Maintaining a bald head or even just a closely cropped look is easy, but it still requires the right tools. A quality head shaver can help you get a close shave on your scalp without accidental cuts and nicks in the process. It’s important to find a head shaver with sharp rotary blades as well as ones that come with refills and/or USB charging. To help you find the best one, we consulted barbers and hairstylists for shopping advice and compiled their recommendations for you to consider.
Selected.
How to shop for a head shaver
Certain features can make shaving easier and help your device last longer. Below, our hair care experts outline some key factors to consider, including maintenance, battery life and water resistance.
- Type: You’ll usually find head shavers made for either dry shaving or wet shaving, which means you can use water and shaving cream (some are suitable for both). The type you choose depends on when and where you prefer shaving. That said, shaving dry can irritate the skin and cause razor bumps because the hair follicles are not as relaxed as when they come in contact with warm water, according to NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez, who shaves weekly. With this in mind, we included head shavers primarily meant for wet shaving, which are water-resistant.
- Battery life and motor: Head shavers are typically battery powered, but not all of them have the same runtime. This is especially important if you often find yourself shaving in a hurry. To avoid the shaver running out of battery while you’re in the middle of trimming your head, look for one with at least 30 to 45 minutes of runtime.
- Blade count and quality: Head shavers have anywhere from four to seven heads, each with a rotary blade. All of the head shavers on this list have a blade count within this range. Plus, while it’s tempting to simply go by the price of a head shaver, it’s more crucial to consider the blades, according to Andrea Pezzillo, a celebrity men’s groomer and hairstylist. “It’s also not about buying the most expensive razor; you want a trusted brand that offers quality blades, if it’s electric, a good motor to keep the blades cutting well,” she says. “This ensures a close shave with the least amount of skin irritation.”
- Removable blades: Many head shavers typically have compartments that catch hair as you cut it or pieces that come apart so you can clean them between shaves. Many of the head shavers on this list have removable rotary blades to make overall maintenance easier.
Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
The best head shavers
Best overall
The Skull Shaver Pitbull is a favorite of Davide Marinelli, founder and creative director at Davide Hair Studio, because of its durability. Although it doesn’t come with extra attachments, it has an ergonomic handle and a chamber to prevent hair clippings from falling everywhere and making a mess. It also has an LED display that lets you see how much battery you have left.
Best budget pick
This head shaver has seven rounded razors for getting a close shave all over the curves of your scalp. You can charge it via a USB cable, making it great for keeping in your bathroom or in your toiletry bag. The shaver, which has a 4.2-star average rating from over 9,200 reviews on Amazon, also has a travel lock, so it won’t accidentally turn on in transit. The handle on top displays how much battery is left, so you don’t have to worry about it dying in the middle of a shave.
Best travel-friendly
This head and face shaver is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and comes with a blade cover and travel case, which means it’s a great option to take with you while traveling. Its ergonomic design makes it easy to grip and get a precise, close shave, according to the brand. It also has a built-in beard sensor that lets you know when you’re applying too much pressure, which helps prevent razor bumps and irritation. Plus, it’s highly rated with a 4.3-star average rating from more than 14,900 reviews on Amazon.
Best mess-free
Remington’s Balder Pro comes recommended by Marinelli for its five durable, rotating blades, which he says provide a quick and easy shave. Though it doesn’t come with any attachments, it does collect hair in a chamber underneath the blades that you can empty.
Best with attachments
The blades on this head shaver are flexible and contour to your head for an easy glide on the skin, according to Marinelli. It comes with a precision clipper and trimmer with three safety guards, a nose and ear hair trimmer, a pre-shave massager and an exfoliating brush. The head shaver also comes with a cleaning brush to dust off hair from the blades and has a textured ergonomic design that makes it easy to hold, according to the brand.
Best with charging stand
The Braun Series 9 electric foil razor, which has a 4.3-star average rating from over 13,000 reviews on Amazon, is primarily a beard trimmer and face shaver, but you can use it to shave your head in certain areas. Since it’s not a rotary shaver and doesn’t have a curved shape, it’s best for using in more flat areas, such as on sideburns and the temples, which is great for taper fades. It has a charging stand so you can prop it up in your bathroom instead of searching for it in a drawer. Plus, it’s easy to take with you on a trip since it fits in the included travel case.
