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Womens Shavers: Ratings of Sources
Total of 13 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
Jan. 2007
Women's hair-removal products
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Our Assessment

This report on women's shavers offers solid advice on hair removal options and the best products for getting the job done. Four electric shavers and four epilators are included in the test. Consumer Reports uses a thorough testing methodology and breaks down its ratings into five performance categories including shaving ability, cleaning ease and noise. Interestingly, none of the eleven female testers said they would switch from a manual blade razor to an electric device.

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Test: Home Hair Removal
by Editors of Choice.com.au
Our Assessment

This report offers a wealth of information, with in-depth testing of a variety of hair-removal products for women. There's good info here on epilators, but we also found excellent advice on waxes and depilatories, too. The report concludes that epilators are the way to go for legs, provided the user can withstand some pain. Three epilators - all available in the U.S. - tie for the top rating. A whopping 141 women participated in Choice's tests, and relayed their experiences in terms of effectiveness and ease of use. Shavers, however, are not included in the test.

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3. Which.co.uk
Dec. 2006
Razors
by Editors of Which.co.uk
Our Assessment

This British website has a reputation for objectivity that rivals Consumer Reports, and tests are just as in-depth. For this test, 24 razors are tested; the testing team included 24 women and 14 men and a machine that simulates shaving by running razors over foam, which is then examined for damage and closeness of the cut. Interestingly, only one of the top picks is designed specifically for women. Female testers sometimes said women's razors were easier to hold, but most chose a men's razor as their favorite overall. The Gillette Mach3 is the overall winner; the top women's razor is the similar Gillette Venus Divine. Disposable razors rate lower overall than non-disposables. In addition to helpful ratings, this report gives a Shaving 101 tutorial with tips for getting the most from a shave. Editors rate electric shavers in a separate article, but no women were involved in that test.

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Great Legs -- A How To
by Amy Keller
Our Assessment We don't know how many women tested razors for Good Housekeeping, but editors say each tester used four razors on different sections of the same leg. The Venus Divine is the favorite, but editors don't tell us what other models were included in the test. Home waxing kits and depilatories are also tested.
5. ConsumerReports.org
July 2006
The Power of Fusion?
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Our Assessment This is a brief but helpful report that explores the marketing claims of battery-powered vibrating razor heads. Twenty-six male testers compare the performance five-bladed Fusion razors with three-bladed razors. This review isn't a comprehensive evaluation, but it's revealing to see this comparison.
6. ConsumerReports.org
Jan. 2005
A Razor With Good Vibes?
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Our Assessment In a review very similar to the later comparison above, testers set out to discover if Gillette's M3 Power razor with a battery-powered vibrating head is better than the simple Gillette's Mach3 Turbo. Both shavers have three blades.
7. The Austin American-Statesman
Apr. 2007
Sorting Through Razor Innovations is Really Splitting Hairs
by Helen Anders
Our Assessment

This is a fun article with unscientific yet insightful information based on home testing of several top-selling razors. Helen Anders concludes that more blades don't necessarily make for a better razor, and the same goes for the fancy lotion-dispensing capability. She and her husband try several brands. She proclaims the three-blade Gillette Venus as a favorite, while her husband fawned over the five-bladed Gillette Fusion. Anders interviews shaving experts, including barbers, and concludes with a short history of shaving.

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8. Redbook
Mar. 2007
Smooth Skin All Over
by Editors of Redbook
Our Assessment Magazine "staffers" - no indication of how many is given - are handed three razors to take home for testing on four body areas: legs, underarm, bikini line and a "random" area of their choosing. With no disclosure of methodology, it leaves one wondering whether the endorsements don't boil down to a few personal opinions. None of the razors are particularly recommended over others.
9. Orlando Sentinel
Sept. 2007
All-in-One Razor is Handy, But Safety Is a Concern
by Jan Uebelherr
Our Assessment Jan Uebelherr tests Diva's claim that it's the first triple-bade razor that dispenses shaving cream directly from the razor. She finds it mediocre. The lather is rich and the razor works, but the cream is poorly positioned, resulting in the wrist being too close for comfort to the razor blade.
10. Amazon.com
As of Jan. 2008
Shaving and Hair Removal
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment Amazon.com is an excellent source for those who have boiled down their search to one or two models. Most women's electric shavers and epilators get at least a few comments from users. Customer favorites include the Remington WDF-6000 Smooth & Silky Ultra Plus Shaver, Panasonic Close Curves and the Braun 5270 Silk-epil X'elle.
11. Drugstore.com
As of Jan. 2008
Hair Removal
by Contributors to Drugstore.com
Our Assessment

Drugstore.com offers some helpful reviews, but the number of reviews varies greatly among models. Among the most useful are negative write-ups of several models, such as the Wahl Delicate Definitions Trimmer/Shaver, panned for failing to remove hair and falling apart, and the Revlon Smooth & Glamorous Ladies Rechargeable Shaver RV557C, which has a head that falls off, according to users. Reviews are harder to find here than they are at Amazon.com.

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12. Viewpoints.com
As of Jan. 2008
Shaving
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Our Assessment This site has some helpful reviews for razors but not for electric shavers. We found some insightful comments here about the popular Venus razor by Gillette and its Fusion model. Many users go into great detail and attach personal photos to their reviews. But overall, there just aren't as many reviews here as at Drugstore.com and Amazon.com.
13. The New York Times
Sept. 2007
Depilatory Market Moves Far Beyond the Short-Shorts Wearers
by Andrew Adam Newman
Our Assessment This article centers on depilatory-leader Nair's attempts to reach younger customers - even ten-year-olds - and includes evidence about America's blooming love affair with hair removal. However, there are no reviews or testing reported here.

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