As a beauty writer, I’m sent endless skin care products, cosmetics, hair care, and fragrance launches for testing. Sometimes, I’m even sent men’s grooming tools. That’s how I learned of the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 ($38), a cordless rechargeable face razor with a unique flat top that can be used with or without the included five-length shave guard, which is designed to help you trim to the perfect length and protect yourself against cuts in the process. Best of all, it’s dual-use, in that you can operate it on wet or dry skin.
Now, I don’t have facial hair, but I do have pubic hair—at least in between visits to European Wax Center and traditional in-shower shaving. While I’ve long manicured my lady bits (my preference—it doesn’t have to be yours; you do you), during the pandemic, it was easy to get lax with it. After all, “everything showers” take forever and waxing appointments aren’t cheap (nor pain-free). While I wasn’t looking for a new solution, when the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 showed up in my mailbox, a lightbulb went off.
What is the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360
At its core, the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 is a rechargeable, cordless electric razor. The difference lies in the blade; Each stainless steel dual-sided blade effortlessly cuts through hair of any length, providing a smooth and precise trim without the risk of irritation, no matter where you use it. With multiple click-on trimming combs, you have the flexibility to customize your grooming style, whether you’re shaping eyebrows, maintaining a specific body hair length, or achieving a precise bikini line.
Includes OneBlade handle, OneBlade 360 blade, 5-length shave guard, USB-A charging cable, and instruction manual.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Powerful (yet gentle) dual-sided blade
- Includes a customizable shave guard
- Can be used on dry or wet skin
- Can be used on multiple parts of the body
Cons:
- Charge only lasts 45 minutes
As mentioned, it can be used on wet or dry skin, in or outside of the shower. (The waterproof design is shower-safe and makes it easy to clean.) The cordless design and rechargeable battery make it a fabulous travel companion, too.
My review
There’s a lot to like about the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 Face Razor. For starters, it’s incredibly convenient considering you can use it in the shower, with damp skin in front of the sink, or totally dry. Additionally, it has an innovative, dual-direction 360 Blade that moves and grooves with the contours of your body (turns out, being able to navigate sharp jawbones or angular cheekbones translates well to the groin and bikini area). And since it’s electric with a fast-moving cutter (12000x per min), it trims hair (of all lengths, I might add) in record time.
The first time I tested the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 Face Razor down there, I was nervous I might cut myself, given I used it sans safeguard. While it took some getting used to—simply because I’m used to traditional women’s razors—I was able to quickly and efficiently groom my nethers with virtually no knicks. And that was on dry skin! It was so effortless—and didn’t lead to any ingrown hairs or razor burn—that I’ve never ventured into using it wet, as that’s just extra unnecessary effort.
In terms of the results it delivers, it depends on your attachment preference. Without the safeguard, you can get a super close shave that doesn’t feel stubbly. With the safeguard, you can get more of a cropped buzz cut that’s refined but not bare—and the trimmed hair doesn’t feel sharp or stubbly, either. Even if you don’t want to go bare all over, the razor works super well to perfectly groom the bikini line while offering more options for how you’d like to address the rest of your pubic area.
All in all, if you’re looking for a tool that offers a smooth, gentle shave in a pinch, the Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 Face Razor is it.