The Best Electric Razors For Women Based On Rigorous Testing

The best electric razors for women deliver smooth, stubble-free skin or evenly trimmed body hair with zero nicks or irritation. They’re faster and more convenient to use than a manual razor or scissors, too, since they don’t usually require shaving cream, soap or a super steady hand. Their cutter blades and foils are made of hypoallergenic, rust-resistant material, and they move easily over curves and crannies; they’re also not tedious to use or expensive to maintain. You can grip and maneuver a good one easily with wet or dry hands, charge it quickly and count on the battery to last for multiple sessions. Smart, sturdy attachments streamline all-over grooming.

My pick for the best electric razor for women overall is the Philips SatinShave Prestige Women’s … [+] Electric Shaver because of its unique pivoting head and ultra fast charge time.

Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers

After testing eight models, I found the Philips SatinShave Prestige Women’s Electric Shaver to be the best electric razor for women overall because it has a unique pivoting head for close, comfortable hair removal, plus the fastest charge time. The Finishing Touch Flawless Nu Razor Hair Remover is my top value pick because of its simple, lightweight design that makes it feel like a traditional razor, effective single blade that’s easy and affordable to replace and nifty built-in LED light. (Read my in-depth reviews of the Philips SatinShave and Finishing Touch Flawless Nu shavers here.)

These are the winners from my testing process:

My Expertise

I’m a veteran lifestyle journalist and editor who’s been covering beauty topics, including personal grooming, for more than a decade for outlets such as Elle; O, The Oprah Magazine; Martha Stewart Living; and Allure. I’ve tested pretty much every hair-removal method out there, from epilators (ouch, IMO) to waxing, sugaring, at-home IPL devices and refillable safety razors.

To report this story, I scoured the websites of major retailers including Ulta, Walmart and Target to find their bestsellers and read dozens of real users’ online reviews, taking note of complaints about not-so-smooth results—irritation and battery life, in particular. Then I reached out to aestheticians and skincare educators who have special expertise in hair removal to learn more about why someone might want to use an electric razor and how to select and use the best one for you. Katie Sobelman (aka @the_organic_esthetician) answered a dozen of my questions about what qualities the best electric razors for women should have and how to use them.

How I Tested The Best Electric Razors For Women

For starters, I read the user manuals’ operating and cleaning instructions, noting anything particularly tedious or inconvenient. (For example, one razor I tested called for sewing-machine oil to lubricate the blades regularly; I actually have a sewing kit and not even I am willing to do that!) I also recorded how long each takes to charge and how long its battery and blades last, as well as the return policy, warranty and the process for getting replacement blades and parts.

I tested eight of the top-rated electric razors for women based on their performance, battery life, … [+] versatility and more.

Elyse Moody For Forbes

I fully charged the razors to ensure they were as powerful as possible and tested two at a time on neighboring areas of my legs, underarms and bikini line. That way, I could directly compare the smoothness each delivered and eliminate the one that didn’t perform as well for my relatively fine, blond hair and sensitive skin. I continued testing the razors and all of their attachments this way, single-elimination-style, until I had narrowed the field to four contenders that gave me similarly smooth results. I then tested those four on my husband’s darker, coarser leg hair to ensure they worked well on at least one different hair type. (What a trooper; thank you for your service, Jim.)

Best Electric Razor For Women Overall

A Gentle, Powerful Shaver That Does It All

Amazon

Philips SatinShave Prestige Women’s Electric Shaver

Blades: Three hypoallergenic stainless steel; two foils and one cutter | Attachments: Efficiency guard, bikini trimmer, bikini trimmer comb, cap and cleaning brush | Tested charge time: 1 hour 3 minutes | Tested runtime: 1 hour 24 minutes | Tested 5-minute quick-charge runtime: 11 minutes | Waterproof: Removable, rinsable heads | Upkeep: Replace blades once a year | Warranty: 45-day money-back guarantee, 2-year warranty

Best for:

Regularly or occasionally shaving arms, legs and bikini line
Trimming body hair
At-home grooming

Skip if:

