Babyliss PRO FOILFX02 Review: A Brilliantly Close Shave That Won’t Suit Everyone
Babyliss PRO FOILFX02 Shaver
The BabyLiss Pro FX02 is not one of those easygoing, ultra-comfortable, ergonomically friendly electric shavers that almost anybody can use. It demands a bit more from our skin and some technique. In return, it can give us closeness that genuinely starts approaching manual razor territory.
Pros
Exceptionally close shave, especially on short stubble
Powerful high-speed motor cuts through like a lawnmower
Excellent finishing tool for fades and neck cleanup – a barber's tool
Premium all-metal build feels durable and robust, while also looking attractive
Works best for daily or every other day shaving
Delivers a closer head shave than rotary head shavers
Dual staggered foils contour reasonably well around the face and scalp
3 hours of runtime is impressive
Cons
The aggressive shave it gives may cause irritation for sensitive skin
Not ideal for shaving several days of longer growth
Heavy and blocky design can feel awkward during self-head shaving
No rubberized grip, so handling it is not as comfortable as others or as stable
Louder and less refined than many premium standard shavers
Not waterproof and cannot be used for wet shaving
Foils can become damaged easily, as they are ultra-thin and sensitive to damage
The BaByliss PRO FOIL FX02 is one of those twin-foil electric shavers that has built a strong reputation among barbers and head shaving gents. Head shaving gents who chase the closest possible finish.
It is primarily designed as a professional finishing tool for fades, neck cleanups, and removing stubble after clipper work, but plenty of home users now use it as a dedicated face shaver, head shaver, or both.
After spending quite a bit of time testing it for facial shaving, head shaving, and general cleanup work, I can see exactly why barbers love it. This thing is powerful, aggressive, and capable of producing an exceptionally close shave.
However, that same aggressive nature is also why it will not suit every guy.
For me, this ended up being a shaver with clear strengths combined with compromises.
Models Explained
Depending on which country you live in, you may see this shaver sold under different names:
- BaBylissPRO FOILFX02
- BaBylissPRO Metal FX
- BaBylissPRO Titanium Foil Shaver
They are essentially the same shaver.
The UK “Titanium” version supposedly uses titanium foils, while other versions may use standard foils, but realistically, I would not expect major differences in actual shaving performance between them.
The overall design, motor, shaving system, and experience are fundamentally the same.
I personally bought the UK Titanium version because I liked the gunmetal finish, and I chose to order it in the UK rather than the US.
You can also find:
- gold finishes
- silver finishes
- black versions
- limited edition colorways
Features
Unboxed, I got the shaver, charging cable with plug, soft fabric travel pouch, additional foil head, mini cleaning brush, and mini user manual. The additional foil head is good to have because they can break easily (be careful, the foils are very sensitive).
A better storage/travel case would have been nice!
Design, Ergonomics & Build Quality
Aesthetically, this is one of the best-looking foil shavers I have used. It has a premium barber-tool appearance and feels extremely solid in the hand.
Design & Ergonomics Ratings
Note: I cannot rate the ergonomics in the same way as I rate other shavers, as it’s designed for the barber as a touch-up tool rather than having a body that can be shaped well to fit comfortably in the hand.
One of the first things that stood out to me when I picked up the FX02 was the weight: “It weighs around 240 grams”. This is a heavy shaver with an all-metal construction that immediately feels premium.
Initially, I quite liked that solid feel because it gives the impression that the shaver is built to last. After shaving, though, especially during head shaving, I started noticing some of the downsides of the design.
The shape is very blocky, and there is very little ergonomic contouring around the body. There is also no rubberized grip or textured coating anywhere on the shaver, so during head shaving, I found it slightly awkward to maneuver, especially around the back of the head. I also missed not having my hand properly around a shaver’s body while facial shaving, which also affects maneuverability.
I can also see that the heavyweight may also cause wrist fatigue while shaving for some users.
For barbers doing shorter cleanup work on clients, I do not think this block of metal feel will matter much. For self-shaving, though (head and facial head shaving), I personally found dedicated head shavers and standard facial shavers noticeably easier to handle.
That said, there is no denying the overall build quality. The Babyliss Pro feels extremely durable and far more solid than many standard mainstream foil shavers.
The power button located on the side of the shaver is solid, and there are no concerns about switching this off or on accidentally. I found the button too tight at first and had to really push my thumb hard to slide it; however, it does seem to be loosening now after more use, and it has become easier to slide and switch on.
