Braun Series 6 Review (SensoFlex) – Easy On The Skin
Braun Series 6 Electric Shaver
This generation of the Series 6 is what’s known as the Braun Series 6 SensoFoil Shaver. It has a certain mildness of shave about it that suits men shaving daily or every other day.
Pros
Good build quality
Ergonomically friendly design
Provides a non-aggressive mild shave
Easy to keep clean manually and with the cleaning station
Good head and blade movement for various contours
Just in the affordable range, although not cheap
Cons
Changing over the attachment trimmer is not for everyone
Flay-lying and straggler hairs could be difficult to remove
With three days of growth, a lot of leftover patches
Not ideal for coarse growth
Trimmer is not very good
The shaver up for review today on the quest to find the best men’s electric shavers for a variety of user types is the Braun Series 6 – SensoFlex.
Braun introduces different generations of shavers within a series that upgrades the shavers, or the shavers have changes made that the company sees fit. After some time of using and reviewing many electric shavers, I have seen new changes made that enhance a shaver and others that seem to be a cost-cutting generation, and that’s why I mention —that the company sees fit.
This generation of Braun Series 6 is what we could name the SensoFlex generation. SensoFlex is a technical term that basically means a shaver head and foils that move with the skin’s contours.
Let’s talk model numbers —
Braun shavers, including the Series 6 SensoFlex come with an array of model numbers that are different in the US, UK, Europe, and other countries. Here are most of the model numbers that are all the same Series 6 shaver which only differ in color, included attachments or/and cleaning station, and the country they are sold.
| USA | Europe & Others | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 6020s | 60-N1200s | 60-B1200s |
| 6040s | 60-B4500cs | 60-B4500cs |
| 6072cc | 60-N7650cc | 60-B7000cc |
| 6075cc | 60-N4820cs | 60-B7200cc |
| 6090cc | 61-B4500cs | 60-B7500cc |
| 61-B7000cc | ||
| 61-B7200cc | ||
| 61-B7500cc | ||
Here are a couple of variations by country:
The 6020s (US with travel case, trimmer, blue ) is similar to a 60-B1200s (UK with travel case, trimmer, and blue) and 60-N1200s (Europe with travel case, trimmer, and grey).
The 6075cc (US with cleaning station, trimmer, x 5 beard trimmer attachments, travel case, grey) is similar to the 60-B7500cc and 61-B7500cc (UK and Europe with cleaning station, trimmer, x 5 beard trimmer attachments, travel case, blue or grey).
As stated previously, they are all variations of the standard Series 6 SensoFlex that only vary based on the accessories and/or color. When you see the cc you know it has the Cleaning Station (SmartCare Center) included.
Brand/Company: The brand ‘Braun’ was founded 100 years ago that created its first electric shaver during the 1950’s. The German-based company (subsidiary of Procter and Gamble) is known worldwide. Today, just about everyone looking to buy a foil electric shaver will see a Braun shaver as a buying option.
Within this Braun Series 6 SensoFlex review, we will take a good look at its essential features, pros & cons, and who it is best suited for after testing out and using the shaver for 3+ weeks under various conditions.
Description & Features
The Braun Series 6 model I bought is the 60-B7500cc (UK) which is a 6075cc (USA) and 61-B7500cc (Europe and others).
Braun pushes this shaver as a model that suits those gents with sensitive skin.
The model I have came with the SmartCare Center, trimmer attachment, 5x beard attachment combs, protective case, power cord, and small cleaning brush.
- SensoFlex – This is simply the head moving back and forth alongside three independent moveable shaving elements.
- Shaving Elements – The Series 6 has two shaving foils on either side of the center cutter. The center cutter is designed to help lift and/or reduce the size of longer hairs for the two outer foils to shave them close.
- AutoSense – AutoSense is a technology that enables the shaver to adjust its power based on beard density.
- Wet & dry – The Braun Series 6 is waterproof and can be used when shaving in the shower or the bath. Users may shave dry or wet with their favorite shaving cream or foam.
- Blade Head – The blade head is easily removed via the front and back indents that enable a user to clip the shaver head off, and it just clicks back into place from either side when clipped back on.
- CleanCare Center – The models that come with the CleanCare Center provide users with an easy way to keep the shaver head and cassette clean and lubricated (stand and cleaning fluid cartridge comes with the shaver). The system also enables a user to charge the shaver as well.
