All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Whether you’re joining the chromedome elite out of genetic necessity, aerodynamics, or curiosity, getting the best head shaver (or razor) is your first step to smooth satisfaction. There are so few ways to approach shaving your head that the device you choose kinda defines the experience—and the result. How do you want to look: stubbly or dolphin-sleek? What kind of hair density, strand thickness, and curl pattern are you working with? How sensitive is your scalp’s skin? How much time do you have in the morning? (And do you really just want a set of clippers? In which case, we've got the best hair clippers over here.)
Point is: finding the right head shaver requires more than just grabbing whatever's cheapest when you search “head shavers” on Amazon. Below, we’ll break down what you should consider before you add to cart. Then we'll make sure you get the right gear, whether you're chasing the barely-there stubble of Jason Statham or the flawlessly shiny dome of vintage Air Jordan.
The Best Bald Shavers, at a Glance
- The Best Electric Shaver (and Best Overall): Remington Balder Pro Head Shaver, $60
- The Best Face + Head Shaver: Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige, $290
- The Best Foil Shaver: Bevel Electric Foil Shaver, $110
- Best Grooming Shaver: Braun Series 9 13-in-1 Grooming Device, $130
- The Best Razor Overall: HeadBlade Moto Razor, $15
- The Best Cartridge Razor: Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor kit, $20
- The Best Safety Razor: Tatara Masamune razor, $187
What to Consider When Buying a Head Shaver
We know there are plenty of variables to consider when you’re buying new gear of any kind, and the best bald shaver is no different. You’re looking at price, brand name, quality, and ease of use—all the same factors we’re considering when testing and selecting our favorite hardware for shaving your head. But the biggest decision may also be the easiest. And it'll start you in the right direction.
When it comes to head shavers, you’ve got two sides to choose from: a manual razor-based shaver, or an electric shaver. Within our picks we’ve got plenty of options for both sides. But both categories of bald shaver have their strengths and weaknesses—and they tend to inform or align with your goals for getting the bald head of your hopes and dreams.
They come in the same three basic flavors: foil shavers (the ones with the straight-across trimming heads), rotary shavers (the ones with circular heads), and multi-tasking flat-bladed groomers (like you’d use on a beard). Some of these are multi-tools built to go from hairline to jawline (and even farther south), while others are scalp-specific.
Truth be told, we think every man with a DIY-done bald head should have an electric razor on hand, even if you go the razor blade route. It’s a safety net for when you need a super-fast shave, or your scalp starts acting up.
Pros for electric shavers
- Faster than manual blades
- Easier to use
- Less skin irritation or chances for ingrown hairs.
Cons for electric shavers
- Won’t leave your scalp silky-smooth
- Shave more often
- Can get pricey
Like the name says, they use a razor blade—or multiple blades—to cut your hair. You could Bic your head, but it’s 2023, and there are much nicer models. Most importantly, a manual razor is really the only way to get that smooth-as-an-ocean pebble sleekness. There are, of course, some tradeoffs for such a literal close shave.
Pros for manual razor shavers:
- The absolute smoothest possible shave
- Lightweight and simple
- Shave lasts longer (often up to a day or two)
- Generally inexpensive to up front
Cons for manual razor shavers:
- Higher potential for cuts and skin irritation, including razor bumps
- A slower, slightly messier process
- You’re running a really sharp object against a part of your head and neck that you can’t see
- Gotta budget for replacement blades.
The Best Electric Shaver Overall: Remington
Why choose a rotary saver: Not only do we think a rotary shaver is the best style of electric shaver, we think it’s the best tool for bald guys, period. The math is simple: it takes the least effort and time to get a smooth shave. Maybe not as silicone-smooth as a bladed shaver, but close. A built-for-baldness rotary shaver manages the curvature of the head really effectively, and can mow down thick and curly strands—plus those follicles that point off in odd directions—better than foil shavers. Plus, it fits in your hand really nicely, keeping you from having to contort yourself like a young Jackie Chan just to get a shave.
Why we like this one: Remington's palm-fit shaver is an Amazon best seller for a reason: it's best in class rotary head provides the cleanest results on the first pass. It's also waterproof, making it easy to mow over stubble in the shower, and maintains enough juice (50 minutes per charge) to get you through most of the month. Remember how we said that everyone should own an electric head shaver, even if you prefer manual options? What we really meant was that everyone should own this specific one.
The Best Multi-Tasking Rotary Shaver: Philips Norelco
Why choose a multi-tasking rotary shaver: We’ve laid out all the upsides of a rotary shaver above, but the Remington really only works on your cranium. If having two devices for one job—eliminating the hair on your head—seems excessive, then a multitasking rotary shaver is your jack-of-both trades, morning-simplifying, space-saving solution.
