Shaving – proper wet shaving, with razors, shaving creams, and fancy brushes – is one the great banes of the average man’s life: a hassle that demands time, irritable skin, and a cabinet’s worth of accessories. It’s a daily grind that convinces many men to forget it and grow a beard instead. Electric shavers have long been the solution, but some men are still reluctant to make the switch, thanks to an age-old assumption that electric just can’t get as close as the old school razor. But the technology behind electric shavers is, well, sharper than ever, from foils and rotary heads to sensors and tracking systems. Even grooming purists would agree there’s never been a better time to plug in and play.

Electric Shaving: The Pros And Cons

That’s not to say it’s all good. In the same way wet shaving has its advantages (super-smooth results) and disadvantages (nicks, cuts and a plughole blocked with stubble), electric shaving has its pros and cons too:

The Pros

Today’s electric shavers are designed to deliver the closest of shaves with the minimum of fuss, mess and dodgy-looking rashes. Due to the fact that they get the job done with fewer passes and the blades never come into direct contact with the skin, electric shavers are a good option for guys with sensitive or blemish-prone skin and – since traditional razor blades prefer shavers with smoother complexions – older guys whose skin may be a little craggier too. Electric shavers don’t slice hairs below the surface of the skin like blades either. Instead, they push the skin up ahead of the cutters to raise the hairs, meaning the risk of painful ingrown hairs is minimised. Plus, there’s virtually no prep required and – because you don’t need water to use them – they’re perfect for on-the-go or on-a-hangover grooming.

The Cons

As with all high-tech grooming gadgets, an electric shaver means a significant initial investment – although entry-level options can often be picked up for under £50 and high-end models are frequently discounted. Regardless of how much you spend, don’t expect your shave to be quite as close as with a regular razor and remember that electric models require maintenance and only work when sufficiently charged (if you’ve ever owned an electric toothbrush, you’ll know how easy it is to forget to charge them).