A battery-operated thermal shaver is provided which includes an impeller for directing a stream of heated air to the line of contact between a razor blade and the hair to be cut by the shaver. The impeller is a fan located within an air chamber of the shaver which draws ambient air into the chamber and directs it past a heating element to raise the temperature of the air to 120.degree.-170.degree. F. The impeller then exhausts the heated air through an exhaust port and into proximity with the razor blade. The fan is operated by a motor, having a drive shaft, which is protected against liquid penetration by a liquid barrier. The liquid barrier is a reservoir formed in the base of the fan for holding material immiscible in liquids. During operation, the drive shaft of the motor rotates the impeller while encased within the liquid barrier.