You want a tool specifically for a small area like your bikini line, face or underarms
You need a razor that’s compact for travel

The Philips SatinShave Prestige Women’s Electric Shaver not only delivers reliably smooth results, but it has the best combination of design and battery life of any razor I tested. Other options removed hair comparably well, but they weren’t as goof-proof or convenient to use. The Philips razor glided over my ankles, shins, knees and underarms with their curves and knobby areas more gently and effectively than any of its competitors. That’s because it’s the only razor I tested with a pivoting head in addition to floating foil blades, which makes it nimbler and less likely to tug at or nick your skin. It also has the quickest charge time—only 1 hour—and is the only one of the bunch with a quick-charge mode. That allows you to plug it in for 5 minutes and get enough power to finish a grooming session.

This Philips razor has sturdy attachments that cover all your body-hair grooming needs. For longer hair on your legs or arms, you can snap the efficiency guard onto the shaving head to help the hair stand up, so it can remove more of it on the first pass. It’s the only razor I tested that comes with this kind of attachment, and I found it to be useful on my longer leg hair. You can push a button to remove the shaving head and replace it with a bikini trimmer; this part can be used solo for close trimming or covered with a comb to leave the hair longer if that’s your preference or if you’re preparing for waxing.

The pivoting head of the Philips SatinShave Prestige razor allows it to glide more closely and … [+] evenly over tricky areas like shins and knees.

Elyse Moody For Forbes

Maintenance is as simple as removing the shaving head, rinsing it off and letting everything air-dry. Replacement parts are available via the Philips website. They’re not the easiest to find or inexpensive as I’d like, but this is a much more convenient and sustainable approach compared with many other razors I tested that don’t even make replacement parts available, which means that they are essentially disposable once the blades dull and the battery stops recharging (typically after 6 months to a year, depending on how well you maintain it and how often you use it).

My only wishes? It would be great if this Philips razor had an LED light for better visibility and a USB charger or wall charging dock instead of a corded AC adapter, to make powering up even more convenient. But I’m pretty pleased with it as is; it has taken over my Billie razor’s spot in the shower.

Best Value Electric Razor For Women

A Lightweight And Effective Tool That Feels Like A Traditional Razor

Finishing Touch Flawless Nu Razor Hair Remover

Blades: One stainless steel, 18kt-gold-coated foil | Attachments: Sensitive skin guard, cleaning brush | Tested charge time: 1 hour | Tested runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes | Tested 5-minute quick-charge runtime: None | Waterproof: Designed to be used dry; razor can be rinsed off | Upkeep: Replace blades every 3 to 6 months | Warranty: 60-day money-back guarantee

Best for:

Completely removing body hair
Regular use
Dry shaving without water, soap or cream
Extra-gentle hair removal

Skip if:

You need to remove long body hair
You want to trim hair rather than shaving it all off
You prefer to shave in the shower

Of all the electric razors I tested, the Finishing Touch Flawless Nu Razor Hair Remover feels the most like a manual razor. This makes it intuitive for anyone to use. (And because it isn’t as likely to cut you, I think it’s an especially good choice for tweens.) The single foil-covered blade glides smoothly over large, wide areas like your legs, including knobby areas like ankles and knees, without nicking or tugging. Snap on the included SensaGuard attachment for delicate areas like your underarms, and it gives you a close shave there, too.

The gold-plated head of the Finishing Touch Flawless razor gently removes body hair—and I … [+] appreciated that replacements are easy to find and affordable.

Elyse Moody For Forbes

The soft, grippy finish makes it easy to hold, and the matte pink color with 18k-gold accents make it the only one of these products I’d be happy to show off. In a sea of grooming tools you want to keep hidden away in the pouch they come in, it’s definitely a standout. It’s the only razor I tested with an LED light that worked well.

But it’s not all about flashy looks. This simple, sleek little single-foil razor charges in 3 hours—one of the shortest charge times of the bunch, with the exception of the Meridian trimmer (2 hours) and my best overall pick from Philips (1 hour)—and lasts a full hour, twice as long as most of its competitors. It also has a convenient USB charger as opposed to the antiquated AC adapter chargers most use.

Best of all, I like how accessible the company makes replacement heads. They’re easy to find on its website, and they cost $15, which seems reasonable since you need a new one only every 3 to 6 months. When you buy the razor, you also get a 10% off coupon toward a future purchase, further defraying the cost.

Other Women’s Electric Razors I Tested

I tested eight products, and six didn’t make the cut. Here’s why.

Panasonic Women’s Wet/Dry Electric Shaver: This razor was one of my four finalists. I found that it removed hair similarly well to the Philips razor, and I really liked its cordless charging station and pop-up bikini trimmer (one less attachment to lose!). I ultimately preferred the Philips razor for its pivoting design and significantly better battery life.

Brori Electric Razor: This razor is super popular on Amazon, and I was excited to test it because I liked the sage green color and light. It let me down for a few reasons: First, it cut me to pieces! It has a curved cutter for areas like underarms, a straight blade for flat areas and a foil for bigger, flatter areas like calves and arms. I used it properly, but my underarms came out nicked up. I also didn’t like that the user manual looked homemade (typed up in Comic Sans) and that the customer service consisted of a Gmail address—not confidence inspiring.

Remington Smooth And Silky Electric Shaver: Similar in design to the Philips razor, this one costs half as much and in my experience performs about half as well. It’s not as powerful; it takes a whole day to charge, and the battery lasts half as long. And it’s the one whose maintenance calls for sewing-machine oil, which is ultra-refined mineral oil, FYI. The stuff is actually easy to find, but I can’t picture anyone devoting that much attention or care to a $26 razor.

Conair All-In-One Shave And Trim System: This Conair razor performed similarly to the Remington one in my testing, although it costs about $8 more. It does come with a unique attachment, though: You get an eyebrow trimmer and guard. I can’t imagine using it to trim my eyebrows (one slip of the wrist and there it goes…), and I actually thought it was a nose hair trimmer until I read the manual more carefully. I thought it performed better as a trimmer than as a razor. If you’re looking for a decent bikini trimmer that comes with a facial trimmer, it might appeal to you.

Meridian Grooming The Trimmer: This trimmer has been heavily marketed to me on Instagram and Amazon since I started researching this story, so I had to try it. The company says it is designed to “trim your arms, groom your legs, spruce up below the belt…the only limit you could have is your imagination.” But it didn’t remove my underarm or leg hair in one pass or glide smoothly over my legs. It’s more of a trimmer than a shaver, and not a great trimmer in my experience. I did really like its iPhone-like packaging and sleek, matte design.

Bushbalm The Francesca Trimmer: Like the Meridian trimmer, this Bushbalm tool is described by its makers as optimal for “trimming anywhere hair grows on your body. Think bikini line, legs, underarms and neck.” But it’s not really made for removing hair from your whole leg; it doesn’t glide that way. It’s more for targeted touch-ups and trimming or prepping for waxing—not replacing regular shaving. It’s a great trimmer with a solid, sleek and ergonomic design, though.

How To Pick An Electric Razor For Women

The best electric razor for women speeds up grooming and makes ingrown hairs and irritation things of the past. It has a combination of cutter blades and foils, a design that makes it comfortable to hold and lets it glide over curved areas of your body, a battery that charges quickly and lasts for an hour and attachments that can handle myriad grooming needs. It’s also easy to maintain by simply rinsing it and letting it air-dry, with occasional extra TLC. I reached out to Sobelman for more details.

Blades

Electric razors have two types of blades: cutter blades (which look like a trimmer) and foils, which are blades encased in perforated metal tubes that protect your skin. In general, the more foils, the better. “More foils ensures a closer shave with less sensitivity,” says Sobelman. “It also tends to mean more power and a larger battery, which can mean a better razor and closer shave.” She also recommends looking for a razor with a cutting element or trimmer between the foils: “This helps to lift flat hairs and trim longer ones to then be shaved by the foils.”