Best for sensitive skin
This head shaver from Philips can help you achieve the closest shave without upsetting your skin, especially since it works perfectly well in contact with water, according to the brand. This means you can shave your head with shaving cream and water without worrying that it’ll break the device. It has a charging stand and a light on the front so you can monitor the battery level and avoid it running out unexpectedly. With a 4.4-star average rating from over 49,200 reviews on Amazon, the razor can last for up to 20 shaves on a full charge, according to the brand.
Frequently asked questions
What is a head shaver, exactly?
A head shaver is a tool that uses oscillating rotary blades, which are covered with a thin layer of metal and operate at a high speed, to cut hair. They come with multiple flexible blades to give the curvatures of the head a close and even shave.
What’s the difference between head shavers, trimmers, clippers and razors?
While you can use trimmers, clippers and razors to help get a smooth shave, the one you choose depends on how you want your hair to look, how close you want your shave to be and how much time you have, since they work at different speeds.
- Head shavers are ideal for clean and close shaving. They come with four to seven rotating blades meant to cut hair as close to the scalp as possible. “[Head shavers are] designed to shave hair down to stubble or completely smooth bald while protecting the skin, making them the easiest option for consumers with the least irritation,” says Pezzillo.
- Trimmers are better suited to get rid of hair around the neck and around the beard. They’re also good for making precise cuts around the head, according to Pezzillo. “These are electric cutters with a short flat blade that has a thin metal guard attached, typically used for shaving hair bald or doing lineups on the neckline and hairline,” she says.
- Clippers are designed to cut long and thick hair quickly or to do different types of fades, says Pezzillo. “These are larger devices used mainly for haircuts. They’re what you would use to cut fades or a one length buzz cut,” she says. Clippers won’t leave a clean, smooth finish but rather a very short buzz cut. If you want your head completely bald, it’s better to use a true head shaver, says Marinelli.
- Razors can provide a close shave using water and shaving cream, but you should use them with the tools above first if you have longer hair. While you could use a razor to shave your head, it would take much longer than if you used a head shaver. It’s best to only use a razor for getting a full shave on the beard or mustache area. “These are traditional blade razors, like straight razors, safety razors, or disposable razors,” says Pezzillo. “They’re used to shave hair completely off the skin, leaving it smooth and bald.”
How do I prep my head before shaving?
You should always aim to soften your hair and skin before shaving, which allows the shaver to glide more smoothly over your head, experts say. Before shaving, you should shower or soak a washcloth in warm water and apply it to your head, and use a pre-shave oil to prepare the skin and hair for a close shave. When using a head shaver, you don’t want to use a thick shaving cream barrier, which makes it harder for the blades to glide over the hair, so our experts recommend using a brush to apply a thin layer of cream.
Once you’re done using your head shaver, rinse your head with cool water and moisturize with a post-shave lotion specifically for the face or scalp.
How can you avoid irritation and razor bumps when shaving your head?
To avoid skin irritations, such as razor bumps, it’s best to get your skin and hair wet with warm water to relax the follicles, according to Fernandez, who says he only shaves after a shower since the hairs on the face and scalp are much easier to work with and shaving. “As someone who often battles razor bumps, I’ve learned that you should always apply water to any area before shaving it, otherwise it can actually be quite painful.” Plus, consider using a pre-shave oil or, if you do use a shaving cream or gel, only use a small amount since a little goes a long way.
Why trust NBC Select?
Mili Godio is an updates editor at NBC Select who has written a variety of articles across skin care, wellness, home and kitchen and more.
Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Select, where he writes about home and kitchen topics, including cleaning and home appliances. He also occasionally writes about hygiene and wellness.
More hair care essentials
- So you're expecting – does that mean you need a pregnancy-safe shampoo?
- Onion shampoo for hair growth? Yup, it's a thing
- The best scalp acne shampoos and treatments, according to dermatologists
- Menopause can wreak havoc on your hair – here's how to fight back
- 11 best shampoos for kids, according to experts
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
