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Grooming
By Esat Dedezade and Owen Gough
GQ's pick of the best head shavers deliver everything you need for a quick, easy and razor-free touch-up
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Not all men are blessed with flowing locks of bouncing curls, and that’s OK. No judgments here. However, an absence of a bounty of hair doesn’t mean you don’t have to take care of stray wisps to keep your bonce in tip-top shape. The best bald head shavers, then, are the cueball’s saviour, with all the tech and attachments to deliver silky-smooth results on par with Guardiola’s shiny dome. If you’re still rocking one of the best razor blades and wondering if there’s a better way to clear away unwanted hair, then this really is the article for you.
Available in wet and/or dry variants, bald head shavers can make shaving your head an absolute breeze – and reduce irritation in the process. As powerful as an electric razor, but with a tailored design to suit curved heads of all varieties, they are a surefire way to save you a trip to the local barber for a touchup. Cordless options unlock the chance to shave in the shower — or at least somewhere other than hunched over a plug socket — while lithium batteries mean you’ve got hours to eliminate every follicle should you wish.
Hair loss is no joke, so with all that in mind, we call on all bald men to gather round and read our rundown of the best head shavers to buy in 2024. Oh, and if you're after other grooming gear, feel free to check out our round-up of the best electric shavers, best beard trimmers, and best body hair trimmers too.
Top Head Shavers for a Smooth, Sleek Look: Expert Reviews by GQ
Best overall head shaver: Remington RX7
Remington
RX7
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Pop-up trimmer
- Five blades
- USB charging
Cons
- Shape of the handle takes some getting used to
- Often only discounted in large online sales
The RX7 combines top-notch performance for a reasonable price, from a well-known manufacturer, making it the best choice for most people. A quintuple set of rotary heads gives you a broad surface to quickly skim across your scalp, and each blade is articulate and can depress and move in the motion of your head for a consistent shave all around.
Best budget head shaver: DOAO A6 Electric Head Shaver
DOAO
A6 Electric Head Shaver
Pros & Cons
Pros
- USB-C charging
- Slick design
- Magnetic head alignment
Cons
- Not much to dislike at this price
It might not be the absolute cheapest choice on our list, but this head shaver offers superb performance and design for very little cash compared to many of its rivals.
Best prep head shaver: Remington Quickcut Pro
Remington
Quickcut Pro
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Small, manageable design
- Precision curved blade
- Wide range of cutting combs
- Decent battery
Cons
- Can't really be used as a beard or total head shaver
The Quickcut Pro is an absolute godsend for those who leave a bit too much time in between head-shaving sessions. With no guard, these clippers can trim your entire head hair down to a few millimetres in minutes, letting you enjoy a faster, smoother shave with your dedicated electric head shaver. A must-have shaving kit for those who don’t have the discipline or time to shave their head every few days.
Product specs | Remington RX7 | DOAO A6 | Quickcut Pro |
---|---|---|---|
Battery life | 60 minutes | 150 | 70 |
Type | Rotary | Rotary | Straight razor |
Wet shave | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Number of blades | 5 | 6 | 1 |
GQ's best head shavers 2024 at a glance…
- Best overall head shaver: Skull Shaver Pitbull Latinum Pro, £184 at amazon.co.uk
- Best five-blade head shaver: Remington RX7,
£78£70 at amazon.co.uk - Best budget head shaver: DOAO A6 Electric Head Shaver,
£40£42 at amazon.co.uk - Best beard and head shaver: Braun Series 9 Pro,
£540£260 at amazon.co.uk - Best prep head shaver: Remington Quickcut Pro,
£60£50 at amazon.co.uk
Skip to: How we test the best head shavers | Electric head shavers vs razor blades | Which shaver is best for a bald head? | What do barbers use to shave bald heads? | What’s the difference between electric shavers and head shavers? | How to shave your head with an electric head shaver | How do I clean a bald head shaver? | Do head shavers really work? | GQ's pick of the best grooming guides
How we test the best head shavers
Where possible, our team of grooming experts include head shavers that we’ve personally tried ourselves. We’ve used everything from budget models to premium devices from the likes of Braun and Remington, taking into consideration their ergonomics, ease of use, functionality, and features. Elsewhere, we look at a combination of reviews, specs, and standout features like USB charging and more, combined with years of grooming expertise to help select the best products. Ingrown hairs, be gone.
Electric head shavers vs razor blades
Nothing beats the close shave of a traditional or disposable razor. Their biggest downside though (apart from the extra time the lathering ritual and cleanup demands), is the fact that they can be quite intimidating, especially to novices. Taking a razor directly to your bonce is a rather daunting prospect, especially when you’re dealing with the back of your head and tricky areas around the ears. Given how long cuts can take to stop bleeding, it’s far from the most practical option.