As for material, ceramic is longer-lasting than stainless steel because it’s stronger, adds Sobelman. The Francesca and Meridian tools have ceramic blades, but they are really trimmers, not razors. Unfortunately, none of the razors that worked well on my legs had ceramic foils or cutters.

Both the Philips and Finishing Touch Flawless razors have a pivoting head for smoother, faster … [+] shaving with fewer nicks and missed spots.

Elyse Moody For Forbes

Design

Most electric shavers have an S-shape design that makes it easier to hold them at the proper angle—perpendicular to the area you’re shaving. All of the ones I tested had grooved buttons or areas that made them convenient to use in the shower with wet, slippery hands. Unique elements like a pivoting head or light stood out to me as truly innovative and helpful features.

Battery Life

Some razors can take an entire day to charge, and last only 30 minutes. Needless to say, that’s not super convenient. The best electric razor for women charges in an hour and has a battery that lasts for an hour; it also has a quick-charge mode that lets you power up in 5 minutes to finish what you were doing. Using other razors before they are fully charged can damage the battery.

Attachments

Electric razors typically come with trimmers and combs or guards for areas of the bikini line or face, as well as for sensitive skin. They’re worthwhile if you’re looking for a device that can do more than just your legs. “Having a guard or a more traditional clipper attachment can be helpful for manicuring longer hair or trimming hair short instead of shaving it completely off,” says Sobelman. Guards can be adjustable, so that you can tailor how much you trim the hair to the length you prefer. If that’s what you’re looking for, check the fine print. I also found some attachments to be sturdier and snap into place more securely than others.

Maintenance

In general, you should pop off the shaving or trimming attachment after each use, rinse all the pieces and let them air-dry. Ideally, you should also lubricate the blades with mineral oil every so often. How easily the attachments snap on speaks to how tedious this is—and gives you a sense of how likely they are to break in the process.

You should also consider how accessible and affordable replacement blades and parts are. Some companies don’t even mention them; the razors are essentially designed to be thrown out after a year or two, which is troubling because they have rechargeable batteries that need to be disposed of in a specific way. Other companies allow you to order replacement parts through their website, although it’s usually not easy to find them and they’re nearly as expensive as the razor itself. Finishing Touch Flawless is a standout because it makes replacement heads easy to find and relatively affordable.

Who Is An Electric Razor For?

An electric razor is for people who have sensitive skin and are prone to razor burn and other irritation, as well as people who have curly hair and struggle with ingrowns, says Sobelman. It’a also ideal for teenagers who are just starting to shave, since it’s less likely to nick their skin. It’s also for people who want convenience: It lets you shave in or out of the shower and is faster than a traditional razor.

Is It Better To Use An Electric Razor Or A Manual One?

An electric shaver has benefits and downsides compared with a traditional razor. “It can help prevent skin irritation and ingrown hairs, and it can be a great option for someone who has sensitive skin,” says Sobelman. Both cut the hair at the root, compared with epilation, waxing or tweezing, which pull the hair out from the root (ouch), or laser hair removal, which uses pulses of laser light to damage the hair follicle and slow or potentially prevent regrowth.

As for cons, “Electric razors do not offer as close of a shave as a traditional razor, so some hair will be visible,” Sobelman says. They’re also more expensive to buy and maintain.

I noted that most of the razors I tested said you need to use them several times for your hair to adjust and get the best results. Why? Sobelman explains: “I imagine it is because not all the hair on your body grows at the same rate, and hairs in one specific area can be in the midst of various growth cycles. Using a razor multiple times can help to trim different length hairs, creating a more even shave.” So if you’re not happy with how close or long-lasting the results you get from an electric razor are on the first try, keep going.

Can You Shave Your Pubic Hair With An Electric Razor?

Yes, just use caution. Many electric razors for women come with attachments specifically designed to make trimming or shaving hair in sensitive areas easier and safer. Some even have a light to help you see exactly what you’re doing.

How Often Should You Clean An Electric Razor?

If you’re using it dry, you should brush away the hair inside and outside. If you’re using it wet, you should disassemble it, rinse and let it air dry after every use. Every few months, you should lubricate the blades with refined mineral oil.