It’s not often that you get to enjoy the best of both worlds. But when you switch up your shaving game and invest in one of the best wet dry electric shavers, there’s no bouncing back to the blade.
From it-guy of the moment Leo Woodall to everyone’s favorite monster hunter, Henry Cavill, today’s celebs are ditching facial fuzz in favor of a suave, shaved look.
Whether you want a device for a close-shaven vibe, taming a bushy beard, or shaving your head, wet dry electric shavers are efficient and versatile. Unlike regular razors, they put less pressure on the skin, reducing itch and irritation.
It may take your skin a couple of weeks to adjust to a wet dry electric shaver. You’ll likely see some bumps in the first few days. Once the skin adjusts, you’ll be amazed at how much smoother and less irritated it feels compared to shaving with regular razors.
Sensitivity and irritation aside, there are many reasons to switch to a wet dry electric shaver. They’re ideal for travel and work out more to be cost-effective over time. You can even use some shavers in the shower, with or without gel or shaving cream.
Is it any wonder that in 2022, electric shavers accounted for a staggering 69.6 percent revenue share of the global shavers market?
Once you decide to go electric, finding a suitable shaver can be challenging. There are lots of specs to consider when choosing the best wet-dry electric shaver. The good news is I’ve filtered the follicles from the fuzz.
Read on to discover the 5 best wet dry electric shavers according to your needs, budget, and hair type.
Key Takeaways
During my search for the holy grail of the best wet dry electric shavers, I spoke to dozens of guys. I found men who had their stubble sorted with the right grooming tools, while others said poor-quality shaving gear was causing irritation. Comfort is king when it comes to shaving.
So, I set out to find the 5 best wet dry electric shavers to rid you of rashes and razor burns. I checked prices, investigated shaver types, and scrutinized various models, delving into their special features.
Here’s what I found. If you want a close yet comfortable shave for just under $100, the top wet dry electric shaver is my overall pick, the Philips Norelco 7200 Shaver. It’s quick to charge and glides over the skin.
For a feature-packed shaver at around $60, you can’t go wrong with my Amazon favorite, the Braun Series 3 ProSkin. It has a trio of shaving heads to maintain a multitude of styles.
Why it’s great: Transitioning from a manual razor to the best wet dry electric shaver is a game changer. As well as self-sharpening blades and microbeads for a smooth skin glide, the Philips Norelco 7200 has a pop-up trimmer designed for mustaches and sideburns.
If you’re forgetful when it comes to keeping devices charged, as I am, it takes just 5 minutes connected to the power to provide enough juice for a full shave. It’s a lifesaver on mornings when I’m running late.
Who is this for? For guys looking to balance cost with quality features, the Norelco 7200 is the perfect all-rounder. The precision steel blades and flexible circular shaving heads follow face and neck contours to handle even coarse, dense hair with ease.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The shaver doesn’t come with a power adapter in the box. Since most of us already have USB-A adapters lying around, it’s not the end of the world.
Battery Life: 60 minutes | Shaver Type: Rotary Shaver | Beard Type: Short | Skin Type: All | Power Source: Li-ion Battery | Recommended Use: Beard, Shaving, Mustache, Face, Trimming
Why it’s great: At under $50, the Max-T is the best wet dry electric shaver for guys searching for a low-commitment option. The price tag may be small, but the list of high-tech specs is not.
In fact, the Max-T wet dry electric shaver has an ultra-long battery life, boasting 120 minutes of cordless power. The built-in battery percentage display prevents you from getting caught out halfway through shaving your five o’clock shadow.
Who is this for? If splashing the cash on a wet-dry electric shaver isn’t on the cards, the Max-T is an ideal option. This Amazon reviewer agrees, “A year ago, I bought this with the full expectation that I would have to drop a few hundred bucks to find what I was looking for, thinking the Max-T would prove the ‘get what you pay for’ idiom once and for all. I happily admit that I underestimated it. This shaver immediately earned permanent space in my kit.”
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Max-T may not be a universally known brand like Panasonic or Braun, but real reviews don’t lie. This bad boy scores an average of 4.3/5 with over 10.5k Amazon reviews.