Electric shavers, on the other hand, have a much lower chance of nicks and cuts, due to the nature of their built-in blade guards. They can normally be used wet and dry, letting you use shaving cream and other products to help reduce irritation and provide a faster shaving experience for most people to boot. They might result in stubble growing back a day or two earlier, but that’s a fair tradeoff for sheer convenience. Electric shavers are typically a great option for sensitive skin over a traditional blade, as the faster blades are designed to be kinder to your head for an effortlessly smooth shave without incident or dreaded razor bump.
Which shaver is best for a bald head?
Choosing which shaver is going to be best for your follicle (or lack of follicle) situation will largely depend on your budget and how big you want your device to be. Most shavers are bulky, with several rotary heads that provide a huge surface area to clip down unwanted hair efficiently and without too much strain on the battery. Shavers can have anything from one to 9 foil blades on the same device, so consider which type of trimmer you want and how you want to shave your hair.
Great mid-range options with a manageable size are the Remington RX5 and RX7, which both feature powerful motors with long-lasting batteries while also providing plenty of razor heads to shave the scalp quickly. On both models, the blades depress and articulate based on the ridges of your bounce so you can get an even shave everywhere.
Another solid option is Skull Shaver's Pitbull range. There are plenty to choose from in a range of budgets, but all have unique, ergonomic designs to make it easier to shave the back of your head without bending your wrist in all sorts of ways, and the ceramic blades do a great job of shaving your head without irritation.
What do barbers use to shave bald heads?
Many men prefer to put their trust in professional barbers when it comes to sorting out their fleeing follicles, and we don't blame them. While investing in tools to get the job done at home can save you money in the long run, it requires a lot of patience, practice and often more than a few failed attempts to get great results. If you're confident in your own skills and would simply like to use the tools that barbers prefer, however, then you should consider any quality tool from Wahl or Remington. Most pros like Wahl as it's a trusted brand that's long-lasting, offers a huge range of cutting lengths and is also weighty and ergonomic, meaning it's comfortable to use over plenty of trimming sessions.
What’s the difference between electric shavers and head shavers?
Electric shavers designed for your face and electric head shavers are, in essence very similar. In most cases, the key difference lies in their ergonomics. Face shavers tend to be elongated, providing a handle-like grip to easily follow the contours of your face and jawline for the closest shave possible. Head razors, on the other hand, are often much shorter and wider, letting you more easily hold them in your palm for a more comfortable experience to reach around the back of your bonce. The majority of dedicated head shavers also tend to use rotary blades, of which there are many. We’ve seen some with as many as eight blades, for maximum coverage and the fastest shave possible. You may find one or two foil shavers on this list that will do an admirable job of trimming up the mop when needed, but rotary is often the way,
That’s not to say you can’t use any face shavers on your head, mind. In fact, we’ve had success shaving our heads with all manner of electric shavers from the likes of Braun and Philips. But there’s no denying the superior ergonomics of a dedicated palm-held head shaver either for bald head shaving
How to shave your head with an electric head shaver
Before you shave your head, you’ll want to ensure that your hair is properly prepped. Anything longer than a few millimetres will make for a more difficult and irritable shaving experience, so you’ll want to prep properly.
We’ve had success with all manner of products to achieve this, with hair clippers and even beard trimmers getting the job done. Use them without a guard to get as close to your skin as possible, do a once-over to make sure every area of your head is tackled, and you’re good to go. If you then shave your head every few days, you can skip this preparation step, until the next time you leave it a little too long.
When it comes to the actual shaving, you can opt for a wet or dry shave (as long as the product supports it). Using foam can help reduce irritation while getting a closer shave, and if your shaver is waterproof, doing it in the shower makes for an easy cleanup. Simply move the head shaver over your head, covering the whole area diligently. You can use your fingers to see if there are any spots you’ve missed at the back, and feel free to use a detailer like a guardless beard trimmer or clippers from the likes of Andis or Wahl for shaping your beard at the point that it meets your ears/head.
How do I clean a bald head shaver?
Maintenance is the key to keeping the runtime of your device to its best, though don’t fret, as it’s often an easy process to add to your grooming routine. Before and after every use, it’s worth wiping down the blades with a lint-free cloth to clear out any gunk from your previous shave. Some models are waterproof so you can run it under a warm tap or in the shower to give it a thorough clean. Once you’ve done that, pat it dry with a cloth again to keep the blades pristine. While you’re at it, it’s worth buying blade oil to lather them up and keep them sharp.
