dull blade, I have all of them. I’ll order replacements today. Thanks.
Hi,
You are very welcome, glad you found the info useful.
Unfortunately you are right, cleaning with a toothbrush is probably what finally did it. The inner blades and especially the foils are very sensitive and even tiny dents/warping will have a profound negative effect on the cutting performance.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu