Your Closest Shave

Probably the closest shave you will ever experience is at a barbershop, where a skilled barber works up a rich lather from triple-milled shaving soap and uses a straight razor with the confidence of someone who has shaved more faces than you have hair follicles on your entire head.

There is something exceptional about a traditional barbershop shave. The warm towels soften the whiskers, the lather is worked into the face properly, and the barber holds that straight razor at precisely the right angle. More importantly, the razor is being guided by hands that have traveled across thousands of cheeks, chins, necks, and jawlines.

The result can be wickedly close and remarkably smooth. It can also be almost impossible to duplicate while leaning over your own bathroom sink, particularly before coffee. Of course, most of us are not visiting a barber every morning. We need a practical way to achieve a close, comfortable shave at home without requiring an appointment, a second pair of hands, or the courage to place a straight razor against our own throats while we are still half asleep.

I also believe the word comfortable matters as much as close. A shave that leaves your face perfectly smooth but covered in cuts, razor burn, rash, and ingrown hairs is not a successful shave. It is a very close failure.

When Shaving Was a Small Chore

◄ View ► Full Beard Van Dyke By the time I was 20 years old, I could grow a full beard. I maintained one for decades, so shaving was not much of a chore. I cleaned up a little along the upper cheeks and shaved below the jawline. The entire job took about a minute and a half.

The amount of skin I had to shave was small, but the experience was still not pleasant. You see, I have very, very sensitive skin. Razor burn, red rash, ingrown hairs, and an occasional nick were simply part of the ordeal. The longer I used the same razor, the duller it became and the more uncomfortable the process grew.

For years, I used Edge shaving cream for sensitive skin and one of those inexpensive yellow-handled Bic single-blade razors. It was not pleasant, sophisticated, or particularly memorable, but it got the job done.

How Many Blades Do We Need?

Back then, a razor was a relatively simple device. Then double-blade disposable razors began appearing, followed by triple blades, four blades, and five blades. Will they ever stop? I can see the advertisement now: “Our new 32-blade razor will remove the whisker, exfoliate your face, and peel an apple while you wait.”

Manufacturers tell us that more blades provide a closer and more comfortable shave. Perhaps they do for some men. I have found that more blades also mean more sharp edges passing over very sensitive skin. One pass with a five-blade cartridge is still five blades traveling across your face, and most men make more than one pass.

I am not telling you how many blades you should use. If you have been shaving for more than 10 years, you already know your own face and what it will tolerate. I am telling you that the number of blades printed on the package does not automatically determine whether the razor will work well for you.

There is still a lot to appreciate about a traditional wet shave. Warm water softens the whiskers, shaving soap or cream provides lubrication, and a sharp blade can produce an exceptionally smooth result. Some men enjoy building a rich lather from a triple-milled shaving soap with a brush and bowl. The process becomes a ritual rather than another chore to complete before leaving the house.

Other men want something faster. Shaving cream and gel can provide good lubrication without requiring a brush, bowl, and several minutes of preparation. I used Edge for sensitive skin because it worked well enough with the simple Bic razor I had chosen. I believe the product’s real job is to help the blade glide across your skin. A mountain of impressive-looking foam means very little if the razor still drags. Use whatever soap, cream, or gel makes the shave comfortable for you.

Disposable and cartridge razors remain convenient, widely available, and familiar. Safety razors have also regained popularity. A safety razor uses a single replaceable double-edged blade and can provide an extremely close shave in experienced hands. The blades are generally economical, although the word “safety” should not be mistaken for a promise that you cannot cut yourself.

Then there is the straight razor, still the magnificent old king of shaving instruments. In the hands of a skilled barber, it is difficult to beat. In the hands of an inexperienced man who has watched two videos and developed an unreasonable amount of confidence, it can become something else entirely. I would rather relax in the chair and allow a professional to provide the complete experience.

My Early Electric-Shaver Experiments

◄ View ► Old Kit Braun By the time I began shaving, men had another option besides blades: the electric razor. George Washington managed without one, but fortunately electricity had arrived before my whiskers did.

