I used to use an electric. However, a few years ago I switched to an M3 with good shaving cream and a boar bristle brush from Art of Shaving. I use either Art of Shaving's own cream or Taylor of Bond Street or the other English brand the name of which escapes me. With that combination, with the add in of a preshave lotion and an aftershave lotion or balm on some occassions, I find shaving a relaxing and refreshing experience. I still use an electric for travel though, just seems simpler that way, but it doesnt work as well.

I've used both Braun and Norelco. My family and I stick to Norelco's high-end ones now.

I do think the Braun design is better at trimming sideburns though--esp. the trimmer extension.

Not really into those new fangled foam or water washing ones though.

My Norelco gave up the ghost a few months back (dull blades, battery won't hold a charge), and I've gone back to shaving with a blade. I agree with the rest that your face needs time to adjust when switching shaving methods. One habit I also change is that I shave with a blade after or during a shower, and I dry shave with my electric before getting into the shower. Even at its best, my electric hasn't given me as good a shave as I can get with a regular razor. Both methods take about the same amount of time, but the blade shave is messier.

It should be noted that the cutters in electric razors do get dull over time and need to be sent in for sharpening/replacement. Though, I imagine that most people just buy new ones when they stop getting a good shave.

No need to send them in, you can just buy extra cutters (and foils). Just pop them out and replace them.

Thats what I do. The best prices for replacement blades are on eBay.

Thought I would add my recent experiment to this thread. 4 weeks ago I left my Norelco at a relative's house after spending the night there. I was going on a trip in a few days. So I could have had the thing overnighted, or I could get a new one. I decided I'd just buy another one. I originally set out to Costco to buy a duplicate of the Norelco I had gotten there a few months earlier (one for home, one for the travel kit). Instead I found myself looking at the Braun Activator package they had. What the hell, 30-day guarantee, might as well try it.

I have to say, all else aside, the Braun shaved a little closer on my neck (after giving it the 3 weeks). It also reacted a little better to skipping a day, something I rarely do because shaving 2 days' growth from my face with the Norelco is already more irritating than I like. But the other supposed benefits of a foil shaver being faster and less irritating (with the above exception) never materialized. Seemed to take just as long and with similar irritation, especially since the Braun recommends you shave before washing (nasty irritation in the shower getting water on freshly shaved face, but it did seem to work better than shaving after). The Braun is also really heavy! I was surprised at that. The Norelco I've been using weighs about as much as a cell phone. The Braun is a brick in comparison and still has an external power supply. It's also shaped all wrong to hold. The combination had me cursing most mornings as my hand got sore from trying to hold the heavy thing. The self-cleaning gadget is a gimmick, really, well, it works fine but is IMHO no better than rinsing the Norelco under the tap.

If I hadn't already bought the new Norelco a few months back, I would have been much more tempted to keep the Braun, despite those drawbacks above. As it was, though, having the Braun for home and Norelco for travel would have been counter productive with the necessary 3-week adjustment time. I didn't want to throw away the $90 I already spent just a few months back. That, plus the heavy, uncomfortable feel of the thing, ultimately led me to return it today.

Bonus: If you ever want to try one of these things (ether brand), get it at Costco. They will take it back in the store for immediate credit rather than having to mess around with the manufacturer's money-back policy. Was debating the renewal again. I think I'll have to reup now. ^

I looked into replacing the head of my 3-4 year old Norelco but for about $40 dollars more I bought a new Norelco at Costco for about $90. Itsa little clunky but shaves a lot closer. It has the rinse under hot water feature. IMHO a dumb idea but I am certain some luckly Norelco marketing extra person got a few eurors for the idea.

MisterNice

Hm. It should only cost about 25 bucks to replace Norelco shaving heads, maybe $30 at most. It's always when my battery is dying that I decide to replace it. (The batteries are cheap too, but their soldered on, or at least the one in my last unit was, and I don't feel like going to that kind of trouble. And paying for that replacement would be likely more than halfway to a new one.)

Interestingly, the Costco.com description of the Norelco they sell claims it has a Li-Ion battery (part of the reason it's so light). If that's true, it should at least hold a good charge for a reasonable life, quite probably much longer than the old Ni-Cds.

I find the rinse under water feature handy. I always hated brushing those things out.

Checking my records a replacement head cost would be $33 + $10 S&H. I believe my last Norelco had Li-Ion also. The nice new Norelco has a separate charger connected to a cord, whereas the older one had the charger built into the razor. This would account for part of its lightness.

I would suspect the disolved solids from repetitive daily water rinsing drying on the metal would certainly cause abrasive problems with the precision heads.

MisterNice

Hm. Probably a different model than my last one. I can't remember where I ultimately got the replacement head, think Amazon.com or something like that. I know it wasn't that much. For some models they were in Target and other stores, but I couldn't find mine in the stores. My old one had NiCd batteries.

You could be right about the water. Probably should pick up a can of the razor lubricant stuff that I've never bothered to use before. :D

I use isopropyl alcohol alcohol (70% or 95%) in a small dish. I put the heads in it, swirl it a few times and leave for 2-4 hours. Drain and rinse and it will quickly air dry and be free of all germ thingees. I once used a drop of light machine oil on the heads but found a lubricant was messy and not necessary.

MisterNice

I like a smooth, close shave - it seems to have an enormous impact on how I feel about the day.

As a result, I've used this method to give me the absolute best shave.

First I shave with a Gilette Power razor, like the new Fusion, http://www.shavingstuff.com/archives/002952.php .

I follow immediately by running my Norelco Cool Skin electric shaver with lotion over my face. Since it is not being tasked with actually shaving 24 hours worth of growth off my beard, I spend less than 2 minutes on this added step, the blades last much, much longer, the charge lasts much longer (for those traveling) and the shaver gets those areas that seem to leave stubble no matter how careful you are with your razor (under the chin and along the jaw line, for example).

Worried about the additional 2 minutes? I don't have to be as precise with my razor, which speeds up my initial shave, so on balance I don't think this takes any longer, but my satisfaction level is very high.

Electric Razor Advice Needed
 

I have a Braun series 3 that I enjoyed very much before my jump into wershaving. It's cheaper than the series 7 by far. Even in B&M stores it's less than 100. I always preferred the straight foil ones over the circle foil ones. Went through 4 or 5 before I settles on the series 3.
good luck in finding something!!

P.S., In addition, I advise to read this article if you struggle to find suitable model.

As the most recent poster was responding to a thread dormant for close to 14 years, it probably should be permanently retired (under traditional Flyertalk archiving rules).