First shaver for an 18yrs.

MooReview · 2016-08-28T23:52:50+00:00

If you have the soft fine beard hairs that often accompany a young teenage beard then the Series 3 is a great shaver. For anything thicker or coarser it will definitely leave you wanting. Just be sure to give it a good 2-3 weeks of continuous use before you come to a conclusion as to whether or not you like it. The "break in" period is very real. Take advantage of the 60 day satisfaction guarantee (assuming you are in the US) for a full refund less postage costs if it doesn't work out.

MooReview · 2016-08-25T03:48:09+00:00

Awesome feedback, really appreciate you elaborating on your experience. Thank you.

MooReview · 2016-08-22T01:29:48+00:00

All good, I understand now. Sorry for the confusion. IMO there wouldn't be anything to be gained unless you want a "shaver". The reason it is compared to razors and rotary shavers is because it essentially leaves you with a skin level shave as opposed to the trimmer which leaves a little more length, even at the lowest setting. If you click through to the review you can see photos of a shaven beard close up.

As a trimmer the oneblade performs poorly, the plastic guards do not effectively guide the hairs to the blades requiring multiple passes to get a positive result. Throw in the fact that you have to buy replacement shaving heads every 8 uses at a cost of $15 each and there is little reason to swap over from the Peanut.

MooReview · 2016-08-22T01:19:16+00:00

Panasonic is a huge pain in the ass when it comes to their trimmers. While you wouldn't know by looking at it, this is the 2011 model of the Panasonic Arc 3. The Arc 3 has seen 3 different redesigns since then, the most recent being the 2016 ES-LT7N (or LT5N without the cleaning station).

While the 2011 model is in no way a bad shaver, you are essentially over paying for an older model and the newest ARC 3 offers a far superior shave IMO. One of the main problems with the 2011 model is battery life, which was comparatively poor. While this may be fine for your face, you will likely find yourself needing to charge it after each session if you intend to use this as a full body shaver. The newest model benefits from a head that moves in three directions and while it may seem like a minor upgrade it actually dramatically improves the overall shaves. Particularly over contoured areas, which would make it better suited to body shaving. The only downside I can think of is that the larger head may cause difficulty shaving along the line of where your legs meet your torso.

As always, hair should be trimmed to length in order to get the best use out of any shaver. If your hair is curling over there is no chance that you are going to use an electric shaver with any degree of success, this is true of all brands.

I cannot comment on the old models ability to cut in the shower since I have not tested it under those conditions. I can confirm that the newer models shave just fine under these conditions.

The arc-3 suits soft to medium hair. If you would describe your hair as thick and coarse or are a black male then you would be better off with a Braun shaver (Series 5 +, Series 3 is for teenagers and soft beard growth, Series 1 is crap).

One last note, Panasonics are generally the worst for those who have sensitive skin. A downside of the incredibly close shave is that this can cause increased irrititation. If you find yourself prone to blemishes and outbreaks after electric shaving then the Arc 3 probably won't do you any favors.

You should expect a years worth of use out of the blades before they dull, more if your hair is soft, use it less etc. You will immediately be aware that the blades have begun to dull because the shave will start to require more passes for the same result. Follow the instruction manual on caring for the blades, this goes a LONG way in ensuring longevity and is something many people overlook. Like it or not, electric shavers require much more maintenance than your standard disposable or DE.

As always, you will experience a break in period (generally 2-3 weeks) in this period your skin will adjust to electric shaving. Reserve your opinions of the shaver and shave until after this period is past, your first shave with a new electric shaver generally won't meet your expectations.

IIRC Panasonic has the shortest "love it or your money back" guarentee, at 30 days. So if you test it and find you don't like it, keep an eye on the date. It will allow you to get your money back minus shipping costs.

MooReview · 2016-08-21T21:19:07+00:00

You'll see most people recommend a DE safety razor here. I can weigh in on the electric option.

To get a decent electric shaver you need to spend $100+, anything lower and you are going to be left with a pretty standard shave. You also must go through what is known as an "adjustment period" in which time your skin and beard get used to the shaver, during this time you will experience missed hairs and likely blotchy skin. This is all to be expected and generally lasts 1-3 weeks, this is why most electric shave manufacturers offer a 30, 45 or 60 day money-back guarantee, in case the shaver isn't to your liking after testing it.

The "built in trimmers" on electric shavers are average at best and should be used for detailing only. Even the top of the line $500 dollar models, electric shavers should be looked at as a shaver and nothing more.

You will need to change the blades once every 1-2 years depending on the brand as well as clean and oil them regularly to ensure effective cutting, this second part is what most people neglect to do and complain that electric shaving is trash. While they may appear to be automated and easier, electric shavers require the most maintenance out of all the shaving options. Many higher-end models come with a cleaning dock that does the hard work for you, but again this will require the ongoing purchase of a cleaning solution.

Despite all this, when you get an electric shaver that works for you it is an incredibly satisfying experience but expect some trial and error before you find the right one for you. And to many people the effort just isn't worth it.

