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Consider us huge fans of the best electric shavers. As wonderful as it feels to do a slowed-down, thorough shave, it’s equally relieving to save time and do it the fast, efficient way. Sure, the e-shaver might not get you quite as close as the bare blade, but to the naked eye, that difference is often imperceivable. You might lose an extra 12 or 24 hours on the fresh-faced look…but it takes just a couple minutes to buzz it off again. Plus, it demands far fewer products, and gives most people no irritation whatsoever. But not everyone, depending on the type of shaver they’re using. That’s because the two types of electric shavers—foil and rotary—offer mostly the same benefits, but are technically better suited for different types of hair patterns.

Read on to learn the key differences between foil shavers and rotary shavers, and to learn which one is best for you. We got input from one of the best men’s hair stylists in the biz, Darius Davie, founder of Groom Guy barbershop at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

A foil head has one or more horizontal metal bars (often made of nickel) that have tiny holes punched throughout; these holes catch the hairs as the head glides over the skin, training the hairs towards the blade housed beneath the foils. Most modern options allow for the head to flex in multiple directions as the device navigates your geometry. Complex designs might feature other crossbars that help lift and snip longer hairs in order to make them the optimal length for the foil head itself.