Electric razors for women have come a long way from the original offerings on the market and are a great improvement on classic manual razors. Most of the leading brands that make shavers for men offer at least one model made specifically for women.
While it might take some time adapting to an electric model, it is rewarding in the long run. Apart from the sheer convenience and reduction of time taken, cuts and nicks are things of the past. Some of the razors also offer a depilatory option as well as a razor – goodbye to messy, sticky waxing.
Best Electric Razors for Women 2017
We have chosen six of the best women’s electric shavers below. Our criteria include:-
- The quality of shave
- The longevity of product
- Brand reputation
You might be surprised to find that some of these shavers have been around for a while, and are not the latest offerings from the manufacturers. The fact that these older models are still selling well and often outsell newer models that are meant to replace them indicates that they are both reliable and good value for money. This does not mean that you should avoid the newer models if they take your fancy.
We have assumed that you are fairly new to the concept of an electric shaver and recommend that you buy a reasonably-priced product, try it out and see if it suits you. You can always try one of the higher-priced options once you are happy with a particular brand.
You might visit other websites and see shavers recommended that we have deliberately excluded. One of the key problems we found was a short battery life turning what was meant to be a long-term solution into a disposable razor, even among some of the best brands.
There also seems to be considerable local variation in what models are available – a product that is popular in Europe is not available in the US and vice versa. While this does not stop you buying a razor online, it does mean that you could battle to find the spares when you need them.
It was quite a challenge selecting the best electric razor for women. We are confident that these are six excellent options, which we have ranked, but it is a close call on the top 3.
1. Panasonic ES2207P – Best Ladies Electric Razor 2017
A well-priced offering from Panasonic, this attractive razor is a wet or dry shaver which has 3 floating heads. The blades are hypoallergenic and this shaver can be used both for legs and underarms. It includes a pop-up trimmer for the bikini line.
It takes 12 hours to charge the ES2207P, which should give you 1 hour’s cordless usage. Panasonic claim that you should be able to get 10 shaves out of one charge, based on an average shaving time of 3 minutes.
This is a middle-of-the-road shaver, which offers all the functions one would be looking for in a razor. It is generally liked on both sides of the Atlantic and everywhere else. The price is very competitive for what is offered.
Panasonic ES2207P Details
| Weight: | 5.3 Ounces |
| Wet/Dry: | Yes |
| Head Type: | Foil |
| Cordless: | Yes |
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2. Braun Silk-Epil 3-3270 – Best Epilator for Hair Removal
In men’s shavers, Braun is very much the preferred choice over a range of models. The expertise gained in building shavers for men is applied when designing women’s shavers.
Braun make a range of epilators, of which this is a low-end model, which we have chosen because the kit includes a shaving head as well. The higher-end models are epilators only. This epilator, although bottom of the range, does have a light included in it to make hair removal easier. Braun have branded their lighting feature the “Smartlight”.
The Series 3 epilators are used with a charging cord and do not operate cordlessly, so it is a dry shaver. There is also a trimmer head included in the kit.
There are other options available from Braun in the 5, 7 and 9 series, some of which are expensive. Initial recommendation is to try out the series 3 or 5 first, to see how epilation works for you, before investing in an expensive epilator and hating the process.
With this model, you still have a razor, even if you decide epilating is not for you. This is a razor in the Braun tradition and one you will not regret buying.
Braun Silk-Epil 3-3270 Specs
| Weight: | 9.1 Ounces |
| Wet/Dry: | No |
| Head Type: | Epilator and foil |
| Cordless: | No |
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3. Philips Norelco 3500 – Best Rotary Head Shaver for Women
OK, this is a man’s razor, but we picked it in order to include one rotary head shaver. Although it is primarily designed for men, it is popular with both sexes.
Rotary heads are easier to clean than foils, and they generally give a good close shave. The S3500 has 3 rotary heads, and is powered by a lithium battery which takes 1 hour to charge and gives you 50 minutes of cordless use (it should only be used cordlessly). It includes a pop-up trimmer and has an LED display to indicate battery life.
There are other shavers like this made by Philips, with a dramatic variance in price. There is also a low-end model, the 3100, that has a permanent cord and can only be used dry, but is a best-seller and gets the job done.
There are 2 schools of thought about electric razors – those who like foils and those who prefer rotary. If you are in the latter group, this is the shaver for you.
Philips Norelco 3500 Details
| Weight: | 14.1 Ounces |
| Wet/Dry: | Yes |
| Head Type: | Rotary |
| Cordless: | Yes |
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4. Remington Smooth & Silky WDF5030A – Best Women’s Razor for Sensitive Skin
Remington describe the experience that this razor offers as “Smooth Shave” technology. This razor has four blades that give a close shave. There is an almond-oil strip that moisturizes and soothes the skin during the shaving process. This shaver is powered by rechargeable batteries and can be used either plugged in or cordless. It is a wet and dry shaver, so that you can take it into the shower, although Remington recommend that you do not completely submerge it, even though they state that it is waterproof.