Why we like this one: Philips Norelco's shavers dominate the rotary field, particularly for facial shaving, and its latest device offers the closest shave yet. In our experience, it's on par with—or better than—anything foil shavers can provide, since it's able to trim scalp hair right down to skin level. If you want one shaver for your entire head, chin to scalp, the "Prestige" is your pick. It's expensive, sure, but it's also shaving two birds with one stone.
The Best Foil Shaver: Bevel
Why choose a foil shaver: Foil shavers will trim the hair closer to the skin than a rotary shaver—to the point that it almost feels razor-blade smooth. But you’ll work a little harder to get there, since foil shavers aren’t as agile, especially when it comes to the compound curvatures of your brainpan. (Pro tip: get someone you live with to review your work.)
Why we like this one: Bevel came out of nowhere a decade ago, the brain child of Tristan Walker, a Black founder who wanted to offer Black men a better grooming experience. Now Bevel's a force in the market because it keeps turning out some of the best products in the game...for anyone. The brand's foil shaver feels as high-end and high-design as every other piece of Bevel hardware, plus it's got some key upgrades over the competition: it's 100% waterproof, works for both your head and your face, and only needs a five-minute charge from dead to get in a shave.
The Best Grooming-Style Shaver: Braun
Why choose a multi-tasking groomer: For plenty of guys, an extremely close trim —on their head, face, or farther south, is as good as a real shave. So why fill your bathroom cabinet with hardware if you can take care of almost all your body hair, including your bald head, with the right versatile shaver? Just don’t skimp: the more money you invest in a multi-tasker, the better results and longevity you’ll get.
Why we like this one: For the minimalist who wants one tool for the whole body, we introduce to you Braun's Series 9 multigrooming wunderkind. While it does have a precision shaving head, that's more for spot-checking stray beard stubble. Instead, it's the fine-pitch trimmer that will get your head's hair down to half a millimeter, which is as tight as you'll get without a razor. For plenty of guys, that's their preference in the first place, leaning into Jason Statham swarthiness (and avoiding both the hassle of a bladed shave or the skin irritation it can cause).
The Best Razor Blade Shaver: HeadBlade
Why choose an ergonomic manual shaver: If you’re going to put a tiny knife to your head, we think it’s worth using one that’s been built specifically for the task—if only to make your life easier and your scalp cut-free. These devices look like alien tech, but they fit nicely into the palm of your hand, letting you get a more consistently smooth shave than other manual styles.
Why we like this one: Nobody holds a candle to HeadBlade in the ergonomic manual razor field. A little rollerball allows it to glide across your head and "lean" into turns (like a motorcycle, hence the name), letting the blades pivot easily across your dome's curves and contours. It's the best razor Either of HeadBlade's four- or six-blade cartridges works, though when it comes to shaving sensitive scalp skin, less is more—we'd suggest choosing the 4-blade pack.
The Best Cartridge Razor: Gillette
Why choose a cartridge razor: If you’ve been living by the cartridge razor ever since your first peach fuzz showed up, there's some understandable comfort in using a tool you’re familiar with to tackle your head, too. To be honest, it’s not all that hard to master the behind-the-back taut-skinned shave, either, if you’ve got the right razor.
Why we like this one: Gillette's ProGlide lives up to its name by offering the right amount of "give" as it makes each pass. A lot of that is due to how the blade pivots side-to-side at the neck of the razor, as well as forward and back. It leads with a lubricating strip, too, which will prevent razor burn and skin irritation on the more sensitive scalps out there.
The Best Safety Razor: Tatara
Why choose a safety razor: Ask any barber, and they'll tell you that a double-sided safety razor will give you the smoothest results. Close cuts can come with close calls, though, while you figure out the best way to tackle your unique snowflake of a scalp—first-timers should be slow and patient. This is definitely not the hardware to use if your mornings tend to involve multiple snooze button smashes and running out the door. On the other hand, if you have thick, coarse, curly, or ingrown-prone hair and still want to use a razor, a safety razor is the smartest choice to keep your scalp from crying out.
Why we like this one: Tatara's closed-comb, double-edge, short-handled safety razors are among the best for scalp shaving, since the Portuguese makers toil over every last design detail. You'll get the closest shave, the firmest grip, and the smoothest glide compared to lesser-quality safety razors setups. Yes, there's a small learning curve for anyone new to razor-shaving their head. But if you're going to need a driver's lesson, might as well do it in a Maserati, you know?
Plus 3 More Bald Shavers We Like
Phillips
"OneBlade" Hybrid Shaver and Trimmer
This electric shaver mimics the design of a cartridge razor and even shaves like one, while also offering adjustable trimming lengths. If you want clean lines and a bald fade—or you just want one compact device that works for your head, face, and body grooming tasks—then OneBlade works. That said, it's got a small head and will definitely take time to hit all the nooks and crannies of your cranium.