I tried electric shavers over the years and found them not to my liking at all. They pulled the whiskers, did not stay sharp, irritated my sensitive skin, and still gave me the occasional ingrown hair. An ingrown hair is not only uncomfortable. It can also become remarkably unsightly, usually in the most visible location possible.

As the years passed, wet electric razors began appearing. Oh boy, a new toy to try. I was so sick of those yellow-handled Bics. Unfortunately, the wet electric shavers I tried offered only a slight improvement over the dry versions. The same nuisances followed. They pulled, irritated my skin, failed to shave as closely as I wanted, and occasionally left an ingrown hair behind as a souvenir.

Those experiences shaped my opinion of electric shavers for many years. I assumed the entire category simply did not work well for my skin. What I failed to appreciate was how much the technology would eventually improve and how great the difference could be between an ordinary electric shaver and a genuinely exceptional one.

Then I Had Much More Face to Shave

Fast-forward several decades. I had lost a substantial amount of weight, developed a chiseled jawline, and undergone my face and neck lift. After the surgery, I replaced the full beard with a Van Dyke because I wanted to show off that new, seriously strong jawline.

The Van Dyke suits me beautifully, but it also exposes far more skin than my full beard ever did. Suddenly, shaving was no longer a quick cleanup along the cheeks and beneath the jaw. I had a large area of very sensitive skin to shave regularly.

Oh, great.

The yellow-handled Bics began tearing up my face. What had been barely tolerable over a small area became completely unacceptable when used across much more skin. Something had to change.

Braun Earned My Attention

I knew electric shavers had advanced considerably, but my prior experiences did not exactly inspire confidence. My grooming kits over the years had been hit and miss until I tried a Braun beard trimmer with several additional attachments.

I had tried other grooming kits, but this Braun was different. The attachments were exceptionally easy to change, and every part worked as it was supposed to work. That may sound like a modest accomplishment, but anyone who has fought with a badly designed attachment while standing at the bathroom sink knows otherwise.

The Braun impressed me through actual use. It did not earn my attention through advertising alone. When it came time to reconsider an electric shaver, I decided to try Braun because the company had already shown me what it could produce. Product reviews and the brand’s extreme popularity supported that decision.

There are some things in life where you simply do not cheap out. I believe an electric shaver is one of them. This is a powered cutting instrument that you will repeatedly drag across your face. In my experience, you get what you pay for.

The Braun Series 6 Changed Everything

I purchased a Braun Series 6, which represented advanced electric-shaving technology to me at the time.

Wow is an understatement.

It gave me a closer shave than any blade razor I had ever used, and it did so without tearing up my sensitive skin. For the first time, an electric shaver was not merely an acceptable alternative or a more convenient compromise. It provided a better shave for me.

Out in the trash went the Edge shaving cream and the yellow-handled Bic razors. There was no going back. The Braun Series 6 was a bit pricey compared with the disposable razors I had been using, but the comfort was worth every penny. I was no longer beginning the day with a face covered in irritation, little nicks, or the beginnings of another ingrown hair. That alone justified the investment.

The Series 6 changed my opinion of electric shaving. The shavers I had disliked decades earlier did not represent what a good modern electric shaver could accomplish. Technology had finally caught up with what my very sensitive skin needed.

My Braun Series 9 Christmas Present

As 2025 was winding down, I saw an advertisement for the Braun Series 9. I can be persuaded by fancy advertising, and that is something I am still working on.

This newer model had a more advanced shaving system and looked like the next step beyond the Braun I already liked. The reviews were excellent, the product was extremely popular, and Braun had already earned my trust. I decided to buy one as a Christmas present to myself.

It has been the best investment I have ever made in a grooming instrument.

What the Braun Series 9 Does for Me

◄ View ► Old Razor Braun Series 9 Remember, my skin is not merely a little sensitive. It is very, very sensitive. With my first Braun, I sometimes used shaving powder as a lubricant to reduce friction, although it was not always necessary. With the Braun Series 9, shaving powder is not required, desired, or needed.

