Head shaver review | Advertiser disclosure
I Tried 6 Popular Head Razors so You Didn’t Have to
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By Matteo De la Fuente · Shaving EnthusiastArticle updated: November 5, 2026
I’ve shaved my head long enough to have a graveyard drawer of “game changers.” I hate to admit it, but I keep buying more shavers because I keep falling for the marketing. There are simply too many shaving options out there, so when one brand breaks through the noise, you get familiar with them, you think they’re okay, you break out your credit card, then bam! You’re stuck with another “game changer”.
I don’t want you to be like me. That’s why I took one for the team (you’re welcome). I splashed out for the 6 most popular razor brands to settle it not only for myself, but for you as well.
I considered each razor on what actually matters when you shave a head.
- 01how close it gets
- 02how your skin feels after
- 03how easy it is to reach the back
- 04how long the battery lasts
- 05what it really costs you once the refills start.
Spoiler: the most expensive one didn’t win. The cheapest one didn’t either.
Number 6: Skull Shaver Pitbull Gold Pro
This is one of the classic “game changers” I was talking about. Yes, it’s a comfortable shave, but it will 100% leave you with some sort of stubble. If you want a smooth head, you must pair the Skull Shaver with a finishing tool like a manual or foil razor. For the price, you can easily buy something with a closer shave and with more affordable head replacements options.
Type- 4-head rotary razor
Price- $139.99 regular / $110.99 on sale ($99.89 with subscription)
Run time- 90 minutes
Water- IPX5 — fine in the shower, just don’t submerge it
Type
Price
Run time
WaterWhat I liked
Comfortable design — the palm grip is the best design here for reaching the back of your head. I liked that the shape of the shaver is slightly curved to fit the contours of my head.
Fast shave — with 4 rotary heads it’s a relatively quick shave at 4 minutes.
What I didn’t
Unimpressive shave — it doesn’t even come close to being a close shave. I had to go in around the ears and around the neck with a manual razor to clean up, which extended my shaving time.
Irritation — I had to go over problematic areas (i.e., around the ears) a few times for it to get everything, irritating my skin.
Clunky — this is a heavy machine. Might be tiring to hold it up, especially when you need multiple passes.
Expensive replacements — Forte PRO 4 heads cost $34.99 (blade only) or $31.49 (subscription)! That’s about a third of the price of the original unit.
Number 5: Freebird FlexSeries Pro
Think of this like the Skull Shaver, but improved in all aspects. It’s a slightly closer shave by maybe 1mm. It’s slightly faster at shaving with fewer passes. Even the grip is better designed. There’s a rubber grip strip at the bottom that gives your fingers that extra hold. The cherry on top is that it’s at a more attractive price point compared to the Skull Shaver. BUT, watch out for the subscription! Cancel before they bill you.
- Type
- 4-head rotary shaver
- Price
- $79.95 on sale ($59.95 with subscription)
- Run time
- 90 minutes
- Water
- IPX7 — in-shower shaving and rinsing under the tap
What I liked
Efficient — the Freebird is the faster and more efficient shaver compared to the Skull Shaver, with fewer passes.
Ergonomic — feels great in your hand because of its lightness and rubber grip strip. It’s perfect for head shaving.
Waterproof — out of every electric shaver on this list, this unit is tied with the Braun as the most waterproof. It’s IPX7, so shower shaving and rinsing it under the tap are no problem!
Reasonably priced replacements — from $17.95 per head on a 6-pack subscription ($29.95 for one), it’s one of the cheaper replacements on this list if you subscribe.
What I didn’t
Mediocre shave — same issues with closeness as the Skull Shaver, but this is a common problem among rotaries because of their design (i.e., the guards around each cutter prevent a close shave).
Lack of transparency — when I bought the Freebird, I didn’t realize I subscribed to their razors until I was billed again the next month.
Blades dull quickly — you’re burning through blades. Freebird recommends a new blade every 4–6 weeks if you shave daily.
Number 4: Merkur 34C Heavy Duty
The learning curve was rough for this one since I don’t usually use a manual razor for my entire head, only touch ups. The entire time I was shaving, I was thinking about how awkward it’d be when I show up at work with these cuts on my head. The second time around, the shaving cream and warm towel helped, but now my shaving routine is longer and involves extra steps. However, this bad boy definitely gave me a better shave than literally anything else on this list… I just had to go through a sharp learning curve, show off some shaving scars, buy shaving cream, add extra steps, and extend my routine by 10 minutes.
