The Best Beard Trimmers, According to Professional Barbers
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Just as there’s no perfect beard, there’s no perfect beard trimmer. The best beard trimmers (like the best beards) suit their owners. This is why the market has been – at least to some degree – nichified over the last decade or so. As beards came back and different men went bushy or got into detailing, manufacturers attempted to meet them halfway while still producing products that could fit into a dopp kit (size is definitely a major issue in the category).
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So, while choosing an electric shaver comes down to one’s skin sensitivities and facial hair curl patterns (IYKYK), picking a beard trimmer is all about choosing the right tool for the project and… making sure the tool can hold a charge for longer than a few minutes.
“There is no wrong or right way to buy your beard trimmer,” says celebrity groomer Colleen Dominique, whose clients include Patrick Mahomes, Daveed Diggs, and Kiefer Sutherland. “Go with what feels right for your individual needs. Beards, skin sensitivities, and personal preferences vary from person to person. Some may like a sharp line up while others may prefer a natural grown-in look. Your personal care should be fun, not overwhelming.”
What the Experts Say
Buying a beard trimmer is a bit like buying a car (thought test drives are discouraged). There are tons of features and the full package is a bit hard to understand. The goal is just getting a decent return. That requires a bit of focus.
Cost vs. Expectations
While it’s possible to find a decent beard trimmer under, say, $40, the strongest and most enduring of them will likely cost more. But then the device should perform better too, as logic would suggest. “I have worked with devices that are fairly inexpensive, that definitely still get the job done, but the work takes longer and requires more skill,” says Simone, the mononymous groomer charged with trimming Jordan Peele, Paul Dano, and Mahershala Ali.
“A device made of quality material will not only last longer, but will make your job so much easier, allowing you to cut effectively, and quickly,” says Dominique.
In other words, saving money probably means losing time and almost certainly means worst results. That doesn’t mean there are no good affordable products, just that it makes more sense to spend the extra on a beard trimmer that can be customized, offers great battery life, and looks halfway decent on a sink. That likely means paying between $50 and $100. North of that, returns diminish.
Multifunctionality vs. Dedicated Devices
When it comes to customization, there are two options: Get an “all-in-one” device that has swappable heads and can achieve everything (and usually costs more) or buy multiple devices and let each do its task.
Dominique prefers the latter approach. “I think it’s best to invest in a couple devices that each do their core function beautifully. Think of your grooming kit as a tool bag, not a Swiss Army knife. A Swiss Army knife might be a nice thing to have on the fly, but it’s not going to be your go-to tool. You want a couple devices to do exactly what you want, and to each do them well. It will benefit you in the long run.”
That said, if it’s impractical to carry around multiple devices (frequent travelers aren’t likely to embrace that strategy) there’s almost certainly some kind of add-on to a customizable device. Will it work as well as a purpose built tool? No. Does it need to? Probably not, to be honest.
Underrated Features
Dominique calls out two underrated features that she wishes more buyers would prioritize in a beard trimmer.
1. The Quick Charge: “This is something you wont take for granted when you’ve forgotten to charge your trimmer and you’re pressed for time. A fast charge could save you from being too late and too scruffy. Five minutes will get you charged up, cleaned up, and out the door.” And not all devices have this quick-charge option, so take note.
2. Waterproofness/Water Resistancy: This feature will allow for easy clean up and possible shower trims, says Dominique. “This usually means your trimmer will be protected from rust or wear and tear, which will also prolong its life.” The difference between the two is that “waterproof” means “the full device is able to be rinsed or used under water” while “water resistant” tends to mean “the top can be snapped off and rinsed clean—carefully so—to avoid any water in the core of the tool. But always check the product manual to ensure what is safe to rinse and what isn’t.
What About the Warranty?
Beard trimmers all come with elaborate warranties no one wants to read. How much does a tool’s warranty matter? Truth be told, it’s hard to find devices with more than a 2-year warranty and most of them burn out in 3-5 years. The other wrinkle is that getting brands to actually act on their warranties can be immensely complicated. Remember: A warranty only covers factory malfunctions and the thing that’s gonna kill the beard trimmer is water from the shower or a short fall onto hard tile. Given all that, it’s not really worth worrying too much about the warranty.
The Best Beard Trimmers
BEST OVERALL
Panasonic Multi-Groomer Trimmer
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If there is one straightforward beard trimmer that can satisfy the most users—and which doesn’t overwhelm the buyer with a dozen different attachments—it’s the Panasonic. This trimmer offers 39 different length settings with its single precision dial, and in half-millimeter increments (1-120mm). Or, take the guard off its head and trim to a barely visible 0.5 mm.
This device is rinse-able (not fully waterproof) and holds a 50-minute run time on an hour of charging. It is also devised to be a hair clipper and body hair trimmer, though it doesn’t feel quite powerful enough for the head, and is a little less ergonomic than other body trimming tools. So, trust in its beard-trimming abilities foremost, and go ahead with body grooming as it feels fit. As for a quick charge, it does hold a bit of juice on a 5-minute charge, but can also be used while plugged in — so consider that its “in a pinch” escape hatch. It also comes with a 2-year factory warranty.
