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If you prefer a clean-shaven look, try one of these hardworking grooming tools

Whether you want to stop using your manual razor blade or hint to the man in your life to go clean shaven, there’s a world of electric shavers to choose from.

However, they can go up to the hundreds of pounds, so it’s best to shop wisely. To make sure you buy the right grooming tool for the job, we put some of the best hair removal devices to the test.

These are the electric razors that got a thumbs up from our panel of 152 men:

An electric shaver will never give you as close a shave as a wet razor, but that can have its benefits.

The obvious one is that you won’t be dealing with a super-sharp blade, meaning less nicks and cuts. The other is that it will still leave the shadow of stubble behind, which you may prefer.

For the closest shave you can get with an electric razor, opt for a foil device (more on that below). The blades are designed to cut closer to the skin, cutting shorter hairs particularly well.

First off, always double check your electric shaver is waterproof before attempting a wet shave. Although the majority on our list below are, some of the cheaper options can only be used on dry skin.

A dry shave is not only quick, but also avoids more accidental cuts than a traditional blade razor. This is due to electric razors gliding over the skin, rather than coming in close contact with it.

Using an electric razor on wet skin can help minimise irritation when used with a shaving foam and help keep things smooth. Wetter hair is often softer too, so you’re less likely to have to go over the same area multiple times.

Foil and rotary are the two types of electric shaver on the market. They may look the same on the outside, but they differ.

Rotary: These feature two or three rotating blades that pull hair in a circular motion. They can still cut hair close to the skin but not as close as a foil design. They make up for it in their manoeuvrability, as the rotating blades make it easier to glide across trickier areas, such as the jawline and chin.

Foil: These feature a long strip of blades that work in an oscillating motion to lift hair away from the skin and provide a cleaner cut. They’re a better option if you’re after a closer shave, but aren’t as effective on non-flat surface areas, such as around the jaw, due to the longer shape.

For six weeks, 152 men with varying stubble length and hair types tried a range of electric razors. They judged each one on how close and smooth the shave was, as well as how well each manoeuvred around tricky areas such as the jawline and chin area. They also assessed how easy each one was to operate, and if any irritation occurred.

Meanwhile, in the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, we used a noise meter to see how loud each device was while in use.

Our winner features a built-in sensor, which automatically detects your beard's density and adjusts the power accordingly – smart, right?

It was a top performer for its power and simplicity, and testers loved its high-quality design. All said it provided a smooth, gentle, nick-free shave, while keeping skin irritation-free.

Everyone said they were happy with how their skin and hair felt after shaving too, while the clean and charge system was particularly handy for cleaning, lubricating and drying the shaver at the press of a button.

Key specifications Type: Foil Able to use wet and dry: Yes Cordless: Yes Quick charge: Yes, 5 mins Accessories: Clean and charge station, cleaning cartridge, leather travel case, smart plug, cleaning brush

If you’re after a rotary option, this would be our top pick. It features an LCD screen that shows you everything you need to know, from how much battery it's got left to your personal shave setting options.

It stood out for how well it handled longer stubble though, while the wireless charger gave it a premium feel. It was quick at getting the job done for 93% and was gentle on skin, too.

Key specifications Type: Rotary Able to use wet and dry: Yes Cordless: Yes Quick charge: Yes, 18 mins Accessories: Charging pad, pouch, precision styler

If your hair is on the thicker side and often gets caught, try this shaver. One tester commented: “be it stubble or long hair, it gave a clean shave and didn’t irritate skin”.

All testers appreciated its powerful motor, which got through hair quickly, and 93% experienced a close, smooth but also gentle shave.

The variety of attachments allowed our panel to achieve whatever style they wanted, while switching between different heads was easy. Overall, 93% were left with the look they wanted.

Key specifications Type: Foil Able to use wet and dry: Yes Cordless: Yes Quick charge: No Accessories: Travel case, blade oil, cleaning brush, charging system, detergent for charging system

Looking to avoid a ruddy appearance after you shave? This one provided a gentle shave for all, leaving 92% irritation-free.

All were happy with the finished look and how smooth skin felt after shaving, while the power-charging case came in particularly handy. It did score as “relatively loud” in our lab test though, but none of our testers reported it as an issue.

Testers said it worked well on both wet and dry skin, while 90% found it to be both precise at shaping edges and good at handling longer stubble.

Key specifications Type: Foil Able to use wet and dry: Yes Cordless: Yes Quick charge: No Accessories: Powercase, cleaning cartridge, cleaning brush, cleansing station

A brilliant bargain buy at under £30, this device was not only simple to get to grips with but easy to clean and store, too, making it a great beginner shaver.

Everyone found it easy to control and comfortable to use, offering a smooth shave for 78%. It doesn’t come with the option to use it cordless and it isn’t waterproof but it did leave 78% happy with how their facial hair looked after shaving – not bad for the price.

Key specifications Type: Rotary Able to use wet and dry: No Cordless: No Quick charge: No Accessories: Three-day stubble styler, cleaning brush

If you’re looking to treat yourself or the man in your life, it doesn’t get more luxurious than this. It’s powered by A.I. technology, which allows the device to adapt to your hair and skin for a customised shave. You can even link the razor to the Philips app for more features and controls.

Of our testers, 83% said it did the trick at removing all hair in its path, while 92% were happy with their final look, as well as their smooth finish.

Again, this one was flagged as “relatively loud” in our lab test, however 92% said this wasn’t an issue, with 83% saying they’d continue to use it.

Key specifications Type: Rotary Able to use wet and dry: Yes Cordless: Yes Quick charge: No Accessories: Precision trimmer, premium pouch, Qi charging pad

Lasting an impressive 90 minutes without needing a re-charge, this one got rave reviews from all of our testers for its long-lasting battery life and quick charge-up time.

It claims to be indestructible with its “life-proof” design too, which includes its durable foil guard, ergonomic grip and shock resistant materials. Testers agreed, with all finding it easy to use and control.

It was brilliant when it came to precision; 91% said the pop-up trimmer was ace at defining edges, while it's also versatile at adapting to different hair thickness and stubble lengths, and 92% said they’d stick to this shaver in the future.

Key specifications Type: Foil Able to use wet and dry: Yes Cordless: Yes Quick charge: No Accessories: Storage bag, cleaning brush, blade oil, foil guard

Like its younger sibling above, this razor claims to be as shock-proof as it gets and is waterproof up to one metre, so you can have a quick shave in the shower with ease.

Everyone agreed the 90-minute run time was just what they were looking for and found it precise on hard-to-reach areas, such as under the nose.

It was easy to clean and handled longer seven-day stubble like a pro for 80%. It did take a couple of attempts for some to get every hair, but testers did appreciate the travel lock, which stopped it from going off in luggage.

Key specifications Type: Foil Able to use wet and dry: Yes Cordless: Yes Quick charge: Yes, 5 mins Accessories: Travel pouch, cleaning brush, charger plug and cable, foil guard, blade oil

If you need a shaver you can trust to throw in your bag while travelling, look no further. This shaver's USB charging option is convenient, while the groomer itself was easy to use, clean and lightweight.

It was comfortable to hold and proved to be easy to control for our whole panel, with 80% experiencing a close, pain-free shave.

It offered 87% a smooth grooming experience, with the majority happy with how their facial hair looked after use. It was deemed as “relatively loud” in our noise test, but no testers found it a problem.

Key specifications Type: Rotary Able to use wet and dry: Yes Cordless: Yes Quick charge: No Accessories: Stubble styler head guard, travel pouch, cleaning brush