Finding the perfect tool for black men grooming can be a very complex process because not every electric shaver in the market bids well for such a coarse and dense beard.
With this specific problem in mind, I’ve started to look into the matter and established a set of requirements by black men to experience the most neat and convenient shaving each time.
With my experience in the field and further practical consultation, I was able to find six unique electric shavers which are up to the mark for this job.
Therefore, my article on the best electric shavers for black men is solely dedicated to the souls seeking for their perfect grooming tool – you can find your answers here I’m sure!
Contents
Why Do Black Men Need Specialized Shavers?
You might wonder what could the shavers I picked do which other shavers come shy of. To learn that, we must first break down the troubles black men face generally during their shaving operations.
- Curly and Coarse Hair: Usually, black men are blessed with curly and coarse hair. This is the first obstacle that a lot of the electric shavers in the market fail to keep up with. You’ll need sharp blades and a robust motor to efficiently groom such types of facial hair.
- Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hairs: Shaving curly hair tends to turn into ingrown hair which eventually turns into a razor bump. This is a very painful process and usually manual razors are the biggest culprit here. But the electric devices in my list are not known for causing ingrown hair, thus are marked safe for black men.
- Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skins often require foil shavers as these are the safest and most comfortable tools black men could ever use for grooming. These shavers don’t irritate the skin and the foils are coated with hypoallergenic materials for safekeeping.
- Moisture and Lubrication: Generally, shavers tend to dry out your skin and it can lead to breakage of the skin surface. But if your shaver allows you to apply a shaving lotion beforehand, this issue never occurs. With this in mind, my suggested tools are ones you could easily use with shaving lotions to mitigate this issue!
So I hope I was convincing enough as I highlighted the most common issues black men face while shaving their facial hair. There’s no alternative to picking a specialized shaver, so you might as well accept it and move forward with the article.
Best Black Men Electric Shaver: My Top 6 Options
In this section of the article, I’ll introduce you to my top six selections of the electric shavers and discuss their properties highlighting both of their upsides and downsides!
| Product | Verdict |
|---|---|
| BaBylissPRO MetalFX | Most Powerful Shaver |
| Braun Series 9 9370cc | Best Professional-Grade Shaver |
| Philips Shaver 5400 | Ideal for Sensitive Skin |
| Panasonic ARC5 LV65 | Best for Dry Shaves |
| Panasonic ARC5 LV67 | Best for Wet Shaves |
| Braun Series 7 7071cc | Most Versatile Shaver |
Note: The star ratings for each trimmer is solely for shaving black men’s beard capability and doesn’t represent their overall status.
BaBylissPRO MetalFX Foil Shaver
As you know, black men usually have kinky facial hair and their roots are quite strong for removal with a regular set of blades.
Therefore, the BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 comes in as one of the best electric shavers for black men because of the sharp blades, robust motor and skin-friendly foil elements!
The features this shaver has cater particularly to the specific needs to black men and their facial hair type, and I’ll be jumping into the review with its cutting elements.
Since razor bump and skin irritation is a major concern for black men, BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 comes with ultra-thin foils coated with hypoallergenic elements.
This set of foils are kinder on skin and reduce any risk of skin discomfort. At the same time, you’ll find them to feed your facial hair efficiently to the blades underneath!
Once you remove the foil head using the round button at the side, you’ll find a pair of very sharp blades ready to serve you.
These blades give you a zero cut from the root of your beard and the double offset system with its springy contour adaptation grants you a clean outcome at each go!
Now, such sharp sets of blades require backup to effectively work on your skin. BaBylissPRO has endowed the device with a highly powerful 10,000 RPM motor for this purpose.
Black men should find it to be advantageous during their beard shaving because this powerful motor manages to remove every density of beard with that coarse texture.
It’s advisable for you not to tread on a stubble growth over 3 days using the shaver because it’s meant for shorter stubble maintenance only.
If your beard is longer than that, you should trim off the excess length using a zero gapped trimmer and then run the BaBylissPRO shaver over for the final outcome.
This shaver is highly durable because of the solid metal housing. The steel cap protects the foils and allows you to carry this device as a travel companion.
It’s further enhanced through the 3-hour battery life – unique for a shaver of such caliber and the pouch pack helps you for safe storage.
You should know that the device isn’t waterproof and you’ll have to manually clean the mess using a brush and cloth rag.
So, you’re getting a solid, kind of heavy electric shaver capable of effortlessly removing your coarse hair utilizing its hypoallergenic foils, sharp blades and robust motor without irritating your skin – what more could you ask?
