Head Shaver Review

FreeBird FlexSeries Head Shaver Review

A head shaver on the list to pick up and test out was the FlexSeries Head Shaver from the company Freebird. 

I finally got one sent over the waters from the US to join the best head shavers campaign. I’ve been through a fair few head shavers, including all the Skull Shaver brand models, the Remington’s, Bald Buddy, and recently the Groomie BaldiePro.

The FlexSeries is a dedicated head shaver that is ergonomically designed specifically for head shaving. You have probably seen these types of shavers or even owned one, as they are nothing new to the men’s grooming market anymore.

Let’s look at what the FlexSeries Head Shaver Kit should do for my balding bonce, its features, how it performed after a month’s use, and who it would be best suited for.

Description & Features

Unboxed, within the shaver kit, a buyer gets the shaver, 5 rotary blade shaver head, exfoliator brush, scalp scrubber, ear & nose trimmer, trimmer & guards, and an instruction card.

The FlexSeries is a kit of DIY shaving tools that Freebird states is a Head, Face, and Full Body Grooming Kit. 

• Handle/Body –  The body of this shaver is the handle, and it’s shaped to fit perfectly in the hand –palm held. The sides have grooves that provide grip while shaving.
• Blades and Blade Head – The blade head contains five rotary blades which flex along the various contours of the head. The neck of the blade head (i.e., pivoting head) also offers flexible movement.
• Cordless and Corded Operation – The shaver is battery-operated and cordless. The power lead has a USB connector that requires a standard 5V-1A adapter (not included). Freebird states the shaver can not be used when charging; however, mine does work while on charge. 
• Charging and Battery – The shaver powers from a 600mAh li-Ion rechargeable battery. I could not find information about charging time and runtime on the website, instruction card or user manual or online instruction manual; however, I found on Amazon they state the first charge must be for 90 minutes which provides 90 minutes of trimming time (more about that later).
• Wet and Dry – The shaver may be used wet or dry and with shaving foam, gel or cream. 
• Attached Trimmer – The top section of the shaver has a pop-up trimmer for trimming sideburns. 
• Light Indicators – The shaver has simple light indicators, a light for power on and a charging light. 
• Warranty – Freebird offers a 30 days money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty. Subscribers who continue a subscription for new blades can take advantage of a lifetime warranty.

More About The Features — Pros and Cons

While it’s great to have a bunch of head-shaving and grooming features, let’s look closer at these features and tell you how well they work.

I liked the good quality carded getting started instructions that come with the kit.

Build Quality & Ergonomics

The build quality is okay, although quite plasticky. It’s of similar quality as other head shavers I have used.

While the grip on the side does support a person holding the shaver while shaving, it is non-rubberized. I was surprised that the side grip sections were not rubberized, which is standard on shavers.

The shaver body fits snugly in the hand, with the top area wider than the bottom. 

Head Movement (maneuverability )

The head pivoting in various directions is a welcomed feature. It enables the shaver head to move along the various contours of our heads easier.

The blades flex, which is another simple but useful maneuverability feature for shaving along the various contours of the head. Each corner of the blade head moves back and forth depending on what pressure is made when shaving.

Overall the maneuverability is very good. 

Blades/Cutters

Freebird has named and trademarked their blades as ScalpSafe blades. It’s a good thing they trademark the name, as copiers will copy anything they can profit from.

The five rotary blades section is smaller than others I have used, including the Skull Shaver brand models and Remington Balder (RX5 & RX7 – Europe). However, there is plenty of blade area for head shaving.

The blade head section easily pulls off and is easy to reattach. It is just a matter of lining up the blade head with its groove to reattach. The other accessories, including the trimmer, are attached in this manner, and the head blade is replaced.

The blades on the FlexSeries unclip open for cleaning purposes, and the center blade has to be removed separately (just twist the center blade anticlockwise). There is no collection of debris and hair section compartment on the FlexSeries which can be found on other head shavers, and I prefer to have this compartment as it keeps the blades free from debris better.

