There are a lot of articles on this subject. But from what we’ve seen, most of them are written by people who haven't shaved a head in their lives and are working from a press release.

We're barbers and while it may not be the first thing you’d think of, we actually shave a lot of heads at the shop. This is what we actually think about the razors most men in the UK are likely to reach for. We’ve looked at eight options covering cartridge, disposable, safety razor, and sustainable alternatives, all assessed specifically for head shaving rather than face shaving.

Everything here is available in Boots, Superdrug, or a major supermarket without ordering and waiting three days. Prices are correct as of mid 2026.

First: what makes head shaving different

Shaving a head is not the same as shaving a face, and most razor reviews don't account for this. Three things matter more for head shaving than for face shaving:

Surface area. A full head shave covers roughly four times the surface of a face shave. You'll be making considerably more passes with whatever razor you choose, which affects how quickly blades clog and how much irritation builds up.

Contour complexity. The crown, the occipital bone at the back, the temples and around the ears, many of these you can't see clearly while you're shaving. A razor's ability to pivot and follow curves matters more on a head than a face.

Skin sensitivity. Scalp skin is thinner in some areas than facial skin and more reactive to repeated mechanical contact. Irritation that's manageable on a face can be more pronounced on a scalp shaved daily.

With that in mind, here's how the eight main options stack up.

"A razor that works well on your face may not be the best choice for your head. The pivot matters more, blade count matters less, and the ability to rinse cleanly mid-shave matters a great deal."

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The cartridge razors

Gillette Mach3  -  ~£4.50 starter / ~£10-12 for 8 refills

The Mach3 has been around since 1998 and there's a reason men keep returning to it. Three blades, a good pivot, a reliable lubrication strip, and a handle light enough to manoeuvre around the back of a head without losing control.

For head shaving specifically, the Mach3 arguably outperforms more expensive multi-blade options. The three blade cartridge rinses faster and more cleanly than a five blade equivalent, which matters when you're covering a large surface area and need to clear the blades regularly. The slightly wider spacing between blades means less clogging on the scalp's fine, dense stubble.

The result isn't quite as close as a five blade razor in a single pass, but the difference is smaller than manufacturers would like you to believe, and for most men the practical advantages, easier rinsing, less drag, lower irritation, make it the more comfortable head shaving experience overall. Refill costs are significantly lower than five-blade alternatives.

Best for: Daily or near-daily head shavers wanting a reliable, low-irritation result without overspending on refills

Watch out for: Not quite as close on longer growth. Fewer passes needed if you keep on top of it

Gillette Fusion5 ,  ~£12-15 starter / ~£16-20 for 8 refills

The UK's bestselling cartridge razor earns its position honestly. Five blades, a flexible pivot, a lubricating strip, and a precision trimmer on the reverse for catching edges around the hairline. On a face it's very good. On a head it's capable but comes with trade offs.

The five blade configuration gives a close result with fewer passes, which helps on a large surface area. The pivot handles most curves adequately, including the back of the head with a bit of practice.

The main issue is clogging. Five blades packed closely together trap stubble faster than a three blade equivalent, particularly if you're shaving more than a few days of growth. You'll be rinsing more often than expected, and the cartridge is genuinely harder to clear than a Mach3. Refill costs are high, a four pack from a supermarket typically runs to £14 - £18, and head shavers burn through cartridges faster than face shavers due to the larger surface area.

Best for: Men who want a close, efficient result and shave less frequently

Watch out for: Blade clogging on longer growth. Running costs add up quickly for regular head shavers

Gillette SkinGuard Sensitive ,  ~£7-9 starter / ~£15–18 for 8 refills

This is the razor most head shaving articles overlook, and it's worth knowing about. The SkinGuard Sensitive was designed specifically for men with sensitive skin and razor bumps, it features just two blades with a rubberised guard between them that absorbs pressure and keeps the blades slightly elevated from the skin surface, reducing direct blade-to-skin contact.

