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Jun 02, 2023

10 Best foil shaver for effortless silky

By Owen Gough Our grooming editors guide you to the best grooming tools to eradicate unwanted facial hair. In the hunt for completely smooth, hairless jawlines, many men turn to drastic measures that

By Owen Gough

Our grooming editors guide you to the best grooming tools to eradicate unwanted facial hair.

In the hunt for completely smooth, hairless jawlines, many men turn to drastic measures that simply don't do their skin any favours. Some resort to cheap safety razors that scratch and tug at cheeks, while others scrape a beard trimmer along their neck in the hope that the fast-paced blades will avoid the jugular but remain sharp enough clear out the unwanted hair. This is obviously not ideal, particularly when there are plenty of top-tier electric shavers out there that can save you from such possibilities during your morning grooming routine.

What makes a foil shaver unique? For those with sensitive skin, forever yearning for a close shave, the foil variety of shaver gently plucks the hairs, reducing the risk of razor burn (the kind you’ll often suffer from with traditional, manual razors). They gently push remaining hair follicles into a single direction, making it a smoother journey across your face when you shave. Sounds good, right?

If you’re looking to level up your daily shaving routine while avoiding an itchy, red-raw throat, then allow us to guide you through our top picks of the best foil shavers that will gently bring you to a hairless nirvana.

The ultimate shaving machine, Braun knows best when it comes to grooming and it doesn't get much better than the Series 9 Pro. It cleans and sharpens its own blades, adjusts the strength of its cut depending on the density of your beard hair, and will have your chin completely hair-free in just a few minutes.

One of the best all-round foil shavers about, Manscaped has you covered with all your hair trimming needs with the Handyman. Robust, powerful and comfortable to use, it even comes with a magnetic blade cover to keep them sharp and ready for next time.

Never get caught out with a low battery mid-shave again. Kemei's pro-looking foil shaver comes with an LED indicator to let you know exactly how much juice is left, with the option to power up the speed of your blades for an even closer shave.

At GQ, we want to ensure we don’t recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves, so we’ve put the best devices on the market through a rigorous testing process to guarantee only the top options make it on our recommended list. Where possible, our grooming editors have shaved with the below devices, assessing the quality of the shave, the ease of use, battery life and overall value for money. We’ve also taken a look at any included accessories like cleaning stations and charging ports, travel cases and pop-up trimmers that elevate the usefulness of each device.

Foil shavers are simply a variation of an electric shaver that utilises a single strip of oscillating blades covered by a metal grill. This grill pulls the unwanted hairs below so that the blades can do their work, plucking along the jawline to remove facial hair with precision for an incredibly close shave.

It’s known as a dry shaving method, meaning you don’t really need lubricating shaving cream, and they are best used on very short stubble, as longer hair may tug. In this regard, they are an excellent tool in your arsenal if you shave regularly (like, more than 3 days a week) to keep those cheeks glossy and hairless.

But what about the other type of shaver? A rotary shave is the other main electric option, with three or more heads that cover the oscillating blades on the shaver head, moving in circular motions across your face. This particular type is better for speed, as the larger head covers a bigger portion of your cheek, but it can sometimes result in a less precise shave, as it’s harder to get a clean edge around goatees, sideburns or styled facial hair. It may also train your hairs into circular designs, making it more uncomfortable to shave smoothly if you decide to switch up to a traditional razor.

The safety razor is the manual option with no tech to power the blades. You’ve seen those adverts with Raheem Stirling deftly gliding a Gillette handle razor along his hairless cheeks, and that’s exactly what a safety razor offers. They will use a strip of three to six blades that are lubricated by a strip of rubber that softens the hairs as you shave.

Which one is best? That’s largely down to your own personal preference. We prefer foil shavers as you can easily manoeuvre them around the contours of your face and get a closer shave without suffering from the dreaded razor rash, but it’s worth experimenting with all options to find your own sweet spot.

