Head Shaver Review

Skull Shaver Pitbull Silver Pro SX5 Review – Upgraded Version

If you’re considering the Pitbull Silver PRO SX5, or perhaps wondering if it’s a worthwhile upgrade from the original Silver PRO, this review is for you.

I’m sharing my unbiased experience and views on this dedicated head shaver, including a side-by-side feature comparison with its predecessor.

SX5 vs Silver Pro: What’s New?

Skull Shaver’s comparison table lists a few differences. However, some of the info there doesn’t seem accurate (ie, battery mAh and runtime) or it at least conflicts with the sales specs and documentation.

Waterproof rating: IPX5 vs IPX6

• Silver Pro: IPX5
• SX5: IPX6

In practice, this means the SX5 tolerates stronger water jets, but both are usable in the shower.

Battery upgrade

The comparison table claims:

• Silver Pro: 1000 mAh and 70 minutes
• SX5: 1400 mAh and 70 minutes

But based on older specs (see image snippet below) and past models:

• The Silver Pro is actually ~600 mAh / 60 minutes
• The SX5 is 1400 mAh / 70 minutes

So the SX5 genuinely delivers longer runtime and a noticeably bigger battery.

LED indicators

Older models had one LED light.

The SX5 has three, which gives a clearer battery status and a rough countdown to empty. It’s a small but nice improvement.

Claims of a more powerful motor

Skull Shaver says the SX5:

“takes performance to the next level. It’s been upgraded with a more powerful motor… (see photo snippet below).”

I can’t confirm this for the Silver Pro specifically because I don’t have my non-SX5 with me currently.

However, when I compared the Gold Pro GX5 to the Platinum, both using the same head, I did notice the GX5’s motor felt stronger and ran faster.

So it’s possible — but I can’t guarantee the SX5 is slightly more powerful than the old Silver Pro.

Ergonomic changes

Skull Shaver claims the SX5 has improved ergonomics.

Honestly?

It looks and feels identical to the previous Silver Pro. And when I compared the Gold GX5 to the Platinum, there was no ergonomic difference.

Description and Features

Unboxed, a buyer gets the shaver with blades attached, a power lead, a small cleaning brush, a protective blade cap, and an instruction manual. 

Im glad Skull Shaver does not include all the cheap attachments that some brands offer to entice customers into believing they can do multiple grooming tasks with a head shaver (they can, but not very well, at all).

Design and Ergonomics

One thing Skull Shaver head shavers have, which I have come to appreciate, is the two-way handling style.

1. Standard grip (sides)

You can hold it like a normal electric head shaver. I find this works fine for the front and top of the head, and when I need to apply more pressure, but I do mostly use it with the cupping method throughout the shave.

2. Patented “cupping” grip

You slide your fingers through the device and essentially “cup” the blade assembly between your hand and the scalp.

This has two big benefits:

• Perfect for the back of the head, especially tricky (lumpy for me) areas
• Allows smoother side-up strokes

I use this cupping grip for most of my shave as the style has become natural for me.

The SX5 is quite tall, especially compared to something like the Remington head shavers and other smaller palm-shaped models. The height is not noticeable when I am using the cupping design, and I imagine the cupping design is why it has the height, but when holding it in the standard manner, it feels large compared to some others.

This next clip compares the height of the SX5 with the Freebird FlexSeries Pro to give you an example.

If you prefer a more compact “ball-type” head shaver, the Skull Shaver design might feel big in the hand. For me personally, it’s not a problem — I’m so used to the Pitbull shape.

The SX5 does not have a rubberized grip like other head shavers have. However, this is not an issue as the grooved design at the sides works well (see next photo below) when holding the shaver, and the cupping method of holding does not require grip.

Blades and Head Section

While the SX5 only has four rotary cutters like other Skull Shaver models, four is plenty enough, and five is the max required in my view.

I recommend not buying into the marketing hype surrounding 7, 8, or even 10 rotary shaver heads, as they are just trying to sell the idea that more makes our shaver better (I have found it is not the case).

The four heads flex together, and each individual cutter head also flexes (i.e., they press in). These flexing help the shaver heads stay close to the scalp throughout the shave along the various contours.

The head section, unlike some other head shavers, does not flex at all. I dont find this an issue, especially when using the cupping method, but it is worth a mention. The Philips Head Shaver Pro, which shares similarities with the SX5 in terms of being able to use the cupping method, provides head flex, and I have found this head flex useful when shaving with the non-cupping method, even if only minimal.

The head section can be fully detached (see the video clip below), and you can use additional attachments such as the trimmer and nose/ear trimmer (these aren’t included with the SX5). To remove the head, simply twist it off. To reattach it, align the head with the shaver body, and it clicks back into place easily.

Hair Collection Chamber

One feature I appreciate is the Hair Collection Chamber located beneath the top cap. This helps collect the cut hair, keeping things somewhat cleaner than if the clippings were left in the cutters or on my shirt.

I can confirm it works well and collects a good amount of the debris—I noticed very little debris on my shirt. While some collect in the cutters, the chamber helps overall.

Battery, Charging, LEDs, and Travel Lock

The substantial battery upgrade to a 1400 mAh battery means we get 70 minutes of runtime. I have not measured it to the exact minute, but I would say over an hour is about my experience.

I like the three LED battery light indicator upgrade on the SX5. When we have one green light left, it is time to think about recharging the shaver. I do prefer the percentage indicator on the Pitbull Gold Pro, but that comes with a higher price tag.