What I Like
- Sharp blades are ideal for coarse hair removal
- Fine & hypoallergenic foils are skin-friendly
- Powerful motor removes beard like mowing a lawn
What Could be Better
- A little heavy
Braun Series 9 9370cc Men’s Electric Shaver
The Braun Series 9 is equipped with some of the latest technology of this generation and these technological features render the device a prime choice for black men with their coarse hair texture!
Before jumping into the advanced features, I should start off with the cutting elements since these are the primary aspects you’d have to sense against your skin before anything else.
There are 5 cutting elements in the Braun Series 9 shaver – two OptiFoil elements on the fringes, one HyperLift & Cut cassette and one Direct & Cut cassette in between.
Also, there’s a SkinGuard included in the cutting elements to prevent your skin from close contact with the blades more than required.
That way, your skin gets to remain comfortable and all of the risks for skin-irritation, ingrown hair or burning in general are mitigated, marking Braun Series 9 as one of the top choices for sensitive skin!
The sharp set of blades are aligned right underneath the foils and the cutting cassettes ensure a smooth result with the minimum number of passes!
Braun Series 9 has a strong yet silent motor which is capable of performing 40,000 cross-cutting actions using their trademark SyncroSonic technology!
Also, the AutoSense feature regulates that cutting action by rapidly reading your beard texture and density to regulate optimum skin comfort as well as performance.
The shaver is highly ergonomic with grip spots at the perfect positions. Its thumb rest spot also functions as the tilt-locking mechanism restrains the 10 directional movement.
It’s great for contour adaptation! You can now grab the flat lying hair out of your tight areas like the neck effortlessly, no matter how coarse your hair may be!
Also, the battery lasts for around 60 minutes, which in my opinion is more than enough to last a couple of weeks. An LED indicator gives you every necessary info on battery life and cleaning routines.
The reason I’m calling it a professional shaver is because of its price range and overall price to performance ratio.
I don’t see a lot of people buying the Series 9 merely for home use, but the durability of the shaver, Clean & Charge station’s automatic cleaning, lubrication and charging are ideal for a professional environment.
Doesn’t mean you can’t purchase one for yourself! Because such a purchase is guaranteed to solve your shaving issues, especially if you’re a black man with coarse facial hair!
What I Like
- Professional-grade shaver to solve black men shaving problems
- Kind & efficient on skin
- Will last for the coming years
What Could be Better
- Quite pricey
Philips Norelco Shaver 5400, S5880/81
The only rotary shaver I’d suggest to black men for their facial cleaning ensuring utmost comfort is the Philips Norelco 5400 model as it’s blessed with tons of features and technology for skin comfort!
What impressed me the most about this shaver is its delicate foil units that seem precisely made for coarse hair removal on a regular basis.
There are three unique oval foils on the face of the cutting head. These foil rings contain a much smaller ring around the central part.
If you count from underneath, you’ll locate 45 sharp Steel-Precision cutting blades ready to bid your command of a very close and clean shave.
According to Philips, the blades are able to perform 90,000 cutting actions per minute, the calculation suggests it has a motor power of around 2,000 RPM.
While the number may seem a little too small, consider the size of each blade and the total number of blades that are in simultaneous action.
Due to the minimal motor power, the Norelco 5400 isn’t very loud and the vibration is too little to notice on the housing.
Since it’s a wet and dry shaver, the entire handle is ergonomic and there has been no risk of slipping out during it’s being operated.
With the help of Auto-Adapt feature along with theSenseIQ technology, your shaver will read the density of your beard 250 times per second to adjust motor power accordingly.
Also, the shaver head can follow contour with its 360 degree adaptive head. There are vent lines drawn on the shaver head to direct the facial hair efficiently into the blades.
If you shave daily, your coarse hair doesn’t stand a chance against the device! It takes no more than 5 minutes to clean everything out for a smooth finish!
Whether you take it inside the shower, rinse the blades by unhinging the mechanism or wash the entire handle – the Norelco 5400 is meant to survive it all!
You may also pair the shaver up with your smartphone to learn the rotating cutting motion for a precise and neat result over the course of time.
It has a battery life lasting nearly an hour. The travel lock engaged using the power button allows you to stash it inside your luggage for safe travels.
A precision trimmer at the back of the shaver will enable outlining your beard, mustache or sideburns. Tight spots may require some skill to get done perfectly.
Overall, the price point of this shaver seems alluring and I’d definitely recommend black men with sensitive skin to give the Norelco 5400 a go!
