Customer Reviews

NOR-8020X

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased the Philips Norelco 8020X Moisturizing Shaving System as a replacement for my Norelco 5801XL Reflex Action Shaver. My decision for a new shaver was based on the need for replacement blades coupled with the NiCads no longer holding a good charge in the Reflex. Initially I looked at display shavers at Target and was considering a shaver in the Philips Norelco Arcitec line. Since the Arcitec's were the most expensive and wet, lotion dispensing shavers seemed gimmicky, I figured the Arcitec was the way to go. I never even considered a foil shaver as I have always believed rotaries are better. I don't know why but it's just like some people think Toyota is better than Ford.

I began to read some reviews on the various shavers. It seemed to me the common thread was Norelco's Moisturizing Shavers faired better than the Arcitecs. I thought I would give the 8020X a try. I believe shave quality is the same for the 8020X, 8040X and 8060X . Price difference is based on secondary features like auto lotion refill, shorter charge times and longer shave times. I made the decision to buy the cheapest in the line, based on parallel shaving performance between the three.

Instructions were simple and set up was easy. Out of the box I charged the shaver for the required 8 hours. I then filled it with the trial size Nivea for Men Shaving Conditioner supplied. This was simple and there was no mess. The back of the shaver is transparent and you can see when you have filled it to the max line. Wait a couple of seconds between pumps, as the lotions seems to expand inside the shaver's cartridge once dispensed (overfilling just wastes the lotion as it dispenses from two blade centers).

In addition to face shaving I also shave my head. I have very little hair on the crown and normal hair growth on the sides and back of my head. I was never able to get a good head shave with my previous Norelco and I used Schick Xtreme 3 blades for my head.

My first use of my 8020X was in the shower shaving my face and my head. I dispensed the entire cartridge of conditioner during this process. The shave was comfortable as I am already used to rotary shave. The closeness was about the same as the Reflex on the face and it did a fairly decent job on the head (it looked closer than it felt).

I contacted Norelco via live chat. I inquired about using a shave gel, which I can apply directly to my skin due to the amount of conditioner I used, dispensed through the shaver. My thought is this would be more economical. I was informed I can use Nivea for Men Shaving Gel, but other products might harm the shaver.

Upon my second use I figured out a pretty good system. I applied the shave gel to my head and shaved my head. I then moved on to my face using the conditioner dispensed through the shaver. Both products complement each other as they are scented the same. This worked well. Due to the gel and conditioner I was able to make more passes over the stubble for a closer shave without fear of burn or irritation. The result was the closest, most comfortable shave I have ever received with an electric shaver (this is my third electric).

Don't judge your shave right out of the shower. Wait until you have dried off and your pores close. Then feel your beard. Your shave will feel much closer than when you initially finish your shave.

If you're not interested in a wet shave or shaving in the shower I wouldn't recommend this shaver, even though I haven't tried it dry yet. It doesn't catch cut hair but this is a non-issue in the shower.

This shaver, partnered with Nivea for Men, is a shaving system I recommend if you want a comfortable and close shave.

It was time to replace the blades on my old Norelco razor @ a cost of about $30.00. Taking this into consideration, I decided to purchase the Norelco Coolskin 8020X which was on sale for $65.00. So in reality I only spent 35 additional dollars and got a brand new razor.
This razor is a lot smaller and lighter than my old razor. It performs flawlessly giving you a very close wet shave without skin irritation; particularly around the neck area. The shaving head contours itself around the hard to reach areas such as the neck an chin. The lotion dispensing system is far superior to the ones on older Coolskin models delivering a smooth flow when needed.
Overall I would rate this razor as an excellent performer. There are only two items that keep me from giving it 5 stars. They are the lack of sideburn trimmer and the charge time of 8 hours. If the charge time is an issue, Norelco makes more expensive Coolskin razors with shorter charge times but I opted for the more economical version. In addition Norelco offers a 60 day money back guarantee where the razor can be sent back for a refund if you are not completely satisfied.

I bought this razor to replace my Norelco 7735X, also a "CoolSkin" model that allows shaving in the shower.

The shave is similar to that of the 7735X, although I believe the 8020X is better at shaving the tough-to-reach areas due to the freer-floating heads. Don't fool yourself -- it's not as smooth a result as you would get with a blade, but it's close (no pun intended).

This shaver is very quiet, smooth, and comfortable to use. I have used it both in the shower and out, and it seems to work equally well in either situation.

The lotion is dispensed with the press of a button, which I find to be in an awkward location (up high, near the heads). You can also shave with shaving cream, which will save you money (the lotion is fairly expensive).