This thing is the greatest invention since sliced bread.

I do not follow an elaborate directional pattern when using it. I move it up, down, sideways, diagonally, and wherever else I need to move it. It gets everything. After shaving my own face for more than half a century, I already know where my whiskers grow and where they like to hide. I do not need a diagram explaining how to find them.

The Series 9 does not pull. It does not burn. It does not leave me with ingrown hairs. It simply produces wickedly smooth skin.

Because my skin is so sensitive, I handled the new shaver cautiously at first. Then I began applying more pressure to see just how close I could make the shave. I can practically bury that sucker into my skin, and it still does not hurt or leave razor burn. I sometimes apply more pressure than necessary simply to discover how smooth I can get my face.

You do not need to press that hard, and I am not suggesting that you should. I did it because I wanted to know what the shaver could tolerate and how my skin would react. It never hurts. It simply does what Braun advertised it would do.

I love it. I am absolutely, head-over-heels in love with it.

Dry, Wet, or in the Shower

◄ View ► Dry Wet Shower My Braun can be used dry, wet, or directly in the shower. That gives me several options without requiring different shavers or different cutting systems.

A dry shave is quick and convenient. I can stand at the sink, shave the exposed areas around my Van Dyke, and be finished without covering my face in soap, foam, or gel. For me, the Series 9 is comfortable enough that I do not need any additional lubricant.

A wet shave may appeal to a man who prefers the feeling of water, shaving cream, or gel. Shaving in the shower also allows warm water to soften the whiskers while containing the inevitable mess. Follow the directions for your exact shaver and use only products compatible with it.

I believe the correct method is whichever one produces the closest, most comfortable result for you. If you prefer using the machine dry, use it dry. If your skin prefers water and gel, use them. If you want to shave in the shower, buy a model designed for it.

You have been shaving your own face for years. You do not need me to tell you how to move a shaver across it. I will tell you only that, with my Braun, direction does not seem to matter. I move it wherever necessary, and the machine gets the job done.

A Cleaning Station Worthy of the Shaver

My Braun also has its own cleaning and charging station. The station contains cleaning fluid, and refill packs are available when that fluid needs to be replaced.

When I finish shaving, the machine can be placed into the station, where it is cleaned and maintained while it charges. Instead of knocking loose whiskers into the sink, brushing halfheartedly at the cutting head, and declaring it clean enough, I have a complete system designed to keep a premium instrument ready for its next use.

Class act all the way.

The cleaning-fluid refills create an ongoing expense. Braun did not build an empire by selling the fluid only once. I am willing to accept that cost because I want the shaving head clean, sanitary, and performing properly.

The shaver may be waterproof and suitable for use in the shower. The powered cleaning station is not invited to join you. Keep it dry and away from shower water. Electricity and bathing remain a poor combination despite all our technological progress.

I do not believe every man needs a cleaning station. If your shaver can be cleaned easily and thoroughly by hand, that may be perfectly sufficient. I wanted the complete system, I enjoy using it, and I believe it adds to the value of the Braun I purchased.

Keep the Equipment Worth Using

Whatever you use, keep it clean and replace the cutting components when they no longer perform properly. A premium shaver cannot produce its best result if the cutting head is packed with old whiskers and residue.

The same applies to a blade razor. Rinse away hair and shaving cream, allow the razor to dry, and replace the blade before it begins pulling and scraping. I spent too many years continuing to use disposable razors after they had begun growing dull. The few dollars saved were not worth the discomfort.

Electric shaver foils and cutters also wear eventually. If performance declines, the shaver begins pulling, or the foil becomes damaged, replace the appropriate component. A torn foil dragged across your face can turn an ordinary morning into an event you will remember for all the wrong reasons.

I am not going to reproduce the maintenance instructions included with your device. Read them and follow them. The manufacturer knows what can be rinsed, submerged, brushed, lubricated, cleaned in a station, or replaced. My advice is simply not to buy a good instrument and then shorten its life through neglect.