What I Like
- SenseIQ technology caters to black men with sensitive skin
- Gives smooth wet shaves even under shower
- Cleaning is effortless
What Could be Better
- Has a learning curve of a couple of weeks
Panasonic ARC5 Electric Razor for Men, ES-LV65-S
Let me introduce you to a unique shaver which can shave in both wet and dry, but the dry shaves are neat enough to spare you the pain of pre-shaving routine even for your coarse and curly facial hair!
It’s the Panasonic ARC5 LV65 model which comes in solo without any additional accessories except for a leather storage case and a cleaning brush.
The shaver has a great design, alluring enough to win over your heart at first sight! Also, the five cutting elements make it efficient for coarse hair removal in the shortest possible time!
Like all of the new ARC5 models, the LV65 too features 5 Nanotech blades, four of which are concealed under the four ultrathin Arc foil to ensure skin comfort.
The fifth cutting element is the middle cassette which goes over your facial hair to grant a zero shaving outcome.
With this many cutting elements in action at the same time, you can only imagine how swift your shaving sessions are going to be, especially if you’re a regular shaver.
The high performance linear motor itself is sufficient enough to keep all five elements running to reach a 14,000 CPM without losing power at any point, totalling up to 70,000 cross-cutting actions per minute.
Also, much like the Braun Series 9 shaver, the ARC 5 LV65 has sensory monitors (Active Shave Sensor) to read your beard density and adjust power accordingly.
But you can easily override that by pressing the power button a second time. This should give you the raw performance if you ever feel it necessary.
The shaving head is like a gimbal in my opinion, moving in a total of 16 directions which is really crazy if you think about it!
This makes sure your cutting elements and skin are always in solid contact to get that neat shave done at all places.
You can lock the tilting by sliding the mechanism at the back which also functions as an activator for the pop-up trimmer.
It’s not the most ergonomic electric shaver up front but the rear rubber retains grip due to its unique shape and size. The light weight also guarantees maximum flexibility in shaving!
The LED indicator tells you a lot of information on the shaver and the ring around the power button functions as a travel lock.
You’ll get around 45 minutes of battery life in this shaver. All things considered, I have no shame in admitting that it’s one of the finest electric shavers on the market and Panasonic has nailed the pricing for general consumers!
What I Like
- Five nanofoil cutting elements grant comfortable shaving experience
- Higher number of cross-cutting actions are great for black men beard
- Overall a solid shaver & can be used by professionals too
What Could be Better
- Large head makes shaving narrow spots a little challenging
Panasonic ARC5 Electric Razor for Men, ES-LV67-K
Panasonic’s ARC5 LV67 isn’t that much different in terms of features and performance from the LV65, but there are certain aspects you should know to separate between the two electric shavers for black men!
Much like the LV65, the LV67 too comes in a leather package but you’ll receive an additional lubricating agent into the box.
The five cutting elements cater to black men’s coarse beard as well but you’ll see the shaver performing better in wet conditions than in dry.
No, it’s not because of the four ultrathin foils, or five stainless steel inner blades which are honed at 30 degrees which altogether generate a very close shave!
Rather much of it has to do with the ergonomic design. As you can see from the looks, it looks completely different from the LV65.
Despite the bulky handle in the LV67, it weighs almost similar to its counterpart. There are precise ergonomic spots in the handle, especially a rubber thumb rest spot which renders wet shaving highly comfortable.
If you manage to go through a pre-shave phase and apply shaving gel over the coarse hair, the shaver won’t slip in any direction and grant you the smoothest possible outcome.
The cutting actions are quite similar in the LV65 and LV67 shavers. You get 70,000 cross cutting actions per minute with the same Advanced Intelligent Shave Sensor.
This sensor reads your beard 220 times every second to readjust motor power 14 times per second.
It’s not a feature useful for many consumers, but it’s something that helps out the coarse beard of black men to get the most comfortable experience.
Of course, the 16-D multiflex head enhances contour adaptation and you get to restrict the movement the same way as you would, with the same slider popping out the trimmer bit.
This shaver excels at battery power and has a slight edge over the LV65. The LV67 can run up to 50 minutes at a stretch and overall is a great tool for elderly men.
Travel lock is engaged differently here as you activate it by pressing and holding the power button for 3 seconds.
Also, the LED display shows 10 increment points for charge levels, therefore a longer panel is introduced to the consumers.
So, for black men who specifically want to settle for a wet-shave device, want a comfortable experience each time and get a tad bit closer to the skin while shaving, the ARC5 LV67 should be your first choice!
