This is the first time that I’ve used a Braun razor. And I started with what seems to be the best at the moment: the Braun Pulsonic 9595. A top-of-the-range razor that has a top-of-the-range price tag to boot. When I saw it at this price, I thought it must be an mp3 player and a mobile phone too. But not at all. It’s just a razor. Or is it? Time for the test drive…

Design / Handling

The razor has a metallic fascia. The back has a rubbery cover. It’s simple, with no flourishes. Nothing flashy, just a large handle and sleek lines. The first impression is of quality, which is confirmed when you hold it. It’s really solid. It’s a bit like holding a tennis raquet. Advantage!

Technology

Surprise, surprise, you turn it on by pressing ‘on’, and a blue LED lights up. The main feature of this razor is that it vibrates (the Pulsonic system). Apparently, it produces 10,000 vibrations per minute! That is, of course, difficult to check, but you can feel it vibrate, and hear it make a noise. A buzz that quietens down to a purr when you touch it to the skin.

The head is made up of 3 flexible parts: the shaving foils and the cutting blades. The Pulsonic uses cross-cutting technology. Of course, you can’t really tell, but the shaving foils and the cutting blades move in opposite directions.

At the base of the handle, there’s an LCD display that allows you to see when it needs charging and when it needs cleaning. You can rinse the razor under the tap, or use its dock that offers automatic cleaning.

Results

I have now been using this razor for a month. I have been really surprised by its effectiveness. On the face it gets rid of all hair in a few seconds. On the neck, which is always the most sensitive area, it is also really effective: there are really only a few areas you have to go over by hand. Efficient and pleasurable! The vibrations may be not good for the hairs, but they feel good on the skin!

Normally, I only shave very rarely. Just a trim every 3 or 4 days so my beard doesn’t get too long. This razor must be good because it makes me want to shave again!

One final point, not a negligable one either, is the price: €329 (How much???). Which is twice as expensive as most electric razors (and have you seen the price of disposables nowadays? :). It is in no way just a razor, but it is rather a lot of money to spend!

So of course, you need to make the most of it. If you have to shave every day, and if you’ve tried everything else and are still not convinced, the Pulsonic is perfect for you. If not: -I’m sure you’ll find something else to decorate your bathroom with

Pulsonic range, $219.99 on sale from Amazon

It’s time for a few more words on the subject of hair removal. My last article on the subject (in French) was nearly 2 years ago. So today I’m going to explore permanent hair removal, with an interview with Dr. Ludovic Rousseau, a dermatology expert and webmaster of a site devoted to dermatology, and in particular laser hair removal.

- Hello doctor, is permanent hair removal really permanent?

Hello. We prefer to call it long-term hair removal, because although the hair the laser treats is destroyed, it is possible that other, unaffected hairs (lighter and downy hairs) may become darker (due to hormonal stimulation, for example).

- What are the current solutions offered for permanent hair removal?

Several techniques allow the hair to be permanently destroyed. Among them, the most well known and the most widely used are lasers and pulsed light. Lasers are beams of photons with the same wavelength. Some wavelengths are absorbed by melanin (the pigment found in hairs and skin) and destroy it using heat. This is called “selective photothermolysis”. The lasers used to destroy hairs use photons with these characteristics and intense light pulse lamps use photos with different wavelengths, some of which have these characteristics.

- Are there particular recommendations for different skin types?

- For pale skin: laser and pulsed light are not particularly or not at all effective on light hairs, as of course they destroy the hair’s pigment. And light hairs contain little or no pigment.
- In dark-skinned people, the skin contains a lot of melanin and they have a higher risk of seeing lighter patches after laser hair removal. There are, however, lasers that pose less risk of creating light patches on dark-skinned people and doctors who perform these operations will also adapt the settings of his machine to the patient’s skin type.
- In all cases, lasers are not advisable for people who are tanned after sunbathing as their skin contains a lot of melanin, which risks being destroyed by the laser, leaving them with lighter patches. What’s more, sun exposure is not recommended for several weeks after laser hair removal as the redness caused by the laser risks being coloured by the sun and leaving brown patches. It is therefore preferable to carry out sessions during winter. Moreover, lasers are not advisable for children and pregnant women, in individuals with certain conditions that render the skin sensitive to ultraviolet and sunlight, called photodermatoses, or if taking medication that increases photosensitivity. Finally, areas of skin that have anomalies such as beauty spots are generally avoided when performing laser hair removal

- What happens during a session?