- Attachments – Each Braun Series 6 SensoFlex may or may not come with attachments, depending on which model is purchased. They should all come with at least the trimmer for cutting in sideburns and a mustache. These attachments are easily clipped on and off, just like the blade head.
- LED Display – The display shows how much charge is left, charging light, red flashing plug when switched on –plugged in, red travel lock light, cleaning light, and a cassette change warning.
- Travel Lock – Press the on/off button to lock the shaver from accidentally switching on, and press for another few seconds to unlock.
- Cordless/Rechargeable – The shaver is cordless and has to be charged before use, and it will not work while plugged in.
- Charging and Battery – The rechargeable Li-Ion should provide a user with 50 minutes of runtime, and it takes approximately 1 hour for the battery to charge fully.
Highlighting Features – Pros & Cons
Sensitive Skin
I had to find out why the Series 6 was supposed to be suitable for those with sensitive skin. I found it could not be the foils because the replacement blades are the same for the Series 5 as the 6, and Braun does not mention the Series 5 in regards to sensitive skin.
Braun States: Closeness and skin comfort: the dermatologically tested SensoFlex swivel head and SensoFoil blades are designed to minimize pressure on sensitive skin.
Okay. So it is mostly about the head movement combined with the blades, although they use the same blades on the Series 5, and there is no mention of sensitive skin regarding the Series 5.
SensoFlex
The movement of the head is a useful feature and an upgrade from the Series 5 EasyClean. Alongside the independent moveable foils and cutter, both features improve the shave.
I could see the shaver with its blades providing flexibility to move along the various contours of the face, especially shaving over the neck and jaw areas. This moveability most definitely adds to the comfort and ease of shaving.
Cassette Removal and Trimmer Attachment
Many shavers come with a trimmer attached to the body. However, the Series 6 SensoFlex has a separate attachment.
The non-attached trimmer may work well for some users, while others who use the trimmer frequently will prefer to avoid switching the blade over.
I am happy that the trimmer is an attachment and it can stay in the box because it provides little to no trimming assistance. Maybe Braun has found that these trimmers are nearly useless, and they’re testing out making shavers like the Series 6 SensoFlex non-attached.
I have used the best of the best electric shavers with attached and non-attached trimmers, and they are all very close to useless.
Let’s get back to removing and fitting the cassette or trimmer. The clip-on design is simple and works, but I prefer the press-in or button types that release the cassette —because they work much easier, they’re less fiddly, and the press-in or button types are less likely to pick up faults.
LED Display
The LED display has what it needs and a bit more. We can see how much charge we have left, when it is charging, the travel lock is on, and a couple of other LED’s.
The amount of charge left is shown in three dots and reduces to one dot when the battery is going flat. The charge left indicator that shows a percentage of charge on some other shavers is better, but that should not be a deal breaker for most people.
Attachments and Accessories
The attachments and accessories a buyer gets depend on which model they purchase and what they require.
As mentioned above, I have used most attachments that come with electric shavers and found them all close to useless, even the trimmer. I believe dedicated trimmers and anything dedicated to a certain grooming task is much better than these multitools. However, others get along better with them than me and have little to no complaints.
The cleaning and charging station (CleanCare Center) can be very useful for some, and I also like to use them, but they are not necessary. This cleaning dock that comes with Series 6 SensoFlex charges cleans and lubricates, which has to have replacement cleaning fluid cartridges replaced.
Many purchase cheaper cleaning fluid to refill the Braun cleaning station cartridges to cut costs.
The fabric zipper travel case is useful and can be used for storage or for travel. The case only fits the shaver inside though, and no attachments.
Build Quality, Design, and Ergonomics
While the Series 6 is an all-plastic shaving device with rubberized sides, it feels like a heavy-duty tool that will last a good few years and more.
The ergonomics of the shaver are very good, and it fits into the hand snuggly while the rubberized back panel and sides provide plenty of grip.
The only slight gripe is the clip-on cassette design.
Cleaning and Maintenance
If the Series 6 SensoFlex you buy does not come with the charge and cleaning station, that’s just fine. It’s a very easy shaver to clean up manually.
A small brush can be used to sweep out debris from inside the head but not the cassette, and the rest can be blown out by blowing. In addition, the shaver is waterproof and can be washed out under the tap, and it helps to use antibacterial soap at times placed on the foils to clean them more thoroughly.
