BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver review: a work of art for your bathroom

Have a nose around your local, trendy barbershop and it is highly likely that you will spy BaByliss products donning the hair-strewn countertops. That’s because the company makes solid and reliable devices that cut and style pelts of all lengths.

The BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver can be used as a standalone dual foiler for very close shaving, without the irritation, or as part of a wider grooming package that may include beard trimmers for keeping length and shape – the Foil Shaver can be saved for tidying up the neck and cheek areas, for example.

It’s a funky looking piece of kit: imagine if Apple redesigned the classic bulky corded shaver from the 1970s and you aren’t too far off.

With a sleek metal casing available in different finishes, including the titanium version tested here, it brings a touch of style to your grooming routine. But does this aesthetic edge translate into performance? Let’s find out.

BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver review: price and availability

The BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver is priced at £120 and is available to buy at BaByliss and select retailers like Amazon.

BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver review: design and features

The BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver is undeniably a head-turner. Its all-metal construction gives it a solid, premium feel, but it also makes it heavier than most electric shavers on the market.

While this adds to its general feel of robustness, it also means you need a firm grip, especially since the smooth finish can be slippery with wet hands.

Pop off the cover and it reveals dual titanium foils that have been coated with a hypoallergenic finish to reduce any chance of infection and irritation. The high-powered motor then swings the blades at a hefty rate beneath this for a clean cut.

Unlike some modern shavers, this model is dry-use only, which might be a drawback for those who prefer the flexibility of wet shaving with foams and creams to further reduce the risk of irritation.

There is some flexibility in those foils, allowing the user to incorporate various levels of pressure to achieve a close shave, but the BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver doesn’t pack the ultra-flexible heads of some rivals, which can make reaching tricky areas a little difficult.

Delve inside the box and it is a fairly basic offering: a soft storage pouch in case you want to take it on your travels, a spare foil head, cleaning brush and 3m-long power cord for lengthy, plugged in sessions.

BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver review: performance

In use, the BaByliss Pro delivers an impressively close shave, rivalling some wet razors for closeness and snooker ball finish. The flexible foils do a great job of following facial contours, ensuring a successful shave without too much effort. However, since it's dry-use only, those with very sensitive skin may want to look elsewhere, as this isn’t something you want to use with foams, creams or in the shower.

There are a couple of downsides to the BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver, the first being its weight. It is a hefty unit, which is great for professional use, as it feels built to last, but it’s a bit of a pain to use daily and definitely not something you want to take travelling.

Secondly, it is not the most ergonomically designed shaver I have ever used. The power button, which slides up and down at the side, is fiddly to operate and often requires sliding a nail underneath to click it in place.

Forget using this thing with wet hands, because the titanium finish means it will probably slip right out and smash you in the toes. Foil shavers are also notorious for requiring multiple passes in one area to get a clean finish and this is no different. For some, that can mean irritation.

Finally, it is noisy. This shaver is noticeably louder than many competitors, emitting a high droning noise throughout. All electric shavers do this, but this one is particularly loud.

However, it offers an exceptionally close shave for the money, with some rivals, such as the Braun Series 9 Pro+, costing twice as much. The motors are also powerful, meaning the unit can be used to plough through shorter head hair for a gleaming dome. But again, the foil design isn’t as good as multiple rotary heads for tackling head hair.

The fact that it comes with a 3m power cord might also please those that like to take their time, despite the 180-minute runtime eclipsing similarly-priced competitors anyway. Just be prepared to charge it for a while.

BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver review: battery life and charging

Battery performance is one of this shaver’s strongest points. With a 180-minute runtime from a three-hour charge, it outperforms many rivals. It can also be used corded if the battery runs low, thanks to the included 3m power cord. However, the three-pin plug may limit bathroom use depending on your setup.

During testing, I usually shaved for around 15-20 minutes at a time, meaning I easily got around two-weeks worth of shaves before it needed plugging in. There’s a small LED on the bottom that flashes while it's charging but will also let you know when it is time to charge.

Unlike some electric shavers, you can use this when it is plugged into the wall, which is probably why so many professional barbers favour this model.

BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver review: maintenance and cleaning

Cleaning is refreshingly simple. The foils can be easily removed to tap out trapped hairs into a sink or bin—no complicated dismantling or deep cleaning is required. This makes it a low-maintenance option for those who want a fuss-free grooming tool.

BaByliss also provides a spare set of foils in the box, so you can swap the entire head unit out if you feel cutting performance is beginning to wane. Using the included brush to keep the motor clean will ensure it lasts well beyond the included two-year guarantee.

BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver review: verdict

The BaByliss Pro Titanium Foil Shaver is a stylish, high-performance electric shaver that offers a close and comfortable shave with the added bonus of a very long battery life.

However, it can’t be taken into the shower, it’s not recommended for use with cream or oils and it is arguably too heavy to throw into a bag for shaves on the move. This is not great news for jet-setters with sensitive skin.

Alas, the clean-cut results are impressive for this price and there’s no denying it looks cool on the bathroom shelf, but those wanting more control over stubble length will require something with adjustable heads or included guards at the very least.