The Panasonic Arc6 Electric Razor Is Like Driving a Rolls Royce Across Your Face

Once a conflict solely waged amongst disposable razors, the engineering problem of cramming as many blades as potential onto a razor has taken over electrical shavers too. Panasonic’s Arc6 manages to squeeze in six slicing implements to hack and slash away all of your stubble in fewer swipes, however does it outperform lesser razors sufficient to justify its $400 price ticket?

I completely hate shaving, don’t get pleasure from sporting a beard, and have little interest in pursuing any everlasting hair elimination options. I additionally discover shaving with a disposable razor too messy, and have caught with electrical razors ever since my first few whiskers appeared. A chargeable mannequin can conveniently be used virtually anyplace, however getting as shut a shave as potential usually requires numerous swipes throughout the face, particularly when tackling three or 4 days of stubble development.

For the longest time, I’ve caught with the most affordable electrical razors I may discover, however final yr I lastly determined to splurge on a pricier Braun Series 7 mannequin, principally as a result of I used to be curious if spending more cash would make shaving simpler. The improve instantly made shaving much less of a chore and was undoubtedly well worth the $150 I spent, nevertheless it’s made me marvel if electrical razors proceed to supply improved efficiency when you throw much more cash at them. The Panasonic Arc6 is greater than twice the worth of my Braun, however does it make shaving half as arduous?

Fist Impression: Intimidating

When I first pulled the Arc6 out of its field, I had the identical impression as once I first noticed an epilator: intimidation.

To somebody who’s by no means used an electrical razor earlier than, even the foils and uncovered blades on my less complicated Braun razor would make them hesitant to pull it throughout their face. But subsequent to the Arc6’s two lifting blades, two titanium-coated stubble-chopping blades, and two ending blades, the Braun virtually seems to be primitive by comparability.

Turning the razor on and off is a straightforward one-button affair, and under the ability button, you’ll discover a standing show embedded beneath the razor’s plastic housing. One function I notably like is that the ability button can solely be activated when the razor detects it’s being held, in any other case it routinely enters a locked mode, stopping it from by chance turning on and draining the battery whereas bouncing round inside a toiletries bag.

More Flex Than a Yoga Instructor

The blades on an electrical razor work greatest when the shaver is positioned perpendicular to the face, however that’s not all the time a simple place to take care of given the contours of each face. To make protecting the blades flush in opposition to the pores and skin whereas shaving simpler, the Arc6 makes use of some excessive articulation.

Reminiscent of the ultra-flexible Steadicam digital camera rigs Hollywood makes use of, the Arc6’s slicing head sits atop an articulated mechanism that Panasonic claims gives 22 totally different instructions of motion, together with shock absorption to assist shield each the person’s face and the blades.

There are instances when that’s simply an excessive amount of flexibility, so on the again of the Arc6, there’s a sliding lock mechanism that may restrict the top’s motion. Sliding it additional additionally pops up a trimmer attachment. As with most electrical razors, the Arc6 is designed to principally deal with brief stubble, not longer whiskers, so Panasonic suggests utilizing this trimmer first to filter out an extended beard. That’s a foul thought. The trimmer is possibly helpful for squaring off sideburns, however when you procrastinate on shaving so long as I do, I’d as a substitute suggest pairing the Arc6 with a devoted trimmer for coping with longer whiskers, like a Philips OneBlade.

A Charging and Cleaning Station I Actually Might Use

I don’t care when you dwell in a one bed room residence or a sprawling billion greenback property, there’s no such factor as having sufficient counter area in a rest room; it can all the time disappear. I often by no means use the counter-hogging charging and cleansing stations that many pricier electrical razors ship with, and whereas the Arc6 can fortunately be bought by itself with out one, the optionally bundled dock would possibly really be price protecting round.

Its footprint isn’t terribly gigantic, and it’s obtained two very helpful options going for it.

The most convincing cause to make use of a dock like that is that it makes cleansing the razor easy. You simply stick it in, press a button, and the dock does the remaining. Many corporations use the dock as a chance to promote overpriced proprietary cleansing cartridges stuffed with detergent that must be usually changed—which is one more reason I by no means used the one which got here with my Braun razor.

But the Arc6’s dock contains a pop-out tray you simply fill with a mixture of water and detergent. It’s simple to replenish and clear out as usually as wanted, though Panasonic does strongly warn in opposition to utilizing something apart from its personal particular razor detergent. These are available little pouches and likewise serve to lubricate the razor’s slicing head.

The different function I like in regards to the Arc6’s dock is that it features a built-in drying fan. It’s not as intense as a blow dryer—a moist razor gained’t be dry in a matter of minutes—nevertheless it does expedite the drying course of, which reduces the danger of mould or different undesirable growths showing.

Is the dock needed? I might say no. You can save your self $100 and simply seize the Arc6 razor itself. Cleaning it manually is so simple as making use of some hand cleaning soap to the blades and activating a cleansing mode that will increase blade oscillations while you maintain down the ability button for a few seconds, then popping off the blades and giving all the things a fast rinse and dry. It’s easy, cheaper, and space-saving.

But What Does My Face Think?

Despite having an intimidating variety of blades, the Arc6 supplied one of many gentlest shaves I’ve ever had with an electrical razor. My first shave tackled about three days price of development, and on some elements of my face, the Arc6 was in a position to hack away the stubble and go away a comparatively easy patch of pores and skin in only a single move.

The normal thought of getting so many blades is that they every deal with totally different lengths of hair as they sweep throughout the face, finally leaving nothing behind. When used extra continuously on days with much less stubble development, the Arc6 did a formidable job at leaving easy pores and skin behind. However, in order for you the smoothest outcomes, you’ll nonetheless must spend a couple of minutes going over some areas many times to take care of random stragglers. I often spend about ten minutes on a shave after a few days of letting my face run wild, however the Arc6 undoubtedly lower that down fairly a bit.

The effectiveness of the Arc6 will diminish because the blades uninteresting over time, however what I appreciated much more in regards to the razor was the pliability of the slicing head. My Braun shaver affords motion in only one path, and it’s uncommon that I end a shave with out not less than a nick on my Adam’s Apple consequently. The Arc6 handled this space simply, leaving easy pores and skin behind and no cuts to take care of afterwards. Like the comfy experience you’ll get in a $100,000+ sedan, the Arc6 makes shaving much more nice.

Worth the Splurge?

The $400 query (or $500 in order for you that charging/cleansing dock too) is whether or not the Panasonic Arc6 is well worth the splurge?

It definitely gives probably the most comfy electrical shave I’ve ever had, however even with a model new set of sharp blades, I nonetheless discovered myself having to go over the identical areas of my face many times to get each final piece of stubble. That’s one of many drawbacks of utilizing an electrical razor, and one which Panasonic hasn’t solved with the Arc6.

Do I believe it’s higher than the Braun Series 7 I’ve been utilizing for the previous yr? Absolutely. The Arc6 offers with a couple of days development with ease, and its capacity to match a face’s contours tremendously minimizes the danger of nicks or cuts. Is it a needed improve? You gained’t be upset with the splurge, however at $400, you’ll be able to in all probability nonetheless spend half that a lot cash and find yourself with a wonderful shave from an electrical razor. The Arc6 is pricey, and much more so while you think about that Panasonic recommends changing the slicing blades yearly or year-and-a-half, relying on use, which can set you again $115 every time. Do you want a Rolls Royce? No. Would you get pleasure from each second of proudly owning one? Yes, and the Arc6 delivers a equally satisfying expertise.