The next clip shows how it is quite tough to move the power button at first.
We get a top cap which covers the foils, and this is solid metal. This slides on easily enough and stays on solidly.
A Note On The Finish
While I really like the shiny gun metal finish, my hand or fingers leave marks on it. I have to polish off these marks, which is easy enough, but I did find it a bit of a hindrance.
I’m not sure if the silver and gold models would show these fingerprint marks, too, which is worth noting if you are considering the popular gold or rose gold models. It could be just the gun metal finish that has this.
While I love these metal-type colors, I would probably choose the black if I had to buy one again.
Motor Power & Sound
The motor performance is one of the biggest strengths of this shaver.
The FX02 runs at around 10,000 RPM, and compared with other standard foil shavers I have tested, it felt noticeably more powerful and aggressive (that is a pro and con that I will cover shortly) during use. RPMs are a tricky measurement, as other shaver companies use measurements like CPMs (Cutting Actions Per Minute), among others; suffice to say, though, this thing is a powerhouse.
Compared to something like a Braun Series 9 Pro+, the sound is louder and much more industrial.
That extra power absolutely helps with cutting performance.
The tradeoff is refinement. I found this is not a quiet or an especially smooth-feeling foil shaver, and it feels much more like a professional tool built around raw performance.
The Foil Head & Cutting System
The dual staggered foil setup is slightly different from what is found on most standard foil shavers. The foils are wider and longer than the standard, and they are positioned at slightly different heights.
Head and Blade/Foil Movement Ratings
To me, I view this staggered design as ideal for the barber doing his fades and clearing up the back of the neck after doing a cut.
The foils also flex enough to adapt reasonably well to curves and uneven areas, and also maintain skin contact fairly well.
The foils and blades are separate components, unlike some shavers, which contain the blades and foils in a single unit cassette. Panasonic shavers have a similar design, and I found that it makes cleaning them more visible than a closed unit (i.e., I can see every nook and cranny).
These ultra-thin foils can be dented or damaged easily, as I have proven myself after unknowingly denting the bottom foil. I have learned my lesson now; note to self, keep that foil cap cover on. The positive side of being ultra-thin is that they can enable the blades to cut hair closer to the skin.
We have a round push button on the opposite side of the power button, which I found releases the top foil cap easily, revealing the two blades. This top cap foil cover looks like the same metal coating as the rest of the shaver, but it is plastic and needs to be replaced, as it holds the foils. We do need to make sure we place the foil cap the right way around, with the inner blades matching the staggered blades.
The inner blades are easy enough to remove and attach. Attaching them requires us to line up the center of the blades with the posts, as shown in the next video clip.
Battery, Charging, LEDs, and Travel Lock
The NiMH battery that powers the motor is mostly used nowadays on cheaper electric shavers. While they are supposedly better in terms of safety, they lack in other areas compared with Lithium-Ion batteries. The exact pros and cons of batteries are best explained by a battery engineer, as I am no professional.
Battery, Charging, and LEDs Ratings
The FX02 uses a proprietary cord with its adapter attached, so you can’t just use a USB-C or Type-C cable. What I do like is the length of the wire as it is so longggg, which is ideal for the barber.
It can be used while plugged into the mains as well as cordless, which is an advantage for the barber on his job, who suddenly finds the shaver has lost its juice.
We get a whopping 3 hours of runtime. I have only charged it once and used it for 2 hours or more so far. Babyliss states it takes around 3 hours to fully charge, which is longer than the average standard foil shaver.
There is one LED light on the bottom that flashes while charging and stays constant when it’s fully charged.
There isn’t a dedicated travel lock. However, the power switch is so stiff that it’s very unlikely to turn on by itself in a bag.
Waterproofing
This is not a waterproof shaver and does not really need to be when used for its intended purpose (i.e., barber’s tool).
We cannot:
- Wet shave with it
- Use shaving cream or foam
- Rinse the entire unit under running water
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning & Maintenance Ratings
After every shave, I recommend:
- removing the foil cassette
- brushing away loose hair
- blowing debris out thoroughly
- brushing the cutters carefully in the blade direction only
Every few shaves, I also wash the foil cassette with antibacterial soap under warm water and let it dry fully for a couple of hours before reattaching it.
Oiling
Lubrication is important too.
I regularly apply a couple of drops of clipper or shaver oil onto the cutters and let the shaver run for around 10 seconds.
