Customer Reviews

Braun Series 5 (8995) Men's Shaver

5 star:		(224)
4 star:		(72)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

I had been using the top of the line Braun model of about 5 years ago and decided to upgrade to this model. I can tell no difference in the closeness of the shave between the two despite the hype and whoopla about the 360 degree technology cutting head. One drawback of the 360 technology is that the cutters cannot be cleaned with the brush and therefore you have to use the supplied cleaning device with the circulating liquid more frequently. This will increase the operating cost of the shaver. Also, the cutting head refills are about twice the price of the previous model ones.

This is not to say that the shaver is not to be purchased, just wait until your older model quits.

I get the impression that companines have people search reviews on websites and vote against the ones that say their product is so so or even bad. And even worse, write favorable reviews. You can spot these by their style being like an advertising brochure.

Discussions of shaving preferences sometimes seem like religious warfare, mostly because every face is at least somewhat different from any other face. That means there's really no such thing as a perfect razor.

However, for me, this Braun 8995 is very close to perfect. For many years, I've shaved with a blade-- most recently the Gillette Fusion system-- and I've used a cheap Remington when I travel. Two things happened: The price of the Gillette blades has increased sharply with each new model, and my Remington died. I decided to go with this top-of-the-line Braun.

After using it for a couple of months, I'm very pleased. It is clearly a well-engineered machine that does exactly what it's supposed to do. I've found that my shaves with it are just as close as the shaves I got with the Gillette Fusion. I suspect that as the years go on, the total cost of shaving with the Braun will actually be less than the Fusion would total.

A couple of hints:

First, don't wash your face before you shave with any electric shaver. Washing causes the beard hairs to swell up, and they don't fit well into the tiny slots in the electric razor's head. The razor won't be able to shave you very close when that happens.

Second, the instructions with the Braun say to run the automatic cleaning cycle every day. I can't detect any performance difference between doing that and cleaning it a couple of times per week. In addition, the cleaning cartridge will obviously last a lot longer with less frequent cleanings.

I'm very happy with this razor. It isn't cheap, but it works very well. I'm glad I bought it, and I'd do it again.

I ordered this shaver from amazon because I had read great reviews for it. Upon receiving it however it would not charge or power up at all when the power supply was attached. Seeing as it is not working I would like to return it to amazon but because the cleaning solution is flammable they will not accept returns. I currently have brought this item to a local repair facility to which Braun has referred me. I will update this review with any new information as it becomes available.

Update 9/19/07:
I took this item into the local repair facility referred to me a couple weeks ago. This is an independent store that Braun uses to handle their repairs. They examined my kit and found that it is indeed a power supply issue. They told me they had ordered the part and to call back in a couple days. A couple days later I called and they said call back in a week, they still hadn't received them. I called back this week and they still haven't received the power supply replacements and they don't know when they will. According to the employee to whom I spoke, the Braun company doesn't even have these to send at the moment so I am stuck shaving with my old razor for a while. The shortage (and perhaps the problem) may be due to the fact that the power supplies are supposed to automatically adjust between American and European voltage levels when necessary. The repair facility has said they will call me when they finally get the power supply in and at that time I will again update this review.

Update 10/02/07:
I was called late last week and told they had the power supplies in stock. Picked one up today. I have not used it and according to the sticker that was on the razor when it arrives it takes approximately two weeks for one's beard to adjust to an electric razor. Therefore, I will update this review again in a couple weeks and perhaps change my rating, though first getting to use the razor more than a full month after I got it will prevent it from getting 5 stars for sure.

Update 11/13/07:
After using this razor for over a month now I have to say I am quite happy with it. I bought this product because I hate to shave. I have a thick, fast-growing beard and shaving takes a long time, even if I do it every day. And, I have to change blades every week or so, which gets expensive. So, I wanted something fast and easy that cut back on the blade purchases and not give the nicks and cuts of everyday shaving. So, the obvious answer would be to turn to an electric razor, right? Right, except that very electric razor I used in the past did a miserable job, especially around the neck.

I happened to read some great reviews for this product and decided to give it a try. (Leaving aside the ridiculous amount of time I spent trying to get it repaired) I could not be happier with the results. The shave is quick and easy and I have had no problems with reactions after shaving. The shave on my cheeks is darn close to razor smooth but the 5 'o clock shadow does pop up a bit early. The goatee area is a little less smooth but still good and the razor holds a good charge and comes with a carrying case so it could be toted around for a pre-meeting cleanup or what have you. As for the neck, I have been pleasantly surprised. For everyday use I have had no problems with shaving the neck, but when I take a couple days off, like on a weekend, there are the couple stray hairs that it can't seem to cut and I ultimately have to touch razor to skin, albeit briefly.

The cleaning base is passably quick but I suggest you do the cleaning after your shaves so you don't have to wait around. You may not have to clean it after every shave but I recommend doing it somewhat often as it noticeably affects the quality of the shave (at least with my thick hair).

Final conclusion:
For the product itself I give it *****/***** (5 out of 5). It is the most I could have asked from an electric razor. The situation with the power supply is probably just an unfortunate anomaly and chances are your razor won't have this issue. Be warned however that if it does the product cannot be returned to amazon due to the flammable cleaning solution and you will most likely have to deal with an independent repair facility, assuming there is even one near by. With this in mind, I have decided to keep the official rating at 1 star, so that people wondering about a possible down side to the purchase can check the one star reviews and read this. (I do this expressly with the knowledge that my one vote will not effect the good overall rating of this item.)

