Electric shavers have taken over the engineering challenge of putting as many blades as possible on a razor. Does Panasonic's Arc6 razor do enough to justify its $400 price tag?
I don't like shaving, don't like sporting a beard, and don't want to use permanent hair removal solutions. I have used electric razors since my first few whiskers appeared and find shaving with a disposable razor too messy. A rechargeable model can be used almost anywhere, but getting as close a shave as possible often requires a lot of facial hair removal, especially when tackling three or four days of stubble growth.
I have been using the cheapest electric razors I can find for the longest time, but last year I decided to buy a Braun Series 7 model because I was curious if it would make shaving easier. The upgrade immediately made shaving less of a chore and was definitely worth the $150 I spent, but it made me wonder if electric razors still offer improved performance if you throw more money at them. Is shaving half as hard with the Panasonic Arc6 as it is with my Braun?
A premium electric razor with six blades mounted to an ultra-flexible cutting head has an expensive price tag.
When I pulled the Arc6 out of its box, I felt the same way I did when I first saw the Epilator.
The foils and exposed blades on my simpler Braun razor would make someone hesitant to use an electric razor for the first time. Next to the Arc6's two lifting blades, two titanium coated stubble-chopping blades, and two finishing blades, the Braun almost looks primitive.
You can turn the razor on and off with a single button, but below the power button, there is a display showing the status of the razor. The power button can only be activated when the razor is held, otherwise it will enter a locked mode, preventing it from accidentally turning on and draining the battery.
The position of the shaver on the face can be difficult to maintain, so it is best to use an electric razor when the shaver is on the face. Keeping the blades flush against the skin is one of the things the Arc6 does.
The Arc6's cutting head sits atop an articulated mechanism that Panasonic claims provides 22 different directions of movement, including shock absorption to protect both the user's face and the blades.
On the back of the Arc6, there is a sliding lock that can limit the head's movement. There is a trimmer attachment when it is sliding. Panasonic suggests using the trimmer first to clear out a longer beard because the Arc6 is designed to mostly tackle short stubble. That's not a good idea. The Arc6 may be useful for squaring off sideburns, but if you want to shave longer, you should use a dedicated trimmer, like the Oneblade.
If you live in a one bedroom apartment or a billion dollar estate, there is no need for a bathroom with enough counter space. I don't use the counter-hogging charging and cleaning stations that many electric razors ship with, and while the Arc6 can be purchased on its own without one, the bundled dock might actually be worth keeping.
The footprint is small and it has two very useful features.
It's the most convincing reason to use a dock like this. Press a button and the dock will do the rest. I never used the one that came with my Braun razor because I didn't think it was worth the extra cost.
The pop-out tray on the Arc6's dock is for filling with water and detergent. Panasonic warns against using anything other than its own razor detergent, but it is easy to replenish and clean out as often as needed. The razor's cutting head can be lubricated by these little pouches.
There is a built-in drying fan on the Arc6's dock. A wet razor won't be dry in a matter of minutes, but it does speed up the drying process, which reduces the risk of mold or other undesirable growths.
Does the dock need to be there? You can save yourself a lot of money by grabbing the Arc6 razor. When you hold down the power button for a couple of seconds, the cleaning mode will be activated and you will be able to rinse and dry the machine. It is cheap and space-saving.
The Arc6 provided one of the lightest shaves I have had with an electric razor. The Arc6 was able to hack away the stubble and leave a smooth patch of skin on my face after my first shave.
The idea of having so many blades is that they each focus on different lengths of hair as they sweep across the face, leaving nothing behind. On days with less stubble growth, the Arc6 left smooth skin behind. If you want the best results, you have to spend a few minutes going over some areas again and again. I shave after a couple of days of letting my face run wild, but the Arc6 cuts that down quite a bit.
The effectiveness of the Arc6 will diminish over time, but I liked the flexibility of the cutting head. It is rare for me to finish a shave without a nick on my Adam's Apple because my Braun shaver only offers movement in one direction. Smooth skin was left behind by the Arc6's handling of this area. The Arc6 makes shaving much more pleasant than it would be in a $100,000+ sedan.
The $400 question is if the Panasonic Arc6 is worth the money.
Even with a brand new set of sharp blades, I still had to go over the same areas of my face again and again to get every last piece of stubble. That is one of the drawbacks of using an electric razor, and one that Panasonic has yet to solve.
Is it better than the Braun Series 7 that I have been using? It's absolutely true. The ability of the Arc6 to match a face's shape greatly reduces the risk of nicks or cuts. Is it necessary for it to be upgraded? If you spend $400 you can get an excellent shave from an electric razor. The Arc6 is expensive, and even more so when you consider Panasonic's recommendation to replace the cutting blades every year or year-and-a-half, which will cost you $115 each time. Are you looking for a Rolls Royce? It is not possible to say yes. Would you like to own one for a long time? The Arc6 gives a satisfying experience.
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