Charging time is 20 hours in the supplied charging base, which will give you 30 minutes shaving time. It includes a trimmer.
This is an ideal primary shaver. It does take a long time to charge, so you would probably have to keep it permanently in its charging base, just so you are sure it is available when you need it. The first 3 shavers do provide better charging ratios than this one, if this is important to you.
Remington Smooth & Silky Specs
| Weight: | 14.4 Ounces |
| Wet/Dry: | Yes |
| Head Type: | Foil |
| Cordless: | Yes |
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5. Philips Ladyshave HP6306 – Most Popular Ladies Shaver
Philips have been making electric razors since 1939 and the Ladyshave has been around and very popular since 1969. There are quite a few models available, and we have selected one of the lower-priced ones.
HP6306 is one of the more basic Ladyshaves, but does the job. It takes 2 AA batteries, which give a lot of use before they need replacing. The shaving head is small with a single, hypoallergenic foil. Like the Remington below, Philips claim that this is a wet/dry razor. It comes with dual trimmers.
We rate this shaver as very similar to the Remington WSF4810, light enough and versatile enough to be used as a travel/second razor to keep in your handbag or sports bag for those times where you really need to get a close shave done quickly.
Note: There is a higher-priced model (the HP6370) with a built-in “opti-light”, as Philips call it, that is very useful for focusing on areas to be shaved. We would have recommended this model, but it appears to have limited distribution, and may not be available in your country. This of course does not stop you from buying it online and having it shipped to your door.
Philips Norelco 3500 Details
| Weight: | 14.1 Ounces |
| Wet/Dry: | Yes |
| Head Type: | Rotary |
| Cordless: | Yes |
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Remington WSF4810 – Best Women’s Travel Shaver
This small shaver will not give you the closest shave and it does not run on rechargeable batteries, but it is very inexpensive and durable. Designed as a travel shaver, it is small, compact and convenient. It runs on 2 AAA batteries, which are included with the original product.
It is a single foil razor which is hypoallergenic and the angled head can be used wet or dry. Remington claim that it can be used in the shower. The razor head is washable and a cleaning brush is supplied in the kit. It also has trimmers attached for areas such as the bikini line.
This is a great second shaver, which you could include in your gym kit or travel toiletry set. Many women use it regularly as their primary shaver, just because it is so convenient. This is also the ideal razor for a young teenager who is just starting to shave and can use this device without cutting herself.
Remington Smooth & Silky Specs
| Weight: | 3.2 Ounces |
| Wet/Dry: | Yes |
| Head Type: | Foil |
| Cordless: | Yes, AAA batteries only |
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Some Points to Consider when Choosing a Shaver
Which Areas you Want to Shave – One of the challenges for manufacturers is that men generally just want to shave their beards, while women want to shave many areas with different hair growth, different curves and different sensitivities. There are some specialized hair removers available, such as trimmers, which work well for managing your bikini line. They do not shave, they trim very close, reducing the chances of ingrown hairs. Some of the shavers have trimmers as additional attachments. The products listed here are all general purpose and can be used all over the body.
The Closest Shave – For the smoothest shave, there is nothing to beat a manual razor, although some of the best women’s electric shavers which are mentioned here come very close. This means that you need to shave a bit more frequently with an electric shaver. We have also included one epilator/shaver in the list. An epilator pulls hairs out by the roots, so the regrowth takes longer to appear, but there is some pain involved, as you can imagine.
Sensitivity – If you have very sensitive skin an electric shaver is your best option, razor burn, rashes, nicks and cuts become things of the past. Most electric shavers can be used wet or dry, unlike a manual razor, which works best on wet skin.
Ergonomics – The razor should be easy and comfortable to hold, even when tackling tricky areas , like the back of your knees. Battery-operated or cordless shavers are a lot more maneuverable than razors with a cord attached.
Cost of Spares – Spares and replacement parts for electric shavers are generally cheaper than those for manual razors, but they also need replacing periodically. Just as with manual razors, the initial purchase price is reasonable, it is the spares, like blades, that can be expensive, and it is a good idea to check the price of spares before you buy.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this article on the best women’s electric shavers. While all the razors we recommend here are excellent, there is one of them that will appeal to you most, based on your hair growth and sensitivity. What you can be sure of is that you no longer have to sneak into the bathroom and “borrow” your husband’s, partner’s, brother’s or dad’s electric shaver, there is a brand and style out there that you can make your own.
