Shaved candlesticks are single-bar formations that stand out because they lack either an upper wick, a lower wick, or both. These candles represent decisive market behavior, showing that the price moved in one direction from open to close without much resistance or hesitation.
When you see a candle with no upper wick and a strong close near the low, it shows aggressive selling. The opposite is true for buying strength as a candle with no lower wick and a close near the high signals clear bullish momentum.
These candles appear at breakout points or during high-momentum moves where buyers or sellers take complete control during the candle’s formation. Traders watch them for directional bias, trend confirmation, and breakout signals, placing orders in the direction of the trend.
In our experience shaved candlesticks give a strong clue about who is in charge (buyers or sellers) and where the price might be headed next. In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify them properly, where they tend to work best, and how to trade them with real-world strategies that go beyond theory.
Key Facts About Shaved Candlesticks:
- Type of Pattern: Single-candle directional pattern that shows strong market intent without hesitation.
- Construction Characteristics: The candle has no wick on either the top, bottom, or both.
- Shaved Top: A shaved top candle opens high and closes low without any upper shadow.
- Shaved Bottom: A shaved bottom candle opens low and closes high without any lower shadow.
- Trend Prior to Pattern: Commonly forms during strong breakouts or when momentum is accelerating in one direction. These candles rarely appear in choppy or sideways conditions.
- Trade Forecast: Signals strong continuation in the direction of the candle close. Traders expect follow-through unless the next candle immediately rejects the move.
- Interpretation: A shaved candlestick shows that one side dominated the candle’s formatting without any meaningful pushback. The lack of wicks means there was no reversal pressure, which adds weight to the direction.
- Stop Loss Placement: Place the stop just beyond the opposite side of the candle body. In bullish setups, it should go below the open; in bearish setups, it should go above the open.
- Opposite Pattern: Doji or Spinning Top, both of which show indecision and market balance rather than dominance.
- Success Rate: 53% to 63%
What Is A Shaven Head Candlestick Pattern?
A Shaven Head candlestick is a single-bar bullish pattern that has no upper wick, meaning the candle opens at its low and moves upward without any price rejection along the way. It closes near the top, showing that buyers stayed in control from the first tick to the last. On the chart, it appears as a solid green bar with a flat base, a wick underneath it, and no shadow above it, which makes it easy to spot once you know what to look for.
This pattern signals clean bullish momentum and the lack of hesitation at the open and the firm close point to buyer strength that is not being challenged by sellers. It forms during strong uptrends, right after short pauses or weak pullbacks. When you see a Shaven Head candle with volume support and proper trend context, it can be a reliable sign that the price is ready to continue moving higher.
What is A Shaven Bottom Candlestick Pattern?
The Shaven Bottom candlestick pattern is a single bearish red bar with no lower shadow and an upper wick. It forms when the candle opens near the top and selling pressure pushes the price down in a straight line, closing at or very close to the low without any bounce during the session. There is no sign of buyer defense, and that flat base gives the candle its name.
The pattern forms inside strong downtrends or right after weak bullish attempts get rejected. Sellers dominate the candle from start to finish, leaving no room for hesitation or reversal. When confirmed with volume and indicators, the Shaven Bottom acts as a clean continuation signal pointing toward further downside movement.
How Is a Shaved Candlestick Formed?
Shaved candlesticks form when the price moves in one clear direction during a single candle, leaving no visible wick on one end. This happens when there is no pullback or rejection at either the open or close, which means one side controlled the entire momentum during its formation. It takes just one bar to complete, and the pattern can appear on any timeframe, from one-minute charts to daily candles.
Furthermore, you will usually see these candles form in strong trends, either after a small consolidation or right as momentum starts to pick up. Before the shaved candle forms, the chart might show hesitation or minor counter moves, but once this bar appears, it cuts through that noise with a clear signal.
Afterward, the next few candles often confirm the trend with continuation or a brief pause before the trend resumes. It is not enough to spot a candle without a wick and trade it since you need to understand how it fits into the bigger picture with what the price was doing before and after to trade it with any profitable consistency.
What Does the Shaved Candlestick Pattern Mean?