What I Like
- Specializes in wet shaves, even inside the shower
- Highly ergonomic and slip-free design
- Shaves are smooth and comfortable
What Could be Better
- Bulky head is a little tricky at tight spots
Braun Series 7 7071cc Flex Electric Razor for Men
The Braun Series 7 shaver is the budget variant of the Series 9 due to numerous reasons and it’s indeed the most versatile electric shaver I’m recommending for black men’s grooming.
I’ll say the main reason is the features you’re getting for the price and it’s insane in my opinion! You’ll receive all the top tier feature advantages from the Series 9 but at a much affordable price!
Although the sleek and elegant design is what should draw your eyes at first, let me tell you, its cutting elements are the major upside for this electric device.
There are three cutting elements in the Series 7, two of which are OptiFoil units and the one down the middle is the cutting cassette for ensuring a very close shave.
This Series 7 from Braun is actually the new generation device which is built upon the same principles of the modern day Series 9 device.
Also, the Series 7 shares some resemblance with the Braun Series 5 shaver but is quite advanced in almost every aspect.
Apart from the cutting elements, the 360 Flex Head is something black men with sensitive skin will find advantageous.
This neck follows your movement and counteracts if you ever push too much into your skin which could cause irritation or burning sensation.
Also, the handle is endowed with rubber paddings all around, making wet shaves a blissful experience and efficient for consumers.
Speaking of efficiency, it doesn’t cut as fast as the Series 9 or even the Panasonic ARC5 shavers, but it’s not a long way behind.
The AutoSense technology regulates motor power here as well and black men with coarse hair would find optimum power at all times.
If you want convenient maintenance but scared of spending tons on the Series 9, the Braun Series 7 has you covered!
This ‘cc’ edition comes with its very own Clean & Charge station to automatically clean, lubricate and recharge your shaving device!
Also, black men who don’t shave very frequently can opt for the trimmer head as the Series 7 has an EasyClick feature to swap between trimmer and shaver heads.
I’d advise the maximum of a 2-day stubble for coarse hair removal without any tugs, pulls or left behind unshaved patches.
This durable Braun Series 7 is indeed one of the most fabulous foil shavers to deal with coarse hair on a daily basis and for the coming years without ever faltering!
What I Like
- Sleek design with great ergonomics
- Cutting elements & flex head cater to coarse hair removal
- Versatile choice within budget
What Could be Better
- Power button isn’t very tactile
Why Trust My Verdict?
Primary reason to trust my verdict is the fact that I’ve used all of the six electric devices mentioned in my list as the prime choices for black men.
Secondarily, I’ve consulted with both professionals as well as black men with grooming knowledge overseas to take their insight into my list.
There are necessary factors that aid black men with their facial hair removal and these factors were given first priority while sorting out the top six electric razors for my list.
So when I give you my verdict, know that it’s not made out of whim, rather the byproducts of a systematic selection and elimination until I’ve reached the products worthy of belonging here.
Test Results: Best Black Men Electric Shavers
Here are the head to head test results between the top six bulls in my list! I’ve assessed them against the important aspects black men need out of their shaver to see which one excels at your required departments!
Shaving Closeness
When I inspected shaving closeness on black men’s skin, I found very little to differentiate between the Braun Series 9, Panasonic ARC5 LV65 and LV67 devices.
Although I’d say that Braun Series 9 and ARC5 LV67 felt a little bit smoother after a wet shave, it’s very much negligible and subjective to a large extent.
BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 follows along in the list and it’s quite shocking to see an electric shaver with only dry mode can perform so well against wet/dry shavers!
Braun Series 7 shaver gets almost as close as the BaByliss device but one or two unshaved patches here and there earns it slightly less score than the metal powerhouse.
Finally, Norelco 5400 was close but sincerely not as much as the rest of the devices since it excels at keeping the skin safe, so the closeness is the payout you’ll have to concede.
Skin Comfort
Panasonic ARC5 LV67 is hands down the most comfortable shaver a black man could ever hope for, but the rule is that you must go down in wet conditions.
Second spot is a tie between the ARC5 LV65 and the Braun Series 9 – both offer comfort but if you’re too vigorous, it could burn a little.
BaBylissPRO, Norelco and Series 7 shavers are tied for last because there’s not much to differentiate between them in terms of comfort.
They’re quite smooth while operating, a little agitation can be felt or not felt from one person to the next – just rinse your face with cold water and it’ll go away!
Motor Power
As you already know, the BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 is the most powerful shaver in my list with its 10,000 RPM motor – quite astounding if you ask me.
Braun Series 9, Panasonic ARC5 LV65 and LV67 are tied for second spot in this assessment with their approximately 4-5,000 RPM motor, although it’s never been explicitly mentioned by the respective brands.
