I Tested The Skull Shaver Pitbull Platinum (Honest Review)

Are you thinking of upgrading your head shaving game with the market-leading Skull Shaver Pitbull Platinum but worried about the cost?

As someone who’s been shaving my head for over two decades, I understand the nervousness of paying for premium head shavers. Nobody wants to waste their money, especially these days.

The Pitbull Platinum is the benchmark amongst head shavers, giving powerful performance and a rare level of comfort. But, is it worth your hard-earned money?

In this comprehensive review, I’ll dive deep into what makes Skull Shaver’s flagship product a standout choice for men dealing with thinning hair, or embracing the bald look for style purposes.

I’ve been testing the Platinum Pro for over six months, so I can share firsthand experiences to help you make the decision.

Pros & Cons

Pros	✅ High-quality, flexible shave heads give a close and comfortable shave ✅ Waterproof design allows for both wet and dry shaving ✅ Impressive battery life ✅ LED display for convenience ✅ Easy to clean and maintain with simple rinse under the tap ✅ Useful accessories including rinse case and travel case
Cons	❌ Premium price point might be a concern for some buyers
Who should buy	✅ Anyone looking for a premium shaving experience with a focus on comfort and efficiency ✅ People who value the versatility of wet and dry shaving options ✅ Users looking for a head shaver that is easy to clean and maintain
Who should avoid	❌ Shoppers on a tight budget who may find the price point too high

Shaving Performance

If you’re like me, you want that smooth, close shave without having to go over the same spot a million times. I’ve tried a lot of head shavers, but the Pitbull Platinum is the best of them.

Smoothness – does it leave stubble?

I’d never claim the Pitbull shaves as close as a traditional razor, because let’s be honest, no electric shaver really does. People with fine hair can get a pretty close result, but if you’re like me and the hair at the back and sides of your head is thicker, only a razor gets a completely smooth shave.

Foil shavers like the Andis Profoil give a slightly closer shave and the Profoil is the shaver of choice for lots of professional barbers. The only reason I choose the Pitbull instead is that the Profoil takes so long to shave your whole head, having to repeatedly shave the same spots over and over.

But as far as rotary head shavers go, the Pitbull Platinum gives the closest finish I’ve experienced in 20 years of shaving my head. If that’s what’s important to you, the Pitbull is the tool for you.

But to be honest there isn’t a huge difference. Most head shavers give a fairly similar result, but where the Pitbull really excels is the effortless comfort with which it shaves your whole head in under two minutes:

Comfort

There’s not much point getting a close shave if it feels like you’ve dragged sandpaper across your scalp, right?

Again, this is where the Pitbull Platinum shines. I’ve put it head-to-head (pun intended) with models like the Remington Balder Pro, and there’s just no competition.

The Pitbull Platinum’s rounded metal cutting heads are super comfortable against the scalp, unlike the scratchy plastic heads on some other shavers. These metal heads glide over your skin, making the whole experience a lot more comfortable.

Will it cut long hair?

Skull Shaver products are designed for shaving shorter hair and maintaining a bald look. While they can handle some longer hair, for the best performance and experience, it’s recommended to trim hair down to a short length before using the Pitbull.

This approach helps prevent pulling or snagging and ensures a closer and more comfortable shave. If you need to shave down longer hair to prepare for a closer shave, use traditional clippers and then move onto a head shaver like the Pitbull to finish.

Wet/Dry Shaving

The Pitbull offers both wet and dry shaving and is fully waterproof, so if you like you can wet shave in the shower, even with shaving cream.

Personally, I think wet shaving should be done with a manual razor for the closest possible shave. 69% of the bald men I recently surveyed agree that razors are better than head shavers when it comes to closeness.

If you’re going to wet shave, I don’t see an advantage to using a head shaver (unless you’re clumsy with a blade and tend to give yourself a lot of shaving cuts – head shavers are much safer from that point of view!)

If you do choose to wet shave, more power to you. I’ve tested this out with the Pitbull and to be honest, the result was the same, just with more clean-up needed afterward.

Design and Ergonomics

The design of the Pitbull Platinum is probably what the model is best known for. This head shaver fits so naturally into your palm, it almost feels like an extension of your arm.

The handle isn’t just about looks; it’s shaped in a way that lets you grip it without any awkwardness or danger of dropping your Pitbull. 

This means you can move it around your head smoothly, with none of that uncomfortable twisting or turning. By sliding your fingers around the connector between the motor and the cutting head, shaving feels as easy as running your hand over your head.

This ergonomic design significantly improves your shaving routine by making it quicker, more efficient, and a lot more comfortable.

Cleaning and maintenance

The Pitbull Platinum is designed to be taken apart, so unlike other shavers that might just allow for a superficial rinse, this one lets you dive deep into its anatomy for a thorough clean.