The answer to this lies in how quickly your facial hair grows. Even if you’re not particularly blessed in the follicle department, shaving once or twice a week is standard for most men looking to keep the chin fluff at bay, but some people require more work to stay clear. There’s no limit to how frequently you shave, but we’d advise against shaving every day if you can help it. Your skin needs time to recover from having a blade dragged along it, and hair growth can provide vital oils to keep skin supple, even if they are incredibly short.

There’s nothing stopping you from using a foil shaver to cut down on unwanted hair across your body, but there are definitely better tools that make this process easier. A dedicated body groomer will be a better shout for trimming chest and back hair or even hair below the belt, with skin-safe blades, ergonomic handles and curved shaving heads that work hard to eradicate hair but won’t give you any skin irritation in unwanted places.

We’ve all suffered from it, so let’s talk about how you can make your shaving experience better. Razor burn is where your skin is scraped too harshly by the blades, raising a rash that has blighted almost every person in existence at some point or another. High-end shavers offer the smoothest experience, with modern tech transforming shaving to be as gentle to the skin as possible. However, you are ostensibly dragging sharp metal along your skin, so a bit of irritation is inevitable.

With foil shavers, you don’t necessarily need to use shaving cream, though it can go some way to moisturise the skin in preparation for your shave while softening the hairs to coax them into cooperating. However, the best thing you can do is invest in a quality moisturiser and post-shaving balm to calm the skin down and alleviate some of the dry shave issues you might have faced before.

Foil shavers are available at all budgets, though some are inevitably pricier and come with more features, so it’s largely down to what your priorities are.

The most basic models will cost less than £15, for a cheap handheld razor, but these varieties might not be particularly kind to your skin. Mid-tier options, around the £30-£50 mark, will be better designed to look after your skin and do a better job at clearing away unwanted hair. They might also come with a travel case or additional extras like a beard trimmer to level up on versatility.

Only got eyes for the premium models? Upwards of £100 is where the elite shavers sit, though you can easily spend beyond £250 on some of Braun’s supreme shavers that will clean and sharpen the blades themselves. You get what you pay for, though, as they're also chock full of skin-kind features to ensure the smoothest shave of your life.

Keen to upgrade your grooming routine? We’ve got guides to help you cater to every possible self-care problem, from beard trimming to moisturising. Check out our guides to the best beard trimmers, best electric shavers, hair clippers and nose hair trimmers to manage your entire head. Elsewhere, we’ve got you covered on the best moisturisers, hair products and anti-ageing creams. For your body, we’ll point you to the best body hair trimmers, as well as deodorants and fragrances.

Pros: The absolute pinnacle of foil shaving | Pop-up beard trimmer | Exceptional cleaning and charging stationCons: Prohibitively expensive

If you’re looking to pick up the absolute best foil shaver on the market, then look no further than Braun’s Series 9 Pro. It’s far superior to any other model on this list – in fact, it isn’t even close. However, the major sticking point here is the cost, which is astronomically high, regardless of any helpful discounts that often feature on sites like Amazon.

Why is it so good? It represents the pinnacle of foil shaving, with Braun’s patented sonic technology that gently vibrates the jawline as you shave to lift up the hairs for a faster, smoother shave. The foil shaving head uses a unique ProLift trimmer head that also acts to carefully guide your unwanted hair towards the blades for clean results, whether you’re shaving after one day or seven.

Our own testing was eye-opening to what comfortable shaving is actually like. We loved the close shave we could achieve with this device, but we also adored the Smart Care Center, which is a self-cleaning, self-sharpening station that acts as a complete spa day for your razor, lubricating the blades to guarantee a smooth shave the next time you pick it up. £539 £355. At amazon.co.uk, boots.com & currys.co.uk

Pros: Fully waterproof | Great for trimming down longer hair | Included magnetic protection cover Cons: Quite noisy

Among Manscaped’s many gardening-themed products – see: the Hedger, the Shears and the Lawn Mower 4.0 – is the Handyman, an all-purpose foil shaver that will slice through your facial hair with the same competence as a top-tier landscape architect.

It’s an incredibly well-equipped grooming tool, with skin-safe blades hidden underneath flexible foil strips to clear out unwanted hair. It comes with a long-hair leveller precision trimmer to lift out beard hair and perfect the detailed edges you’ve always dreamed of, and it arrives in your hands with a magnetic travel cover that keeps the blades secure and halts the spread of hair among your luggage.

Waterproof, versatile and powerful, it does fall a little short on the battery side, with a run time of only one hour, but it’s quick to get back up to full charge, with a quick-charge feature that gives you 15 minutes of juice after only five minutes plugged into the wall. £70. At amazon.co.uk

Pros: Huge battery life | Sophisticated design | Hypoallergenic foilsCons: Fairly expensive | Long recharge time

Professional shaving can be in your grasp at last. Babyliss’ Pro Titanium shaver is a deluxe grooming tool that looks completely at home in any bathroom across the country. The svelte black design is certainly eye-catching, but it also delivers the goods on the shaving side, with a heavy-duty dual foil shaving head to precisely blend and fade facial hair into your head hair.

The Babyliss is also pretty versatile, with the option to switch between a corded power source –i.e plugging it into the wall for a more powerful shave– or a battery-operated experience, which unlocks the chance to roam as you shave and also use it in the shower. The battery is mercifully long at three hours, but it does also take three hours to get back up to that full charge, so make sure you plan ahead to avoid an embarrassing battery mishap. £68. At amazon.co.uk

Pros: 360-degree pivoting head | Autosense tech helps shave denser facial hair | Huge battery | Fully waterproofCons: Premium price tag | Weighty handle

A slight step down from the Series 9 Pro above, Braun’s mid-tier Series 7 offers a similar range of versatility and shaving prowess for a considerably cheaper cost (though it’s still fairly high in our eyes). We love the AutoSense tech in place here, which scans your beard density and adapts the power as you shave, slicing through your stubble with efficiency, trapping it in the shaving head and then lubricating your skin as it goes.

This one is fully waterproof, compatible with a range of shaving foams and comes with a cleaning/charging station for supremely close shaves every time you pick it up.

As for replacement heads, the link will take you to a bundle that gives you the Series 7 shaver and a set of shaver heads for one single dropped price. Don’t ever say we don’t help you out where we can. £392 £194. At amazon.co.uk

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Pros: Reasonable price for a high-end razor | Multi-directional shaver head | Incredibly easy to clean Cons: Bulky design

Panasonic is one of the other main players in the men’s grooming arena, with its particular model sitting bang in the middle of the range. At this price point, you’ll have to be A-OK with missing out on some premium features like a charging station, but elsewhere, this is a capable foil shaver that can easily outperform other options when it comes to delivering a close shave.

The powerful motor drives the blades to move at over 70,000 cutting actions per minute, and it can automatically detect the density of your hair to adjust its strength on the fly. This means it rarely tugs at your hair for an uncomfortable shave. It’s immensely easy to clean with the pop-clutch shaving head and manoeuvrable neck, and the blades remain katana-sharp over a year’s worth of shaves, proving to be one of the more reliable foil shavers on the market. £114. At amazon.co.uk

Pros: Powerful, fast-moving motor | Ergonomic design | 2m USB charging cableCons: Long recharge time | Small-ish form factor | Quite noisy

Tru Barber proudly states this is one of the most powerful foil shavers around, with a motor capable of 9,000 RPM – cue Dragonball Z reference – from such a dinky form factor. Does that really matter? Well, it allows for an incredibly quick and efficient shave, with the blades reducing your facial hair to zero a lot quicker than many other options on the market. It does all this with a focus on being kind to your skin, utilising a gold foil head to guide your hair in the right direction for an incredibly clean shave.

