My husband keeps his head shaved, so when I saw the Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000, I immediately thought of him. I bought it because I wanted something specifically designed for his head instead of another regular shaver being forced to do a job it was not really made for.
And after watching him use it, I can see why he likes it.
Key Takeaways
- My husband gets a close, comfortable shave without having to fight the shape of his head.
- The flexible shaving head makes the back and sides much easier to reach.
- It is easy to use wet or dry, and the hair collection system makes cleanup less annoying.
- The main issue for me is the price because the cheaper Philips models offer a very similar core shaving experience.
What Is the Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000?
The Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000 is an electric shaver specifically designed for shaving the scalp. Instead of looking and handling like a traditional facial shaver, it has a shape and shaving head designed to move across the curves of the head.
It uses Philips’ 360° Flexing Head and ComfortCut blades, with 36 cutting blades designed to cut hair close to the skin. It also has a PowerAdapt sensor that adjusts the shaving power according to hair density, along with a Hair Collect system designed to catch some of the loose hair while shaving.
The shaver can be used wet or dry, has up to 90 minutes of cordless runtime and includes a five-minute quick-charge function. The 9000 package also comes with extras such as a travel case, additional shaving heads, a mirror and a rinse tub.
Why I Bought It
My husband regularly keeps his head shaved, so I am always going to notice anything that promises to make that job easier for him. I liked that this was actually designed for head shaving rather than being a regular men’s shaver that happened to be advertised as suitable for the scalp. The shape looked easier to handle, and the flexible head made me think it would be less awkward around the back of his head.
So I bought it for him and let him put it to work.
My Experience With the Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000
The first thing my husband noticed was the shape. It is not shaped like the typical electric razor, and that initially made me wonder whether it would actually be easier to use or just look different for the sake of looking different. Once he started using it, though, the design made much more sense.
He could hold it comfortably and move it around his scalp without constantly having to think about keeping it at one particular angle. That was especially useful around the back of his head and near the sides, where using a regular razor can become awkward.
The 360° flexing head is probably the feature I noticed making the biggest difference. His head obviously has plenty of curves, particularly around the crown and back, and the shaving head moves with those contours instead of forcing him to keep repositioning his hand.
He also got a pretty close shave from it. It is obviously not the exact same experience as using a manual razor, but the result looked clean and even enough that he did not feel the need to immediately go over everything again with a blade.
That was important to me because the whole reason for buying an electric head shaver was convenience. If he still had to spend ages checking every section and going back over missed patches, I would not see the point. The shave also seemed comfortable. He did not have to press the shaver aggressively against his head to get it to work, and the flexible head helped it move over the scalp without feeling like it was scraping across his skin.
I also liked that he could use it wet or dry. Most of the time he uses it dry because that is obviously the quickest option, but having the option to use shaving gel or take it into the shower gives him more flexibility.
The hair collection system was another feature I appreciated more than I expected. Anyone who has watched somebody shave their head over a bathroom sink knows that those tiny hairs somehow end up everywhere. The shaver is not going to magically eliminate cleanup, but catching some of the hair instead of sending everything flying around definitely makes the aftermath easier.
Battery life has also been good. Philips rates it for up to 90 minutes of cordless use, which is plenty for multiple head shaves, and the five-minute quick-charge function is useful when the battery has been neglected and suddenly needs to be used immediately.
The one thing I would change is the charging setup. For a premium grooming device, I would have liked USB-C. The proprietary charging arrangement is not a disaster, but we have reached the point where I expect a modern device at this price to make charging as convenient as possible.
And then there is the size. It is not exactly tiny, so if your husband likes grooming devices that disappear into a small toiletry bag, this is not really that type of product. The size does make it easy to grip, though, so I would take the trade-off.
What I Loved
- It was designed specifically for shaving the head.
- The 360° flexing head makes it easier to follow the shape of the scalp.
- My husband gets a close shave without having to repeatedly go over the same areas.
- It feels comfortable rather than overly aggressive.
- Wet and dry shaving gives him options.
- The hair collection system makes cleanup easier.
- The 90-minute battery life is more than enough.
- The five-minute quick charge is genuinely useful.
- The travel case and extra heads are useful additions.
What I Didn’t Love
- The price is high for an electric head shaver.
- It is fairly bulky.
- There is no USB-C charging.
- Some of the accessories may be unnecessary if you only use it at home.
- The cheaper Philips Head Shaver Pro models offer much of the same core shaving experience.
What It Claims vs Reality
Claim: A close, comfortable head shave
This is one claim I think the product actually backs up in everyday use. My husband gets a close shave without having to put a lot of pressure on the shaver, and the flexible head makes moving around the scalp much easier.
Claim: The 360° Flexing Head follows the contours of the scalp
Yes, this is something that actually matters when using it. The back and sides of the head are much less awkward when the shaving head can move with the shape of the scalp.
Claim: Less mess while shaving
The Hair Collect system does help, although I would not expect the bathroom to remain completely spotless. There is still some cleanup afterward, but there are noticeably fewer loose hairs to deal with.
Is the Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000 Worth the Price?
This is where I am less enthusiastic. The Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000 is a premium head shaver, and the price reflects that. The 9000 package includes the extra heads, travel case, mirror, and rinse tub, so you are getting more than just the shaver itself. But the thing that makes me hesitate is that Philips also sells the Head Shaver Pro 5000 and 7000, and they use the same basic head-shaving technology.
So if my husband only cared about getting a good shave, I am not convinced he absolutely needed the 9000. The extra accessories are nice, but they are still extras.
For someone who shaves their head regularly and wants the nicest version of the Philips setup, I can justify it. For someone who simply wants the most affordable way to keep a bald head maintained, I would look at the cheaper models first.
Who I Think Will Love It
I think the Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000 makes the most sense for someone who regularly keeps their head completely shaved and wants a dedicated electric shaver for the job.
It is particularly useful for someone who wants to avoid constantly using a manual razor and would rather have something they can quickly pick up and run over their scalp.
Who Should Skip It
I would skip the 9000 if you:
- Only shave your head occasionally.
- Prefer using a manual razor.
- Want the cheapest possible electric head shaver.
- Do not care about the travel case and extra accessories.
- Are not interested in paying extra for the premium model.
Alternatives
- Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 5000
- Remington Balder Pro XR7000
- Manscaped The Dome Shaver Pro
- Andis Electric Head Shaver
Conclusion
I bought the Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 9000 for my husband because he keeps his head shaved and I wanted to see whether a proper head shaver would actually make the process easier.
It did. The shape is comfortable; the flexible head makes getting around the scalp much easier; the shave is close, and the hair collection system makes the cleanup less irritating. Most importantly, my husband actually uses it and likes it, which is usually how I know whether a grooming gadget is worth buying.
My only real issue is the price. The 9000 is a very good head shaver, but Philips has cheaper models that offer much of the same core shaving experience. So I like the product more than I like the price.
Would I Buy It Again?
Yes, for my husband. If he is going to keep his head shaved regularly, I would rather buy him one good head shaver than keep replacing mediocre ones.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes, especially for someone who regularly keeps a completely shaved head. I would just compare the 9000 with the 7000 and 5000 before paying the premium because the extra money gets you more accessories, not an entirely different shaving experience.
Also read my similar review of the Oveallgo BeeBoom Inhaler