Photo source and reuse
Original photographOrientation normalized, resized within 1280 × 1280 pixels and converted to WebP; no crop. Original reuse terms retained.
If the shave has gradually got worse, it’s reasonable to wonder whether the head is worn out. Check its age and give it the normal clean before deciding what to buy.
Visible damage is different. Stop using a torn foil or broken guard, even if the head is fairly new. Don’t try to flatten or patch the cutting surface.
The replacement intervals aren’t all the same
Braun generally recommends a new shaver head around every 18 months. Panasonic’s maintenance guide gives different intervals for separate parts: about a year for the outer foil and two years for the inner blades.
Use the schedule for your own model. Those figures are maintenance guidance, not a promise that a part will last exactly that long.
Count from the last head change
The age of the handle isn’t the age of its cutters. If you’ve replaced the head before, look for the order confirmation to get an approximate installation date. A quick calendar note when you fit the next one saves doing this again.
Think about how the change happened too. A gradual decline and a problem that started straight after a drop or a clean deserve different checks.
What about the reminder light?
A reminder can help you keep track of maintenance. Check what the symbol means for your model and which parts the manufacturer asks you to replace.
After fitting them, follow the device’s reset procedure if it has one. Clearing the light is the last step; it doesn’t check the condition of the head for you.
Useful links
About these sources
Manufacturer guidance, checked 2026-09-07. Use your own model’s manual for fitting and cleaning instructions.