For head shaving, this design has a specific advantage: scalp skin is reactive, and the repeated mechanical stress of a daily head shave with a conventional five blade razor can cause cumulative irritation that builds over days. The SkinGuard's reduced blade contact makes a meaningful difference for men who experience persistent redness, bumps, or sensitivity after shaving their head.

The trade off is closeness. Two blades elevated above the skin surface will not produce the same result as five blades pressed directly against it. For men prioritising comfort over absolute closeness, that's an acceptable exchange. For men who want a glass smooth finish, it isn't.

Dual lubrication strips with aloe before and after the blades add to the comfort. Clinically proven for sensitive skin, which, given the scalp's reactivity, is a more relevant claim for head shaving than it might sound.

Best for: Men whose scalps react badly to conventional razors, persistent irritation, bumps, redness after shaving

Watch out for: Less close than multi-blade alternatives. Not the right choice if mirror-smooth is the goal

Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 ,  ~£10-12 starter / ~£14-16 for 8 refills

Wilkinson's answer to the Fusion5 is a credible one. Five carbon-coated blades, dual lubrication gel pools enriched with B5 (before and after the blades), a flip back precision trimmer, and a pivoting head that handles curves well.

The dual gel pools are the Hydro 5's real differentiator. They release with water and provide a noticeably more comfortable glide than a standard lubricating strip, which makes a meaningful difference on scalp skin that reacts to repeated mechanical contact. Men who find the Fusion5 slightly too aggressive on their scalp often find the Hydro 5 more forgiving.

Like the Fusion5, five blades clog on longer growth and require frequent rinsing. The cartridge is slightly easier to clear than the Fusion5's, but still demands more attention mid-shave than a three blade option. Refill costs are comparable to the Fusion5, expensive over time for a regular head shaver. The Which? Best Buy award the Hydro 5 carries is deserved for overall performance.

Best for: Men with sensitive scalps wanting a five-blade result with better post-shave comfort than the Fusion5

Watch out for: Same clogging tendency on longer growth. Running costs comparable to Fusion5

Harry's (including Harry's Plus) ,  ~£8-11 starter / ~£10-12 for 4 refills

Harry's launched as a direct to consumer subscription brand and has since expanded significantly into UK retail, now available in Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and Sainsbury's. The Harry's Plus, launched in late 2025, is the brand's most advanced razor to date: five blades, a flex hinge, an enhanced lubricating strip, and a precision trimmer, priced from £11.

The design is clean, the handle is well weighted, and the blades, produced at Harry's own German factory, are genuinely sharp. For face shaving, Harry's competes credibly with Gillette and Wilkinson at a lower price point.

For head shaving, however, there's an important caveat: Harry's own product literature states their blades are not recommended for head shaving. This isn't a dealbreaker, plenty of men use them successfully on their heads, but it's an honest acknowledgement that the cartridge is optimised for facial contours and the pivot, while good, is not specifically engineered for the wider curves of a scalp.

In practice, Harry's performs adequately on a head shave and the lower refill cost relative to Gillette's five blade options is a genuine advantage. But for men who shave their head regularly, a razor designed with that use case in mind will serve them better.

Best for: Men who already use Harry's for their face and want to extend it to their head. Good value refills

Watch out for: Not optimised for head shaving by the brand's own admission. Pivot could be more flexible for scalp curves

Wilkinson Sword Quattro 4 Disposable, ~£4.50-£6 for 4 razors

The Wilkinson Sword Quattro 4 has been around for years, and while it isn't the newest design on the market, it remains a dependable choice for straightforward head shaving. The four blades strike a good balance between closeness and comfort, making it slightly more forgiving than some five-blade alternatives.

Its slim cartridge makes it easier to rinse than razors with more blades, and it's less prone to clogging if you've left your head shave a few days longer than planned. Combined with the low purchase price, it makes regular razor replacement affordable, one of the simplest ways to reduce irritation and razor burn.

