Guys, when it comes to facial hair, there are three main routes you can venture down. You can either show off your follicular prowess (if you have the luxury of doing so) and grow a beard that requires regular maintenance using the likes of beard oil.
You can go for a completely clean shave, using reusable or disposable cartridge-based razors, or for a close shave; you know that perfect 5 o’clock shadow, you can invest in a straight razor to get the job done.
Or, you can choose to rock a stubble beard, or a short beard in which case, you’ll need the right tools: a beard or stubble trimmer.
It’s not surprising to see why beard trimmers have gained in popularity over the past few years. They have quietly replaced the humble razor as the preferred styling tool of choice for men with beards who are proud to show it off.
What isn’t so easy is choosing the right beard trimmer to suit your face and needs. Attending to a beard or stubble is a fine art and can have a major impact on a man’s overall look, so it’s imperative to choose wisely. You need to consider the trimmer’s key features, and what kind of look you want for your facial hair; do you want a barely-there 5 o’clock shadow, a sophisticated stubble look, or a beard long enough to rival Dumbledore?
With a little help from the experts, we’ve compiled a list of the best beard trimmers and best stubble trimmers that’ll help keep facial hair looking rugged and masculine, and will make hair trimming easier than ever.
Beard Trimmer Essentials
Most men wouldn’t know, but there’s actually a lot to consider in a beard or stubble trimmer besides the price. Sure, price plays an important factor, but ultimately it’s the individual features that will play a key role in determining which is the best beard trimmer for you.
These are the four main factors that will guide you to the right beard or stubble trimmer:
Beard Length: Most beard and stubble trimmers should include adjustable length settings these days. The incremental levels of adjustment usually increase (become more precise) with the price and are more suited to the discerning bearded man who knows and wants an exacting beard/stubble length every time.
Know your own beard (long, medium, short, stubble) and choose your trimmer accordingly. An expensive trimmer with 25 length settings is pointless if you’re just using the short 0.5mm stubble setting every time; a cheaper one can do the same job.
Cord or Cordless: Most beard or stubble trimmers on the market come with the convenience of both a cord and cordless option. The vast majority will have a rechargeable battery built-in and a charging port, so you can easily use it at home and when travelling. You may occasionally find some beard trimmers will be cordless only, and these will need to have their batteries replaced.
A cordless trimmer, which comes with its own charging station provides the best of both worlds. It will however take up a bit more luggage space. Also note, avoid beard or stubble trimmers with built-in Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries as these have a shorter charging life span than a lithium ion battery. After extensive use and charge cycles, you’ll find that beard or stubble trimmers with built-in Ni-Cd batteries will last 30 seconds before they’re flat; AKA horrible battery life.
Trimmer Purpose: Some beard and/or stubble trimmers can be multi-purpose body trimmers and groomers, so make sure you know what you want to use it for, as the accompanying attachments could be for shaving heads or other regions other than the soft contours of the face. We don’t recommend you use one trimmer for your whole body. If you want to trim body hair, we suggest you invest in a dedicated body groomer.
Trimmer Features: One of the most overlooked areas of beard and/or stubble trimmers is their ease of cleaning. The most advanced trimmers today have built-in vacuums which are designed to suck up the loose beard hair as it is being cut. This makes for the ultimate in trimming leaving close to zero mess and quick disposal.
Other features to look out for include, a pop-out head for easy cleaning, water resistant or waterproofing for quick cleaning and use in the shower if you wish, and add-ons for other facial hair like nose and ear hair detailing. Also, take note of what the blades are made of. Stainless steel blades are cheap but will blunt quicker than titanium coated blades. If you go stainless, it just means you’ll need to lubricate the blades more often to prevent a dull trim.
Where To Buy Beard Trimmers
Besides the online market, there are plenty of physical stores men can head to in search of their ideal trimmer. If you’re not a fan of international adapters then definitely go for the latter option. It might cost slightly more than online buying locally but it’s guaranteed you’ll have a warranty and a locally designated charger.
Beard & Stubble Trimmer FAQ
How do I trim my beard?
Set your beard trimmer to its longest setting and start with the longest hair length. To remove excess bulk, go against the direction of the hair growth. Repeat using shorter trim settings until you are satisfied with the result.
Which blade is better for trimmers: titanium or stainless steel?
Titanium is stronger and has higher corrosion resistance, while steel stays in shape for longer and less expensive. If you want a compromise, find blades made of steel with titanium coating.
What is a good pre-trimming routine?
A pre-trimming routine is especially important for those with sensitive skin. Start with washing and conditioning your beard, then letting it dry naturally. Apply beard oil as you normally would, then wait for an hour or so before trimming.
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Remington MB-200
If you want to keep your stubble at a regular length and go for a more rugged day to day look then the MB-200 stubble trimmer from Remington is great value. It has nine different length settings that can even keep your barnet trim if you like a close cut on top. An adjustable zoom wheel means you don’t need to worry about constantly changing guards, whilst it’s self-sharpening titanium-coated blades eliminate the need for frequent maintenance.