The SX5 uses a proprietary Skull Shaver cable, not USB-C, and the charging port has a removable rubberized cap to protect the shaver from potential water damage. Some people dislike not having a USB Type-C cable, but companies often do it to avoid underpowered or cheap third-party cables, causing problems with the device.

It would have been nice to see the Silver SX5 upgraded with a travel lock, but that’s not the case.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The SX5 is easy enough to clean. I only give the head section a blow and brush out for about three shaves, and then give it a wet clean before the fourth shave session.

This is my wet cleaning routine:

1. Pop open the head
2. Blow/brush out loose debris
3. Add a couple of drops of hand antibacterial soap
4. Add a splash of water
5. Run the shaver 10–15 seconds
6. Rinse
7. Let the blades dry for a few hours

Previous Skull Shaver models I bought and own have a removable inner retainer (released by twisting a cog). This allowed me to fully separate the four cutters and give them a proper deep clean.

The next clip shows how the previous retainer could be removed for cleaning purposes.

But recent models — including the SX5 — do NOT include the removable cog system. Maybe this is a design fault, or Skull Shaver had so many issues with the previous design that they decided not to implement the arrowed removable cog. I have wondered if this is to try to stop the sales of all the cutters that are copies sold online at stores like Amazon (just my thoughts). This is not positive at all, as cutters will get clogged and cause shaver problems.

You’ll see in the next image that the cog does not have arrows giving us directions to turn it clockwise and counterclockwise like previous blade heads.

After every wet clean (and this should be done after wet shaving too), I add a couple of drops of oil on each of the cutters and power teh shaver on for around 15 seconds. It is important for maintenance and getting the best out of the cutters.

Skull Shaver suggests replacing the Carver Blades every 3–6 months. Mileage will vary based on use, hair type, and how well you care for the blades and shaver. You can get closer to 12 months from a set!

Shaving Experiences

I typically recommend shaving daily or every two days with these shavers, but I do stretch it to about three days for testing purposes.

Contours – Staying Close to The Scalp

As expected and experience with the other Skull Shaver models, the blade system maintains contact over the scalp throughout the shaver, and I didn’t get any blade overlap that I get with some head shavers.

Another important aspect that I rate highly, which the SX5 is great at doing, is maintaining skin contact throughout the shave. 10 out of 10 for that!

Comfort

The blades on the SX5 are very comfortable, and I dont get any irritation or discomfort while shaving.

I can also use the SX5 shaving daily without experiencing irritation.

Speed and Closeness

Speed and convenience are what these dedicated head shavers are all about, and not really closeness.

When I use it daily, or every other day, it takes about two minutes to get the shave done. It does not get much quicker than that! If I use it with three or more days of growth, then it can take much longer (they are not designed for longer growth).

Closeness is not perfect, and I still get a sandpaper feel around the sides of my head where the hair recedes. It does not give a manual razor close finish, just like any of the other dedicated head shavers.

If the closeness of shave is a top priority for you, then the facial shavers I have used, like the Braun Series 9 Pro, Panasonic Arc 5, and others, give that closer shave, but lack in other areas that dedicated head shavers do well in.

Wet Shaving

You can shave with the SX5 using a shaving lubricant of your choice. I’ve tried wet shaving myself, but I don’t get much benefit from it—I usually end up feeling like I might as well use a manual razor. That said, some guys do notice a bit more comfort and a slightly closer result when using the Skull Shaver wet with a lubricant, and others simply prefer shaving in the shower.

So, the option to wet shave with your preferred shaving product is there if you want it.

Price and Running Costs

The prices (USA) at the time of this review:

• Pitbull Silver Pro (non-SX5) – around $70
• Pitbull Silver Pro SX5 – around $77–$78

The price difference is small, which makes the SX5 upgrade relatively easy to justify.

Replacement Carver Blades cost around $25 per replacement (USA). That means roughly $50 – $100 per year on blades unless you stretch them further.

Important — Skull Shaver pre-ticks the subscription box on their website, and this signs you up for replacement blades every 90 days (you’ll be billed for this). You might think you’re getting a discount on the shaver purchase when you’re actually subscribing to blade shipments every few months. So double-check which box is selected before purchasing.

Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s It For?)

I became a fan of the Silver Pro when Skull Shaver dropped the price of it in 2024, which was quite a significant reduction from the Pitbull Gold Pro. I knew some of you guys would be happier (wallet-wise) to be paying under $80 for a head shaver, and I found the Silver Pro (and SX5) was and is one of the best in this price range.

If you already own the Silver Pro (non-SX5), I personally wouldn’t upgrade unless your current unit is dying or you really want the better battery and LED indicator.

While the SX5 is a capable head shaver, there are a few drawbacks that stand out. The biggest disappointment for me is the missing removable blade retainer, which prevented me from fully taking apart the cutter system for a proper deep clean (Skull Shaver might fix this). The proprietary charging cable also won’t appeal to everyone (Im cool with that for reasons outlined above), it has no travel lock, and the shaver doesn’t come with a pouch or travel case.

On the positive side, the Skull Shaver Pitbull Silver Pro SX5 delivers a very comfortable shave, and it performs especially well on the tricky back-of-the-head areas. It’s quick to use, creates very little mess, and the day-to-day cleaning process is simple. Considering the small price jump compared to the older Silver Pro, it also represents good value within the Skull Shaver lineup.

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