Battery Life: 120 minutes | Shaver Type: Rotary Shaver | Beard Type: Short | Skin Type: All | Power Source: Lithium Battery | Recommended Use: Beard, Shaving, Mustache, Face, Trimming
Why it’s great: Credit cards at the ready, gents, let me introduce the Philips Norelco 9800. This best wet dry electric shaver harnesses AI to automatically deliver the optimum power for your hair density. Adjust shaver settings via an intuitive app that offers personalized advice to help improve your technique. Although, with a light ring that provides real-time feedback via color-coded signals, it’s pretty easy to achieve the ideal pressure for a perfect shave the first time.
Who is this for? If you’re a grooming guru who appreciates gadgets with all the bells and whistles, then you’ll love the splurge-worthy Philips Norelco 9800. Apart from a set of modern, high-tech features, where the 9800 shines is in the comfort stakes. Ultra-thin blades prevent nicks, while the ComfortGlide ring reduces friction for a sensitive-skin-friendly shave.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: If you’re not the type of guy who’s going to take advantage of the app and AI features, the investment may not feel worthwhile.
Battery Life: 60 minutes | Shaver Type: Foil Shaver | Beard Type: Short | Skin Type: All | Power Source: Li-ion Battery | Recommended Use: Beard, Shaving, Mustache, Face, Trimming
Why it’s great: After years of frittering cash on low-quality razors that ended up in the trash, I made the move to one of the best wet dry electric shavers. My journey began with the Braun Series 3 ProSkin. This wet dry electric shaver offers great features for an affordable cost. The MicroComb helps trap hairs from the first stroke, minimizing the number of times you need to pass over one area.
Who is this for? The Braun Series 3 ProSkin provides a thin precision head for sharp edges, a standard head for a close-all-over shave, and an extra-large precision trimmer for neatening up beards and sideburns. On the rare occasions that my wife gives me the “ok” to grow my beard, I like that I don’t have to switch to another device for trimming.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Runtime is up to 45 minutes. But seeing as it takes me only 4-6 minutes to style my whole face, I’d say it’s not a big deal.
Battery Life: 45 minutes | Shaver Type: Foil Shaver | Beard Type: Short | Skin Type: All | Power Source: Ni-mh Battery | Recommended Use: Beard, Shaving, Mustache, Sideburn, Face, Trimming
Why it’s great: Are you striving to achieve that classic, clean-cut look? Then the Panasonic LV97 is hard to beat. With a 5-blade system, flexible pivoting head, and ultra-fast motor, this could be your closest shave yet.
If you’re sick of the uncomfortable feeling of tugging and skin drag that comes with manual razors, you’re in for a treat. The built-in intelligent shave sensor detects beard density and automatically adjusts power to minimize irritation.
Who is this for? The Panasonic LV97 is a user-friendly option for guys trying out their first wet-dry electric shaver. Plus, it offers a precision finish to master mustaches and sideburns. Do you hate cleaning your shaver? You’ll be happy to know that the charging station offers automatic cleaning.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Foil shavers like the LV97 are best suited to straight, fine beards rather than thick, coarse hair.
Battery Life: 45 minutes | Shaver Type: Foil Shaver | Beard Type: Short, straight | Skin Type: All, especially sensitive skin | Power Source: Li-ion Battery | Recommended Use: Beard, Shaving, Mustache, Face, Trimming, Sideburns
Buying Considerations for the Best Wet Dry Electric Shavers
Shaver Type
Wet dry electric shavers come in two types: foil and rotary. Foil shavers feature a head of horizontal metal bars with micro holes. When using a foil shaver, you should make vertical movements and lift the device off the skin with each stroke.
Foil shavers tend to offer a closer shave, and a lot of men find them to be gentler. However, I’ve found that after extended use, the shaver head can start to feel hot.
Rotary shavers typically feature three circular steel heads. These heads rotate to capture coarse, thick hairs. Rotary shavers are also great for maintaining large areas, like the head, since you can move them around in all directions.
In a nutshell, if you have straight, thin facial hair and want to tackle precise areas, reach for a foil shaver. If your hair is thicker, coarser, and prone to ingrowns, opt for a rotary shaver.
I’ve used both, and my overall pick, the Philips Norelco 7200, offers the best of both worlds. This rotary shaver features a pop-up precision blade for smaller, harder-to-reach areas.