Braun suggests that the foil cassettes are replaced every 18 months or less. Of course, this will depend on usage, beard density, and anything else that affects wear. The part number for the replacement cassette is 53B.
A couple of spots of oil on the foils every month will help maintain the best performance from the foils. In addition, when we clean the blades with water manually, it is best to oil the blades up each time.
How well does the Braun Series 6 SensoFlex perform and Shave?
I have tested and used both the previous and next series – Series 5 and Series 7. They share the main design and many features, so I was very familiar with the Braun Series 6 as soon as I unboxed it.
I kept in mind while using this shaver that Braun pushes it as a model that’s suitable for men with sensitive skin. With this in mind, I was not expecting an aggressive super fast shave but rather something that felt more comfortable.
I did my usual three-week shaving tests with various days of growth, including two and three days and daily shaving. I also tested out wet shaving with shaving cream and head shaving once (once–because it did not go well).
The Series 6 handled three days of growth quite well. However, it was better at handling two days.
The shaver did seem to struggle somewhat and left quite a lot of leftovers where I had to shave over the same spot when I shaved with three days of growth. However, it was nothing major and was soon cleaned up when I noticed the unshaven parts.
Two days is my sweet spot when shaving with an electric shaver. Daily is not good because of irritation, and more than three days is too much growth for many, although some electric shavers handle heavier growth pretty well.
I tried daily shaving for three consecutive days, and while it did shave comfortably, I began to feel some irritation and picked up some neck redness. This irritation and redness is my typical reaction and says more about my skin than this shaver when shaving daily.
As mentioned —head shaving did not go well. It’s not a dedicated head shaver, but I like to test these electric shavers out, and the Series 6 SensoFoil just left way too many patches on the back of my head.
How about wet shaving? Wet shaving with shaving cream was okay and offered a little more comfort while shaving. However, the extra comfort might not be worth all the mess, and the extra time it takes when wet shaving for many gents.
Overall Shaving Experience
I did get the comfort factor of this shaver, and good shaves on my two-day shave routine. I did also get a close enough shave eventually after spending more time shaving than I would with a more expensive model.
The Series 6 felt and shaved just as it should for a shaver within the Braun range, like a step up from the 5 Series EasyClean and step down from the Series 7 Flex.
Nothing wowed me about this shaver, but then again, nothing was bad.
It’s not going to cut longer or coarse beards very well. The Braun Series 6 SensoFlex does not like over three days of growth unless the users facial hair is fine.
Value for Money
The Braun Series 6 SensoFlex is priced below the mid-range, beginning at around $85+ USD, £99+ UK, and €112+ EU. These are the approximate price for the standard shavers that may only come with the trimmer attachment and travel case.
The Series 6 SensoFoil is not a bad deal for what a buyer gets. Today’s much higher-performance shaver will cost considerably more. However, it is worth comparing this Series 6 to other brands like Panasonic or Philips (if you’re considering a rotary-style Philips shaver) within this price range.
Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints, or Positive Reports?
I do my best to gather data from other consumers that have left reviews, ratings, and comments about a product to gather and consolidate patterns, and important mentions.
Overall, the Braun Series 6 SensoFoil gets many more positive reviews and comments than negatives.
Many users agree and report that this shaver provides a comfortable shave compared to previous shavers that they have used.
There are a good few mentions about the trimmer not being very good, which is also my experience. However, those that get along much better with the trimmer and attachments point out it is annoying to have to change over the head to the trimmer attachment.
Users agree with me that the shaver does not shave well on three or more days of growth and performs best when shaving daily or every two days.
Final Thoughts – Who do we recommend buys and uses the Braun Series 6 SensoFoil?
The Braun Series 6 SensoFoil is easy to use and has everything a man needs from a shaver, including quality foils/blades and an ergonomically friendly design. It’s quite simplistic and not overly expensive.
It’s a good choice for guys with sensitive skin, but as it is quite a mild shaver, you may need to keep going over the same spots because of the non-aggressiveness, which could still irritate the skin. However, the solution for this is to use a pre-electric shave lotion or other suitable lubricants (mild soaps or foams).
If you shave daily or every other day and the shaver is within your budget, then it’s a good option. But, if you have coarse growth or like to grow for three days or more before shaving, then this Series 6 might not do the job well enough or take a little too long to keep clearing up leftover patches.
If you like everything about this shaver but prefer one that offers more aggression and will shave quicker, then the Braun Series 7 Flex is worth considering, although it costs more.
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