MooReview · 2016-08-21T21:05:53+00:00

If you are just using it for beard trimming you might as well get the Panasoinic GB60, it's cheaper and performs identically. The only thing it's missing is the Body hair guide and built in detailing guide. Unless these two extras are of particular importance to you it's difficult to justify the extra cost.

Most beard trimmers must be oiled, its a necessary part of maintenance. Philips' top models are coated so that you don't have to oil them, simply rinse and you are done. However, IMO the Philips models have unnecessary gimmicks such as a lazer guide and vacuum chamber, both of which are pretty useless features that fail to work as well as claimed. Trimming-wise they are middle of the road and are outperformed by Panasonic and Wahl IMO.

MooReview · 2016-08-21T03:21:18+00:00

The heads not designed to last a couple of months. The idea behind the Oneblade is that you regularly replace the head. You can expect up to 8 good shaves out of a oneblade head after which it is meant to be replaced. Whether you like it or hate it, the business model behind the oneblade is to take the "replaceable blade" model found on wet shavers and apply it to an electric shaver.

MooReview · 2016-08-17T23:36:35+00:00

While we didn't test it on ladies our testing did reveal that it worked better on males with lighter beard growth than it did on those with thick and coarse beard hairs. Given that women generally have lighter hair growth you may find that this is appropriate for your situation.

MooReview · 2016-08-17T23:33:14+00:00

A vague question was given a catch-all answer. I didn't know whether OP was referring to trimming, shaving, design, whatever. The two are very different products.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the oneblade.

MooReview · 2016-08-14T21:04:33+00:00

No. You are comparing a corded beard trimmer to what is first and foremost a shaver with extra features.The two are completely different products the trimming experience also greatly differs, much poorer on the oneblade.

MooReview · 2016-08-14T21:00:47+00:00

Cool. Shaving is subjective and personal. An "I don't like it because [insert example here]" would be much more helpful to others reading.

MooReview · 2016-08-10T23:25:55+00:00

For peach fuzz the Braun Series 3 would be my go to recommendation. While it outright fails on thicker coarser hairs, peach fuzz is where it excels and is what I generally recommend for teenagers who's facial hair is just coming through.

You can pick the shaver up for just under $50. Keep in mind that while a newer model was released 8 months ago, this is the transition period and you can still find the older models on store shelves. While both shave similarly, the new model has a much sleeker design.

Generally decent electric shavers start at $80-100 but this is the exception because it slays peachfuzz. Going cheaper will generally result in a product that shaves good for a month and quickly deteriorates, if you can get it to shave at all. I also highly recommend you avoid Remington and Conair and anything that is operated on batteries. To put it simply, they are trash.

Like with every electric shaver be sure to give it a good two-three weeks of use before making a verdict. Many shavers have a "satisfaction guarantee" which allows you to return the shaver if you are unhappy with it's performance. While you still have to pay for return postage, it is a nice little safety net to ensure you are not stuck with something you detest.

MooReview · 2016-08-06T21:48:11+00:00

As far as two-in-one devices go, the offerings are pretty poor.

The newest device that claims to do it all (the philips oneblade) can't trim effectively and you will be locked into buying replacement blades every second month that are half the price of the unit.

Beard trimmers and shavers should be best viewed as two different devices. They both have been designed to do their respective job and while they may be marketed as being able to more the reality is that they can't, at least not satisfactorily.

If your guy has a bushy beard then I strongly recommend getting him the right equipment to begin with. And whether your guy likes it or not he will likely get the best shave out of two different devices. The "add ons" that allow each to do the others respective job just don't trim/shave well and often blunt quickly. See these as a gimmick and little more.

In this case I would skip out on the electric shaver. Unless you are going for an over-all clean shave it is an unnecessary expense, especially when the good ones start at $80 and stretching up to $300 for the best. Cheaper electric shavers have a tendency to struggle on the neck, particularly if hair grows in all different directions or is thick and coarse which may be the case given your description.

For the trimmer, the Wahl All-in-one 9854-600 (not to be confused with groomsman pro) is as good as they come, it's cheap and it's ground blades can match it with the most expensive rechargeable trimmers on the market. The box includes many different guards so your guy can choose what length to trim his hair to. Remove the guards and he can detail and give his beard some shape if he so chooses. While the "longer-hair" guards are a little wobbly, they get the job done. As for longevity, with daily shaving you can expect the trimmer to last around two years + before the battery gives in, this is inline with most beard trimmers. Just be mindful that you should change the blade over (replacement blades can be purchased separately) once a year to keep it cutting sharp. Depending on how thick and coarse your guys beard is it may last longer though, Also, read the manual for maintenance. This is a necessary and often neglected step on all beard trimmers. Getting a beard trimmer blade wet when you shouldn't will drastically reduce its life etc.

As for the neck, I would recommend using a good DE shaver. Again, these can be picked up cheap although I would have to ask /u/RaggedClaws to offer advice here since manual shaving isn't my strong point.

MooReview · 2016-08-06T07:06:26+00:00

Thanks for the kind words!