Performance is solid rather than exceptional. The shave won't be quite as close or effortless as the latest premium cartridge systems, and the disposable handle lacks the weight and grip that make awkward areas easier to shave. Nevertheless, for an inexpensive daily or twice-weekly head shave, it remains a sensible option.

Best for: Budget conscious head shavers, regular maintenance shaves, and anyone who prefers a four-blade razor.

Watch out for: Doesn't shave quite as closely as premium cartridges. Handle feels basic compared with reusable systems.

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The disposable options

BIC Flex 4 Disposable ,  ~£5.50 6 for 6 razors

Disposable razors have a mixed reputation, but BIC's Flex 4 is worth reconsidering for a specific reason: you should be changing your razor blade more frequently than most men do, and disposables make that financially realistic.

A sharp blade is considerably less irritating than a dull one, particularly on a scalp. At the price of a six pack of BICs, changing the razor every two or three head shaves is entirely sensible. At the price of Fusion5 refills, most men stretch each cartridge far longer than they should.

The four moveable blades and flexible head handle the job adequately. The result isn't as close as the premium cartridge options, and the handle gives you less grip and precision on the curves at the back of the head. But for a low maintenance, low cost head shave where absolute closeness isn't the priority, they do the job.

Best for: Low cost per shave, regular blade changes, travel, or men just starting out with head shaving

Watch out for: Less precise on the back of the head. Not as close as a premium cartridge on longer growth

BIC Flex 5 Disposable, ~£6 for 3 razors

The BIC Flex 5 bridges the gap between budget disposables and premium cartridge razors surprisingly well. With five flexible blades and a pivoting head, it provides a smoother, closer shave than most disposable options without the ongoing expense of replacement cartridges.

For head shaving, the extra blade and improved lubrication strip help the razor glide comfortably over the scalp, particularly if you're shaving every couple of days. Like all disposables, the biggest advantage is that replacing the entire razor regularly is affordable, meaning you're less likely to persist with a dull blade that causes unnecessary irritation.

The downside is that, despite the more advanced design, it's still a disposable. The lightweight handle doesn't offer the confidence or control of a quality cartridge razor, especially when navigating the contours around the crown and back of the head. But if you're looking for a close shave at a sensible price, it's one of the better disposable options available.

Best for: A closer disposable shave, frequent blade changes, travel, and keeping costs down without sacrificing too much comfort.

Watch out for: Lightweight handle offers less control than premium cartridge razors. Five blades can clog more quickly if tackling several days of growth.

Wilkinson Sword Extreme 3 Disposable, ~£4 - £5.50 for 4 razors

The Wilkinson Sword Extreme 3 takes a different approach from most modern razors. Instead of packing in more blades, it uses three flexible blades and a pivoting head, making it surprisingly forgiving on sensitive scalps.

With fewer blades passing over the skin, many men find it causes less irritation, particularly if they're prone to razor bumps or prefer shaving every day. The slimmer cartridge also rinses clean easily and copes better with slightly longer stubble than many five blade designs.

The trade off is that it won't deliver quite the ultra close finish of a premium five blade razor. You may need an extra pass to catch every patch, particularly around the crown or behind the ears. For many head shavers, though, the extra comfort is well worth sacrificing a tiny amount of closeness.

Best for: Sensitive scalps, frequent head shaving, men prone to irritation, and those who prefer fewer blades.

Watch out for: Not quite as close as four or five blade alternatives. May require a couple of extra passes for a perfectly smooth finish.

The sustainable option

Bulldog Bamboo Razor ,  ~£8-10 starter / ~£8-10 for 4 refills

Bulldog's bamboo handled razor is the most environmentally considered option in this comparison. The handle is made from sustainably sourced bamboo, the five tempered steel blades include an aloe enriched lubricating strip, and the brand runs a blade recycling scheme, send the used heads back, postage covered, and they're recycled or turned into energy.

For head shaving, the Bulldog performs reasonably. The five blade cartridge gives a close result and the aloe strip provides decent comfort. The bamboo handle is comfortable to grip, though some men find it slightly less manoeuvrable on the back of the head than the more contoured handles of the Gillette or Wilkinson options.