Shaved candlesticks show total control during its formation by one side of the market. When buyers are fully in charge, the candle opens at the low and climbs without resistance, closing near the high with no upper wick. The opposite happens when sellers dominate, forcing prices to drop from the open without any fight back, leaving no lower shadow.
These clean, one-directional moves show momentum and conviction from one side, and they appear when breakouts or trend continuation moves are unfolding. In practice, traders use these candles to confirm strength or spot moments when the market shifts out of indecision into a committed move.
Their meaning becomes more reliable when paired with volume spikes, support or resistance zones, or existing trends. While one shaved candle alone does not guarantee follow-through, it can act as a strong piece of confluence in a broader strategy, helping confirm that buyers or sellers are not hesitating.
The main point is to treat it as a momentum signal, not a reversal cue, and to always view it in the context of the candles before and after it.
Where does the name of the Shaved Candlestick Come From?
The term “Shaved Candlestick” comes from the Japanese word “Marubozu”, which means “bald.” This name refers to the candle’s lack of upper or lower wicks, giving it a clean, shaved appearance with no shadows. Traders adopted the term because the candle shows uninterrupted price movement in one direction, making it look like the edges have been shaved off.
Example of the Shaved Pattern in the Chart
In the Daily Chart of the Aamazon Stock is a perfect example of a Shaven Head Candlestick Pattern.
The Candle opens 96.54 USD and felt down to 91.53 USD. Then the buying Power comes in the Market and the Candle closes at its High at 96.54 USD.
How to Trade the Shaved Candlestick Pattern
Trading the Shaved candlestick pattern starts with understanding its purpose: to signal clean, aggressive market movement. These candles should not be treated as isolated signals and they must always be placed within a clear market narrative. A candle with no upper or lower wick shows strong price conviction, and your job is to determine if that conviction lines up with real opportunity.
Here’s a quick guide to help you get started with the Shaved Candlestick pattern:
- Find the Right Shaved Candlestick Pattern Setup
- Wait for the Appearance of the Shaved Candle
- Open Your Trade – Entry Point
- Wait For A Confirmation Or Not
- Choose Your Trading Take Profit
1. Find the Right Shaved Candlestick Pattern Setup
Look for shaved candles forming in situations where the price is building pressure or coming off a rejection. You do not want to trade this pattern in choppy, sideways markets or in areas where the candle’s momentum looks forced or out of place.
The best setups will always show some kind of pressure building up before the candle appears, and a clear lack of resistance or fight-back once it prints. That clean move, paired with context, is what creates a profitable trading opportunity.
Use tools like the 20-period EMA or a basic trendline to confirm that the price is either in a continuation setup or forming a base for reversal. Volume spikes can help validate the move, but avoid candles that show up in isolation without any prior buildup. A shaved candle must always make sense with the structure that led to it, or you risk mistaking noise for momentum.
Types of Setups to Look For:
- Trend Continuation: Forms during pullbacks when momentum resumes cleanly.
- Breakout Confirmation: This occurs at key breakout points, confirming the price has cleared a level decisively.
- Reversal from Support or Resistance: Develops after the price reacts strongly at a key level and rejects the prior move.
2. Wait for the Appearance of the Shaved Candle
Once the conditions are met, you need to wait for the Shaved candle to appear and close. Do not guess if a candle will be shaved before it finishes forming because that can lead to losing trades. The candle needs to open and move in one direction without interruption. Any wick on the wrong end cancels the pattern. Once the bar is complete, check that it aligns with what the chart has been telling you beforehand.
In a bullish move, you want a green candle with no lower wick and a close right near the high. In a bearish setup, look for a red candle with no upper wick and a close near the low. These candles tell you that one side dominated the entire session without any interruption. Also, confirm that the candle did not appear randomly in the middle of noise or chop, as that weakens its meaning and reliability.
Open Your Trade – Entry Point
Enter the trade once the shaved candle has completely closed and meets all criteria. Do not enter before the bar finishes forming, no matter how strong it looks in the moment. You need confirmation that the move was clean, not just a temporary burst.
Once the candle closes, place your order just above the high for bullish setups or just below the low for bearish patterns. That gives you an entry that is in sync with momentum while avoiding late fills.
