I tested Dollar Shave Club's new $49 head shaver and it's ridiculously cheap and efficient

(Image credit: Tom's Guide) The pandemic lockdown reshaped how we live. It turned us into bakers, gardeners, and even runners. For me, it turned me into a makeshift barber. At the height of lockdown, barbershops were forced to close so I was one of the many folks who started cutting their hair at home.Admittedly, things were easy for me as I already had a somewhat hairless cranium. However, prior to lockdown I'd pay $20 to have my head shaved. Clean, fast, and no cleanup required. It was an expense I was ok with. Once lockdown started I began shaving my head at home with a cheap electric razor I managed to score on Amazon.Sure, it gave me a clean buzz cut, but it was time consuming and cleanup was always messy. But then I met the Dollar Shave Club Head Shaver.The pros Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Tom's Guide) I've been a Dollar Shave Club fan since the company launched its manual razor subscription back in 2011. So I was very excited to see them recently introduce an entire electric line. Unlike other head shavers I've used — such as the Philips Norelco Head Shaver Pro 7000 ($119 at Amazon) — the Dollar Shave Club Head Shaver has seven stainless steel rotary blades that pivot independently. That's important because it means fewer passes across your scalp, less skin irritation, and a smoother finish. I'm now able to shave my head in just over five minutes achieving a buttery smooth scalp each time.Additionally, whereas the Head Shaver Pro 7000 left patches of hair above my ears, the Dollar Shave Club Head Shaver was able to reach all of it, thanks to its added rotary blades. There's no cleaning tools or travel pouch included, but for the price — the Dollar Shave Club Head Shaver is unbeatable. Even more so since I've already seen the Dollar Shave Club Head Shaver sell for as little as $35 on Amazon.The electric shaver is IPX7 water resistant, which means you can use it for a dry shave or in the shower. Just note that Dollar Shave Club recommends having short hair before you shave; otherwise, you could experience hair pulls. I tried it with a good amount of stubble on my scalp and didn't experience any hair pulls.The consLet me preface this by saying that cleaning any head shaver is a tedious process because you need to detach the rotary blades and rinse them under water. The Head Shaver Pro 7000 has a leg up in that department because it includes a rinse station where you dunk the blades under water while the unit is turned on. Any left over hairs can be cleaned up with the included brush once the unit is dry.The Dollar Shave Club Head Shaver doesn't include anything for cleaning. However, that's not a deal breaker because you can easily rinse the unit under water to remove excess hair. You'll just have to do it multiple times because one rinse isn't enough to thoroughly clean it.I also found that the Dollar Shave Club Head Shaver can only be held from the base. On a few occasions, I tried gripping it between my fingers, but in doing so I accidentally detached the head from the base which sent the latter part crashing to the ground. However, these are all minor gripes which don't prevent me from recommending it.The Dollar Shave Club Head Shaver will save you time, money, and leave you with a smooth shave each time. It's a pretty amazing bargain at its full price of $49, but if you can find it on sale — it's a no brainer purchase.Shop today's best deals Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. As deals editor-in-chief at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets, appliances, and apparel. With over 10 years of deals-hunting experience, Louis price checks against multiple retailers and searches high and low for the best deals to bring readers. He's also always on the look out for the best coupon codes to use when shopping. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.