Groomie BaldiePro Review – A Palm Held Head Shaving Device
The Groomie BaldiePro is a bit of a latecomer in joining the campaign to find the best electric head shaver.
This campaign has had me using and testing many dedicated head shavers, including all the models from the Skull Shaver brand, Bald Buddy, Remington’s head shavers, FlexSeries, and a couple of cheapo copies from Amazon.
The BaldiePro is a head shaver that comes in a kit with an attachment trimmer, exfoliator, and other grooming accessories. Most of you would have seen these types of kits and ergonomically friendly shavers designed specifically to make head shaving easier –there are many on the market.
With many head shavers on the market, I know some guys are caught up wondering which one they should buy and probably checking out this review hoping the BaldiePro is the one to be a smasher of a head-shaving tool. Well, I always do my best to tell you as it is –warts and all!
About The Brand
Groomie is the brand and company behind its flagship product, the BaldiePro. The US Chicago-based brand was founded in 2021 by Anant H. and Ashley S. Groomie also has other branded skin and care products available, including pre-shave oil, deodorant, and others.
The company offers a similar blade subscription deal to other head shaver brands. Purchasing directly with a subscription reduces a percentage of the costs for the shaver kit and future replacement blades. Blades can be delivered every 4 – 8 weeks.
Fortunately, I contacted Groomie for a sample to test, and they kindly sent a kit out. But, as always, I made it clear that I don’t favor companies that send freebies and have to use and review them honestly. We are not Influencers!
Let’s look at what the Groomie BaldiePro should do for my balding bonce, its features, how it performs after a month’s use, and who it would be best suited for.
Video Review
You might be able to find some additional information in the YouTube video review I created for the BaldiePro, and/or the visuals might help.
BaldiePro 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, small cleaning brush, and small instruction booklet.
When I first received the BaldiePro boxed and then unboxed kit, everything was similar to the Freebird FlexSeries I had recently used and reviewed. Freebird has the same type of kit and website subscription service, and they almost feel and look like the same company.
- Handle/Body – The shaver’s body is ergonomically designed to fit in the palm. The body is the handle.
- 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). The shaver will also operate while plugged into the power socket.
- Charging and Battery – A fully charged battery provides approximately 90 minutes of runtime. The battery takes up to 2 hours to charge fully.
- Wet and Dry – The shaver may be used wet or dry and with shaving foam, gel, or cream.
- Light Indicators – The shaver has a numerical display that displays the amount of runtime left –full is 90 minutes and reduces. The numerical display lights up when on charge and increases until it reaches 90 minutes. A padlock LED appears when locking the travel lock.
- Warranty – Groomie offers a 60-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty. A lifetime warranty is also available for those with a blade subscription (terms & conditions apply).
More About The Features — Pros and Cons
Let’s look at these features more closely and highlight the pros and cons I have found.
Build Quality & Ergonomics – 7/10
The BaldiePro is a small palm-held device that fits perfectly in the hand, making it easier to use than a longer handle standard electric shaver for head shaving.
While the build is okay, it is quite plasticky. However, when I compare this shaver with other dedicated head shavers I have used –they are all quite plasticky.
The shaver’s back and side have a non-rubberized matte finish plastic. Rubberized is much better for providing grip; however, the matte sections do provide enough grip, and the shaver does not slip when wet.
Another section of the shaver underneath the blades is engraved, providing grip. This section is a simple design but works well, and the thumb and fingers make use of this area while shaving (in terms of grip).
Head Movement (maneuverability ) – 8/10
Two features of the BaldiePro support the shaver’s maneuverability to enable it to move along the various head contours. First, the blades flex back and forth, and second, the blade head pivots in various directions.
I found the blades flexing and the pivoting head section functions well and enables the shaver to move along the contours of my head.
Blades/Cutters – 7/10
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 blades feel rougher on the skin while shaving compared to the Skull Shaver models and Remingtons I have used.
Attaching and detaching the blade head and switching to using an attachment is easily done. The blade head simply pulls out and clips back in with a matching connecting section which has to line up.
I’m not a big fan of these blades that open up in each corner and do not detach as one complete unit. I prefer a whole blade section that detaches which has a compartment that collects hair and debris, but other users have no complaints about this design.
Accessories 6/10
While there is a bunch of accessories that come with the BaldiePro making it one of those all-in-one grooming kits, I am not a big fan of products trying to do tasks other than the main task they are intended for (i.e., head shaving). The reason is, they never do the other tasks well.
I tried out the attachment trimmer, which can trim the hair down if the hair is longer than 1mm. It’s not a great trimmer, but it will trim, and it’s better than trying to shave long hair, and it could be useful when traveling or any other time when a decent dedicated trimmer or hair clippers are unavailable.
I did not try the exfoliator brush or head scrubber; I use exfoliating scrub when needed, which does a great job.
I think the option of buying the shaver with and without the accessories is better, and the price of the shaver is reduced if no accessories are required.
The blade cover included is a practical and useful accessory.
Cleaning & Maintenance – 7/10
The blades unclip at each corner, and the center blade is removed separately for cleaning. The center blade has to be turned anti-clockwise to remove it.
I remove as much debris as possible by blowing and using the small brush and then running warm tap water over the open blades.
