When it comes to electric shaving, one of the biggest decisions is choosing between the two major technologies available at the moment. The number of foil and rotary shavers available today is extensive, and each type has its own benefits and features, depending on your needs and preferences.
Aside from shaving technology, many foil and rotary shavers offer similar features and accessories. Most shavers have trimmers for side burns and include convenience features like cleaning stations. It’s unlikely that these additional features will improve your shaving experience as much as choosing the right shaving technology.
Within the electric shaving market, major brands mostly offer one type of shaver. Braun and Panasonic focus on foil shavers while Philips Norelco produces rotary shavers.
After you understand the differences between foil and rotary shavers, you can decide which shaving technology and models are best for you.
Just want a summary of what matters? Here is a quick overview:
| Shaver Type | Best For | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Foil Shavers | Sensitive Skin, Speed | Closest shave, gentler shave, easier maintenance |
| Rotary Shavers | Thicker facial hair, Contours (Neck, Jaw) | Quieter, More versatile |
Already know the type of shaver you want? Head over to our article on the best electric shavers to see what models we recommend for the price, value, and features they offer.
Foil Shavers
Foil shavers use a razor-thin metal screen to protect the skin while allowing facial hair to pass through. Cutting blades move rapidly back and forth (oscellating) underneath this screen, trimming the hair as you move across the face.
Besides feature sets, some of the biggest differences between budget and premium foil shavers are the amount of cutting elements and the amount of pivot points or rotation they provide.
Compared to cheaper models, Braun and Panasonic’s premium models such as the Series 9 and Arc5, include more foils and cutting elements. These elements are designed to handle different hair lengths and make it more likely to trim all hair at the same time. In addition to a variety of cutting elements, premium models often allow shaving heads to rotate in a variety of ways, so they follow the shape of your face better.
Cheaper shavers from these brands typically limit the shaver head pivoting to one direction (side to side) which requires you to pass over the contours of your face at different angles to trim all hair. These additional passes can cause skin irritation and take longer to complete your shave.
Braun’s Series 3 models have limited movement of the shaving head. This can make it difficult to shave along the neck & jawline.
Panasonic’s Arc5 allows for significantly more movement of the shaving head. This allows the foils to better follow thecontours of the face.
Advantages of Foil Shavers
Suitable for Most People: Foil shavers are what we recommend for most people looking for an electric shave.
More Efficient: Advanced shavers from Braun & Panasonic include multiple cutting elements, each engineered to target hairs of various lengths for a more efficient shave, reducing the amount of passes needed to complete most shaves.
Better for Sensitive Skin: Foil shavers tend to be less harsh and require fewer passes than rotary shavers reducing irritation, thus, minimizing skin irritation.
Simplicity of Maintenance: With a shaving head structure less prone to trapping hair, manual clean-up is straightforward – a simple rinse is often all that’s needed.
For the best foil shaving performance, follow these tips:
- Shave against the grain: Foil shavers work best when you shave against the direction of hair growth. This helps lift the hairs for a closer shave and reduces the chance of irritation.
- Keep it clean: Regularly clean your foil shaver after each use to prevent hair and debris from clogging the blades. Some foil shavers come with a cleaning brush or a cleaning station for convenience.
- Replace the foil and blades: Over time, the foil and blades of your electric shaver will wear out. Replace them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to maintain optimal performance and a close shave.
- Use gentle pressure: Unlike manual razors, pressing too hard with a foil shaver can actually reduce its effectiveness and cause irritation. Let the shaver glide over your skin with gentle, steady strokes.
- Prep your skin: For the best results, shave after a warm shower or use a pre-shave lotion to soften the hair and open up your pores. This will make it easier for the foil shaver to glide smoothly over your skin.
Rotary Shavers
The blades on rotary shavers are spun within (typically) three heads that are pivotable, allowing the shavers to adapt more easily to facial contours, particularly along the neck and jawline.
It is easier for rotary shavers to handle uneven and curly facial hair. Foil shavers require all hairs to feed through foils before they reach the cutting elements. Rotary shavers, on the other hand, sweep all hair into the cutting element without feeding through foils. Unfortunately, this can result in an uncomfortable pulling sensation for some people.
More expensive and advanced models from Philips, like the Norelco 9800, have improved shaving heads that result in closer and faster shaves than their cheaper competitors, but rarely deliver as close as the most advanced foil shavers.
Related: The Best Rotary Shavers
Advantages of Rotary Shavers
Enhanced Contouring: The independent movement of the shaving elements allows rotary shavers to excel at navigating the jaw and neck, notoriously difficult areas to shave.
Coarse and Lengthy Hair Management: For those who typically wait a few days between shaves, rotary shavers can provide a better experience, adept at handling thicker and longer stubble.
Decreased Noise Levels: When a shaver’s loud buzz is undesirable, rotary shavers typically offer a quieter shaving experience.
More Veristile: Rotary shavers can be used to shave the head or other parts of the body. The independently moving shaving heads and ability to capture hair of different thicknesses allow them to be used on areas other than the face.
For the best rotary shaving performance, follow these tips:
- Follow a circular motion: Rotary shavers are designed to work in a circular motion, so use small circularmovements when shaving. This helps the blades capture and cut the hair effectively from different angles.
- Adjust for contours: Rotary shavers are great for navigating the contours of your face and neck. Tilt the shaver slightly and move it in circular motions to ensure all areas are covered evenly.
- Replace the shaving heads: Just like foil shavers, the shaving heads of rotary shavers can wear out over time. Replace them regularly to maintain peak performance and ensure a close shave.
- Keep it charged: Rotary shavers perform best when fully charged. Make sure to charge your shaver regularly and consider investing in a model with a quick charge feature for convenience.
- Clean the shaver head: After each use, remove the shaver head and clean it thoroughly to remove any hair and debris. Some rotary shavers come with a cleaning brush or a cleaning station to make this process easier.
Which is best for you?
BEST FOIL SHAVER
Braun Series 7
Pros
Cons
BEST ROTARY SHAVER
Philips Norelco 9700
Pros
Cons
For most people, foil shavers are the better choice when comparing shavers at the same price range. Models like the Braun Series 9 or Panasonic Arc5 offer the closest shave, though not as close as a traditional razor, and provide enhanced comfort during use.
Rotating shavers may be the best choice for people who have used foil shavers before, but need a shaver that can handle thicker beard growth. While we recognize rotary shavers for their quiet operation, we often see it as secondary to the overall shaving performance.
Ultimately the choice comes down to prioritizing the closeness of the shave and comfort, where foil shavers excel, orflexibility and a quieter shave, traits more associated with rotary shavers.
Related: The Best Electric Shavers