BEST VALUE
Philips Norelco Multigroomer 3000
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Key Specs: 60-minute runtime; 8-hour charge time; 4 trimming guards (1, 3, 5, 7 mm); precision detailer; 5-minute quick charge; hair clipping guards and nose trimmer; water-resistant rinsing; 2-year warranty
Why It’s Great: The web is obsessed with Philips Norelco’s Multigrooom 9000—arguably one of the best multitasking tools in the game. (And certainly on the shortlist of this roundup.) But don’t overlook its more affordable and slightly less powerful brother, the Multigroom 3000 kit. “This is powerful and functional for the price,” says Dominique. The body is mostly plastic, and it needs to be recharged a lot, she warns—compared to the 17.5-hour runtime the Philips Norelco provided on SPY’s test drive—but it has a 5-minute quick charge and offers enough customization to satisfy a lot of buyers.
BEST UPGRADE
Bevel Pro Trimmer
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Key Specs: 4-hour runtime; 2-hour charge time; cuts 0.0-2.5mm in 0.1mm increments; 4 guards (⅛”, ¼”, ⅜”, ½”); magnetic snap-lock attachments; water-resistant rinsing; 1-year warranty
Why It’s Great: “If you’re looking for a trimmer you would like to invest in this would be a great start,” says Dominique. “Bevel gives you an elevated design with crisp blades and a powerful battery.” She says it’s a barber favorite, too, since it works great as a hair clipper as well, and can be “zero-gapped” to provide ultra-close fading.
BEST MULTITASKER
Braun Series 9 All-in-One Trimmer
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Key Specs: 180-minute runtime; 60-minute charge time; 40 trimming settings in 0.5-mm increments (0.5-20mm); attachments for body trimming, hair clipping, nose hair trimming, precision detailing, line-ups, and precision shaving; 5-minute quick charge; length-lock function to prevent mistakes; power adjusts for thickness and density with sensors; waterproof; 2-year warranty
Why It’s Great: Braun’s new multitasker is a terrific pickup for anyone who wants everything from a single device, including an impressive 3-hour runtime, a quick charge, and 100% waterproofing on top of head-to-toe maintenance and detailing.
BEST DETAILER
Remington Ultimate Precision Detail Trimmer
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Key Specs: 6 trimming lengths (0.5mm bare, and 1-5 mm in 1-mm increments with guard); precision trimmer; nose hair trimmer; 1 AA battery included; 5-year warranty
Why It’s Great: This is the perfect add-on to any standard-fare beard trimmer. It draws clean lines, has a precision detailing trimmer, and won’t break the bank or feel like it’s requiring you to double your trimming device budget.
BEST FOR LONG BEARDS
Brio Blackout Beardscape
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Key Specs: 4-hour runtime; 3-hour charge time; 1-18mm cutting range; 1-1.9mm stubble trimming options; 5 speed settings; 2-year warranty
Why It’s Great: Take it from Eric Bandholz, the founder of Beardbrand, the big name in beard care: “Brio’s trimmer offers great battery life, the perfect angle for trimming long beards, guards for your sideburns, and a sharp ceramic blade to handle the most unruly beards.”
BEST VACUUM TRIMMER
Remington Vacuum Beard Trimmer
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Key Specs: 90-minute runtime; 2-hour charge; 13 length settings (0.5 mm guardless or 2-18mm with adjustable dial); vacuum belly captures up to 95% of hairs; precision trimmer for clean lines; water-resistant rinsing; 5-year warranty
Why It’s Great: No device makes cleanup as easy as Remington’s vacuum trimmer; it can suck up as much as 95% of clippings and is easy to flush out after the fact. Its power isn’t quite on par with the best on this list, but it will meet the needs of most users regardless—and certainly satisfies any roommates or partners of the trimmers, too, given the lack of clippings that accumulate in the sink and on the floor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beard Trimmers
Can Beard Trimmers Be Used in the Shower?
Sometimes. If a brand explicitly states that its device is 100% waterproof, then it is safe to take it into the shower (and to rinse the entire body of the device under the running faucet). However, if the brand just lists the device as “water resistant”, then it is only safe to detach and rinse the guards (and potentially rinse the top of the head—be sure to check what the brand advises here. If there is no water resistance or waterproofness mentioned, then it is best not to rinse the tool. And do not rinse anything that has a cord and is actively plugged in.
How Do You Keep Beard Trimmer Blades Sharp?
Some beard trimming blades will sharpen themselves, just based on their material or how they are designed and laid out. Others might require 1-2 drops of oil every month (or more often with more frequent use); this will also help prevent rusting. The brand will probably provide that oil in the same package with the purchase of the tool, and most sell larger bottles of oil online (which tend to have a mineral oil base). Be sure to rinse, brush, or wipe the interior of the tool, too, ahead of any oil application.
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