Electric Shavers for the Elderly: A Review of the Top 7
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With age comes many physical and lifetime changes you may not be prepared for. The skin goes through the biggest change, making simple tasks like shaving a challenge.
As the skin gets saggy and softer, the chances of nicking and cutting your skin increase. Your unsteady hands and poor eyesight don’t make it any easier. So, if you were used to straight razors, they are now dangerous tools in your hands. Your best bet is to use an electric shaver.
Unfortunately, not all electric shavers are designed to handle delicate skin, grey hair, and wrinkles. So, to help you, we’ve prepared a list of electric shavers that are gentle on aging skin and yield great shaving results.
Top 3 Best Electric Shavers for the Elderly at a Glance
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But before we get into the review list, here are some factors to consider when purchasing the best electric shavers for the elderly and some of the useful accessories.
Factors to consider before buying an electric razor for an elderly man
Getting an electric shaver for an elderly man can be challenging. To help you get a good option for your skin, you should consider the following factors:
- Motor
When choosing the best electric shaver for elderly men, think of the motor; how powerful is it? Is it strong enough to shave hair with little struggle, and can it handle soft, gray hair? It’s also crucial to note the warranty, as this will give you a rough idea of the motor’s durability. Unfortunately, most powerful motors don’t last too long.
- Battery
The battery powering the motor is an important consideration as well. Most batteries last 60 minutes on one full charge. Some last longer, and some a little shorter (usually 50 minutes). When the juice runs out, good shavers have a 5-minute recharge feature that’ll allow you to complete your shave before recharging it to full capacity.
Always consider your use. Do you intend to use it on the road? Or at home? If you travel a lot, high-capacity batteries are better.
- Cost
Electric razors have different price tags. While it might be tempting to go for the most expensive razor on the market, expensive doesn’t always guarantee good performance, especially with your unique shaving needs.
A good approach is determining your budget and looking for a shaver that meets your needs. You’ll be surprised some affordable shavers meet and surpass your needs.
- Ease of cleaning
You don’t have the time or energy to try cleaning a shaver with a complicated design. Instead, you want a shaver that’s easy to clean. If this can be done under running water, even better.
- Ergonomic grip
As you grow old, your grip weakens. This increases the risk of cuts and nicks. It also means you might drop the razor multiple times. As such, the razor must have a good grip to prevent drops, even when handled with wet hands. And if it drops, it should have a sturdy build to avoid damage.
- Extras
Extra features like shaving attachments, wet and dry shaving, and cordless use improve conveniences and user experience.
The Best Electric Razors for Elderly Men (Summary)
Last update on 2024-08-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Best Electric Razors for Elderly Men
1. Braun Series 9 9390cc
If you’re looking for an electric shaver with top performance and technology, the Braun Series 9 9390cc is perfect. It’s perfect for delivering close shaves on sensitive skin without causing irritations. It’s equipped with hypoallergenic stainless-steel blades that are easy on the skin. The powerful motor runs the blades at 40,000 cross cuts a minute, making slicing through soft gray hair easier.
Moreover, SyncroSonic Technology delivers 10,000 sonic vibrations every 60 seconds to deliver a smooth glide over the skin. And if that’s not enough, the shaver comes with a SkinGuard that offers wrinkled skin more protection.
The built-in OptiFoil helps the shaver capture more hair in a single stroke. Hairs as short as 0.05mm cannot escape this technology. Other notable features include:
- A 10D flex head designed to adapt to facial contours for a close yet irritation-free shave
- Autosensing Technology that senses your soft hair and adjusts power according to it
- Powerful Li-Ion battery lasting 60 minutes on a full charge
- It’s durability
- Fast charging
- Delivers a close shave without skin irritation
- Good for sensitive skin
- Comfortable
- User-friendly display
- It’s a little pricey
- it uses a conventional slide-up trimmer
2. Remington Heritage Series 9000
The Remington Heritage Series 9000 looks the part and does a good shaving aging skin. This beautiful shaver features Close Shave Duel Lift Logic flexing foils completed with multidirectional patterns to cater to different facial contours, hair growth direction, and hair length.
Even better, it comes with a proprietary Protect and Trim technology that protects the saggy skin from nicks while still capturing and slicing through hair lying flat on the skin. The stainless steel construction adds to its beauty and is easy to maintain. After all, who has time to waste cleaning a shaver for hours?
- Beautiful
- Has wet and dry shave use
- Easy to clean
- Delivers a close shave
- Battery last long
- It needs a couple of passes for a close shave
3. Philips Norelco Series 9000 Prestige
The Series 9000 Prestige is one of the high-end electric shavers under Philips Norelco. It was launched in 2018, and it’s still considered the go-to shaver for elderly men. This is mainly because of its new shaving heads and design. With the changes came performance improvements that’ll benefit your old man. But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what to expect.
The Philips Norelco Series 9000 Prestige comes in several iterations, some of which are region-specific. These variations include come with different features and hence excel on different fronts. But our review focuses on the SP9820/87, which sports a SmartClick Precision trimmer and a travel case.
Unlike the 9700/9300 or even the 8900 models, the Philips Norelco Series 9000 Prestige uses the SH98 cutters instead of the SH90 cutters. This has a huge impact on performance. It’s also worth noting that the rings around the cutters have an anti-friction coating that helps the shaver glide easily over the loose soft skin.
It’s shocking how close a shave this electric shaver delivers. Sure, it’s nothing as good as the Braun Series 7, but it’s great for elderly men.