In contrast to the 7735X, the 8020X does not have a wrist strap or a case -- so not only is it more likely that you will drop this in the shower, but it is also more likely that it can get damaged while traveling. Since the heads are somewhat exposed compared to the previous designs, I believe they are more fragile and are more likely to be damaged. Time will tell.

Battery charge time is 8 hours, but the charge lasts a long time. I am still on the original charge after more than three weeks.

Norelco Cool Skin Razor - 8020X
I received this strange-looking, praying mantis like device on Monday after ordering it the previous Saturday (thanks to Amazon Prime shipping!). The biggest problem I encountered was getting it out of the plastic security-wrap bubble. I have used Norelco shavers for years and only recently returned a standard model just purchased to Norelco for refund under their money-back guarantee. It just didn't perform as well as several predecessors I had owned and worn out.
Finally freed from it's bubble cocoon, I could barely wait to try it (I hadn't shaved in two weeks!) and after charging 4 hrs (Not the recommended 8) I loaded it with conditioner and had at the overgrown beard. It performed magnificently,first time,on two+ weeks growth! I experienced the smoothest, most comfortable shave I have ever experienced, and did not have to wait the three weeks the directions tell you to expect before achieving this result. Kudos to Norelco for a real "Keeper" and to Amazon for their Prime shipping program!

I purchased the Philips Norelco 8020X Moisturizing Shaving System as a replacement for my Norelco 5801XL Reflex Action Shaver. My decision for a new shaver was based on the need for replacement blades coupled with the NiCads no longer holding a good charge in the Reflex. Initially I looked at display shavers at Target and was considering a shaver in the Philips Norelco Arcitec line. Since the Arcitec's were the most expensive and wet, lotion dispensing shavers seemed gimmicky, I figured the Arcitec was the way to go. I never even considered a foil shaver as I have always believed rotaries are better. I don't know why but it's just like some people think Toyota is better than Ford.

I began to read some reviews on the various shavers. It seemed to me the common thread was Norelco's Moisturizing Shavers faired better than the Arcitecs. I thought I would give the 8020X a try. I believe shave quality is the same for the 8020X, 8040X and 8060X . Price difference is based on secondary features like auto lotion refill, shorter charge times and longer shave times. I made the decision to buy the cheapest in the line, based on parallel shaving performance between the three.

Instructions were simple and set up was easy. Out of the box I charged the shaver for the required 8 hours. I then filled it with the trial size Nivea for Men Shaving Conditioner supplied. This was simple and there was no mess. The back of the shaver is transparent and you can see when you have filled it to the max line. Wait a couple of seconds between pumps, as the lotions seems to expand inside the shaver's cartridge once dispensed (overfilling just wastes the lotion as it dispenses from two blade centers).

In addition to face shaving I also shave my head. I have very little hair on the crown and normal hair growth on the sides and back of my head. I was never able to get a good head shave with my previous Norelco and I used Schick Xtreme 3 blades for my head.

My first use of my 8020X was in the shower shaving my face and my head. I dispensed the entire cartridge of conditioner during this process. The shave was comfortable as I am already used to rotary shave. The closeness was about the same as the Reflex on the face and it did a fairly decent job on the head (it looked closer than it felt).

I contacted Norelco via live chat. I inquired about using a shave gel, which I can apply directly to my skin due to the amount of conditioner I used, dispensed through the shaver. My thought is this would be more economical. I was informed I can use Nivea for Men Shaving Gel, but other products might harm the shaver.

Upon my second use I figured out a pretty good system. I applied the shave gel to my head and shaved my head. I then moved on to my face using the conditioner dispensed through the shaver. Both products complement each other as they are scented the same. This worked well. Due to the gel and conditioner I was able to make more passes over the stubble for a closer shave without fear of burn or irritation. The result was the closest, most comfortable shave I have ever received with an electric shaver (this is my third electric).

Don't judge your shave right out of the shower. Wait until you have dried off and your pores close. Then feel your beard. Your shave will feel much closer than when you initially finish your shave.

If you're not interested in a wet shave or shaving in the shower I wouldn't recommend this shaver, even though I haven't tried it dry yet. It doesn't catch cut hair but this is a non-issue in the shower.

This shaver, partnered with Nivea for Men, is a shaving system I recommend if you want a comfortable and close shave.

Like many other people, I too bought this razor to replace my old Norelco wet/dry razor. I tend to suffer from razor burn and ingrown hairs from time-to-time, but after a few years of trying many different shaving methods, I've found a wet system works best for me. Now, I almost never have razor burn or ingrown hairs. This is how I use this razor.