Features
First, identify your needs and wants in a wet dry electric shaver. What features are you prepared to spend more on? For instance, if you’re not the most organized when it comes to keeping devices charged, opt for a shaver with long battery life like the Max-T Electric Shaver.
When your shaver is as dead as a dodo, the Philips Norelco 7200 Shaver needs just 5 minutes of charging to take on a full shave in a pinch.
Is cleaning your arch nemesis? Then check out the Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 9800 and Panasonic LV97 Electric Shaver, whose charging stations double as automatic cleaning pods.
As someone who has sensitive skin, I find that it’s the anti-irritation features that catch my attention. All the top wet dry electric shavers are made to glide over the skin, but I especially like the MicroComb in the Braun Series 3 ProSkin. Designed to capture more hairs in the first stroke, this detail minimizes the number of times you need to pass over one spot.
Price
You can find excellent wet dry electric shavers like the budget boss Max-T Electric Shaver for under 50 bucks. Meanwhile, luxury models with all the features and frills, such as the Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 9800, are more of an investment at $260.
If you’re new to the world of the wet dry electric shaver, my advice is to opt for a mid-priced product to begin with and transition upwards as you discover your preferences.
Shaving dry may not be recommended as an everyday option, but it sure as heck saves a lot of money on products. If you are a dry shave type of guy, a leading health website confirms that electric shavers “allow for fewer skin irritations than when dry shaving with a blade razor, such as fewer ingrown hairs and razor bumps.”
After the initial splurge of buying your electric shaver, you’ll be shocked at how much cash you’ll save when you switch from a blade. Wave goodbye to costly cartridges and save up instead on a quality grooming kit. Every modern man should own a boar hair shaving brush, premium shaving cream, and a great aftershave lotion.
How We Chose
If you can’t grow a lumberjack beard for love or money, you’re in luck; the sexy-shaven look is in. My round-up of the 5 top wet dry electric shavers will keep you looking razor-sharp. But how did I go about narrowing down the hundreds of options available to bring you the cream of the crop? Here are the judging criteria:
Value: Determining value is about more than looking at the price tag. When curating my list of the 5 best wet dry electric shavers, I searched high and low for well-made, long-lasting products, so your buck results in a
Real Feedback: To make this list, it’s not enough for the manufacturer to say their wet dry electric shaver is great. Whether it be questioning friends and family or reading reams of reviews from real guys just like you, I go to great lengths to ensure that bold claims are backed up with real feedback.
Price: All men deserve to look and feel great, whatever their budget. On this list of the 5 best wet dry electric shavers, you’ll find a range of great products at different price points to level up your grooming game.
Why Trust Us?
Mal, an experienced FashionBeans writer, has been dealing with sensitive skin for most of his teen and adult shaving life. Finding a shaving method that doesn’t leave his skin irritated and burning has been a long haul. So, he was prepped and primed when FashionBeans asked him to share his picks for the best wet dry electric shavers.
Over the years, he’s invested many mornings trying and testing different shaver types. For his top product picks, he also quizzed family, friends, and co-workers. The word on the street is that if you suffer from sensitive skin, want to travel light and save time, wet dry electric shavers are a worthwhile investment.
Being a product reviewer for FashionBeans means not taking anything for granted. Mal delved into the pros and cons of blade versus electric. Plus, he read multiple reviews from seasoned and first-time shavers.
Reading through feedback from like-minded guys, Mal confirmed what he already knew: Electric shavers are quick, convenient, and more versatile than regular razors. You can use them dry, without water and shaving foam. You can even dry shave in the car on the way to work. The best electric shavers are less harmful to sensitive skin types and are kinder on the wallet over time.
Final Verdict
Making a wet dry electric shaver part of your grooming kit is a no-brainer if you’re looking to reduce redness, save time, and nip nicks in the bud. I have put these grooming gadgets through their paces, weighing up prices, tech specs, features, and reviews to bring you the 5 best wet dry electric shavers.
Top of the class is my best overall pick, the Philips Norelco 7200 Shaver. This versatile device delivers top-quality features at a fair price that will appeal to seasoned shavers and newbies alike.
FAQ
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Up-to-the-minute shaving tech means that today’s electric razors can tackle wet and dry shaving, so you don’t need to choose. Both methods work equally well, whatever your preference. But if you’re looking for a closer shave, then wet is best. If time is short and you have sensitive skin, a dry shave is a good choice.
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