I've been using a $120. dollar Phillips/Norelco shaver for about a year and I changed the rotary blades once. My skin was becoming irritated to the point of, hell with shaving I think I will grow a beard. Well to make a long story short I was told by my wife and son that I looked about 10 years older. That was all it took to push me to look for a better shaver. The Braun 360 Complete is like night and day comparing it with rotary shavers. It shaves alot closer in half the time! Plus it cleans itself and tells you (by the LCD)at what time you should put new foils and cutters, ( about 18 months). Absolutely tears up rotary shavers.

Just to agree with one of the other reviewers, shaving with a blade is almost always better when you really, really, really need a close shave for a really big event (like your wedding or something like that). But for everyday use, my skin is sensitive and can't take shaving with a blade that often.

I have owned several Brauns in the past and they have been very good, though this is the first one I have owned that cleans itself. As an electric shaver goes, this thing is pretty close to perfection. It is true though, that you need to shave with this for a couple of weeks to see the real benefit of this shaver. It gives me the closest shave with ann electric I've ever had.

I resisted getting a self-cleaning shaver because I didn't think it was necessary, but it is so very convenient. The shaver always comes out sparkling clean and the cleaning solution leaves a pleasant (but faint) citrus-type scent on the blades. (I don't believe it stays long and doesn't compete with any fragrance I wear.) I have had this unit for more than a month now and have yet to change the cleaning cartridge and I clean it religously after each shave.

The hard plastic case is a nice touch for travel purposes. The only small complaint I have is that the footprint of the cleaner is kind of large and its not really the kind of thing that you can use and put away, so you really need to have the counter space for it to stay out.

As far as electric shavers go, I couldn't be happier and I don't imagine it could get much better than this.

I have been buying electric razors for years, and have had everything from the worst, a scary Remington, to nice Norelco's and most recently the Braun 8595. I have had my new 8995 now for about 5 shaves, and I am absolutely sold on this product.

Previous Braun's including the 8595 always gave a nice shave, but it was never consistent. Namely the neck hairs would always be a problem spot for the other razors. This razor trims the neck hairs EFFORTLESSLY. No pushing harder, no making multiple passes until my skin is red, just a clean, quick, and VERY CLOSE shave.

This razor just feels right, from the better grips on the body of the razor, to the powerful motor, it is clearly not a second plaze razor. The clean and renew system works as before, no changes changes there. I like it just the same, and it sure beats cleaning your razor manually.

In the box comes the razor, a cheesy plastic travel case (if you had the 8595 it's the same one...) A brush to clean the razor, also a plastic cover for the blades to put on it when travelling. Also it comes with a power cord that is used for the razor when travelling or directly plugging into the clean and renew base stand which is also included. They give you 1 clean and renew cartridge. The directions were easy, and the operation of the razor is straightforward.

I guess you could say I am now a fan of Braun for life!!

This razor really is this good.

Now before you think I am an employee of Braun, I'll tell you the one thing that concerns me. Like the previous 8595 model, this unit has the same plastic back on the back of the unit. (It looks like aluminum but it is just coated plastic of course like everything else these days.) Anyways, the problem is that the plastic near the top of the razor body, beneath the swivel head begins to deteriorate with time due to the alcohol solution in the clean and renew base.

In fact my 8595 is getting warranty repair for this very same defect and I am planning on the 8995 needing the same repair so I am making sure to save my receipt. That alone is just cosmetic and perhaps Braun loses some points for durability here, but it does not and cannot effect the operation of the shave. Did I mention the shave is the best ever?

I hope you enjoy the razor if you buy this model. I truly believe you would be hard pressed to be dissapointed.

For many years now I've used Norelco razors and loved them. I decided to try a foil razor just to see how it compares to my Norelco 9170 XL Smart Touch. Let me tell you, there is no comparison. The Braun 8995 360 Complete is by far the best of the two. It shaves much faster than the Norelco and I think the shave is closer. It also seems to get the hair on my neck with much greater ease. The automatic cleaning system is very quiet and leaves the razor looking like it has never been used. It also lubricates the razor and leaves it smelling like citrus. Overall I'm very impressed with this razor and I only wish that I had made the switch sooner.

This is the fourth Braun shaver I have owned, and this is clearly the best. Yes, it is a bit expensive, but you use it everyday and my last shaver from Braun lasted over six years and survived year long deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq in 130 degree temperatures. This shaver is the quietest I've used and cuts my beard in less than three minutes. The cleaning system is much better than the last system and the shaver always stays fresh and clean. I am not sure the message display is necessary, but it does tell you how long it took to shave each time and tells you how much battery charge is left. The 8975 model is probably just as good as the top of the line 8995 model, but I liked the idea of the larger message center and knowing how much of a charge is left. The Gillette blade is very nice and cuts through my thick beard like butter. I am very satisfied with this shaver and will purchase other Braun shavers in the future.

I have been using electric shavers for some time now (over 20 years). My most recent was a top of the line Norelco (the James Bond one). That was an excellent razor, but having recently replaced the heads I was still noticing a not great shave, and I never could get that area under the nose with it. I am not sure if my razor was losing some "ooomph" or what. In any case, I went to the local shaver shop and tried this new Braun. I had owned Braun shavers before and was very impressed with this one. It shaves easily and quickly (I am done in under 3 minutes). It is quiet, and the cleaning system is just fantastic. My shaves are getting closer and closer as my face gets reacquainted with a foil (versus Norelco rotary) system - don't be afraid, it was an easy transition. I am getting the easiest and closest shave ever. Bravo Braun!

This is my third Braun shaver. It is well built and has an excellent cleaning system; however the shave is not quite as close as the shaves I got from my Braun 7526. An expensive shaver, but one built to last many years. I am very pleased with my 8995.