Braun 8595 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System with LCD Display
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Braun 8595 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System with LCD Display Details
Manufacturer: BraunBrand: Braun
Release Date: 2004-08-09
Model: Activator 8595
Product features:
- Easily removes any hair type on your face, even in problem zones
- Has a new geometry with different shaped holes
- Offers three different cleaning programs to meet three different cleaning needs
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Customer Reviews of Braun 8595 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System with LCD Display
Customer Review: There's better ways to spend money.
Summary: 3 Stars
Pros:
-Close shave, for an electric
-Easy to use, clean, and keep charged with the cleaning base
-Major gadget points with the cleaning base
Cons:
-Expensive
-Cleaning base requires refill cartridges (estimated to last 1-2 months each)
-Difficult to clean by hand (if traveling)
-Loud
-Not as portable as some units
I can think of only two reasons why we (men) use electric shavers:
1. They are quicker, cleaner, and easier to use than a blade.
2. They are gadgets, and everything is better with power.
Based on that bit of information, the Braun Activator is a resounding success, but only on the second point.
Like most men, I learned to shave the old fashioned way. No, not with a straight-razor and leather strap, I'm not that old. I learned using a safety razor and a bottle of shaving cream. As I got older, and the time between getting up and getting to school/work/etc. narrowed, and breakfast went the way of the dodo, so I sought out a way to cut down the daily 5 minutes it took to shave and clean up. About 8 years ago I started using a Norelco rotary shaver and figured I had found it.
The Basics
For those who are not familiar with electric shavers, there's basically two types: foil and rotary. Rotaries are the ones with two or three circular screens on the top. Foil shavers, like this Braun, have a rectangular screen, or "foil," at the top. On average, foil cuts closer, but rotary cuts long and/or tough hair better. Oh, and in case you're REALLY new, NO electric shaver comes as close as a blade (gimme my money back, Remington). Braun make the highest rated foils. Norelco make the highest rated rotaries. There is a "wet/dry" shaver style out there, too, but I haven't tried them.
The Incumbent
So I've been using Norelco for years, most recently the Norelco Quadra. It was the answer to my original need for speed. It was fast, easy, and didn't need constant cleaning. On an average day, it cut close enough for my purposes. On the best day it was acceptable for more formal occasions, but I usually brought out the blade for such events. I always wondered, though, if the foils were really that much better at getting a close shave without the need for shaving cream and a blade.
The Challenger
Is a foil shaver better? To find out, I went whole hog and bought the Braun Activator. Well, after 3 weeks of use, I have decided it probably isn't.
Again, for those who don't know much about electric shavers, the manufacturers say you need to give them at least a few weeks before making a firm decision, probably to make it harder to return to the store. . .oh, did I say that? Anyway, they say that it takes time for your skin to adjust to a new type of shaving. I wouldn't know. I've never had razor burn, skin irritation, or felt the need to use aftershave. I don't have sensitive skin. Oh, and I don't read the manuals, watch drama, or put the toilet seat down, either. Are we clear?
Shave Closeness
At any rate, I've been living with the Braun for 3 weeks now, and my face should have done any adjusting it needed to do. After the first few days with the Braun, I could clearly tell that the foil shaver consistently cut closer than the rotary shaver. It was also more thorough and seemed to miss fewer hairs. Being an electric, it didn't require any shaving cream or major cleanup, either. The shaver is nice and heafty, with a solid metal case. It would make a heck of a projectile. It also makes it easy to direct around the face.
Appearance
The shaver and base look pretty cool together, too. It's almost like a little sculpture sitting there on your countertop. The LEDs and the LCD make you think it's about to connect to the Internet, take pictures of you naked, and send them to all your friends. For all I know, it did. I told you, I didn't read the manual.
Shaving Effort
Sure, it cuts closer, but it's also much more sensitive to the angle at which you hold the head, how fast you move it, and the direction you move it. In order to get the best shave, you have to move the head "against the grain" and move it slowly. It also tends to take more passes over the same area to get the best results. It's like mowing a lawn with a dull lawnmower blade. A rotary shaver, being circular, doesn't care which direction you move it or how fast you go. Shaving with the Braun is much more like shaving with a blade.
Shaving Comfort
So, it now takes me twice as long, or more, to shave when compared to the Norelco, and I can shave just as fast with a regular razor and get a much closer shave. Also, the closeness of the shave with the Braun comes at the cost of an apparently higher rate of nicks. I've had the thing for 3 weeks and I've had 3 nicks already (all around the jawline/chin, and no, I didn't cry). This is more than I had in 8 years of using a Norelco. In fact, that's more than I get with a razor. That's OK, though. Scars are cool, right?
The Braun is also incredibly loud. This is due mostly to the fact that the shaving head behind the foil vibrates at high RPM while shaving. Though not uncomfortably loud or jarring, it is an annoyance and is likely to wake up someone in the next room or county. Yes, the Norelco also makes some noise, but it is MUCH quieter and you don't have to run it as long to get a decent shave, which makes it better for husbands who don't want to wake up grumpy (just let her sleep) before slipping off.
Cleaning
When it comes to cleaning, the Braun is a mixed bag. The base unit that it comes with is nice. Just drop the shaver in, hit the button, and in about 30-40 minutes (depending on level of cleaning required), you get a fresh, clean shaver. It's also kind of entertaining the first few times in a "let's get some beer and watch the bug zapper" sort of way.
That's great when you're home, but what if you're traveling? The base doesn't travel. It gets homesick. It has a small reservoir of cleaning fluid inside it that can, and will, spill out even if you're just moving it across the countertop. Let's just say this wouldn't make it through airport security.
