Skull Shaver Rugged Blade Review – The Perfect Stubble-Maker for Your Head?
As someone who is constantly reviewing head-shaving devices, I know that most people are looking for the closest shave possible. However, I’ve been asked a good few times if there’s a device that will specifically leave some stubble.
This is why the Skull Shaver Rugged Blade caught my attention. It seems odd, but there is definitely a demand for a blade that avoids that “close-shave” finish.
Skull Shaver claims this rugged blade aims to leave you with the look of two or three days of stubble growth, and in my experience using it, that’s precisely what it delivers.
Design & The “Rugged” Difference
At first glance, the Rugged Blade head looks similar to any other Skull Shaver blade—it’s a rotary system with four flexing heads designed to move along the contours of your scalp.
The difference is immediately clear:
The Combs (Spacers): On top of each blade, there are what look like teeth or combs, which are raised by a couple of millimeters. It creates a gap between your hair and the cutting element, ensuring the hair is trimmed and not completely shaved down to the skin. This is the key to the stubble effect.
Compatibility: The blade head can be easily swapped onto any Skull Shaver. I used it with my Pitbull Gold GX5, and the head simply twists on in place of the GX5 Forte blades (see next video clip).
Unboxed: We get the blade, a blade cap cover which is useful, a small bottle of oil, and instructions.
Key Product Specifications
- Blade Material: The blades are made from precision-engineered, hypoallergenic Japanese stainless steel, chosen for its sharpness and durability.
- Stubble Length: The specialized spacers ensure a consistent stubble length, mimicking 2–3 days of natural growth.
- Longevity: Skull Shaver states the blade is designed to deliver up to 90 trims per blade before a replacement is needed.
- Contouring: The design features advanced 360° contouring, allowing the four independently floating blades to smoothly follow the curves of your head and face for an even trim.
Shaving Experience
I used the blade a fair few times before reviewing it. I found that five days is approximately the ideal amount of growth, as it provides enough hair to be trimmed without being too much for the blades to handle.
You’ll see in the video clip above that there is no significant difference visually between the five-day growth and after the head shave; however, it does reduce it to a level that I prefer, which is hard to display in the video (it is more stubbly)
I find it is important not to shave with hair that is too long, as it can cause the shaver motor to work too hard.
The shaving process itself is incredibly fast. The multi-directional rotary heads allow you to shave in small circular motions, and the patented design makes it easy to hold the device in a “cupping” style.
Feedback on Comfort
An important point to consider is the feel of those combs:
- Slightly Rough: Because of the combs on the blades, the feel is slightly rougher than a standard close-shave head.
- The “Massage” Effect: However, on the top of my head, it almost felt like it was massaging the scalp, which was a surprisingly nice feeling when done gently.
Ultimately, while the initial sensation is a little rough, you quickly get used to it, and it should cause no harm or irritation to my skin.
Results: I Got Me A Stubble Effect
The bottom line is that this unique blade absolutely does what it’s supposed to.
After running it over my head, I was left with a perfectly uniform, short stubble. If you are looking for that two or three-day growth appearance, this blade is an ideal solution. It is perfect for guys who like to keep their heads shaved but occasionally want to maintain a little stubble for a change.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The head has a hair collection chamber, the same as all other Skull Shaver blades, but I wasn’t sure if it was catching any of the trimmed debris. During my shave, I found absolutely no hair on my shirt—plus nothing in the collection chamber (so, where the heck was it all going?).
When I removed the head and tapped it gently, debris dropped out. This confirmed that the collection chamber does not collect hair; instead, the hair remains stuck in the cutters until they are cleaned.
My go-to cleaning method is to use a couple of blobs of antibacterial hand soap in the blade section, reattach the head, and run it under the tap for about ten seconds. This helps keep the blades running smoothly and prevents clogs from forming. Keeping the blades clean is vital; otherwise, clogging can put strain on the motor and shorten the shaver’s life.
Important: My blade head internal cog wasn’t able to turn to remove the section that allows all four individual blades to be removed like other Skull Shaver blades. So, I couldn’t disassemble the rotary blades for deep cleaning. They are usually easy to remove, and the cog shows arrows. However, on the rugged and another blade I recently acquired from Skull Shaver, it does not have the arrows, and it cannot be removed. That’s a frustration for long-term maintenance (I need to contact Skull Shaver about this).
After wet cleaning the blades, it is best to add a drop of oil to each cutter. Skull Shaver provides us with a small bottle of oil, so no excuses.
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s It For?)
The Skull Shaver Rugged Blade does what it sets out to do: give you a consistent, rugged stubble finish instead of a bare scalp. It won’t outperform a razor or a dedicated “zero-gap” trimmer blade, but that’s not its intended purpose. It’s a niche product—and within that niche, I think it succeeds.
Would I keep one? Yes, as an alternative to when I want a very short hair look, but keep in mind I already own Skull Shaver head shavers and can switch the head over easily. For users who regularly change between styles (fully shaved vs stubble), it’s a smart add-on. For someone whose only goal is a shaved head, the standard Skull Shaver heads or other head shaver options remain the better choice.
As for the locked cog on my blades, that’s not great, especially as the collection chamber does not seem to collect debris. Without a doubt, not cleaning those blades individually on a monthly basis will be a cause for concern (I know this based on experience with rotary shavers).
Alternative
Another option, especially if you plan to use the Rugged Blade with a Skull Shaver only, is to use hair clippers. I have used and reviewed Palm Held DIY Hair Clippers here, which include those made by Remington. Clippers provide a similar finish, and you can adjust the blade gap on some models for a closer cut.
I’ve used the Remington ShortCut Pro (also known as QuickCut) numerous times for trimming my head and other areas before shaving or to achieve a fast stubble look (The Rugged Blade gives a slightly shorter result).