Pure Enrichment TRYM Lithium
How a beard or stubble trimmer feels in your hand can really impact your overall aesthetic, and this is an area Pure Enrichment are intelligently exploring with there TRYM Lithium model. Its curved shape is designed to feel slight in your hand so that you can focus more on precision. For your money, you get an 11-piece kit including four different sized guards, blade oil and a battery that allows you to shave and trim for 80 minutes of cordless.
Hatteker Beard Trimmer Kit
As well as your jawline and cranium, hair has an unfavourable habit of popping out your nose and ears, so it’s good to have multiple tools or just one that looks after it all. This Beard & Stubble Trimmer from Hatteker does just that. It comes with nine cleverly thought out, interchangeable heads that cover everything from intricate moustache trims to hair removal around and inside your ears.
BRAUN 3060 MGK 8 IN 1
German electric razor manufacturer Braun has always been keen to offer alternatives to metal blades for men with sensitive skin. But recently they have been making products for men who want to keep a bit of growth, like this MGK3060 trimmer. It comes with four guards that can create up to 13 different length settings, useable anywhere on the body, and a charge will have you covered for up to 40 minutes at a time.
Remington VPG6530
If you feel like you spend more hours cleaning up hair rather than making yourself look better, then this VPG6530 model from Remington is set to free up a fair bit of prep time. It’s been designed with an in-built vacuum system that acts as a Dyson for the face when shaving – which for many men will be a relationship changer! It comes with one adjustable blade that can cut between 2-18mm and a lithium battery that has an hour’s worth of performance after charge.
Philips Norelco Series 5100
Philips have really stamped their authority on the beard trimming market over the past ten years, mainly thanks to their innovative technologies that enhance day-to-day shaving. Take the Philips Norelco for example, it can cut as low as 0.4mm, thanks to blades that literally lift hairs away from your skin before cutting them, perfect for those who are sensitive to repeated shaving friction. Its self-sharpening blades are 100% stainless steel, and it also has an impressive 70-minute battery life. There's a reason the Philips Norelco is so popular, it's one of the best stubble trimmers on the market.
Andis Slimline Pro Li Cordless T-Blade Trimmers
Andis has built a solid name for themselves through their clippers but prove here that they can create tools for more refined grooming styles as well. These Slimline Pro Li Cordless T-Blade Trimmers are sleek, feel great in the hand and are perfect for outlining and designing your facial hair. They also feature a rechargeable battery with a hefty 2-hours of life post charge.
Andis Slimline Pro
If you’re someone who is always on the move and requires something a more solid and durable machine day in day out, then you can't do much better than this Slimline Pro from Andis. It’s a balanced, ergonomic stubble trimmer made for outlining, designing and dry shaving. Its powerful cordless lithium battery can also deliver up to two hours of performance after only 15 minutes of charge.
Panasonic ER-SB40-K
Traditionally, trimmers have never seemed to like cutting wet hair, and taking an electric shaver into the shower wasn’t highly recommended! That was until Panasonic entered the market. Their shower trimmers, such as this ER-SB40-K, are what men had been screaming out for for years; shaving hours off our shaving time. It shaves dry or wet beards, can cut between 0.5mm and 10mm (with 0.5mm intervals) to maintain constant, perfect length and even has a multiple speed motor. Add to that a clever locking system so that it can be stored in bags/luggage with peace of mind and you’re on your way to easily achieved perfect stubble or beard trimming.
WAHL Optimus Lithium Ion Beard Trimmer
Undoubtedly the king of beard trimmers and clippers award goes to WAHL, who have been involved in the barbering industry since 1919. Their models are made from the best materials and ultimately do the best job. This Lithium Ion Beard Trimmer is a great example, it comes with three heads for designing or close shaving, features stainless steel blades and feels super tactile when in your hand. It's sharp blades and optimal battery power make it one of the best stubble trimmers available.
WAHL Barracuda Lithium Ion Trimmer
The second offering from WAHL on this list is their ultimate all-rounder – the Barracuda. As well as providing 13 interchangeable blades that help you keep on top of your preferred facial hair length, you can also safely use it under water in the shower. It comes with a practical hold all pocket and could be one of the shrewdest buys you make this year.
WAHL Stainless Steel Lithium Ion Beard Trimmer
Picture this, you’ve had your feet up for a few weeks, travelling around letting your hair get out of control – and now you must return to a more presentable, work-friendly version of yourself. Enter the Stainless Steel Lithium Ion Beard Trimmer from WAHL. Not only is it a wonderfully elegant object to have sitting in your bathroom, but it also acts as a T-Blade, trimmer, detail shaver and will have your nose and ears feeling fresh and smooth. Plus, its 4-hour battery will get you from caveman to superman in one swift session.