Braun Series 7 falls in between these three shavers and Norelco 5400 as the latter turns out to be the least powerful device in the list.
But it doesn’t mean that the Norelco 5400 cuts less efficiently because the small cutting rings don’t require that much power and it’s the rotary design that balances out an average motor.
Ergonomics
I believe the Braun Series 9 and the Panasonic ARC5 LV67 are the two most ergonomically sound shavers in my list with perfect shapes and grip points at the right spots.
These two are followed by the Norelco 5400 and Braun Series 7 – both of which are wrapped with rubbers and mark wet shaving something to enjoy without any risk.
Panasonic ARC5 LV65 tops the BaBylissPRO shaver for the final spot because the ARC5 is much lightweight and the narrow handle is easier to hold on to.
With BaBylissPRO FoilFX02, its unique shape can still grant you a firm grip, but the weight can be fatiguing after 10 or so minutes into your shaving task.
Contour Adaptation
The two Panasonic shavers are the best in contour adaptation because of their 16 directional pivoting head moving in every possible direction and keeping close skin contact!
Braun Series 9 shaver is a little way behind with its 10-D floating head yet gets a good job done. Such contour adaptations are necessary if black men want the cleanest shaves at every corner of the face.
Norelco 5400 and Braun Series 7 shavers are similar in contour adaptation but the technology used are completely different – the assessment was made based on results.
Finally, BaBylissPRO shaver finishes the list as the two contour adaptation methods for the shaver are its double offset design and the linear springiness of the foils.
Maintenance
The two Braun devices have won the maintenance test with their Clean & Charge station as it takes care of your every cleaning and lubricating needs effortlessly.
If you don’t purchase the shaver with a station, cleaning is still straightforward and you can remove the shaver head for quick rinse and oiling.
The same method of cleaning can be applicable to the ARC5 shavers as well as Norelco 5400 – simply unhinge, dunk or wash and lubricate!
Sadly, the BaBylissPRO FoilFX02 isn’t waterproof and therefore cannot be washed. You’ll need to approach the manual cleaning and oiling mode for the shaver, although it’s quite easy to do.
Buyer’s Guide: Best Electric Razor for Black Men
Let’s break down the buyer’s guide for you so that you can pick out the precise electric shaver for your unique requirements and render the purchase a successful one!
If raw motor power is your priority, no one beats the BaBylissPRO FoilFX02. This shaver can chop through the densest and curliest of beard with least effort!
The overall best in my list is the professional graded Braun Series 9 shaver. For the price, barbers can make the best use of it and it’ll withstand the rough housing in a busy shop.
When it comes to the Norelco 5400, it should be considered by black men with sensitive skin as a rotary shaver is generally kinder in such scenarios.
Panasonic ARC5 LV65 is preen for dry shaves and this one is for individuals who don’t want to spend much time in shaving, yet expect good results.
Its counterpart the ARC5 LV67 specializes in wet shaves and requires certain pre-shave routines to soften down your coarse beard and is the most comfortable one in my list.
Finally, the Braun Series 7 is the budget variant of Series 9 – slightly less efficient but has all the features Braun’s top dog has to offer at a much higher price!
FAQ
In this FAQ section, you’re going to learn a little bit more about the best electric shavers for black men, their longevity and versatility in grooming.
Q: How often should I replace the blades on my electric shaver?
Ans: Blade replacement depends on the thickness and density of your beard as well as the frequency of shaving. If you’re a regular groomer, you can expect your blades to last between 12 to 18 months but it can also vary from one brand to another. As soon as you start to sense your blades getting dull, you should order a replacement.
Q: How long does an electric shaver typically last?
Ans: Generally the longevity of a shaver depends a lot on the brand and the cost of the unit. While there are cheaper shavers that last longer than other products at the same price range, the ones in my list should last you no less than 4-5 years if you take proper care.
Q: Can electric shavers be used for other body hair?
Ans: Not all electric shavers can be used for other body hair. Most ones in my list lack this capability except for the Braun Series 7 shaver. It’s because of the EasyClick feature allowing you to turn the shaver into a trimmer and with that, you can easily remove body hair from other parts!
Concluding Remarks
Best electric razors for black men are indeed some of the premium devices from brands that are widely known and respected by professionals and consumers alike.
You could never go wrong by picking any of the devices I’ve put forth – your job initially is to realize what your unique requirements are.
For instance, whether you have sensitive skin or want to shave daily or a fan of wet shaves or don’t want to spend longer in shaving operations.
Once you’ve sorted this out, you’ll see that each of the shavers fall into the requirement you just thought of and from that point onward – who’s to stop you from purchasing that shaver?