While official guidance is hard to find on foil and blade longevity, I’d aim to replace them every 6 to 12 months, depending on how coarse your hair is. I did receive an extra foil cassette in my box, which is a useful backup.
Warranty
The Babyliss Pro comes with a 2-year warranty. While the “Big Two” (Braun/Philips) offer longer extensions, 2 years is very standard for a smaller, specialized brand like this.
Shaving Experiences
I put this shaver through three tests to see where it actually works well. I knew the touch-up stuff was going to be good, but what about facial and head shaving?
Shaving Ratings
Facial Shaving
Keep in mind my growth is quite coarse, and the hairs do grow in various directions on certain parts of my face and neck. However, I know nearly every hair on my face, and the direction in which they grow, which really helps.
I tested the FX02 using it daily, every 2 days, and with 3-days of growth. With three days, I found it was just too much—it left lots of stray hairs and patches that took way too long to clear up. It worked best as a daily or every two-day shaver.
It’s quite aggressive, so if you pick up irritation easily, you might find this causes flare-ups, as I have found when going over the same area too much.
It was very good under the nose area and around the mouth. However, it does not quite have the maneuverability around various contours like a properly designed facial shaver, and I missed teh firm hold and grip I get with other shavers.
Compared with shavers like Braun and Philips, I found this feels noticeably harsher on the skin.
My thoughts are that guys with more hardy type skin or those with fine hair might find this easier on the skin than I. Hardy skin types generally get away with more aggressive electric shavers, and for those with fine hair, the shaver will take less effort to cut away at the growth.
Head Shaving (Solo Shaver + Combo)
When head shaving, I found this gives a brilliant finish—very close, almost like a manual razor. However, I found it struggled on the back of my head, where I have lumps on the skull. It eventually gets there, but it takes more work than a dedicated rotary head shaver.
While I know some users are very happy to use the FX02 as their primary head shaver, it won’t replace the ease of use and speed of the shave for me that I get with a dedicated head shaver.
I know some guys do a combo of a dedicated rotary head shaver with a foil shaver. The head shaver gets the main parts of the job done, and the foil shaver gets a closer shave to finish it off. I found the Babyliss Pro was ideal for this; it was very good at touching up after using a rotary and gets rid of that sandpapery feeling that a rotary head shaver leaves.
Price & Replacement Costs
In the US, the FOIL FX02 usually sells somewhere between $150 and $160. That puts it firmly into premium territory, especially considering this is technically designed as a finishing shaver rather than a full-featured all-round electric shaver.
Value for Money Ratings
While it is pricey compared to a twin-foil shaver like the Andis Lithium Profoil and some of the affordable StyleCraft models, the FX02 is noticeably more premium.
The replacement costs are also something worth factoring in. Replacement foil and cutter sets generally cost around $35 for genuine BaByliss parts. I would say the replacement costs are about right when comparing them with other shavers (some cost more, some a little less, but many are within the same range).
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s It For?)
The BaBylissPRO is a genuinely impressive shaver, but it is also one of those products where knowing its strengths and limitations becomes important.
For a barber, this is an excellent, nearly essential tool. For the home user, it’s more of a specialized tool.
- Who it’s for: Guys who are “chasing closeness” above all else and don’t have sensitive skin. It’s also a great secondary tool for head shavers who want to finish off a shave to get that perfectly smooth, “manual razor-like” feel.
- Who it’s NOT for: If you prefer the comfort of a Philips rotary or the ease of a standard ergonomically friendly foil shaver, you should probably stick with those. If you have coarse, 3-day growth, this won’t be your primary solo shaver.
I would have liked to have been wowed by it more, especially as I have received some comments saying how great it is. However, it is what it is, as they say!
Alternatives I’ve Tested
Other twin foil shavers, like the Babyliss Pro FX02, I have used that you may want to take a look at include:
Aberlite Touch 2 Head Shaver
The Aberlite head shaver gave very close head shaves, but lacked ergonomics, among other features, when compared to a dedicated head shaver. It shines as a useful touch-up tool after using a rotary head shaver for additional closeness.
Andis ProFoil Lithium Profoil
The Andis is another go-to shaving tool for barbers worldwide for its efficiency in hair fades. It offers home users a tool to improve their barbering skills, and it gave me a pretty fast head shave. It is cheaper than the Babyliss and is made entirely of plastic rather than metal.
Please feel free to drop a comment below if you have further questions about the Babyliss Pro, or if you have experience with the shaver you’d like to share.
