One bald-headed grooming guru puts Philips Norelco’s rotary head shaver to the test.
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At long last, the kings of the rotary shaver game are in the head shaving space: Philips Norelco’s latest is the Head Shaver, which comes in a few tiered variants (9000, 7000, 5000); we’ll outline their differences below.
But first, here I am giving it a whirl, as a longtime user of zero-gapped T-blade trimmers/clippers for my bald head.
Or Get the: 7000 // 5000 // Replacement Head (fits all models)
This thing speeds up my head shaving process, and leaves me with a much closer shave than even the T-gapped clipper/trimmer. Plus, I don’t have to call in backup from my wife for spot-checking. (It’s also great at cheek and neckline cleanup, I might add.) Even better for that reason, you can do a wet shave easily, whether that’s with shave cream or even just in the shower. (It is waterproof, yes.)
If you don’t mind the ‘Mr. Clean’ look—or rather, if you want to go full Vin Diesel—then this is definitely an essential add to your routine. And speaking of Mr. Clean, this thing is a cinch to rinse clean, if you get the 7000 or 9000 models. If you’ve used any of the flushing bases with other electric shavers (in particular Philips Norelco’s)… you flood the base with warm water and soap and then press the shaver onto the base for a 10-15 second flush. Between regular use though, you can just rinse it clean, as they’re all wet/dry friendly. (Bonus if you like to just polish the dome in the shower, too.)
It is a bit larger than other similar devices; a bigger core to grip and run around your head (and to travel with), but you do get good pivoting/flexibility from the rotary head. You can either grip the entire body with your hand or cup the actual head for more precise navigation, especially around the sides and back. (I would hope to see a slightly smaller device in future launches.)
The rotary panels all pivot every which way, as do the actual circular blades, so you get a really clean hug from the device as it rounds every angle. Just remember to shave in circle motions around the head as you go.
You might be wondering which of the models to buy, though. The key difference is in their accessories, not in their performance.
The Differences Between Philips Norelco Head Shaver 9000, 7000, and 5000
There isn’t actually a huge difference in performance between these three; rather, you get additional accessories as you step up to higher models.
The two key differences, outside of accessories, are:
- The 5000’s battery isn’t as long lasting; it is expected to peter out after an hour, while the 7000 and 9000 should endure 90 minutes. Still, there is a 5-minute quick charge endurance for all three devices (after just 1 minute of charging).
- They all have different colored cores:
- 5000 is Black
- 7000 is Silver
- 9000 is Deep Gray
Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro Accessories
(for the US, as of publishing; other regions may vary slightly):
Accessories with the 5000:
Soft pouch, protective cap, cleaning brush, USB-A charging cable (no adapter)
Accessories with the 7000:
Rinsing station, travel pouch, protective cap, cleaning brush, USB-A charging cable (no adapter)
Accessories with the 9000:
Rinsing station, luxury travel hard case, protective blade cap, mirror, 4x replacement blades, cleaning brush, USB-A charging cable (no adapter)
Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000
Amazon
Fits all models. Replace every 6 months with frequent use.
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