In most cases, you can also buy replacement blades to extend the lifespan even further, with subscription packages to sign up for so you never have to stress about when your next one is arriving in the post.
Do head shavers really work?
Regardless of whether this is your first time waving goodbye to those precious follicles on your bonce or you've been shaving for years, you'll want to make sure you grab a device that's going to treat your dome with care, and respect and get the job done properly. Men of yesteryear would use cutthroat razors, wet blades, or just resign themselves to the loss, but modern men have options to take matters into their own hands.
So the crucial question is: do head shavers really work? Of course, modern technology has resulted in some exceptional tools that will efficiently prize the hair from your scalp, so the answer is yes. With a bit of practice, all the trimmers below will give you the results you're seeking without resulting in razor burn or wonky cuts.
GQ's pick of the best grooming guides
if you've been reading our roundup here and suddenly found yourself keen to explore more avenues to tidy up hair or actually take care of your own body, then allow us to point you in the direction of our GQ editors' complete grooming collection. Below, you'll find every guide we've got on how to take care of beards, skincare routines or what new moisturisers you should pay attention to.
Grooming electricals
Best electric shavers | Best razors | Best body hair trimmers | Best beard trimmers | Best hair clippers | Best nose hair trimmers | Best ball hair trimmers
Grooming
Beard oils | Moisturisers | Men's fragrances | SPF moisturisers | Eye serums | Anti-ageing creams | Shampoos | Face washes | Night creams | Deodorants | Exfoliators | Body washes | LED face masks | Beard washes | Hair products
Best overall head shaver
1/11
Skull Shaver
Skull Shaver Pitbull Platinum PRO
- Battery life: 90 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 4
Skull Shaver’s Platinum Pro is at the higher end of the head shaver spectrum, with a unique ergonomic design that’s comfortably and securely held in place between your fingers. Is it expensive? Absolutely, but you’re paying for a significant amount of versatility which should make your regular shaving routine significantly easier. Four flexible rotary blades make quick work of head hair, while a three-blade attachment for face shaving is also included. Water resistance also allows for shaving in the shower, making for easy clean up too. Amazon won't give you a warranty when you buy, but these devices are durable enough for several years of use without much issue.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- Face-shaving attachment
- Premium build
Cons
- Pricey
Best five-blade head shaver
2/11
Remington
RX7
- Battery life: 60 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades : 5
Remington’s superb RX7 is probably the best head shaver for most people – at least those of us hoping to eliminate stray wisps from our bonce, anyway. This is due to a combination of reasonable pricing with generous five-blade heads. The large surface area gives you more freedom to be liberal with your movements and, ultimately, results in a quicker job. A waterproof build, a USB rechargeable battery, and a comfortable, grippy design also add to the overall value. 60 minutes of battery life is yet another welcome addition to the spec sheet, and while you can get other head shavers with more blades for less, this is from a well-established company for additional peace of mind.It also arrives in a handy travel case should you need to slice up the follicles on a trip.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Pop-up trimmer
- Five blades
- USB charging
Cons
- Shape of the handle takes some getting used to
- Often only discounted in large online sales
Best eight-blade head shaver
3/11
Snowtaros
8D Head shaver
- Battery life: 60 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 8
This head shaver is approaching ridiculous territory (in a good way), with a whopping eight rotary blades to its name, think of it like the hydra of men’s head shaving. Combined with their flexible heads, the sheer amount of cutting surface area on offer should make for one of the fastest head-shaving experiences around. Throw in an affordable price and a plethora of accessory heads for nose hair, face cleaning, and more, and you’ve got a complete package for a super-tempting price.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Eight blades
- Lots of attachments
- USB charging
Cons
- Not an established brand
- Not particularly durable
Best premium head shaver
4/11
Braun
Series 9 Pro
- Battery life: 60 mins
- Type: Foil
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 5 shaving elements
One of the most expensive picks on our list isn’t necessarily a head shaver, but the powerful performance of Braun’s Series 9 Pro means it’ll easily and comfortably get the job done. With precision-engineered, surgical steel blades for fast, reliable cutting action, it should blow the cheaper offerings on our list out of the water. The included cleaning station takes the hassle of maintenance out of the equation too. Again, it’s not the most ergonomic option, nor technically designed for this specific job, but having used multiple Braun shavers on our heads before, we can confidently say this one is still comfortable to use.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Premium build
- Cleans itself
- Powerful performance
Cons
- Expensive
GQ's favourite head shaver
5/11
Skull Shaver Pitbull Gold PRO
- Battery life: 90 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 4