Make sure the area beyond your entry has enough space for the price to run. If there is nearby resistance or support in the opposite direction, the move may stall quickly. Always consider the surrounding structure, and avoid chasing into barriers. Keep your entries focused on zones where the shaved candle breaks away from indecision and shows clear intent.
In a bullish shaved candle setup, the stop loss should be placed just below the low of the candle to protect against a sudden reversal that breaks the momentum. For bearish variations, the stop should go just above the high of the shaved candle, since a move above that level would signal a failed bearish push and shift control back to the buyers.
4. Wait For A Confirmation Or Not
Next, you can trade the Shaved candlestick pattern either directly after it forms or wait for confirmation before entering. Both approaches are valid depending on the chart context and your risk preference. Entering right after the candle closes gives you better reward-to-risk if the momentum follows through, but it also carries more risk if the move is short-lived.
Waiting for confirmation reduces the chance of false signals but comes at the cost of a later entry and a smaller profit range. One of the most reliable confirmation methods is volume, look for a clear increase during the shaved candle, which shows commitment behind the move.
Another way is the follow-up candle, if the next bar closes strongly in the same direction and does not retrace deeply into the shaved candle’s body, that confirms the trend is continuing. Trend-following indicators like the ADX set to 14 or the MACD crossing in favor of the move can also give confirmation.
Methods to check confirmation:
- Volume Spike: A clear increase in volume during the shaved candle supports the strength of the move.
- Follow-Through Candle: A second candle closing in the same direction with strength validates continuation.
- Support from Trend Indicators: An ADX above 25 or MACD line crossing in the direction of the shaved candle helps confirm the trend.
- Break of Key Level: The price moving beyond a major resistance or support zone after the shaved candle shows the trend is likely to continue.
- Rejection of Opposite Move: If the price attempts to reverse the shaved candle’s direction but fails, that confirms control remains on the side of the original move.
5. Choose Your Trading Take Profit
Choose your take profit by reading the distance to the next key level and measuring the strength of the move that followed the shaved candle. Look at previous swings or use a tool like the ATR (Average True Range) to project how far the move could go. Do not set fixed targets without checking what the chart allows. The shaved candle is meant to capture momentum, not random distance.
Also, you can also use Fibonacci extensions or structure-based targets like prior swing highs or lows. If the move is strong and volume supports it, consider trailing your stop just under higher lows (in a bullish setup) or above lower highs (in a bearish setup) to capture more of the move. Take-profit placement should reflect the setup strength, structure location, and room for continuation.
Which Strategies Can Be Used For The Shaved Candlestick Pattern?
Shaved Candlestick offer some of the cleanest entries in trending markets, but only when used in the right conditions. Once you understand what makes a shaved candle worth trading, you can combine it with volume spikes, breakout levels, trend indicators, and even fundamental events to catch strong directional moves. Here are some strategies that show you exactly how to trade Shaved candlesticks.
- Volume Surge Confirmation
- Breakout Continuation Play
- News-Driven Momentum Shifts
Volume Surge Confirmation
A Shaved Candlestick becomes far more reliable when paired with a noticeable volume spike. After the candle closes, check the accompanying volume bar. When the candle shows either aggressive buying or selling without a wick, and the volume is significantly above average, that move carries conviction. This setup works best near clear trend continuation zones, where traders are waiting to see if momentum will carry forward.
Use a basic volume indicator and compare recent bars to a 20-period moving average of volume. If the candle prints near a support or resistance level and volume jumps above that average, it confirms market participation.
Combine this with trend structure, like higher highs or lower lows, to filter out false signals. Once the setup is confirmed, wait for a small pullback and enter the trade, keeping your stop slightly outside the candle’s opposite end.
Breakout Continuation Play
When a Shaved Candlestick forms just as the price breaks through a key level, it marks the start of a strong momentum move. The lack of a wick means buyers or sellers faced no real opposition, and the break often attracts follow-through. Breakouts that follow tight consolidations are sensitive to this setup because the market has been storing energy that now finds release.
Identify consolidation zones using tools like Bollinger Bands or a basic trendline box. Once the breakout occurs and the candle closes with no wick, look at the previous swing level and make sure there’s room to run. Enter on a small retrace or on the next candle close. Confirm momentum with volume or MACD, and use the top or bottom of the breakout zone as your stop-loss anchor.