After the Shave

After shaving, I inspect the face and neck from more than one angle. A missed patch beneath the jaw or beside the Van Dyke can remain invisible from the front and become painfully obvious to everyone standing beside you.

If I have used water or any shaving product, I rinse away the residue and pat my face dry with a clean towel. Then I continue with the skincare routine that works for me. I use Forge Tallow moisturizer, followed by Forge Tallow sunscreen in the morning.

I do not believe a man needs to splash heavily fragranced alcohol onto freshly shaved skin merely to prove he can survive the sting. If you enjoy traditional aftershave and your skin tolerates it, use it. If it leaves your face burning, red, and irritated, your skin has already cast its vote.

If Ingrown Hairs or Irritation Appear

◄ View ► Irritated Recovered A good shaving method should reduce irritation rather than create it. If razor burn, ingrown hairs, redness, or painful pulling begins, pay attention to what changed.

The blade may be dull. The electric cutting head may need cleaning or replacement. You may be applying more pressure than your skin tolerates, making too many passes, or using a product that irritates you. The fact that a method works for millions of other men does not require your face to approve of it.

Do not keep shaving aggressively over already inflamed skin. Give it an opportunity to settle, clean the area gently, and resist digging at an ingrown hair with dirty fingernails or whatever sharp object happens to be nearby.

If irritation becomes persistent, painful, infected, or widespread, have it examined by a qualified medical professional. A shaving method that repeatedly injures your skin is the wrong method for you, regardless of how impressive the advertising may be.

Choose What Serves Your Face

A professional straight-razor shave may remain the ultimate experience. A safety razor may be ideal for a man who appreciates traditional technique. A cartridge razor may be convenient and completely satisfactory for someone else. A basic electric shaver may be all another man needs.

For a man like me, with very sensitive skin and a large area to shave around a precisely maintained Van Dyke, a premium electric shaver is worth every dollar. Judge your method by the comfort, closeness, condition of your skin afterward, time required, maintenance, and long-term cost. The closest shave should leave you smooth and comfortable, not smooth and bleeding.

I spent decades using yellow-handled Bic razors because they completed a small job well enough. I tried electric shavers and disliked them. I tried wet electric shavers and found only a slight improvement. Then my appearance changed, the amount of exposed skin increased, and the old method was no longer tolerable.

The Braun Series 6 changed my understanding of what electric shaving could be. The Series 9 took that experience to an entirely different level.

I Bought It With My Own Money

I purchased this Braun shaver with my own money. Braun did not send it to me, sponsor this guide, pay me, or influence what I am telling you. I recommend it because I use it, I love it, and I believe the product sells itself.

If you purchase through the Amazon link, DougC earns a commission to help keep the lights on here, but at no additional cost to you.

That commission does not create my opinion. My opinion comes from more than half a century of shaving very sensitive skin, enduring razor burn, fighting ingrown hairs, throwing away dull blades, and trying electric shavers that failed to impress me.

The recommendation existed long before the link.

The Closest Shave Is the One You Can Live With

I still believe the closest shave you may ever experience will come from a highly skilled barber using warm towels, triple-milled shaving soap, and a straight razor. If you have never experienced one, treat yourself at least once. It is grooming elevated into an art.

At home, however, the best shave is the one that gives you exceptional closeness without punishing your skin. For me, that is the Braun Series 9.

My shaving journey moved from a full beard and a minute-and-a-half cleanup with Edge shaving cream and a yellow-handled Bic, through decades of disappointing electric experiments, and finally to a shaver that gives me wickedly smooth skin without pulling, burning, cutting, or creating ingrown hairs.

After many, many decades of shaving, I know what my face will tolerate. I also know when I have found something exceptional. There are some things in life where you simply do not cheap out. Buy the best shaving method you can reasonably afford, maintain it properly, and let it do its job.

Your face will tell you whether you made the right choice.