Fab or flub: Is Clio’s Palm Perfect Electric Razor a cut above the rest?

One beauty routine I particularly despise is shaving. Is there anyone who actually enjoys this process?

Besides being time-consuming, it entails inconveniences like razor burns, ingrown hairs and nicks. I’ve been told that some people favor electric razors over regular ones — or other processes like laser hair surgery and waxing — but I’ve always considered electric razors “a guy thing,” and never really gave much thought to this option.

That is, until recently.

While checking out new waxing options during a trip to Wal-Mart, I spotted the Clio Palm Perfect Electric Razor. Available for $9 in stores (or $7 online), the cordless razor is promoted as a painless, easy hair removal tool.

I did a bit of research about electric razors and determined that there are two upsides with a potential switch to an electric razor. First, it would eliminate the repeated cost of purchasing razor refills, which run, on average, about $15 per pack of five.

And an item like the Clio Palm Perfect can be used wet or dry, making it highly convenient for those unfortunate situations when you’ve run out of time to properly shave while showering or bathing.

Despite feeling slightly anxious about running a battery-operated razor over my body, I set off with my new Palm Perfect to find out if going electric would make life better.

First impression

Cute and compact, the Clio Palm Perfect looks nothing like the electric razor my father owned when I was younger.

It is lightweight and fits nicely in the palm of my hand (hence the name).

Running on two AAA batteries, the razor can be turned off and on with the click of a button and features dual clipper blades that equip it for any hair length. At the end of the razor, there is a nifty braided rope, which can be removed, so you can conveniently hang it from your shower caddy.

As far as razors go, I consider the Palm Perfect pretty darn stylish. It is colorful and comes in variety of fun, vibrant prints. I selected a pretty lavender color with a Pucci-esque pattern along the sides.

Compared to previous razors, it is the prettiest one I’ve ever owned. However, I’m well aware that just because something looks good does not mean it is going work the way you want it to.

So I tried not to allow the sheer cuteness of the Palm Perfect to cloud my judgment.

Fab or flub?

Flab.

After using the Clio Palm Perfect, I can definitely see the benefits of an electric razor. The biggest plus for me was the convenience. Because it works in wet and dry conditions, I was able to use it in and out of the shower with ease. Should there being any camping trips in my future, this will definitely be a go-to item for me.

I also liked that I didn’t have to worry about nicking myself or getting a case of the dreaded razor burn. After reading a little more about the Palm Perfect, however, I found out that the blades in an electric razor do have to be replaced.

So, although this product doesn’t totally eliminate the need to buy blade refills, most of the reviews I read said that the Palm Perfect’s blades last much longer than regular ones, and they also cost a fraction of the price. A definite plus.

But the Palm Perfect didn’t give me the closest shave I’ve ever had, especially when I used it on dry skin. There were times where I could still feel a tiny bit of stubble on an area I had just shaved. For some, this might not be a big deal, but if you love to have a super-smooth feeling of fresh shaved legs, you’ll probably want to stick with a traditional razor.

I also felt like the electric razor didn’t work as well in the underarm area as it did on my legs.

At less than $10 though, it still seems a razor that’s worth adding to your hair-removal arsenal. Personally, I’m not a full convert to electric razors yet, but I will definitely keep my Palm Perfect in the shaving rotation.

This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Fab or flub: Is Clio’s Palm Perfect Electric Razor a cut above the rest?."