Comparing a foil versus rotary shaver, which is better to shave your head and face with?
A foil shaver uses a thin straight metal foil that covers reciprocating blades which move back and forth to cut the hair. You move a foil shaver up and down in a straight line on your skin while shaving. A rotary shaver has 2-3 round rotating heads moving in a circular direction to cut your hair. With a rotary shaver you generally move the shaver in small circles as you shave to lift up and cut the hairs. Foil shavers often don’t pivot so the shaving surface remains on your skin in a static position. The latest rotary shavers have floating shaving heads that flex when pressed against your skin and often pivot with the curvature of your skin which is helpful for getting a clean, close shave. Many newer style foil shavers have 2 foil heads that often do pivot.
The first electric razor was patented by Jacob Schick whose company produces shaving products for men to this day. It was similar to hair clippers and was uncovered. The first covered foil shaver was manufactured by Remington and was followed by the first rotary shaver from Philips.
Foil Versus Rotary Shaver – Pros and Cons
Foil Shavers
Foil Shaver Pros
- Better at shaving straight, open areas ie. cheeks.
- Rotary shavers tend to be better if you suffer from easily irritated skin.
- Easy to clean. You pop the single foil head – newer models have two foils – off the shaver and clean it in the required way. There are fewer moving parts to clean than with a multi-head rotary shaver.
- Many options to choose from and find replacement parts for. Major manufacturers include Remington, Braun and Panasonic.
Foil Shaver Cons
- Most foil shavers don’t pivot in any way to adjust to the contours of your skin. The foil cutter is always static but some brands of foil shavers have a head that pivots.
- Can’t be easily used in a circular shaving motion. Can only be used in an up and down manner.
Rotary Shavers
Rotary Shaver Pros
- Better at shaving tight spaces and close quarters ie. jawline under your ear.
- Each individual shaving head flexes and pivots to your skin as you shave.
- The better rotary shavers also now pivot at the head too. ie. the entire shaving head pivots to the contours of your skin in addition to each individual cutting head.
- Many options to choose from and find replacements for. Major manufacturers include Philips Norelco and Panasonic.
Rotary Shaver Cons
- Rotary shavers move in a circular direction which may irritate the skin.
- More moving parts = more things to break that need to be replaced. A typical rotary shaver has 2-3 heads that each have a separate cutting tool that sit in a plastic bracket.
- More time-consuming to clean. Each shaving head must be taken apart and washed individually. It’s easy to drop a part in the drain if you’re not careful.
Foil Versus Rotary Shaver For Sensitive Skin and Ingrown Hairs?
As mentioned foil shavers tend to be better for shavers who have sensitive skin. Rotary shavers involve moving the shaver in small circles, creating friction, that can irritate the skin.
Foil shavers can also help those who experience ingrown hairs. Again, it has to do with the design of foil shavers over rotary head shavers.
A foil shaver cuts in a reciprocating motion – left to right – and cuts the hair at skin level. Rotary shavers rotate in a circle and have a tendency to tug at hairs which can lead to more irritation and if the hairs are cut below the skin, to ingrown hairs.
The newest style foil shavers have 2 foils rather than one and like many rotary shavers, have a wet/dry option some being 100% waterproof. This means you can shave with a wet face and possibly in the shower and with shaving cream, if the specific model allows.
Foil Versus Rotary Shavers: Which Do I Like Better
I’ve used both foil and rotary shavers. My first electric shaver was a Braun foil shaver when I was in my teens.
If I had to choose between a foil or rotary shaver, I would choose a rotary shaver. And in fact, I already have! The last foil shaver I bought was the Braun model I got as a teen many years ago.
I found that the foil shaver sometimes irritated my neck although it’s possible I was just shaving too aggressively. It’s also possible that my skin wasn’t as hearty as it is now as I no longer experience shaving irritation of any kind.
I prefer the circular motion of the rotary shaver than strictly moving up and down with the foil shaver. I just find it more natural and more effective for shaving. That’s my personal preference.
Since then the only shavers I have purchased are rotary shavers from Remington and Philips. Not a personal brand preference, I just happened to buy both a Remington and Philips 3-head shaver.
They are fairly similar products as you can see in the following two pictures. These are my actual shavers that I still own.
Why I Prefer Rotary Shavers
I find rotary shavers easier to use and I like the pivoting, floating heads. As mentioned, I also find the circular shaving motion of a rotary shaver to be more comfortable and natural for me.
If I had to choose between the two shavers above that I both own, I’d pick the Remington shaver on the left since it comes with a pivoting head that moves as you shave, contouring to your skin and shape of your face.
Although some people advise against it, I have used a rotary shaver in an up and down motion particularly on my cheek area without trouble. Some people find facial hairs get pulled using an up and down motion with a rotary shaver but I do not experience this.
Having said that, I stopped using an electric shaver several years ago for both my face and head and stick with manual disposables for all shaving. I find them more efficient and easier to sculpt my goatee than any electric shaver.
Conclusion
- The question of foil versus rotary shaver is a question largely answered by your personal preference.
- Foil shavers tend to be better for men with sensitive skin who have straight, open spaces to shave ie. cheeks.
- Foil shavers tend to be quicker to clean with fewer parts to remove.
- Rotary shavers tend to be better for shaving in tight spaces ie. jawline.
- Rotary shavers also offer pivoting heads as well as individual floating shaving cutting heads which contour to your skin.
- Both foil (Remington, Braun) and rotary (Philips Norelco, Panasonic) shavers are available from major global manufacturers but other brands offer competing products that are also widely available (Wahl, Andis, APOSEN, etc).
- I’ve shaved my head with an electric shaver but prefer a manual razor for a closer shave in my opinion and experience.
- Research shows the global market for electric shavers could hit $7.91 billion USD by 2025.
Foil versus rotary shaver: Which type of electric shaver do you prefer? Do you even have a preference and if so, why? Let us know in the comments below!