This is my first electric shaver as I have been using a shaving blade all the while. I began using the Philips S5550 with absolutely no expectation at all – I entered with an open mind.
It is Ergonomic Heaven
First off, the device’s contoured shape and ultra-light weight makes it easy to grip and flip around in my hand. The weight also makes for holding the device at weird angles a breeze – a definable plus factor for me! I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that the device was made in the Netherlands and not China. This assured me of the quality of the product. While it is ergonomic, a downside would be that it does not come with a holder or stand to properly store the product. A holder accessory could add additional protection to the device and I wouldn’t have to make an additional purchase.
Cordless Feature
The S5550 is meant for cordless use; even the manual discourages usage whilst being charged. On my first shave with the device, it felt like I was using an advanced version of a razor blade – light, no cord, yet automatic and gives a clean shave with no cuts!
1-Hour Charging Time
The very first time I charged the S5550, all it took was one hour to get a full charge. Even a quick 5-minute charge is enough for one shave; so if I’m ever in a hurry I wouldn’t be tempted to revert back to my razor blade and nick myself silly rushing!
On runtime, I was able to use the shaver for three days consecutively – with each shave taking about 15 minutes at a time – all this on a single full change. I did some research on the lithium-ion battery used in the device and found out that it is actually long lasting.
The device’s LED screen displays a three level battery status which lets me know when it’s been fully charged up. The LED screen also displays a range of icons to alert me when the battery is low, when I need to clean the shaver, and also when the head needs to be replaced. For a newbie in the game, these icon prompts are especially helpful in maintaining the performance and lifespan of the device.
Dry Shave
So I wanted to test the difference between a dry vs wet shave with the device, so I sectioned my three-day beard – dry shave for the left side and wet shave on the right.
When I used the S5550 to dry shave the left side of my three-day beard, it did so without giving me a single cut or irritation on my skin. I was amazed to see just how easy it was to remove my beard with the flexible shaving head. The turbo function just below the “On” button was especially helpful in cutting down on the time required for a clean dry shave. One drawback is that there isn’t any other way to adjust the speed. There is only the option of turning “On” the device and using it on turbo mode.
The next morning looking in the mirror, I was surprised as my face still held a decent shaved look. I did some research on the blades in the shaver; interestingly the first blade in the rotary head will raise up each hair, while the second blade will snip it off below skin level, resulting in nice smooth facial skin.
Wet Shave
I used shaving foam on the right side of my face this time, and just like with the dry shave, the turbo mode made the shave even faster through the dense parts of my three-day beard. After the shave, there were zero cuts and zero irritation.
Similar to the dry shave, the right side of my face in the morning looked decent.
Attachments
The attachments that come with the S5550 include a nose trimmer and a precision trimmer to use on the beard and side burns. The two trimmer attachments meant that I did not have to make additional purchases – a plus for me on saving cost.
Nose Trimmer Attachment
The S5550 nose trimmer attachment was very easy to attach and detach, just a tug and a push. The trimmer removed the hairs from my nostrils very cleanly and with no irritation or pain either. It was a simple process to remove the hair and a much safer option too as compared to sticking a pair of scissors into my nostrils. I did find the slate in the trimmer narrow for me though. Rather than a one size fits all, a choice of two different slate sizes might be helpful.
Precision Trimmer Attachment
The S5550 precision trimmer attachment was equally easy to attach and detach. I used it to trim my sideburns. It took some practice to properly trim but bear in mind this is my first try with an electric shaver! The manual could have come with written detailed instructions as the pictorial diagrams provided did not really help much especially for a first time user.
Travel Kit
The S5550 does not have a travel bag as an accessory. An accessory like that would enable those who travel frequently to bring this shaver with them. It’s a pity that there is no such accessory available.
Maintenance
When I wanted to clean the shaver, all I had to do was simply pop the head feature open with a click of a button and rinse it thoroughly under the tap. An alert on the LED display also prompts me if the device is due for cleaning. The ease of removing the shaved hairs in the shaver was nothing but a sheer delight.
My overall experience with the Philips S5550 is that it is an impressive product. My wife couldn’t stop looking at my face throughout the day insisting that I looked different somehow – I couldn’t agree more as I felt great without the raw skin feeling that a razor blade gives. The Philips S5550 no cuts feature really does mean that my face will be spared of any future cuts as I will not be using my razor blade any more.