- Type
- Manual razor
- Price
- $60
- Run time
- Unlimited 😏
- Water
- Fully waterproof 😏
What I liked
Close shave — nothing on this list beats a sharp double-edge blade for raw closeness.
Cheap refills — Merkur Super Platinum blades run $8.95 per 10-pack and a 100-pack of Astra Superior Platinum runs about $10–12 online — that’s about a dime a blade.
Durable — thanks to its German engineering, this thing is built like a tank and looks good on your counter.
What I didn’t
Painful — expect nicks and scars while you learn the angles. I had to lay low for a few days after trying this out. If you’re squeamish at the sight of blood, do not buy.
Learning curve — shaving is a skill and it takes time to learn, but if you have limited mobility and flexibility or simply don’t want to learn a different shaving style, this is definitely not for you.
Too much time — added a lot of time and extra steps to my routine because you definitely need shaving cream and a warm towel to get away unscathed.
Hidden costs — despite the low cost of the blades, you need to account for shaving cream and soap for your shave.
Number 3: Andis ProFoil Lithium Titanium
We are now entering foil shaver territory! The upgrade from a rotary to a foil gives me a super close finish on my head. Very few missed spots because the double foil design hits every hair twice instead of just once with the rotary. Also, it’s one of the two foils on this list that are coated for a smooth glide. I’ve read so many good reviews for the Andis online, but what I didn’t realize was that it’s for professional barbers, not us regular civilians. This means that the design is meant to be held by someone else or meant to be used on your face, not your head. This is a great option for face shaving, but it’s very awkward to handle if you want to use it on your head.
- Type
- Double-foil razor
- Price
- $79.99
- Run time
- 80 minutes
- Water
- Not waterproof! Can’t shave in the shower
What I liked
Close shave — it’s a barbershop staple for a reason! It beats any rotary any day!
Affordable replacements — a foil assembly plus inner cutters is $23.99.
Light — this baby is under 5 oz and works corded or cordless.
Foil coating — the gold titanium-coated foils were super smooth.
What I didn’t
Awkward grip — the oblong shape isn’t designed around self-shaving the back of your head because it’s specifically for barber-use.
Finishing only — like any other foil, it works best on 1–2 days of growth. You need to pair this tool up with either a trimmer or rotary for the complete shave.
Delicate foils — foils may break if too much pressure is applied.
Number 2: Braun Series 9 Pro+
You know you’ve made it when you shave with this legend. It does it all. It delivers an ultra-close shave without irritation. Unlike the other foils on the list, it handles both long and short stubble flawlessly, saving you the pain of having two devices for shaving! There’s that German engineering for you, but like anything good in life, there’s a catch. It’s expensive. In fact, it’s so pricy, that I didn’t actually buy the Braun for this review, I borrowed it from a friend for a week (gave him the Skull Shaver, fair trade, right?). Additionally, the refills are quite pricey and do not last the exaggerated 18 months as Braun claims. But, if money is not an object for you, then this is the best razor out there.
- Type
- Multi-foil razor
- Price
- $349.99 on sale (list $409.99)
- Run time
- 1 hour
- Water
- “100% waterproof” — no published IPX rating
What I liked
Low irritation — it’s the best feeling electric razor on this list that’s perfect for my sensitive skin. It has multi-foils that kiss your skin like baby angels.
Close shave — by virtue of being a foil, the Braun has a very close shave that’s almost like a manual razor.
Powerful motor — when you turn on the Braun, it feels like a panther purring in your hand. It rips through hair (in a good way) and rarely do I feel hairs snagging on the blades.
Versatile stubble length — this is the only foil shaver on this list with a built-in trimmer, so it can function as both a trimmer and a finishing foil. The Braun may be worth it if you want to save time and counterspace.
What I didn’t
Expensive — although the entire package comes with accessories, it doesn’t ignore the fact that it will cost you an arm and a leg.
Short run time — due to the powerful motor on this unit, the battery drains incredibly fast, lasting a few shaves before it’s time to recharge. This is the unit with the shortest time on our list by 20 minutes. Not the best travel option.
Expensive refills — Braun recommends a new head every 18 months, which costs $79.99, but according to my friend, the realistic foil lifespan is 4–6 months with medium usage. That’s $159.98 to $239.97 per year on replacement heads alone.
