The Braun Body Groomer Series 7 review: a tragedy in five acts
10.4.2025
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Stephan Lamprecht
Being an editor at Galaxus sometimes means pushing yourself to your limits. This also applied to testing Braun’s Body Groomer. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise how painful reaching that limit can be until the end.
I usually shave with cream and a razor. Everywhere, if you catch my drift. I’ve tried electric razors in the past, but I haven’t been completely happy with them. That’s why the product announcement for the Body Groomer Series 7 BG7 from Braun really piqued my curiosity. The brand has a good reputation, and the groomer’s supposed to be gentle, thorough, and suitable for the whole body. My last scrap of scepticism vanishes when I read «Braun’s Best» on the box. I just have to try this thing.
Act 1: appearance and unboxing
The product comes in a neat package free of any plastic, which I think’s commendable. The razor, charger, and accessories come in small boxes made of recycled cardboard.
A manual is also included. I don’t know when it went out of fashion to use text in instructions. There are a few lines, but they’re limited to warnings and a list of parts, because that’s the legal requirement.
Pictures supposedly «explain» how I should use the razor. My main takeaway is that I shouldn’t use it on or near my head. Somewhat disappointingly, the only illustration I immediately understood shows the holder. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the box. A footnote reveals, however, that the features vary depending on the model. The rest remains a mystery. I’d have liked clear instructions on which attachment to use for which purpose. Can I use any of the attachments on my nether regions? And why is the upper body always shown when the box clearly shows the razor pointing towards underwear?
Act 2: fighting facial hair
It can’t be that difficult, I think to myself. All the parts are designed to fit only one way, so I can’t go wrong. I assemble the groomer to the best of my ability.
There are two shaving heads in the box. One looks like the classic Braun electric razors, so I’m pretty sure it’s designed for a close shave.
I prefer a hair length of one millimetre on my face. The second shaving head – which resembles a hair clipper – should achieve this.
I bravely set to work and shave the first strip. To my surprise, little happens at first. The razor hums and lights up. The device has an integrated LED so you don’t miss anything. But my face is exactly the same. All the stubble’s still there. Doubting myself, I check to see if I’ve left any protective film on. There’s nothing there, so I try again.
The only way it works is guiding the groomer across my face at the exact angle so the plate rests flush against the skin below the blades. Then the stubble flies off with a buzzing and whirring sound. But you have to figure it out first.
If you don’t want your beard to be quite as short as I do, you can attach one of the three «combs» (2, 3 and 5 millimetres) to the shaving head.
Now I’ve figured out how to shave my face, I trim as usual. My cheeks and chin now look neat. I’m not entirely satisfied with the results on my neck, although that might be due to my somewhat tangled beard growth there.
Act 3: armpit carnage
Yes, I’m a man who likes to keep his armpits hairless. At least during the summer months. And if you’re planning on doing the same, here are two important tips.
- The first time, trim the hair with a trimmer before shaving. This will make it easier.
- Please don’t use this Braun!
For a rough trim, I initially reach for the same attachment I used for my beard. It’s a mistake, but I only realise that afterwards. Maybe my hair’s too soft, maybe my armpits are too small, maybe the groomer’s too big. But for the first time in my life, an electric razor pinched me multiple times. Painfully, leaving behind «beautiful» red marks.
Because I want my underarms to be smooth – and I don’t want to go out in public half-shaved – I put the second shaving head on the base.
I’ve spent a long time trying to think of a polite way to describe it in a more positive light, but the groomer’s a disaster with a capital D. I have to repeatedly run the razor over the same areas – applying a lot of pressure – to get the hair out. Which is exactly what the sensitive skin on my armpits doesn’t like.
The already irritated areas slowly become a darker red. The lack of crackling noises from the shaving head signals to the groomer that everything should be smooth now. Emphasis on should.
Unfortunately, when rubbing in the more than necessary moisturising lotion, I still notice stubble sticking out. To cool my underarms and soothe the skin, I massaged in this product several times:
Act 4: problems down under
What is it they say? Never despair and never give up! Picking up the groomer that advertised SkinGuard on the box and was supposedly specifically designed for sensitive areas, I ventured below the belt.
After reading this far, you’d probably be surprised if everything had gone «smoothly». Well, I probably should have studied the packaging more carefully. It says «minimises nicks and cuts». Minimising isn’t preventing!
I’ll be honest with you: when a razor blade like that leaves a scratch right on the bag your balls are sitting in, it can be quite painful. And I’ve only ever read about episiotomies during childbirth. Ouch.
In any case, there’s a big difference between the areas the groomer should have shaved and the areas it actually did. In reality, there’s not much of the «smooth shave» on the box. I’ll spare you the photos.
I use this product for scratched skin and cuts:
Act 5: and silence…
A review should, if possible, include positive aspects. Frankly, that’s difficult with this product. After all, even its core functions seem to be too much for it to handle. But there is one positive aspect: if the humming doesn’t bother you, you can always use the razor as a flashlight.
Epilogue: check back soon for better options
Once I’ve recovered, I’ll write a guide with tools and care products for shaving men’s intimate areas, including a how-to.
Until then, let me know in the comments what you think about shaving your armpits and further south.
In a nutshell
I’m. In. Pain.
The body groomer from Braun disappointed me in every way possible.
Pro
- Recycled material in the packaging
- Bright LED
Contra
- Poorly illustrated manual
- Shaving head can irritate skin
- Trimming head pinches and tweaks
Header image: Stephan Lamprecht
Hamburg local, bookworm, and ice hockey fan. Dad and granddad. Constantly tinkering around with my smart home setup. I love DIY, the outdoors, fashion, and cosmetics.
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