News-Driven Momentum Shifts
Shaved Candlesticks frequently appear after news releases that trigger instant shifts in market sentiment. These events push traders to act without hesitation, and the candle that follows tells a clear story about where the market is pushing. The move could be driven by an earnings report, economic figure, or major geopolitical update, strong news tends to erase wicks and create candles with decisive closes.
Always check the news calendar before trading, which is available on almost all broker platforms. When a shaved candle appears right after a surprising number or a shift in policy, mark the level where it closed and wait for a small retracement. Volume will usually be elevated, and that gives even more weight to the move. Trade with the direction of the shaved candle, and place your stop just beyond the pattern’s opposite end.
Is the Shaved Candlestick Suitable For Beginners?
Yes, Shaved candlesticks can be a useful pattern for beginners because of how visually clear and direct they are. There is no confusion about upper or lower shadows, which helps simplify pattern recognition. When a candle opens at one end and closes at the other with no wick, it immediately shows if buyers or sellers are in control. That makes it easier to read market sentiment, which is helpful for new traders with less chart experience.
However, beginners may face challenges in understanding when a shaved candle matters. These candles can show up randomly during low volume or within consolidation, and reacting to them without context can lead to bad trades.
A beginner might also mistake any wickless candle for a strong signal, even when it’s not backed by trend structure or volume. So while the pattern itself is beginner-friendly, using it properly still requires basic trend knowledge, and some experience reading price action.
Can the Shaved Pattern Have Failure Signals?
Yes, shaved candlestick patterns can have failure signals, and it is important to understand what conditions weaken their reliability. Just because a candle forms without a wick does not guarantee the market will follow through in the same direction. Without proper context and supporting factors, a shaved candle can become a trap rather than a signal.
Here are common failure signals to look out for when trading shaved candles:
- Appearing in a Choppy or Sideways Market: A shaved candle that forms inside a range-bound market carries less weight. Even if the candle appears strong, the lack of trend means there is no underlying momentum to back the move. In this situation, traders may enter too early and get caught in a reversal when the price drifts back inside the range.
- Lack of Volume Support: When a shaved candle forms without a corresponding rise in volume, the move may lack real strength. Volume helps confirm that traders are participating in the direction of the candle. Without it, the clean body can be misleading and signal a weak or manufactured move.
- Forming Too Close to Major Resistance or Support: Even a clean shaved candle can fail if it forms right at a strong resistance or support level. In these cases, the price may look like it is breaking out, only to reverse shortly after due to profit-taking or defensive orders at the level. Always check what is near the candle before placing a trade.
- False Breakouts in Illiquid Markets: Thin liquidity environments can produce clean-looking shaved candles that do not hold up. The price may appear to break out convincingly, but without enough participation, the move stalls or reverses. These Shaved candles often trap early traders and result in losses.
- Divergence from Indicators like RSI or MACD: If a shaved candle forms while indicators show weakening momentum, that can be a warning sign. For example, a bullish shaved candle might form while the RSI is dropping or the MACD is turning bearish. This disconnect often signals that the move lacks strength and is prone to failure.
- Sharp Reversal on the Next Candle: When the candle immediately following a shaved bar moves strongly in the opposite direction, it invalidates the setup. This shows that the market did not agree with the directional push and quickly absorbed it. It is a strong signal to stay out or exit early.
- Appearing After an Extended Trend with Exhaustion Signs: A shaved candle formed late in a trend that already looks stretched may be a final push rather than a true continuation. If you notice overbought or oversold readings, divergence, or slowing price action, the shaved candle may be part of a topping or bottoming pattern. That reduces its reliability.
What Are Similar Patterns To The Shaved Candlestick?
Shaved candlesticks belong to a small group of high-conviction single-bar patterns. While most candlestick patterns show hesitation, rejection, or a mix of both, shaved bars display a sense of urgency. Once they print, the price tends to follow through, at least in the short term. That’s why traders often compare them to other directional or momentum-heavy candles.