Refill pricing is comparable to the Fusion5, which is the main competitive limitation. The sustainability credentials are genuine rather than greenwashed, Bulldog is certified as cruelty-free and uses recycled packaging, which makes it a credible choice for men who care about those things without wanting to compromise significantly on performance.

Best for: Men who want a solid five-blade result and care about the environmental footprint of their grooming

Watch out for: Handle grip less ergonomic than some competitors for back-of-head manoeuvring. Refills not cheap

The long-term investment

Double-edge safety razor (King C. Gillette or equivalent) ,  ~£13-20 razor / ~£5-8 for 10 blades

The double edge safety razor uses a single, very sharp blade in a format that predates multi blade cartridges. Available in Boots, the King C. Gillette is the most accessible entry point at around £13-20, and worth including because the long-term economics are significantly different to everything else on this list.

A safety razor blade costs around 50p and lasts four to six head shaves with reasonable maintenance. A Fusion5 cartridge costs roughly £4 for equivalent longevity. Over a year of weekly head shaving, the saving is considerable.

For head shaving specifically, the single blade has genuine advantages: it rinses instantly with no clogging whatsoever, and a sharp safety razor on properly prepared scalp skin produces one of the closest results of any manual option. The trade offs are real though. There's a learning curve, blade angle must be maintained manually with no pivot to compensate, and shaving the back of your own head with a safety razor requires either a second mirror, good spatial awareness, or a combination of both. Not recommended as a first razor for men new to head shaving.

Best for: Experienced head shavers who want the best long term value and a very close result

Watch out for: Significant learning curve. The back of the head is genuinely difficult without practice

"A safety razor blade costs about 50p. A Fusion5 cartridge costs around £4. Both last roughly the same number of head shaves. The maths is straightforward."

Our verdict

For most men shaving their head at home, our recommendation remains the Gillette Mach3.

It's not the closest shave available and it's not the cheapest per blade. But the combination of a genuinely good pivot, fast rinsing three blade cartridge, lower irritation on repeated passes, and reasonable refill cost makes it the best all round option for regular head shaving. It's been in production for nearly thirty years because it works, and head shaving is one of the applications it performs best in.

OUR PICK: Gillette Mach3, Best all-rounder for regular head shaving. Good pivot, rinses cleanly, low irritation, reasonable running cost.

If sensitivity is your main concern: the Gillette SkinGuard Sensitive is the overlooked option in this category. Less close, significantly less irritating. Worth trying before assuming more blades is the answer.

If post shave comfort matters as much as closeness: the Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5's dual gel lubrication makes a real difference on reactive scalp skin.

If you're environmentally conscious: the Bulldog Bamboo does the job with genuine sustainability credentials, not just green packaging.

If you're experienced and want the best long-term value: learn the safety razor. The result is excellent and the annual cost saving relative to premium cartridges is significant.

If you already use Harry's on your face: it'll work on your head too, just know the brand itself says it's not optimised for it.

One thing that matters more than the razor

Whichever razor you choose, two things will affect the result more than the blade count.

Preparation. Shave after a warm shower, or apply a warm damp towel for two minutes before you start. Warm water softens the skin and relaxes the follicles, making any razor move more easily and reducing irritation significantly. A well prepared shave with the Mach3 will beat a cold dry shave with the Fusion5 every time.

Aftercare. A head shave removes a superficial layer of skin cells alongside the stubble. The scalp immediately afterwards is more susceptible to moisture loss, irritation, and UV damage than at any other point. Apply a moisturiser formulated for scalp skin straight after drying off, every time. If you're going outside, use one with SPF.

The razor gets you through the shave. What happens in the two minutes after it determines how your scalp looks and feels for the rest of the day, and how it holds up over years of regular shaving.

Check out the Hardwick & Co. barber developed SPF moistuiring, specifically for bald heads here.