Every component of the shaving head can be individually dismantled, cleaned, and then put back together:

Now, for someone with hands like mine (let’s just say they’re not the most nimble) this could sound like a recipe for disaster. And sure, the first time I popped the blades out and laid all the parts out in front of me, there was a brief moment of panic where I wondered if I’d ever be able to put it all back together!

But in reality, the Pitbull doesn’t have too many component parts, so you won’t find yourself staring at a jigsaw puzzle wondering where everything goes.

The real test comes when you’re trying to slot the small blades back into their homes within the cutting heads.

It’s a delicate operation, especially if, like me, you’re all thumbs. But with a little patience and a few practice runs, it becomes second nature.

Rinsing

I’ve found that while you can give the components a quick rinse, the brush that comes with the shaver is your best friend for keeping it clean. It’s gentle enough to sweep away the hairs and grime without stripping away the oil that keeps the blades running smoothly.

This not only keeps the shaver in top condition but also keeps the blades lubricated, so that each shave is as smooth as the last.

How long do the blades last?

Skull Shaver blades are designed to last around 3 to 6 months, depending on how often you shave and your hair type. Thicker hair = more work for the blades, so expect to be at the lower end of this range, especially if you’re shaving every day.

To maintain optimal performance and ensure the closest possible shave, I recommend replacing the blades when you notice a decrease in performance or comfort. This is typically after around 50 shaves.

If you want the most convenient solution you can sign up to Skull Shaver’s blades subscription service and they’ll ship replacement blades right to you. This is the perfect solution if you’re shaving your head multiple times per week.

Battery Life and Charging

The Pitbull Platinum offers an impressive 90 minutes of cordless use, so you can take it on vacation without having to worry about running out of charge.

A word of warning, it does take 2.5 hours to fully charge from empty. I tend to charge mine overnight when it needs it, and then I’m good to go for a few months. (If a quicker charge is important to yo, the Freebird FlexSeries charges fully in one hour and gives the same 90 minutes of cordless use.)

The Pitbull has a battery charge percentage indicator so you know when your shaver is running low. This is a significant upgrade from the Pitbull Silver I was using previously which only has a red/green LED indicator.

The Platinum has a lot of these ‘nice-to-have’ features that make it a tempting option against the more basic Silver and Gold models:

Additional Features

Switching from the Skull Shaver Pitbull Silver to the Platinum Pro wasn’t a decision I took lightly, especially given the price difference.

The Silver, at about half the price, seemed good enough for me until I took the plunge. And after comparing the two, the Platinum’s extra features make the splurge totally worth it, if your budget allows.

First off, the blades. The Platinum and Gold models come with the Forte blade, which is a step up from the Silver’s Carver blade designed for coarse hair. The difference in the closeness of the shave is subtle but noticeable; it’s just that bit closer (but still not as close as a razor shave, admittedly).

The travel lock feature is a godsend. Ever had your shaver buzz to life in your luggage, draining the battery and causing a bit of a stir at airport security?

The Pitbull Platinum allows you to long-press the on/off switch and it won’t switch on until it’s unlocked with another long press when you’ve arrived safely at your destination.

The premium travel case and rinse stand are also brilliant additions.

While I personally don’t use the rinse stand much (I’m all about the brush cleaning method to preserve the lubricating oil on the blades), I can see its appeal. The travel case provides peace of mind that your shaver is safe and sound while you’re on the move.

Finally, the warranty. The Platinum offers a two-year warranty, which is double what you get with the Silver and Gold. Considering the investment, that extra warranty year gives you a nice safety net.

In short, while the Silver model is a solid choice for a more modest budget, the Platinum Pro’s additional features provide enough value to justify the higher cost, especially for those looking for that extra bit of convenience in their shaving routine.

Here’s a comparison of features across the Pitbull range:

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

The Skull Shaver Pitbull Platinum Pro has genuinely impressed me and given that it’s become my head shaver of choice, I’d recommend it without a second thought.

That is, of course, unless you’re on the hunt for something that won’t hit your wallet as hard. If this is you, there are other cheaper alternatives to the Skull Shaver range that you can consider. Something like the Kibiy Upgrade will get the job done without the bells and whistles (and the price tag) of the Platinum Pro.

When it comes to the shave itself, the Pitbull Platinum is as good as it gets with rotary shavers. I’ve had my time with the Pitbull Silver, and while it’s a solid performer, the Platinum takes things up a notch. Not just a closer shave, but a more efficient one too.

And then there are the extras – those additional features and accessories that you don’t get with the Silver. They might just be the cherry on top, but if you’re willing to splurge a bit, they definitely make the Platinum worth the extra dough. 

Use my code ‘HAPPY’ on the Skull Shaver site to get 10% off if you’re in the US. Outside the US use code ‘Appreciation’ to get your 10% off: