Womens Razors

Best razors

Razors are the simplest method of hair removal, yet experts say are still the best. In tests of electric shavers and epilators at Consumer Reports, female testers said that none of the electric models could convert them from their manual razors. In recent years, companies have done a lot to jazz up the basic blade razor, adding built-in lotion dispensers, vibrating heads and ever more blades. But we seem to have hit the point of diminishing returns for razor features: By and large, these added features amount to gimmicky marketing, testers say. Two or three blades are all you need for a comfortable, close shave.

Gillette's Venus Divine razor (*est. $10) was the only female razor included in a list of seven top picks out of hundreds tested by Which? magazine. The Venus Divine has three spring-loaded blades in a large pivoting head, and three lubricating strips which are supposed to make shaving more comfortable. Two words best describe the Venus' performance, according to reviews: closeness and comfort. Users say it gives a great shave and is easy to hold, and that the swivel head easily contours to the body.

The Venus Breeze (*est. $10) is similar, with three blades, but the Breeze has "gel strips" on either side of the blades that are supposed to eliminate the need for shaving cream or soap. Testers at Redbook magazine liked it, saying the Breeze provides a nick-free shave with no irritation to the skin. For some users, however, the large head was just too big. One Venus tester, Austin American-Statesman Staff Writer Helen Anders, chose the Gillette Venus (*est. $10) as her favorite, saying it shaved better than the tricked-out Diva, a razor with a built-in foam dispenser. There's also a battery-operated version of the Venus, the Venus Vibrance (*est. $13) , and although we didn't see this model tested, reviewers aren't keen on battery-powered shavers in general. We've included the Venus Divine in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. However, note that the Divine isn't much different from the higher-rated, men's-marketed Mach3 Turbo razor, which also has three blades.
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Schick has its own popular razor called the Schick Quattro (*est. $10) and Schick Quattro for Women (*est. $10) , which comes in pink and has a slightly different shape. Both have four blades. We didn't see the Schick razors included in as many tests as Gillette, but in Helen Anders' informal tests for the Austin American-Statesman, she didn't notice much of a difference between the three-bladed Mach3 and Venus, the five-bladed Gillette Fusion and the four-bladed Quattro.

With all of the above razors, you'll have to buy replacement blades, which often cost more than the razor itself. Most replacement blades for Gillette and Schick razors cost between $8 and $10 for a four-pack. Disposable shavers didn't generally fare as well in testing. Only one disposable made it to the top picks in the tests at Which? In Redbook's informal tests, the Bic Soleil disposables (*est. $30 for 24 razors) weren't as well liked. Some of the female testers said the two-bladed razor was awkwardly inflexible and required two passes for a good shave. In tests at Which? magazine, only one disposable razor makes the list of top picks, the Gillette Sensor3 (*est. $12 for eight razors) .

Women who don't care about the color of their razor can check out the Gillette Mach3 Turbo (*est. $10) . Which? gives this straightforward razor top billing. Testers say it gives a very close shave without any gimmicks. The Mach3 Turbo does well in user reviews, too, beating out the five-bladed Gillette Fusion (*est. $10) , which the company claims delivers a closer shave. The Mach3 is also the razor of choice of two barbers interviewed by Helen Anders in her article "Sorting through razor innovations is really splitting hairs." The barbers' intuition is echoed in the best razor tests we found.
Women's electric shavers

Shaving dates all the way back to 30,000 BC, when historians say cavemen took rocks and flint blades to their faces to tame their beards. Time and innovation have changed the tools, but experts agree that the hair removal marketplace is full of gimmicky features that don't necessarily improve upon the basic function of giving a good close shave. They roundly conclude that electric razors don't shave as closely as a basic manual razor. But that isn't the only factor important to women, and the newest crop of shavers offers other features that are appreciated in some tests.

Electric razors designed for women were first introduced in the 1940s. They operate with cutters on a floating head that vibrate behind a screen, chopping off hair at the skin level. Because the cutters don't touch skin, electric razors don't nick or cut the skin as easily as blade razors. This is especially important to women on blood-thinning medication or those with bleeding disorders, but it's also nice for women who are used to shaving daily and want a quick, pain-free shave. Women's electric razors can also be used wet or dry, so they work for touch-ups for spots missed while shaving in the shower.

Panasonic shavers came out on top in the best testing of women's shavers, including the Panasonic Close Curves (*est. $40) . The Close Curves uses pivoting blades the company claims are the sharpest available on women's electric shavers. It can be immersed in water for easy cleaning and has a trimmer for detail work. In one test, the Close Curves tied for first place with the pricier Remington Smooth & Silky Ultra (*est. $55) based on its scores for easy clean-up, noise and features. Users on Amazon.com and other retail websites praise the Close Curves shaver for not irritating the skin or causing ingrown hairs. Overall, it scores four out of five stars on Amazon.com. Those who gave it lower scores say it doesn't shave closely, but others counter that notion. One commented she likes the fact that it can be plugged directly into the wall for recharging, saving counter space.

Keep in mind that there's no particular reason women can't consider a men's electric shaver, but most will want to choose a wet/dry shaver so it can be used in the shower. See our report on men's electric shavers for info on those. One potential downside is that female buyers may end up paying for features they don't need -- such as a pop-up beard trimmer -- on men's models.

The Panasonic Pro Curve ES 7038 -- officially a men's wet/dry shaver -- is the top recommended electric shaver at Which? magazine. The consumer group says it gives the closest electric shave and is very comfortable to use. However, none of the testers were women. The same goes for the report on men's electric shavers at Consumer Reports -- none of the testers were women. Consumer Reports does invite women to test four ladies' electric shavers.

Those willing to pay a little more should consider the Remington Smooth & Silky (*est. $55) . This shaver wasn't tested by Which?, but scored well in another test and among user reviews at Amazon.com. In our last report on women's shavers, it was a Top Pick. The version of the Smooth & Silky shaver tested by Consumer Reports, the WDF 5500 Ultra (*est. $55) , gets mixed reviews from owners, but another model in the line, the Smooth & Silky WDF 6000 Ultra (*est. $70) , fares better. It has two gold-plated foils that float and a titanium-plated trimmer. This is an especially good choice for travelers, as it features worldwide voltage. It comes with a two-year warranty, a year longer than many shaver warranties.

A few electric shavers are proving to be unpopular with users, based on online reviews at Drugstore.com and Amazon.com. The Wahl Delicate Definitions Shaver (*est. $20) was criticized for poor performance and durability. Users warn the head on the Revlon Smooth & Glamorous Ladies Rechargeable Shaver (*est. $20) can snap off.
Best epilator

Instead of using blades, epilators pull hair out of the skin rather than cutting it off. According to Australia's Choice magazine, a survey of epilator users found 40 percent think they are "very" or "moderately" painful to use, and 43 percent experienced irritation such as itching or redness. Still, epilators are popular among women who have previously waxed their legs, as they are seen as a less messy, more affordable long-lasting option – especially for women who visit salons for hair removal. Another way they are money-saving is that they don't require shaving cream or replacement blades. Lastly, epilators can leave legs smooth for up to three weeks as opposed to just a few days with shavers and razors.

Price doesn't guarantee performance with epilators, according to the reviews we read. In online reviews, many seasoned users offer encouraging "hang in there" testimonials to women new to this type of hair removal. The user reviews also provide helpful tips, recommending patience – the pain lessens after a few uses – and to exfoliate the skin after use to avoid in-grown hairs. Epilator users say hair re-growth lessens over time with continual use.

Only one epilator is selected as a top pick in multiple reviews, the Philips Norelco Satinelle (*est. $50) . The Satinelle comes in two styles, the most popular being the less expensive HP (*est. $45), an orb-shaped shaver that's been sold for years. A newer model, the Satinelle Ice (*est. $55) , has a longer shape, with a longer handle and narrower head. Both models are favored in one review each. In the end, popular opinion – as well as a lackluster new feature on the Ice version -- swayed our decision to give the orb-shaped top billing.

The Philips Satinelle HP has 21 rotating discs and two speeds – the slower speed is for more delicate areas – and comes with a cleaning brush and an exfoliating pad. The head is also detachable for hard-to-reach areas. Choice.com.au testers loved the Satinelle, with one tester commenting it did a better job than waxing. The Satinelle HP got the top recommendation from Choice, tying with the Braun Silk-epil X'elle (*est. $70) . Editors say the Satinelle is a better buy. Users on Amazon.com adore the Satinelle HP, saying it packs a lot of punch for the price. Overall, users reported less pain with the Satinelle than the Braun Silk-epil. The Satinelle HP has a two-year warranty.

The Satinelle Ice (*est. $55) has a different shape. It works with ceramic discs and a removable cartridge filled with cooling fluid that is supposed to be placed in the freezer before use. When the liquid changes color, it's ready to go. Most users are lukewarm on the cooling pack, saying they stopped using it because it didn't help much. But, surprisingly, many maintain the Satinelle is still the least painful yet effective epilator they've tried, even without the cooling pack. The Ice has other features users like, too. It has two speed settings -- the slower one designed for sensitive areas -- and comes with more extras than the other Satinelle models including a cleaning brush, exfoliating body puff and a storage pouch. It carries a two-year warranty.

For those with a bigger budget, the Braun Silk-epil (*est. $70) is a strong choice that offers more features, including a light to guide shaving and massaging- and shaving-head attachments. Braun claims it will keep you hair-free for up to a month. The company's claim seems to be borne out by reviews of this product. A tester for Choice raves that it "was by far the best epilator," noting it was the most expensive of five epilators tested. The Silk-epil received the most number of positive reviews of all epilators on Amazon.com – well over 200 to date – and has managed to keep a very high 4.5-star average rating (out of five stars). Some say it's noisy, just about all say it's painful to some degree, but the consensus among users is very good. Overall, this epilator seemed to be the best performer but was more painful than others.

Perhaps one of the best-known names in epilators, Epilady, receives lower marks in tests. Interestingly, many staunch fans of the Braun Silk-epil are former Epilady users, including one who referred to the Epilady as a "torture device" in an online review.