Other useful features include:
- NanoTech precision blades
- BeardAdapt Sensor checks
- Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that delivers 60 minutes of use
- Comfortable close shave
- Good performance on long facial hair
- High-quality build
- Useful display
- Set and dry use
- Doesn’t come with a cleaning station, a protective cap, or a cleaning brush
- Expensive
4. Panasonic Arc5
If you spend money on an expensive electric shaver, you’d want a great shaving experience. For elderly men, this means no itchy shaving. Luckily, the Panasonic Arc5 has a flexible head and Multi-Flex razor heads.
The flexible pivoting head helps the shaver adjust to facial contours and avoid cuts and nicks. You can remain in control along the jawlines and necklines when you shave. And with the powerful motor delivering 14,000 cycles a minute, the shaver delivers accurate cuts quickly.
The shaver has one cutter to capture flat-lying hair to reduce skin irritation. The other foils are a combination of stubble removers and guards. Moreover, the hypoallergenic steel blades are positioned at 30 degrees to cut hair follicles to improve accuracy.
Although it has 3 shaving modes, seniors can prefer to use the default mode where the Active Shave Sensor technology works best. The technology determines beard thickness and adjusts power as needed.
- Flexible and ergonomic shaving head
- Hypoallergenic blades
- High-performance motor
- Durable shaver
- Kit comes with detergents for the charging dock and blades
- The battery capacity is a little wanting
5. Philips Norelco OneBlade
This is a one-of-a-kind shaving tool that seniors should try. Philips-OneBlade was and is a successful attempt at a hybrid shaving device – it’s an electric razor and a hair trimmer at the same time. Although individual technologies have been around for centuries, they’ve only been blended in recent years.
Instead of heavy and thick blade plates, the Norelco OneBlade has razor-thin plates, which allow seniors to shave close to the skin without scratching or cutting the skin.
Note: this shaver doesn’t cut on the flat head surface but along its edges.
- The rounded teeth don’t cut or catch the skin
- The flat head surface coating helps to tell when the blade needs replacement
- An ergonomic plastic neck allows the blade to remain close to the edges and curves
- It’s more affordable than most budget shavers
- It takes 8 hours to recharge
- Blade replacement every four months or a subscription plan
6. Philips Norelco 6880/81
This is a great mid-range rotary shaver you can purchase. Like most Philips rotary razors, the Philips Norelco 6880/81 has three independently flexing cutting heads. The assembly pivots and follows facial contours to maintain skin contact for a close shave without cuts and nicks.
Around the cutting heads are blue rings (ComfortGlide rings) with a special coating to reduce skin friction, enhancing the shaving experience. This rotary shaver also has a Skin Guard Mode, which slows the motor down, making it more forgiving for seniors.
With its wet and dry use, you can use the Philips Norelco 6880/81 in the shower or with a shaving gel or cream. On a full charge, you get 50 minutes of cordless use.
- Sensitive and slow shaving
- Reduced friction
- Long shaving time
- LED battery indicators, so you need a recharge
- Performs well with or without shaving gel or cream
- The shaving heads catch a little, especially when shaving some difficult-to-shave spots
7. PriTech Rotary Shaving Kit
This is an electric shaver for elderly men on steroids. Here’s why we think so. Unlike most shavers on our list, the PriTech Rotary Shaving Kit is a multi-functional electric razor that comes with three detachable heads, including a beard shaver, a mane shape trimmer, and a nose trimmer. The heads connect to a pivot that adapts to the jaw, neck and facial contours, perfect for our elderly loved ones.
Aside from this, the rotary shaver runs on a powerful battery that lasts 120 minutes on a single charge. However, it takes 60 minutes to recharge.
- Charge indicators
- Close, comfortable shaves
- Travel friendly
- Easy to clean
- Easy to interchange shaver attachments
- Doesn’t deliver a close shave as premium shavers
Are electric shavers winning over manual razors?
For elderly men, the answer is yes. Our decision is based on our experience on the following fronts:
- Irritation free shave
Electric shavers for elderly men are far more skin-friendly since they don’t shave too close to the skin like manual razors. Moreover, since aging skin is more sensitive, electric shavers also allow the use of pre-shaving creams to reduce irritation.
Do you use shaving cream with electric razors
- Nicks, cuts, and abrasions
For an elderly man, learning to use an electric shaver is easier than a safety razor. As such, seniors get fewer nicks and cuts with electric shavers than with safety razors. Applying some shaving lotion and preparing for the save helps reduce the chances of abrasions and nicks.
Treat cuts and nicks with an alum block or styptic pencil
- Cost-effectiveness
People have been led to believe manual razors are more cost-effective than electric shavers. However, if we run the numbers, electric shavers prove less expensive in the long run. But that’s if you take proper care of the razor.
With manual razors, you’ll need to switch razors every one or two weeks, depending on your frequency of shaving. Electric blades will take several years, except for the Philips Norelco OneBlade, which needs blade replacement every four months.
Final word
If you’ve gotten this far, you now understand what the best electric shaver for an elderly man looks like and where to start your search. We’ve taken time to compile our best-of list, so you should have a good experience with any of our recommendations. But if you’re considering an option we’ve not reviewed, consider the factors we outlined.
It’s also important to learn: How often should you replace an electric razor?
Ruiru Kibet
Ruiru Kibet is passionate about beard care and male grooming. He believes it’s an art form and is happy to share his insight with men across the globe. He’s into wet shaving and evidence-based grooming, a passion that helps him analyze men’s grooming brands, products, and wet shaving practices presenting you with the best recommendations and advice.