The battery life is remarkably long and takes advantage of USB charging from a 2m cable, unlocking the option to charge up from your laptop plug should you wish. However, the recharge time is frustratingly slow and it has been noted to be quite loud during the shave, with the super-charged motor working overtime to produce a distractingly buzzy performance. £57. At amazon.co.uk

Pros: Bright LED display | USB recharging | Multiple cutting speeds | Easy to cleanCons: Chunky design

If you’re unaware of Kemei’s grooming pedigree, simply ask any pro barber what their favourite brand of shaver is, and we’d be surprised to hear if they don’t rank it among their top three choices. It’s not as ubiquitous in the layman’s hand as a Philips or a Braun, but this particular foil shaver has all the credentials to be the best choice if you’re levelling up your shaving game.

Two ultra-thin gold-plated grills cover the blade system and feature a retractable edge to help you clean up edges without digging into your beard, meaning you can precisely get through the detailing of your facial hair and enjoy an immensely close shave.

We love the LED display which highlights the battery life and how fast the blades are moving at any given point, allowing you to choose exactly how you want your stubble to look. Easily switch between shaving speeds –between 6,500 and 7,500 RPM– for unparalleled control and, once you’re done, simply press the button on the edge to detach the head and clean out all the gunk. Dreamy. £29. At amazon.co.uk

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Pros: Affordably priced | Independently moving foils | Pop-up trimmer | LED indicatorCons: Short battery life | Absurdly long recharge time

Remington enters the competition at the low end of the scale, offering quality foil shavers at a budget price. The F2 is a great choice for those pinching pennies, with a few top-end features –like the pop-up trimmer and independently moving foil heads– that elevate it to a worthy contender.

If we’re being picky, there are a few downsides, mostly surrounding the battery life. It’s only got 40 minutes of juice, which is only enough for a few days of shaving in most cases. It also takes an absurdly long 16 hours to get back up to full charge from flat, and we simply do not have the patience or organisational skills to deal with a charging time like that. We can forgive its trespasses because it’s so affordably priced, but it’s definitely worth noting before you buy. £25. At amazon.co.uk

Pros: Useful travel lock | LED charge indicator | Plenty of included accessories | Small form factorCons: Relatively short battery life

Dinky and as adept at cleaning up your jawline as Wall-E was at tidying the remnants of Earth, the Wahl Li is an accomplished shaver at this price range. The two foil strips are independently flexible for greater precision around the edges of your jaw so you can expertly craft the edges of your stubble as you see fit. The motor inside the diminutive figure is powerful to tackle all but the most stubborn of stubble, though watch out for the relatively short battery which tops out at an hour. Keep an eye on the LED display to find out just how much charge you’ve got left though.

It’s an incredibly easy device to clean up once you’re done shaving –the whole shaving head is removable and can be washed under a tap– and it’s armed with a travel lock which halts any accidental turn-ons in transit and will protect your luggage from any left-over hair between shaves. £30. At amazon.co.uk

Pros: Powerful, fast-moving motor | Ergonomic design | 2m USB charging cableCons: Long recharge time | Small-ish form factor | Quite noisy

Andis is a brand that most professional barbers should be familiar with, but it’s time the shaving company gets on the radar of the layman. This is one serious bit of kit, with the foil strips made of hypoallergenic gold titanium for the most high-quality shave that will barely disturb your skin, regardless of your skin type. Seriously, this is one of the most comfortable shaving devices around, with a high-torque motor that expertly slices through hair before your jaw can even realise what’s going on.

The handle itself is compact and ergonomic, with a non-slip rubber grip to help you delicately sweep up the fallen stubble and it’s immensely quiet, which is a blessing if you partake in early-morning grooming routines and are hoping to not wake up the whole house. A middling battery life is the only gripe to be found, but otherwise, this is an exceptional choice all round. £119 £99. At amazon.co.uk

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