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• Position: Buyers Guide

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Close Shaves

[check] The ongoing raging debate between blade lovers and those who swear by electric razors has been ratcheted up by the latest developments among manufacturers of both systems.

The familiar triple revolving heads of the Norelco electric razors now have a new companion. The new Advantage ($119) from Norelco Consumer Products, Stamford, Conn., comes with a built-in shaving lotion dispenser at the top. Insert a tube of Nivea for Men behind the snap-off cover and press the button down while shaving, producing a cream that conditions the beard for a close, comfortable shave and virtually eliminates razor burn. Added to Norelco's 45 self-sharpening blades and the trumpeted lift-and-cut system is a contour shaving action that adjusts the floating heads to the shape of the face so that patches of beard are not missed.

The razor can be operated wet or dry, allowing shaving in the shower, and rinses clean under tap water. The click-up trimmer is adjustable for sideburns, mustaches, or beards, and a warning light lets users know when it's time to pop the razor into the recharger.

From Braun Inc., Woburn, Mass., there is the Braun Flex Integral Ultra Speed Rechargeable Shaver ($149.99). The key words here are "ultra speed," since the 15% boost in blade cutting actions--up to 640,000 per second, according to the manufacturer--gets the job done more quickly and with less irritation. The microscreen foil covers over the heads set the beard up for these flashing blades, and the heads pivot up to 34 [degrees] to follow the contours of your face. Added features are designed for comfort and utility, including a long-hair trimmer for sideburns and mustaches; a pattern of soft rubber knobs and stripes on the body of the razor for a better grip; an LCD display to let you know how much charge remains so that you don't get caught halfway through a shave; and, unexpected and welcome, a travel mirror inside the storage case.

These two state-of-the-art electric razors can be found wherever small electronic devices are sold. As with all electric razors, don't immediately expect the same satisfaction you are used to if you have been shaving with a blade razor. The manufacturers suggest a 30-day trial to allow your face to get acclimated to the change in systems. At that point, the electric razor--and its myriad advantages--should be able to compete admirably.

Speaking about blades, shavers are being confronted with a classic case of life imitating art. A number of years ago, one of the satiric bogus commercials on "Saturday Night Live" featured a three-bladed razor, being hawked as...