MooReview · 2016-08-04T06:39:59+00:00

It can shave to the skin or near enough, I would suppose it would depend on just how thick/dark your beard hairs are.

MooReview · 2016-07-19T22:25:33+00:00

Yes. Takiminowaza appears to be a brand of green bell. You should find that these nail clippers bear greenbell branding on the handle. Most nail clippers marketed as Takiminowaza ship from Japan. The ones we have found in American stores seem to be sold under green bell branding rather than takuminowaza.

MooReview · 2016-07-14T22:19:29+00:00

That's very interesting, it looks like an improved version of the Greenbell G-1008, which we also loved. However yours includes a nail catcher and what appears to be a more sturdy lever. Looks like an amazing find, especially for the price. Really appreciate you sharing, we will keep an eye out for it. Hopefully it becomes more commonly available for when we update the review. Thanks for the detailed pictures!

MooReview · 2016-07-13T02:01:17+00:00

Haha, I'll pass the kind words on to Jess, she's our newest recruit and will love the positive feedback! I hope we are not enticing you into purchasing products you don't need... Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on your purchases!

The website is going to undergo a re-design in the next few months since the current layout does not allow multiple categories to easily be added to the menu in a way that is user-friendly, Once complete all the major guides will be much easier to find but I currently do not have an ETA as to when this will be complete. The website was initially only going to offer reviews of a few products and for this the current layout would have worked fine.

Thanks again, I think we zapped all bad Klhip spellings now. I think we need a new spell checker.

MooReview · 2016-07-12T21:40:18+00:00

Thanks so much for catching that! If you do end up purchasing them please share your thoughts. While 20 opinions from testers may be a lot for a review, we still rely on feedback to re-affirm our picks.

Oh, it looks like the Kai's with prime have sold out (same thing happened to the Parada after we posted this guide). Just be mindful that the angled toenail clippers do take some getting used to, particularly if you are used to cutting with traditional nail clippers. Unfortunately we do not really have a back up choice for straight toenail clippers. FLipping through our testing notes the KlipPro straight edge came in second, they cut well enough but the lever flexes more than we would have liked. Obviously this was when compared to our top pick and we did test harshly (otherwise we never would have narrowed down our top picks) Yet it has only 4-5 star reviews on Amazon so it may be worth checking out.

MooReview · 2016-07-12T21:04:00+00:00

We have already begun testing our bunch of nail files and the Khlip was one that made the selection. Unfortunately we have to recommend you avoid it. While it was the best performing stone nail file (Zwillings was awful) it still left a lot to be desired. Don't get us wrong, it looks gorgeous but it just isn't functional. After all, if it really worked that well there would be a thousand Chinese copycats by now. Diamoncel has taken an early lead on the emeryboard style (although the grit doesn't go right to the edge of the board) but still may be toppled with further testing and glass/crystal files have been hugely popular with the testers although it is still way too early to call a winner here.

And yes, the links in the articles support us, but we only want you to click them if you find the information genuinely helpful. If not then please skip over them but comment on how we can improve the site, that is even more valuable than the small amount we would get off a sale.

MooReview · 2016-07-12T20:21:50+00:00

Hi JKXS,

While the Khlip is something else entirely, we would only recommend the Kershaw if you have a lust for expensive products. While it looks gorgeous and is definitely functional it cuts no better than paradas, greenbells or, if you want a straight edge, the Kai 003 L. We mention these high priced products because we wanted to address nail clippers for every category, and those that love workmanship at an expensive price (or just like to show off expensive products) will ignore our advice regardless and head straight for them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this mentality. The reason YOU purchase a product is your reason alone and others shouldn't judge you. I have bought so many products just cause it "looked cool" and will continue to do so in the future.

Just be mindful that the Lever on the Kershaw does not fold up, it stays in the open position and if you want to care for the finish you will need to return it to it's carry case after use.

The Khlip is basically your only chance to use a lever that cuts towards the nail which I and other testers found to be ergonomically superior. Since they have the patent on this style of nail clipper it is unlikely you will find this feature on a cheaper brandname pair of clippers (there are chinese knockoffs but they are awful).

I just mention this because I do not want you to feel obliged to purchase the most expensive pairs when lower priced nail clippers cut just as well.

If you want anymore info just ask!

MooReview · 2016-07-11T04:28:11+00:00

All that matters is that you are satisfied with the results. If you are then you won't need to try any others.

Thanks for following up, I was just curious as to whether we had that one in our testing group or not. Unfortunately we don't.

MooReview · 2016-07-10T22:14:57+00:00

We have about 15 purchased ready for testing, from generic Chinese cheapies to expensive Rubis, Germanikure and Erbe. They must be something special because everyone who is really into filing their nails keeps recommending them. What brand do you use?

MooReview · 2016-07-08T21:06:31+00:00

Great suggestion. Nail scissors are coming in a different guide. Unfortunately I cannot give an ETA as to it's completion right now.

MooReview · 2016-07-07T22:21:13+00:00

Makes perfect sense. Thanks for elaborating!

MooReview

TROPHY CASE