Trimmer

The pop-up trimmer seems like a good idea to trim detail like the sideburns. However, it is close to useless, and I found it barely cut through my hair.

It’s worth noting that pop-up, pop-out, and attached trimmers on any shavers have never really done a great job for me, so it is not just an issue with the FlexSeries.

It’s better to use a dedicated trimmer or another shaving tool, but some people seem to have no complaints and use these attached trimmers.

Accessories

I’ve never bought a head shaver with so many accessories, and I knew I would not be impressed. I’m not too fond of companies claiming a shaving tool can do A, B, C, D, etc., when I buy it for purposes A, and it is likely only to do purpose A very well (i.e., head shave).

These bunch of accessories are sales gimmicky and help to market a product, and some guys will think –WOW, I can do all these things with one device –I will buy it.

The trimmer attachment was not too bad for trimming down hair when it is too long for shaving, but it’s nowhere near as good as a dedicated trimmer. However, if I were traveling or stuck without a dedicated trimmer, then the attachment provided would do the job.

If I wanted to trim down my hair and use a clipper guard, I would not use the FlexSeries with its three clipper guards supplied to get the job done. So, instead, stick to designated clippers for this job. Anyway, I thought we were going bald.

I tried out the nose and ear trimmer, and it did not clear the random hairs growing from my ears completely. 

I did not try the exfoliator brush or head scrubber; I use exfoliating scrub when needed, which does a great job. 

The blade cover guard is a practical accessory that has a useful function. It clips on and off easily and protects the blades. 

Cleaning & Maintenance

As mentioned, the blades on the FlexSeries unclip open for cleaning purposes. 

I prefer to use a small brush and blow out debris first to clean and then run warm tap water over the blades. When I cleaned with water only, I found debris was left inside still, so blowing and brushing beforehand removes a lot first.

Freebird states the blades last for up fifty shaves before needing replacement. However, I have only shaved with the FlexSeries for a month, so I cannot vouch for that estimate, but it seems about right when comparing other head shavers I have used (hair type, blade care, and how often they are used will affect the longevity).

Keeping the blades clean after every shave and putting a small drop of oil on each blade after every three shaves helps me maintain the blades on shavers. Please wait for the blades to dry out manually first before putting a drop of oil on them.

Charging and Battery Life

I could not find any information on the instruction card, website, or on the downloadable instructions stating the charging time and runtime of the FlexSeries. They stated on Amazon that the first charge should be done in 90 minutes, but that is it.

I eventually discovered on the top of the shaver writing that the charging time is one hour. One hour seemed about right when I recharged the shaver to fully recharge.

At an estimate, I used the shaver more than 10 times before the red light started to flash, indicating the shaver needed recharging.

While Freebird states the shaver will not work when charging (most electric shavers don’t), mine could still be used while plugged in. I don’t mind, as it is advantageous if the battery no longer gets a full charge properly, which means it can still be used.

The shaver comes with a USB charging cord but does not come with the 5V – 1A adapter, and buyers have to buy it themselves, which some may not be happy about. However, I had a charging adapter I could use that was 5V, so there was no issue there!

Value for Money

The FlexSeries won’t be value for money if you buy it like me outside of the US or Canada because of shipping fees. However, I was willing to pay the extra for reviewing purposes and you guys.

The Freebird FlexSeries kit is priced at around $79.95 (Amazon) – $65.95 (Freebird). In addition, the shaving kit is available with 22% off when subscribing for replacement blades.

The blade subscription service offers various options from 6 weeks to 10 weeks, giving you 20% off the blades compared to buying them separately. It could be worth subscribing to if you plan on using the shaver frequently and up to 50 shaves (on average) every 10 weeks or less.

The costs and subscription service is a very similar deal that a buyer gets with Groomie BaldiePro, but the Skull Shaver Palm is considerably cheaper (only three blades, though). Then, the Remington Balder Pro is about the same price. 

