Thank you Beauty Review for giving me this awesome shaver to try. It's an impressive package. The shaver has an excellent design and superb construction. It's comfortable to hold and all the controls are easy to access. The carry case (included) is stylish and makes it easy to throw into an overnight bag or even your work/gym bag.
I have a lot of facial hair and it grows quickly so I'm always having to shave. I usually use disposable razors, which is always a time consuming operation to get the hot water running, lather up and shave, and in a busy morning it would usually be relegated to 'next day' status.
It took me a while to get used to the Braun shaver, you definitely have to read the instructions, but well worth it. It's highly effective, and while it takes longer than my usual disposable razor, it's easier to use, and you can shave anywhere (well, as long as you're mindful of the hair mess).
What surprised me the most is how gentle the shaver is and how smooth your skin is afterwards. I did spend a bit of time wondering how this is achieved, but in the end chose to reap the benefits rather than ponder the method.
It's a serious investment, but having said that the disposable razors I usually use cost a small fortune, so in the long run this would be a better bang for your stubble buck.
I now find that I like to have my shaver in my workbag so it's easy to do a quick shave at home or at work if I'm pressed for time. And that smooth, smooth skin at the end is simply a great result.
This is my first electric shaver for many years so I am comparing to my usual manual shave. This shaver is a big step up from shavers I have used in the past as I was able to get a decent shave with no skin irritation and being able to shave in the shower definitely a time saver. First impressions: It is well designed, feels good and solid and looks like a premium product. It was not too big and was very easy to use except for the long hair extension which suffered from impaired viewing when cutting due to its design, which made cutting sideburns tricky. The cleaning and charging station looks good and well designed, but is quite a big piece of equipment, so may not suite a small bathroom. The shave itself was definitely not as smooth as my usual manual wet shave, but once I got over that, the added advantage of being able to shave wet or dry meant I gave up on finishing off by using my old razor for a perfect shave. The battery seems to be long lasting and I haven't yet managed to run it down after a few weeks of daily use. The instruction manual is well written and easy to follow. Noise whilst shaving was lower than I expected but the cleaning process is quite noisy especially the drying fan which goes for about half an hour or so. It is also very easy to clean manually using the little cleaning brush supplied and the shaver head detaches very simply to facilitate cleaning. I really like the hassle free cleaning station and the time that saves me when I am rushing out the door. I simply put the shaver into the station switch it on and leave it to clean, charge and maintain the shaver whilst I am gone. Value for money this shaver cannot compete with my manual razor and the cost per shave is much higher due to high purchase price, cost of the cleaning cartridge and the head needing replacement every eighteen months or so. But this is a superior electric shaver....so you pay for that. Overall I like this shaver a lot and the only reason I give it four rather than five stars is that the shave is still not as good as a manual wet razor and it takes longer to shave with the electric razor than with a manual. The convenience, quality feel and portability of the Braun series 9 however is very appealing especially for travel.
Tips: - Read the manual - especially about the status indicator lights - they can be confusing. - Tip for Braun - It would be useful to have a pocket for the small (easily misplaced) cleaning brush in the travel case and a place to clip it on the charger. - Another tip for Braun - It would be useful to include space for the power cord in the travel case so I don't have to pack the two separately.