The Best Head Shaver for Bald Men

Like bald heads, the best head shaver for men is unique to each dude. Which one you choose will come down to how you like to go about making your scalp silky smooth. Some guys want a dedicated shaver, while others want a single device for both scalp and face. Certain guys with tight schedules or short attention spans value outright speed over dolphin-skin smoothness. Meanwhile, others want a head shaver that will deliver the slickest, shiniest cueball possible—which requires a manual razor. In which case, do you choose a safety razor, a cartridge razor, or an alien-looking contraption with a surprisingly brilliant design?

As GQ’s lead grooming product reviewer, I’m going to help you find the best head shaver for you by laying out the pros and cons for each category of shaver, and picking the winner for each category. If you know what style you love, you can jump right down to the best bald shaver in that category. But if you’re new to this chrome dome life—or not entirely happy with your current shaver—I’d really suggest you read up on a few options.

The Best Head Shavers for Bald Heads, According to GQ

Best Head Shaver Overall: Remington Balder Pro Head Shaver XR7000

The top prize in this contest goes to the device that suits the widest group of people, causes the least amount of irritation, and features an ergonomic design that doesn’t just shave, but glides—making for an unparalleled shaving experience. The five rotary heads of the Remington Balder Pro XR7000 give any stubbly dome a honeycomb hug for bump-free polishing, no matter how thick or curly your hair. And clean-up is as simple as a rinse under the faucet. Of course, our lead tester (my bald brother) prefers to use the Remington in the shower because it’s fully water-resistant, and cleanup becomes a breeze. The battery live is good, too—it lasts for several weeks of every-third-day refreshes, which means you can travel on a full charge and know there’s enough juice for more than just a pre-best-friend’s-wedding blitz. That it needs four hours for a full recharge isn’t great, but the cost-to-quality ratio soars above any of the Remington’s palm-held rotary competition. Even if you end up using a manual razor shaver on most days, I’d still suggest grabbing Remington’s palm-grip shaver. It’s a backup for the days you’re lazy or in a hurry (like a quick touch-up before a date or work dinner), or those times when your scalp’s irritated and the prospect of dragging a blade across it would be torture.

Best Multi-Purposes Rotary Shaver: Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige Rotary Razor

While you might think that any old face shaver can handle scalp duty, the cordless S9000 shows what it takes to be a master of both domains. While it won’t provide quite the same ergonomic ease as Remington’s palm-held number, there’s a reason the S9000 took home top honors in our best electric face shavers roundup: this model has the most muscle of any rotary device, mowing through even the curliest and thickest stubble. Even still, it manages to be gentle on sensitive skin despite its six rotary blades. It’s definitely a superior wet/dry crossover device compared to any electric foil shaver. That said, our lead tester suggests using some skin lubrication while shaving, and staying out of the shower despite the S9000’s water-sealed build; it’s a bit slippery when wet, and a drop in the tub is probably a $300 loss.

Best Foil Shaver: Wahl Professional Vanish Foil Shaver

If your priority is the closest shave possible without the mess and hassle of a manual razor, the Wahl Vanish is your best choice. (Wahl makes a ton of great clippers and trimmers, too.) It earned a nod in GQ’s best electric face shaver roundup as one barber’s favorite device, but here it won over our tester for a design that offsets some of the pain points of using a foil shaver for your head. Though the ergonomics aren’t as friendly compared to rotaries, the Wahl’s tiered head can deliver relatively quick, ultra-smooth results just shy of actual manual razor blades, with much less irritation. With one asterisk: you need to work in steady, vertical strokes and prepare to hunt down patches in your blind spots (unless you have a roomie to help). As an extra endorsement, Wahl’s Vanish shaver is the go-to for my trusted barber source, Dale Grinstead-Mayle, owner and barber at Goodfellow’s Tonsorial Parlor in Columbus, Ohio and White Salmon, Washington. He loves it for its endurance and durability—and close shave—and cites it as a perfect pick for daily or every-other day usage.

Best Razor for Head Shaving: HeadBlade Moto Head and Skull Shaving Razor

Of all the times I’ve ever used the word “Zamboni,” the majority have been to describe the HeadBlade Moto razor and the way it just glides across the scalp to keep your dome polished. It’s long been my brother’s go-to head shaver, to the point that he can use it on autopilot—a real testament to how brilliantly HeadBlade has improved the mild terror of using a razor. The shaver’s single, wide-set sharp blade is also forgiving on a delicate scalp; you can get the most hairs possible in a single stroke without risking irritation from over-shaving (not to mention, without risking bumps from dull shaving). The Headblade’s brilliance boils down to a combo of its functionality, ergonomics and, well, a little ball. The Moto razor rests snugly in the crook of your fingers, with a loop to ensure a no-slip grip. From there, the roller ball keeps the blade tracking smoothly across the scalp as you roll the Moto back over your head as if you’re running your hands through invisible hair.

Best Cartridge Razor for Head Shaving: Gillette SkinGuard Cartridge Razor

The masculine urge to stick with the groomer you know best can be intense. If you insist on using a cartridge razor to shave your head, then take some advice and dial back the blade count—fewer blades means fewer bumps and ingrown hairs. Gillette’s SkinGuard razor only has two blades, nicely spaced so that they minimize skin irritation and stubble accumulation. It also doesn’t bend and pivot a dozen different ways like some other cartridge razors, and that’s a good thing when it comes to head shaving. Unlike your neck or jawline, your head is a relatively simple round egg. The SkinGuard can pivot front to back, which means it won’t wobble around as you track down blind spots or sneak it into tough-to-reach spots.

Best Safety Razor for Head Shaving: Leaf Shave “Twig” Single Edge Safety Razor

As safety razors go, the Leaf Twig is extremely friendly to first-time users and cartridge converts—which is why I’ve called it the best razor and also managed to convert my brother Sam to using it as a bald-head shaver. The Twig’s single blade allows for an efficient, irritation-free shave, minimizing bumps and ingrown hairs, with an almost identical version—the Thorn—made for the densest, thickest, curliest hair. The short handle makes it relatively easy to maintain control over the task at hand, too, without too much twisting and torquing as you go ’round the globe. Plus, the Twig has some nice design touches: Twisting the bottom of the handle unlocks the old blade, so you don’t have to pry it out with your fingers, and the all-metal body is nicely weighted. Not to mention the blessing of extremely cheap safety razors (versus the price of cartridge replacements.) In the safety razor race, nothing outshines Leaf right now, except maybe for your smooth, polished scalp.

More Head Shavers We Love

What to Consider When Buying a Head Shaver

The decision tree that will lead you to finding the best bald shaver for your situation starts with a binary decision: On one side are manual razors (you know, the kind with replaceable blades that you drag against your skin), and on the other side are the electric razors. Both categories of bald shaver have their strengths and weaknesses—and break down into narrower categories (e.g., the foil vs rotary shaver debate), which will lead you to the bald head of your dreams. Below, I’ve broken down the differences between manual and electric, including advise from barber and men’s grooming expert Steve Purcell, who is also the founder of Uppercut Deluxe grooming products. But remember, even within each segment, there are further pros and cons to consider.

Electric head shavers come in three basic flavors: foil shavers (the ones with the horizontal trimming heads with small holes), rotary shavers (the ones with circular heads), and multi-tasking trimmers (usually beard or hair trimmers). I believe that even if you prefer a manual razor for your usual shaving routine, you should still have an electric razor on hand. Electric razors are faster, less messy, and cause less irritation like bumps and ingrown hairs) to skin than manual razors. For that reason, I think every DIY bald guy should have an electric on hand, even if you prefer a manual razor as your daily driver. When you woke up late the day of a key client meeting or you’re packing for your sister-in-law’s destination wedding, an electric head shaver comes in handy. And in case this needs to be said out loud, you can absolutely use an electric razor on your head even if you prefer a manual razor for shaving your face (or vice versa).

• Faster and less messy than manual shaving
• Easier to use, particularly on tough-to-reach spots
• Less skin irritation, including less chance of ingrown hairs
• Potentially cheaper over time (no razor replenishment)

• Not a completely smooth shave (and stubble returns the next day)
• As a result, need to shave more frequently
• More expensive up front
• Need to be maintained (regular oiling)

The two main types of dedicated electric head shavers are foil shavers and rotary shavers. Foil shavers give the closest possible cut for an electric head shaver at the expense of agility and ergonomics. The best rotary shavers can’t get quite as tight to the scalp as foils, but tend to be more comfortable to use, and you can just zig-zag them all over your head with ease until the job’s done. Plus, those rotary blades tend to catch the hairs fairly well. Purcell endorses rotary shavers, since they are much gentler on sensitive skin. He’s not out on foil shavers, though: “If your skin can handle it, a foil shaver will cut through any type of short stubble. It’s just that the rotary shaver is softer and easier to get a consistent cut with, and a more convenient option [ergonomically]. The vast majority of users would benefit from a rotary shaver due to the way they cut the head hair.”