It is definitely not a steal; however, it is priced about right when compared with other head shavers, although other aspects like features and quality need to be considered.

How Does the Freebird FlexSeries Perform and Shave?

I have had a lot of experience using many dedicated electric head shavers and have a good idea of what to expect and many to compare performance with. 

I used the FlexSeries for around a month and used it wet and dry. I also tried facial shaving because Freebird states the shaver can be used for the body (nope), and facial shaving.

As always, I shaved the hair down to the minimum that hair clippers and trimmers can provide without a clipper comb attachment (1mm or less). Trimming first makes head shaving quicker and easier and enables the blades to last longer.

Dry Shaving

Dry shaving is what I want to see an electric shaver do well, as it’s fine wet shaving, but electric shaving is primarily about getting the job done quickly without the mess of wet shaving.

The first two runs with the FlexSeries caused some irritation at the back of the neck. However, this happens with other electric shavers, and the skin requires adjusting time. On the third head shave I had no irritation.

Overall, this shaver was comparable to other brands I have used and got the job done in a few minutes. 

Of course, we are not talking about razor closeness when finished, but close enough for an electric shave.

Wet Shaving With Shaving Cream

I’m not a fan of using any electric shaver just wet with water and no lubricant, and use cream, gel, or soap. Water alone without lubricant makes a shaver judder on the skin! 

I used shaving cream, which was slightly more comfortable than shaving dry. That is the main advantage of shaving wet with a lubricant –comfort.

Facial Shaving 

I don’t expect a head shaver to be great at facial shaving or even try to be a facial shaver. Remington state that theirs is only to be used for head shaving, which is more honest and true.

However, Freebird states their shaver can also facial shave, so I must test out what they tell me it can do.

As expected, it was uncomfortable around the neck, the closeness was subpar, and the blades were not best-suited or good enough. In addition, the ergonomics and build of palm-held shavers like the FlexSeries are also unsuitable for facial shaving.

The FlexSeries will shave the face and get it done. It is an option for facial shaving if no other razor or shaver is available. No other razor option while traveling springs to mind!

Body Shaving

Nope! Even the $300 – $400 best electric shavers on the market will not shave body hair, and they are not supposed to. Rotary or foil cutters will catch the thicker pubic and bodily hair within the blade system and pull hairs and cause irritation.

Again this is the classic case of a company marketing hype and selling a product that can multi-task or groom when in fact, it is best to stick with trying to do one job very well. 

Overall Shaving Experience 

I can exclude the body and facial shaving stuff as many companies do this, and it’s all marketing hype that most companies do in one form or another.

The main aspect I am considering is how well it shaves my head –dry shaving.

The FlexSeries shaves just as close as any other dedicated head shaver. However, it lacks in comfort slightly compared to the higher-priced shaver from the Skull Shaver brand.

A couple of minutes and the job is done when the hair is trimmed down properly or shaving daily, or every other day.

Final Thoughts – Who Is It Best Suited For?

The dedicated head shaver market has become competitive, and the clones and cheap copies have flooded Amazon, Walmart, and other stores for some time. However, a few brands stand out that are putting more care into serving their customers, including Freebird.

The FlexSeries is comparable with other brands but has some differences; for example, I prefer the Skull Shaver PitBull Gold head shaver, but the PitBull costs more than a FlexSeries.

I am not a fan of the blade opening method over a single section and compartment for cleaning or the non-rubberized sides. These features make me lean toward the Remington Balder Pro (a.k.a. Remington RX5 -Europe).

I would ignore the accessories and focus on the shaver and costs–then make a quick comparison with other brands, and if the FlexSeries fits your preferences, buy one and give it a go.

The generous lifetime warranty for replacement blade subscribers is something to be considered.

If you are a visual person, then you might want to check out my FlexSeries review on YouTube.

Alternative Head Shavers