To better understand how Shaved Bars behave, it’s helpful to compare them to similar one-bar patterns. Here is a table that shows other visually similar candles and their use cases.
| Pattern | Main Characteristics | Best Use Case |
| Marubozu Close | A candle with a small wick on one end but still closes near the extreme of its range. | Useful when the price has just broken a level and continues in the same direction with momentum. |
| Opening Marubozu | Opens near one end of the candle and has a tail on the close, showing early strength. | Works well when spotted after consolidation and shows a directional intent right from the open. |
| Wide Range Candle | A large-bodied candle that expands volatility and closes beyond recent price limits. | Best used to confirm breakout direction after the price builds up in a narrow range. |
| Breakaway Gap Bar | A bar that opens far from the prior close, creating a gap and then closing strongly. | Great for momentum trades after news or key levels are breached with commitment. |
| Elephant Bar | A massive candle with higher volume and minimal wick, often swallowing the previous action. | Appears after quiet periods or low-volume ranges and marks a clear return of market participation. |
| Igniting Bar | The first strong candle after a reversal or base, it’s large and has a firm close. | Most reliable when it follows a failed support or resistance test and begins a new directional move. |
Find more candlestick formations by downloading our free Candlestick Patterns Bible PDF!
What Is The Opposite Pattern Of The Shaved Candlestick?
The opposite of the Shaved Candlestick pattern is the Hammer or Inverted Hammer or long wick candles, depending on the variation. Both patterns have longer wicks than the Shaved candlestick, which shows rejection from one side of the market, but a small body near the opposite end.
The Hammer forms after a decline and signals buying interest stepping in after sellers pushed the price lower, while the Inverted Hammer appears in the same location but with a long upper wick, showing that buyers tested higher ground but lost strength by the close.
These candles look visually similar to shaved bars but show hesitation and possible reversal rather than strong, one-sided momentum.
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Therefore, you are shown how these candles form within a structure, how to track the conditions that lead up to them, and how to know when they are worth trading. You’ll build real skills through chart-focused guidance that explains what the market is doing, not just what the candles look like.
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Conclusion: The Shaved Candlestick Pattern Is a Clear Signal of Market Strength
Shaved candlesticks offer one of the clearest ways to recognize strong momentum on the chart, showing a clean and uninterrupted move in one direction. From our experience, they tend to work best when used in combination with tools like volume spikes, trend indicators, and clean price structure.
Their shape makes them easy to identify once you know what to look for, but they should never be traded in isolation. What makes them valuable is not just the appearance, but the context in which they form, such as during breakouts, trend continuations, or strong directional pushes after a pause.
We recommend this pattern to traders who prefer simple signals that can be quickly verified with other tools. It is not ideal for sideways markets or situations where the price is moving without a clear direction. Always wait for confirmation and use proper stop placement to avoid getting caught in weak signals.
FAQs: Most Asked Questions on Shaved Candlesticks
Can a Shaved Candle Have a Small Wick?
No, if the wick is visible and meaningful, it disqualifies the pattern. A true shaved candle must open and close without any visible rejection on one side. If a candle has a tiny wick due to price data rounding, it may still be valid, but only if the wick is not functionally significant.
Is a Shaved Candlestick the Same as a Marubozu?
They are closely related, but not always the same. A Marubozu refers to a candle with no wicks on either end, while a shaved candlestick can have one flat side and a wick on the other. The term “shaved” focuses more on the dominance shown on one end of the candle.
How Do Traders Confirm a Shaved Candlestick Pattern?
Confirmation often comes from context, such as price structure, volume, or key levels nearby. Volume spikes during the candle help show real participation in the move. Traders also look at the follow-up candle to see if momentum continues or stalls.
Is It Safe to Trade a Shaved Candle Without Confirmation?
No, because it can lead to losing trade without some sort of confirmation. Some traders take the signal as soon as the candle closes, while others wait for follow-through. Confirmation reduces the chance of traps but can lead to later entries with smaller profits.
What Are Common Mistakes When Trading Shaved Candles?
One major mistake is trading them in isolation without analyzing the chart, which can lead to traps. Another is ignoring nearby support or resistance that could block the move. Some traders also assume every wickless candle is meaningful, even if volume and structure disagree.