You can add a blob of antibacterial hand soap to give the blades some additional cleansing.
They clean up well enough most of the time, but I sometimes find some debris left inside.
Charging and Battery life – 7/10
Groomie states a fully charged battery lasts up to 90 minutes, and while I have not timed it, I get plenty of shaves before recharging. In addition, Groomie also states that the shavers take 2 hours to charge fully, which is the norm when comparing head shavers.
Battery longevity is an issue with all shavers. However, having the ability to use the shaver while it is attached to a power source enables the shaver to work still even if the battery no longer holds its charge, which is a positive.
Unfortunately, the shaver does not come with a 5V adapter; we must buy this separately. However, like me, you most likely have USB adapters at home, or it can be connected to a laptop or other devices.
The numerical charging LED is a useful feature to keep track of how much charge is left.
Value for Money – 7/10
You will find cheaper shavers on Amazon or in stores like Walmart. However, I tried a couple out from Amazon and decided to support brands in the US and Europe after having two shavers of low-quality break on me. In addition, I am not up for supporting Chinese companies ripping off copies and taking business from European and US citizens (I am happy to pay a little more).
A BaldiePro Kit costs $79.99, but there are usually offers on the website and a reduced price if a buyer subscribes for replacement blades.
$79.99 is a bit pricey. However, an offer at around the $50 mark is more acceptable.
How Does the Groomie BaldiePro Perform and Shave?
I used the BaldiePro for about 3 weeks and even tried a facial shave. I am very familiar with this type of dedicated head shaver, so it did not take long to pick up on all its pros and cons.
I found the shaver compared well with other head shavers I have used. It shaved close enough, although not as close as a razor –and gets the job done within a few minutes. I always trim the hair down to the level of hair clippers or a trimmer without a comb first, so it’s quick to head shave and prevents the baldes from clogging.
I shaved daily for a few consecutive days and had no irritation. However, my skin was prepared for this shaver as I had been testing and using another head shaver for a month, so I had no skin adjustment period.
Facial & Body Shaving
I tried facial shaving; as Groomie states, the shaver can shave facial and body hair. However, the blades were too rough for my face –and the ergonomics of these dedicated head shavers are not best suited for facial shaving.
The shaver pulled on my hair a few times, and then I finished it off by using some of the pre-shave oil Groomie sent me (nice natural scent). The pre-shave stopped the hair from catching in the blades, but I would not bother facial shaving again with the BaldiePro.
I will not even attempt to body shave and definitely not mildly torture my crown jewels. This is because an electric shaver will pull bodily hair even when using the top-of-the-range electric shavers –I tried it and learned my lesson some time ago.
Wet Shaving
As we know, the BaldiePro can be used to shave wet or dry and with some kind of shaving lubricant.
I was sent a bottle of Groomie Natural Pre-Shave Oil and a bottle of Natural Aftershave Serum. I tried out the pre-shave, and it made the shave more comfortable. It has a sweet, natural, lemony scent, but as I already have quite oily skin, it is not best suited for me.
I did try shaving cream lathered up, and while it does provide a more comfortable shave experience, it is messy and more time-consuming. I feel an electric shaver should reduce the time and mess compared to using cartridge and safety razors.
The option to use a shaving lubricant for those needing more comfort between the skin and blades is available, but do not expect a closer shave, as the end result is the same.
Overall Shaving Experience
I can exclude the body and facial shaving stuff, as it’s not really what these head shavers are about, and the main thing I consider is how well it shaves dry.
The bottom line is –the end result is much like other dedicated head shavers I have used, which is close enough, even if not quite as close as a razor. However, I have found more comfort while shaving with a couple of other head shavers I have used (more about them in my comparison article).
This type of shaver performs best when shaving daily or every other day and only ever takes a couple of minutes to shave when the hair has minimal growth.
Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints, or Positive Reports?
Groomie has a similar website set up like other dedicated head shaver brands and sends products to influencers and brand ambassadors. Unfortunately, this influencer aspect can make it tricky to find enough honest reviews, and it takes some sifting through to connect with what is real.
Unfortunately, the amount of these –it’s is the best shaver ever comments –had me leaving the page after a few –read more reviews clicks, and scrolls.
The reviews on Amazon provide a more balanced experience from users of the BaldiePro, which are in line with what I would expect to find. Many guys were happy with their purchase and stated it gave a good, quick shave, even if not as close as a razor.
There are also reports on Amazon about quality issues with the blades, battery life, and other issues after using the shaver for a few months.
Final Thoughts – Who do I recommend buys and uses the Groomie BaldiePro?
I always hope these small independent US or European brands have a product that wows me (I want them to succeed). However, I usually find myself a little disappointed or at least just finding a product that’s very similar to others on the market.
I knew as soon as I opened the box that I was looking at another version of a FreeBird FlexSeries, and Bald Buddy. These competing products and brands are not a bad thing, and it just means a buyer will purchase the BaldiePro if some aspect, even if it’s wanting to choose the company Groomie over others.
While the BaldiePro can potentially have quality issues or even break within the first year, my contact with Groomie and reports I have read tells me they would honor dealing with replacements.
The BaldiePro is a convenient head-shaving tool that gets the job done fast.
Available from Groomie and Amazon.
If you are a visual person, then you might want to check out my BaldiePro review on YouTube.