1. The first thing I do in the shower is to wet my face with warm water and wash it with soap.
2. After washing my entire body, I shave last, so that the heat and steam opens up all the pores.
3. Apply Neutrogena Men Skin Clearing Shave Cream - 5.1 fl oz by hand.
4. Douse shaver with warm water and shave normally; rinse shaver when done.
5. Exit the shower and apply Neutrogena Triple Protect Face Lotion for Men, SPF 20, 1.7 Ounce (Pack of 2) or Neutrogena Men Razor Defense, Face Lotion 2.5 fl oz (73 ml). I use the SPF lotion if I'm applying it in the morning, or I'll use the non-SPF lotion if applying it at night. It's important that you do this as soon as you dry off your face because you want to apply it while your pores are still open.

For those that don't know, wet shaving in the shower significantly reduces the trauma to your face when compared to dry shaving; you also reduce blade wear by about 60% when compared to dry shaving. This is due to the hair being much softer because of the warm water and steam. Therefore, when Norelco tells you to replace the blades every year, you can easily get over 2 years of use out of them without a problem, so save your money.

The only thing for me that's missing on this razor is a removable lanyard of some kind so I hang it in the shower. As it is, you'll have to lay it down and depending on where you're showering, that could be difficult, and potentially damaging to your razor. I can't stress enough how incredibly annoying this is, especially when you consider that Norelco has put lanyards on their previous models of wet shavers.

For those of you that plan on dry shaving, take notice that the cut hairs will fall onto your shirt, so just be aware of that. Their previous models would catch the hairs, but in an effort to make the shaver smaller and more nimble, they had to cut some things out.

The ergonomics of the shaver work well, it feels excellent in the hand, but the built-in lotion feature is so costly that it's simply not practical. It takes a good bit of time and button presses to get enough lotion on your face for that feature to even be effective. You also have to have the razor on in order to dispense the lotion. Applying shaving lotion/gel/cream by hand is absolutely the way to go, both for speed and economy.

**If you think you'd like to get this razor and put your own shaving lotion in it, think again. They've made the interface proprietary so you must buy Norelco's shaving lotion. Philips Norelco HS803/14 Nivea for Men Shaving Conditioner and Replacement Cartridge (Pack of 3).**

Like I've mentioned, there is room for improvement on this razor, but with so few wet electric shavers out there, I believe this one to be the best of the bunch. If you're not planning on using the wet shave feature, you can find models out there that easily trump this one.

I switched to a braun syncro shaver from Norelco very long time ago and was just tempted to try this cool looking shaver, but I must tell you that you might get really disappointed with the quality and performance of this model.
The shaver supposed to work in shower but without cream or some sort of lubricant will be just a disaster, you far better off shaving dry.
It is missing a minor detail also and that is trimer, how are you gonna trim those sideburns? Oh, another missing part is the cut-beard compartment. All the cut beard falls down as you shave.
I paid $70 for one and I believe you should buy a higher model or just different brand.
Vahid.

Well, after throwing away $250 on the Braun Pulsonic, I figured I'd go back to the very first razor I ever had, a Norelco. It seems the new model I own is no longer available since mine came with a charging station/Nivea refill deck and I don't see any on the site. Regardless, it looks like the one I'm writing about. First I'd like to say the concept of a handle that houses a battery and motor with three floating heads has not changed in the past 30 years. The improvements, if any, would have to do with the blades and/or foil. So the video ad I just watched selling their newest most "innovative" version is really not innovative at all. That said, as simple a mechanism as it is, I was dissappointed ONLY because the razor did not work very well dry. It gave a closer shave than the Braun Series 7 (although broken glass would probably give a closer shave), but it was kind of rough dry. I will say that the Nivea cream is absolutely amazing, no irritation ever! Sad part is this tiny bottle is about $9 a pop. I also found it extremely inconvenient that if you want to use the trimmer, you have to pop off the razor head and pop on the trimmer... not good for someone in a rush! All in all, I've used worse, and though it looks like a toy, it's smooth and quiet where the Braun sounds like an airplane landing in your bathroom. If you're gonna spend a lot of money on a razor, as it stands, the Philips Norelco give a better shave than the Braun.

This razor works very well for shaving a disabled person who can no longer shave himself with a regular razor. It takes a little longer but leaves the skin quite smooth and, best of all, no nicks and no bleeding.

After I started using a wet shaver in the shower some years ago (Norelco) I wouldn't use anything else. No more irritation and closer shaves. The only thing about this model is there seems to be little protection for the shaving heads and I use shaving gel rather than using the Nivea system (too expensive). Bought online at Amazon for a good price and was at my door quickly.