A clean, smooth shave is as refreshing as a cold beer on a scorching-hot day. It makes you look younger, screams “kiss me” and improves facial health by removing debris, dead skin cells and excess oil. However, it takes the right hair removal tool to achieve all this.
Before I became a tech journalist, I was a grooming writer (see for yourself), so I know all there is to know about skin care, shaving and even manscaping. I’ve tested the best beard trimmers and best men’s razors, two different types of products that were part of my grooming routine and took up more time and space in my toiletry bag. That was until the Philips Norelco OneBlade came along.
Philips’ 2-in-1 shaver/trimmer has been my go-to grooming device for the past two years. Just last year, I was gifted its sibling, the OneBlade First Shave, an entry-level shaver that gets the same job done for a lower price. And I love it.
This portable hybrid shaver performs wet and dry shaves with ease, thanks to an innovative dual-sided blade that cuts through all hair lengths in hard-to-reach areas while protecting skin from nicks and razor burn.
How I found the Philips Norelco OneBlade First Shave
Full discretion: Philips sent this product to me for editorial consideration. Nonetheless, I test all products with the consumer in mind because being a budget-conscious shopper has always been a part of my DNA. Finding the best deals on high-quality grooming products always gets me hyped, especially when they’re priced lower than most luxury shaving creams.
Why the Philips Norelco OneBlade First Shave is a score
One word: versatility. It’s amazing how well the OneBlade First Shave operates when faced with certain shaving challenges. For me, it’s thick hair and the tiny fuzz on my cleft chin that disposable razors usually miss. That all changed the moment I twisted the bottom handle and revved up the shaver. I plowed through the fur on my cleft effortlessly. Furthermore, the anti-friction dual blade made it possible to shave cramped areas like between my eyebrows (the Anthony Davis unibrow look is not for me), as well as shape up my sideburns.
The OneBlade First Shave is powered by a motor that can perform 200 cutting movements per second, which was well demonstrated in the finesse of each stroke. The blade cut through hair follicles like butter. Any areas that required a second pass experienced no irritation or razor burn. Wet shaves were my preference and produced the smoothest results. Dry shaves were mostly satisfying during time crunches, though they produced a few ingrown hairs around the neck; this mostly occurred when shaving short hairs. It’s nothing that a good aftershave lotion can’t fix (I recommend Anthony Ingrown Hair Treatment).
If OneBlade devices have taught me anything, it’s the benefits of shaving with a dual-sided blade. Cartridge and straight razors don’t have this. A safety razor lets you shave using both ends, but it takes off less hair than Philips Norelco’s blade. One long stroke with the OneBlade First Shave will remove your entire mustache. You can use the top and bottom parts of the blade to shave half your face, which speeds up both the shaving and cleaning process.
Speaking of which, rinsing off the blade is a breeze. Hot water is recommended to avoid bacteria buildup. A faucet sprayer works better since pressure rinses off hair more efficiently. Don’t worry about moisture damage because the OneBlade First Shave is 100% waterproof. Just remember to place the protection cap on the blade when dry. Alcohol pads are another option for cleaning off grime and sanitizing the blade.
Blade replacements are something else to consider. According to Philips Norelco, each blade lasts up to four months, based on two full shaves per week. I’d give them more credit. I’m an every-other-day shaver and have used the same blade for three months without receiving a cut. Just clean the blade thoroughly after every use and you’ll save some cash on refills.
The shaver runs on a rechargeable battery and comes with a plug-in charger. An eight-hour charge equates to 30 minutes of use. This is only 15 minutes less than what other OneBlade devices provide. I recharge it once every two weeks and set up a calendar reminder for assurance.
With the low price comes exclusions like a carry bag and extra blades. Then again, no other OneBlade models offer either, but they do come with longer battery life and multiple length settings for beard trimming and manscaping. If you can live without the extra comb attachments and lower usage time, then the OneBlade First Shave is a grooming bargain you’d be foolish to pass up.