How much science can really go into your grooming gadgets? Sure, you’ve got the miniaturisation of components and motors to make it sleeker and more power efficient, but other than that, how much really? Meet the Braun CoolTec razor: the most advanced foil shaver you’ll ever put on your face.
What Is It?
The CoolTec is a shaver from Braun with two horizontal foils, separated by a metal bar. That metal bar is where the science comes in.
For years, men have been taught that their faces need to be warm in order to open up the pores and soften the beard for shaving. The unfortunate by-product of that is shaver rash and a red face when you’re done. The redness and the soreness keeps the lotion and potion industry in business, but the CoolTec wants to put a stop to the suffering inherent in the male condition.
With foil shavers, the face doesn’t need to be warm at all because the razor does all the work underneath. The problem of redness still occurs because when you put the foils to your face, it trims the hair while taking off the top layer of dead skin. That makes your body think the face is under attack, which means that healing cells are sent to puff up the area, simultaneously increasing warmth and in-turn redness in the face area.
To solve it, Braun has been experimenting with contraptions concealed inside a razor to cool your face. The CoolTec is the result of six years of German research: underneath the razor is a cooling element, much like in a fridge, which cools the metal bar on the centre of the shaver to cool your face as you shave. The CoolTec also works to remove heat from the face created by friction and dump it into a heat sink stowed away in the middle of the shaver.
What’s Good?
This isn’t just another shaving gadget. It actually works.
It cools your face as you shave, creating a really pleasant experience when you groom. The CoolTec technology means you’re not having to reach for three different soothing balms after you shave (you should always be regularly moisturising, however).
The amazing battery on the CoolTec means you only have to charge it for less than an hour once a week in a funky little charging stand that comes with the shaver.
It’s also waterproof so you can have a shave in the shower or just take it apart when you’re done shaving and stick it under the tap to clean it. Finally, it’s still light and easy to hold despite the added gadgetry within, making shaving easy.
What’s Bad?
Braun sells an excellent cleaning stand for its foil shavers, but even on a premium product like the CoolTec, it’ll cost you extra. The CoolTec is already an awesome product, but it’d be better as the complete Braun gadget package.
The only real issue that might turn you off the CoolTec is the fact that the cooling element seems to overheat after about 15-20 minutes of use. You’ll have to leave it to (ironically) cool down after that before you can get the cooling benefit back. Thankfully, it still works like a normal shaver during that time.
It’s still a foil shaver. Albeit a very good one, it still misses finer hairs where face meets neck. Nothing a quick stroke with a disposable can’t fix, however.
Should You Buy It?
The good Germans at Braun knew how to make an amazing shaver before. Now with the addition of some gadgetry, the foil shaver might just be something you can use year-round, and not just when you’re in a hurry for a passable shave.
The Braun CoolTec best foil shaver money can buy, thanks to the incredible fusion of science and grooming.