The Gold Pro, a step below the platinum found elsewhere on this list, has a four-blade design which glides comfortably over bumps and curves, providing a close shave without nicks or irritation. Essentially, it’s designed almost identically to the Silver and Platinum but has a middling battery life and is also designed to accommodate shaving your face as well as your head, making it a handy one-stop-shop solution for banishing stubble. A waterproof build lets you shave wet or dry, just remember to pat-dry it once you’re done.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- Can be used in the shower
- Suitable for face shaving
Cons
- More expensive than some rivals
Best head shaver for battery life
6/11
MAX-T Electric Shaver
- Battery life: 120 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 3
The MAX-T is a more traditional facial hair electric shaver, but if you want to kill two birds with one stone (without breaking the bank), then it’s definitely worth considering as affordable piece of kit that can pull double duty. An impressive 120 minutes of use per charge means less reaching for the charging cable, while a built-in precision pop-up trimmer lets you attend to tricker areas such as those around the ears. Waterproof and with readily available blade replacements on Amazon, it’s a practical option that’s certainly worth considering — if you can get past its relatively (and at this price, justifiably) bland design.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Long battery life
- Fast charging
- Pop-up precision
Cons
- Bland design compared to some rivals
Best six-blade head shaver
7/11
DOAO
A6 Electric Head Shaver
- Battery life: 1500 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 6
This circular six-blade rotary shaver is one of those rare products that seems to deliver on all counts — price, design, and performance — while remaining unique amongst a horde of similar copy-and-paste peers. Its circular design makes it comfortable to hold, while the sleek black finish with a hint of yellow accent makes for a device you’d be happy to leave out in full view. Built-in magnets let you easily remove and line up the shaving head for cleaning, while USB-C charging and well-reviewed performance make it a very practical choice. One of the best-selling head shavers currently on Amazon, and with good reason.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- USB-C charging
- Slick design
- Magnetic head alignment
Cons
- Not much to dislike at this price
Best head shaver for smooth results
8/11
SmoothKing Electric Head Shaver
- Battery life: 90 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 7
SmoothKing's wonderfully put-together package is centred around a spherical all-black (with a hint of chrome) body, which feels sturdy and comfortable. With a seven-blade rotary setup, it makes quick work of head hair, with fewer passes required, leading to less irritation in the process. It can be used wet or dry and even comes with an attachable body-grooming head and guards for tending to other de-hairing needs. Throw in the handy USB-C charging base for quick battery top-ups and attractive storage, and you've got a rather snazzy package all-round.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- USB-C charging base
- Body-shaver attachment
- Premium build
Cons
- Maybe a little bulky for some
Best head shaver under £40
9/11
Gisaae
Head Shavers for Men
- Battery life: 90 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 7
It might have an unusual-sounding name but it's more than capable of clearing your dome from the hairs that blight it with the 90-minute battery, seven-rotary blade head and additional beard-trimming and edging attachment to complete the overall experience. The handle isn't necessarily bulky but it's a bit unwieldy at times. However, given the affordable price tag and replacement blade options on offer, this is a more than capable choice for all.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- USB charging base
- LED light
- Waterproof
- Additional beard trimming attachment
Cons
- A smidge unwieldy to use
Best wide-angle head shaver
10/11
Gabrella
Head Shavers for Men
- Battery life: 120 mins
- Type: Rotary
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 9
What's better than one razor blade? Two? Five? How about nine? That might seem like overkill to clear out your bonce of unwanted hairs, but the broad surface area allows for quicker, even shaving, which is music to our ears for a stress-free shave. This particular one, while geared towards faster shaving, does have two hours of charge so you can take your time if you please, but we do reckon most of your time will likely be spent cleaning it, as it's a bit of a beast.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Decent battery life
- Huge surface area
- Waterproof
- Affordable
Cons
- Requires a lot of cleaning and maintenance
Best travel head shaver
11/11
Remington
Quickcut Pro
- Battery life: 70 mins
- Type: Motor razor
- Wet shave: Yes
- Number of blades: 1
Sometimes it's best to get a device that does the one job you've bought it for with expert confidence, rather than a jack-of-all-trades-type model that does lots of things fairly well. Remington's Quickcut Pro is a small, ergonomic straight razor that decimates head hair with a broad, skin-safe, bow-shaped blade that easily sweeps along the ridges and bumps of your bonce for a close shave. It's got a decent battery and plenty of guiding combs so you can customise your look as you go. Seeing as it's reasonably priced, too, it's a great pickup before the new year.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Small, manageable design
- Precision curved blade
- Wide range of cutting combs
- Decent battery
Cons
- Can't really be used as a beard or total head shaver
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