Awkward for heads — the long handle works great for my face, but it becomes awkward if you’re using it to shave your head.
My #1 pick
Number 1: Aberlite Touch 2
I had serious doubts about how Aberlite would stack up against conventional brands, but I was pleasantly surprised. Since this is a foil, the smoothness is comparable to the Braun. There is a tad bit more irritation, but it’s barely noticeable. The thing that really stands out to me are the foils. The Touch 2 is one of only 2 razors on the list that coats them, sort of like teflon for pans, so shaving feels more like gliding a piece of ice over my head. Unlike the other foils, it has a compact design so it’s easier to grip it when shaving my head. And for the price, you can’t really beat it. You get almost-Braun-level performance for 25% of the price, and that’s why it’s my number 1 pick.
- Type
- Double-foil head shaver
- Price
- $89.99 one-time, or $69.99 with the Blade Refill Club
- Run time
- 2–2.5 hours of shaving
- Water
- IPX6 — in-shower shaving. Under the shower head is okay
What I liked
Closeness — like for all foils, this one gets extremely close to a manual razor in terms of closeness.
Less irritation — it’s an efficient shave that doesn’t force me to go over the same spot again and again like a rotary.
Gets tricky spots — the narrow head moved around my neckline and ears without any problem.
Next-level foil coating — the black diamond-like coated foils made my shave feel like butter. Apparently, they’re tougher and last longer than the gold titanium-coated ones on the Andis.
Cheap replacements — a 2-set black DLC refill costs $39.99, so that’s around $20 per set and among one of the cheapest replacements on this list.
Tanky battery life — this is the longest-running unit out of everything on this list (aside from Merkur, which is a manual razor) at 2–2.5 hours, beating the next best razor by 30–60 minutes.
What I didn’t
Finishing only — like any other foil, it works best on 1–2 days of growth. You need to pair this tool up with either a trimmer or rotary for the complete shave.
Delicate foils — foils may break if too much pressure is applied.
Is the Aberlite Touch 2 actually worth it?
If you’re expecting a miracle shaver that never gives you irritation, gets every hair, delivers a baby-butt smooth shave every time, and has foils that stay sharp for 6 months, then it’s not that. I don’t even think the Braun could do that despite its price point. But if you want a reasonably priced razor with a consistently good shave and can tolerate the rare irritation, the Touch 2 is it.
I reviewed each unit with as much objectivity as I could. I looked at both the pros and the cons, as well as the data available on their website. The Aberlite Touch 2 is the most well-balanced shaving option for your money.
EDIT: After this article was launched, Aberlite reached out to me about a special deal for my readers. They’ve allegedly sold out once due to this article, so they may sell out again soon.
Limited-time offer
Exclusive Offer for Readers
Touch 2 + $68 in free gifts
They’ve sold out 3 times in the past, so if you’re reading this, the deal is still live.
Our top pick
Touch 2 Foil Head Shaver
Razor-close shave- Minimal irritation
- IPX6 Waterproof
- Ergonomic grip
- Fair-priced refills
- Smooth-glide foils
What’s in the boxworth $68 FREE
Aftershave balm
Pre-shave oil
Charger block
USB-C cable
Protective cover
Travel pouch
Cleaning brush
Grooming bag$89.99 compare at $120 Save $30
Shaving often? Get it for $69.99 with the Blade Refill Club
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
2-Year
Warranty- Hassle-Free Returns
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
2-YearLimited-time offer
Exclusive Offer for Readers
Touch 2 + $73 in free gifts + 30-day money back guarantee
This offer allows you to try the Touch 2 risk-free. They’ve sold out 3 times in the past, so if you’re reading this, then the deal is still live. We recommend securing your Touch 2 while it’s still available.
Our top pick
Touch 2 Foil Head Shaver
- Closeness matches that of a manual razor shave
- Minimal irritation on skin
- Waterproof for in-shower shaving
- Ergonomically designed for shaving head
- Reasonably priced foil & blade refills
- Coated foils for a smooth glide
What’s in the box
Charger block
Grooming bagProtective coverTravel pouchUSB-C cableCleaning brush
Aftershave balm
Pre-shave oil$89.99 compare at $120
or $69.99 with the Blade Refill Club
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
- 2-Year Warranty
- Hassle-Free Returns
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