As we have seen, sessions normally take place in winter, on untanned skin that has been shaved around 3 days before the session. The doctor and patient wear protective goggles. Each impact produces a prickling and burning sensation that is normally reduced by a cooling technique, or the application of an anaesthetic cream on the area for hair removal 1 to 2 hours before the session. After the session, the destroyed hairs are inflamed, and fall out within a few days.

- How much does it cost?

That’s a difficult question: prices vary from one clinic to another and are defined according to several criteria: the equipment used, the area for hair removal etc. The best solution seems to be asking for advice before making a decision. At any rate, it costs hundreds or thousands of euros depending on the size of the area to be treated (especially on a large area such as the back, for example). It takes several sessions (on average between 4 and to remove hair from the entire area: lasers and pulsed light destroy hairs that are currently in a growth phase (melanin rich), which only make up 15-20% of hairs on average. Only around 15-20% of hairs are therefore destroyed after a session, and it is necessary to separate the sessions by 2 to 4 weeks on average to obtain a new set of hairs in their growth phase.

- Which body parts do men most frequently have hair removed from?

Men usually want hair removing from the torso, back or even armpits and groin.

Philips and Nivea for Men have once again got together to create a new Philishave Cool Skin model: the HS 8020. If you don’t know how it works yet, it’s an electric razor which dispenses shaving gel directly from the middle of its heads. Compared to the older 1^st generation models (I’ve got one of the first ones) they are more ergonomic: the razor is lighter and more managable. Like the others, this one still has 3 heads, which each have blades that lift the hair and others that cut it, but they are more flexible. And the filling system (for the Nivea cream) has changed: it doesn’t use cartridges anymore, but a bottle. As you can see above, it connects to the razor, and a pump allows the internal reservoir to be filled. It is waterproof, so you can use it in the shower, and lasts for 30 minutes between charges.

Summary:

• The flexibility is good. The 3 heads adapt well to the shape of the face and allow a close shave. The neck is always a delicate area but overall it doesn’t leave much for a manual razor to cover.
• The cream dispenser is a real bonus. It allows a smooth glide and reduces irritation. Of course, you still have to buy refills, but 1. I think that the 28ml bottle provided will probably last for a few months 2. the bottle only costs €8.99.
• The Philishave seems to offer good value for money. I know models that are more expensive that I used for less time (I’m basing my opinion on the previous model as I’ve only been using this one for 2 months)

The price : 99€ from La Redoute

I’ve been testing the Philips Bodygroom, the 2-in-1 body hair trimmer, for 2 weeks now. If you’ve not heard of it yet, it’s a special gadget for shaving the body and private parts. It looks a bit insectoid, with a long, rounded body and a round head. The shaver has a hypoallergenic foil and a trimmer on each side. This means you can use it in either direction. You also get 3 comb attachments for shaving different lengths. Other features: It’s completely waterproof and can be used for up to 50 minutes between charges. Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty: what’s the Bodygroom for?

It’s a trimmer and shaver specially designed for the body. You can use it to trim hair on your chest, belly, armpits, shoulders, back and legs, but also more delicate areas such as the groin, pubic hair and goolies. And as the Bodygroom is waterproof you can use it dry or in the shower. I tried to test it as often as possible over the last 2 weeks to give you a thorough report. So here are the advantages and disadvantages I found for this gadget.

Advantages:

• Simplicity and practicality. It’s designed for the growing number of men who like to look after themselves and keep trimmed. The Bodygroom is really simple and practical. Its ease of use and the ability to trim in both directions mean that you really can use it everywhere.
• The different cutting lengths. The 3 combs allow different lengths of cutting according to your mood and the body part concerned.
• Cordless operation. 50 minutes use between charges is ideal, all the more so given that when you first use the Bodygroom you find that you can easy spend half an hour trying it out.
• Its multiple uses. Even if you already have clippers for your hair, the Bodygroom won’t replace them (it’s not powerful enough), but it does work rather well on beard hair. The combination of trimmer and razor is particularly practical if you have a few days’ beard growth! It also hurts a lot less if you use the trimmer before you use the razor!
• The price. At under £30 the Bodygroom is affordable.

Disadvantages:

• The packaging. When I opened the box and found the Bodygroom in a plastic mould, I thought it looked rather cheap, and was worried that my first impressions would be right!
• No carry case is supplied as you would normally expect with a razor or clippers. Especially given that the Bodygroom is supplied with 3 combs and a charger and cable.

£29.99 on eBay