Travel
Thus when you're on the road, you'll have to clean it by hand. The procedure is long, complicated, and reminds me of field stripping and cleaning an M1911 Colt (minus the cool factor). In short, it's easier to rebuild a Chevy small block than put this thing back together after manual cleaning. If you're going to be traveling for more than a few days, pack your regular razor and shaving cream. Strike one against traveling.
For comparison, cleaning the Norelco involves pressing a button to flip open the top, dumping out the hair, and, if you're really gung-ho, rinsing in water. Ten seconds, max.
The Braun comes with a nice plastic carrying case, but it doesn't have anywhere for the wall plug to go. This is probably fine for shorter trips, but it would have been nice to have space for the charger. It does have a little custom-fit space for the included cleaning brush, though, so at least you can clean it by hand, provided you don't have to do anything else on your trip such as work (see above).
Expense
Did I mention that the Braun base requires cleaning solution? Yeah. In addition to buying one of the most expensive shavers on the market, you've got to buy cleaning solution cartridges. Each cartridge costs about $4-6 and supposedly lasts 1-2 months. Oh, and you have to buy new razor heads every year, too. The manufacturer says that manual cleaning is essentially only for emergencies and should be followed by cleaning in the base the normal way ASAP. I think the shaver gets addicted to the cleaning fluid and goes into withdrawal after a few days.
Final Impression
After 3 weeks of use, here's my impression of the Braun. It doesn't cut as close as a razor but closer than a rotary; it's harder to use than a Norelco; it's expensive; it's noisy; it cuts your hair, and your face; it's more expensive to maintain; and it's harder to travel with than a car sick dog. But hey, it's cool looking.
In summary, if you want a close shave, get a real razor. If you want fast and easy, get a rotary. If you want your neighbors to think aliens landed their craft on your bathroom counter (complete with flashing lights and sound effects), get the Braun.
Description of Braun 8595 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System with LCD Display
Ultimate shaving performance. Unique to you. The new Activator shaving system easily removes any hair type on your face, even in problem zones. The revolutionary foil has a new geometry with different shaped holes. This combined with the shaver head, which moves in 4 directions, ensures that any individual hair growth pattern is captured effortlessly in few strokes. The unique Clean&Charge system automatically selects the best out of three cleaning programs based upon how much cleaning your shaver needs. It automatically recharges the battery at the same time, leaving your shaver always fully powered and thoroughly cleaned.Get ready for a shaving breakthrough. With the Activator self-cleaning shaving system, Braun brings cutting edge technology to the modern face. At the heart of the system is a revolutionary new "Smart Foil." This unique material has differently shaped holes that capture hair growing in any direction for a closer shave in fewer strokes-- even in problem areas like the neck. The other key feature of the system is called "Clean and Renew," an automated cleaning technology that keeps the Activator feeling like a new shaver every time you use it.
All in the Head
The Activator's unique head boasts a number of clever innovations, not the least of which is the smart foil. The foil is made up of differently shaped holes which, in combination with other Activator technologies, effortlessly shaves any hair type in fewer strokes. The holes within the foil vary in direction, size and shape-- much like the hair on the face. This variation allows more hairs to be captured on each stroke. The smart foil provides no less than 20 different hair-capturing opportunities compared to ordinary shaver foils that only provide one.
What's more, the shaver head also oscillates from side to side. These micro-oscillations enable the shaver foils to capture even more hair, and provide smoother gliding for maximum skin comfort, even in sensitive areas like the neck. Meanwhile, the Activator's shaving head adjusts automatically to facial contours, ensuring the shaver foils are always in optimal contact with the skin. This contour-hugging action can be switched off for facial areas where manual control is preferred. A three-stage cutting system is integrated into the head that works to deliver smoother, faster shaving results. First, the top foil shaves short hairs and stubble. Next, the Activator's high-performance middle trimmer effortlessly cuts longer hairs, before the second foil completes the shave for an exceptional finish.
Clean Living
The Activator's clean and renew system keeps it feeling like a new shaver. There are three different cleaning programs available, one of which is automatically selected based on how often the shaver is used and how much cleaning it needs. During the automatic cleaning program, a fresh alcohol-based cleaning fluid is pumped through the shaver head, so it quickly and hygienically cleans away shaved stubble. During the intensive cleaning cycle the cleaning solution is heated, so even the most stubborn debris and grease is removed from the shaver head. The alcohol-based cleaning solution is specially formulated for optimal hygiene. As an added bonus, the cleaning formula also lubricates the cutting elements for optimal cutting efficiency.
Once cleaning is finished, the shaver is silently dried using an inductive heating system. This thoroughly dries the shaver head to extend durability and maximize the shaver's performance. After drying, the shaver is automatically charged leaving it fully powered and ready to deliver peak performance at all times. Washed away stubble is retained in the cleaning cartridge, which can easily be disposed off with regular household garbage. There are no filters to replace and no cleaning of the unit required. Everything is neatly contained within the cartridge.
Brain Power
The Activator uses a special control chip to optimize battery life. This "Smart Logic" system is activated every time the shaver is charged, and maintains the battery at its peak. The new chip monitors the battery performance and services the battery when needed by discharging and recharging it automatically. This means the Activator is always ready for ultimate shaver performance whenever you need it. The Activator 8595 model also features an LCD panel that displays battery performance and clear, useful information on your shaving habits.
Fully charged, the shaver offers up to 50 minutes (2-3 weeks) of cordless shaving. The batteries fully recharge in one hour, and there's a quick charge mode that gives you enough juice for one shave after a three minute charge. The Activator uses Ni-MH batteries and features automatic worldwide voltage adjustment. If you desire, cord power can also be used with the Activator.
What's in the Box
Activator 8595, cleaning and charging stand, one replacement cleaning fluid cartridge, protective shaver case, power cord, user's manual.
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