Personal grooming is one of the most crucial aspects of projecting the image we want. For too many men, though, this falls by the wayside between barber visits. They fall into this cycle where they start with a freshly barbered neat look and get progressively more shaggy and unkempt looking until they can’t stand it and head to the barber again. If you have the time and money to be able to make frequent visits to the barber, that’s great. But those who can’t will find that the right pair of trimmers will allow them to maintain a neat appearance by doing just a little bit of trimming at home.
After thoroughly comparing and analyzing dozens of different beard and body hair trimmers, we created this list of the top six units, along with a buyer’s guide and a comparison chart.
Best Overall: Panasonic ER-GB80-S Body Hair and Beard Trimmer
The Panasonic ER-GB80-S is our top pick and we give it our highest recommendation. This state-of-the-art trimmer is designed to be able to handle just about any hair trimming task you can throw at it.
One of the best features of the Panasonic ER-GB80-S is its adjustable dial that will allow you to select from up to 39 different cut lengths. This not only makes it easy to deal with moving from one setting to another and consistently using a given setting for a given area being trimmed, it also eliminates the need to have to constantly switch out attachments or guards to adjust its trim length.
In addition, the Panasonic ER-GB80-S can be used as either a corded or cordless trimmer. Cordless trimmers have the advantage of portability to allow more freedom of movement when using them. Corded trimmers boast a steady power supply from the outlet without worrying about the clippers weakening from a dying battery. The Panasonic ER-GB80-S allows its owner to choose which way to use it.
Overall, the Panasonic The ER-GB80-S is a top-notch beard & body hair trimmer that easily tackles all kinds of cutting tasks, either via its included guards to trim beards and head hair or through the use of its fine detail setting to get crisp edges on sideburns and hairlines. Read reviews on Amazon >
Panasonic ER-GB40-S Wet-Dry Beard & Body Hair Trimmer
The Panasonic ER-GB40-S can be considered to be the little brother of the Panasonic ER-GB80-S. It can handle all the smaller tasks its bigger brother can do and perform them almost just as well.
One of the best features of this trimmer is that it’s completely waterproof, making it great for those who prefer using a trimmer as a part of their shower routine. Doing so allows the shower to wash off any trimmed hairs, keeping clothes and skin neat and eliminating any itches the trimmed hairs could cause. Also, being waterproof allows easy cleaning of the trimmer blades. Clippers that are not waterproof require tedious cleaning with a little brush. With a waterproof model, simply running it for a few seconds under running water flushes out any debris.
There are a couple things to keep in mind, however, if you’re thinking about going with this trimmer. First, the NIMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) battery that it comes with has a memory, so it’s recommended that you fully discharge (use up) the battery between charges to keep the battery life healthy. And since this isn’t a fast charging unit, going from a fully discharged battery to a fully charged one may require somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 hours plugged into a wall outlet. Of course, if you want, you can recharge it after every use, but keep in mind that this will probably shorten the lifespan of the unit’s battery.
Overall, the Panasonic ER-GB40-S is a great beard and body trimmer that can handle both short and long hair equally as well. Read reviews on Amazon >
Best Value: Philips Norelco Series 7200 (BT7215-49) Beard Trimmer
If you’re looking to get the best “bang for your buck,” look no further than the Philips Norelco Series 7200. This sleek personal trimmer comes with a slew of features one typically wouldn’t expect from a trimmer in its price range.
The main feature that differentiates the Philips Norelco 7200 from its competitors is its unique vacuum system, which traps the hair clippings after a shave. While no such system eliminates 100{88454e838380835437410b8dd4980e42836d50c1d7c06d32c28ecbc57e5157a9} of the resulting clippings, this shaver will trap most of it so that you can use it for a quick touch-up without creating a huge mess.
Another excellent feature of the Philips Norelco 7200 is its battery. The unit uses a Lithium-ion battery, which matches most users’ habits better than the Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries found in some competing units. Nickel Metal Hydride batteries should ideally be discharged fully before recharging to maximize the life of the battery. Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, respond better to frequent partial discharges and charges. What this means is that a trimmer with a Lithium battery can be plugged back in after each use so it always has a full charge waiting for the next session.
Additionally, this unit can handle hair and beards up to 10mm, which is about a third of an inch. So those who plan to leave a beard or other hair longer than this may want to consider another model.
All things considered, the Philips Norelco 7200 is a top-notch trimmer that offers great value for money spent. Read reviews on Amazon >
4 Remington PG525 Head to Toe Lithium Powered Body Hair & Beard Trimmer
The Remington PG525 Head to Toe is a good, versatile trimmer that’s well suited for doing general maintenance.
The way this trimmer works is its battery and motor serve as its powerhouse to which various cutting heads are popped on, depending on what type of cutting is being done. It comes with a number of attachments, including a foil shaver head, a full size trimmer head, a detail head for ears and nose and a body hair head with comb. Additionally, through a combination of settings on the cutting heads and attachable guards, the trimmer can be set to cut hair to lengths as short as 2mm or as long as 16mm.
In addition, the Remington PG525 Head to Toe comes with a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery which can hold a long charge and offers good power.
One thing to keep in mind about this unit, however, is that this is a “general maintenance” trimmer/shaver, so it is unlikely to be an adequate replacement for your electric razor when a super close or total shave is desired. The detail trimming ability of the PG525 also fall a little bit short when compared to some of the better, higher priced models, and may not give you that perfect edge on sideburns or hairlines. What the Remington PG525 does do, however, is it will allow you to keep things from getting out of control and looking too messy between barber visits.
All in all, though, the Remington PG525 is a solid trimmer that will keep your beard under control via quick and easy touch-ups. Read reviews on Amazon >
5 Best Budget Model: Philips Norelco Series 3000 (MG3750) Multigroom Beard Trimmer
While it won’t give you the results of a more feature packed model, the Philips Norelco 3000 Multigroom is still a good choice for budget-conscious shoppers who are looking for an inexpensive trimmer for quick touch-ups here and there.
The Philips Norelco 3000 comes with thirteen different attachments, including a nose trimmer, six different hair and beard guards, a stubble guard and an ear hair trimmer. It also has tempered steel blades that are “self-sharpening”, which eliminates the hassle of having to sharpen your trimmer’s blades manually. Additionally, it’s powered by a Lithium-ion battery that can last a fairly long time on a single charge – up to 60 minutes.
Having said that, however, as you would probably expect from a trimmer with such a low price, this is not a product you should buy if you’re looking to get something that will stand up to years of daily use. But if you’re someone in need of a decent quality personal trimmer and want to spend as little money as possible to get one, then the Philips Norelco 3000 Multigroom is for you. Read reviews on Amazon >
6 Best Head Shaver (Hair Clipper): Wahl 79602 Elite Pro
While most people will focus on beard and body hair trimmers when looking at personal trimmers, those of you who like to keep a “buzz” haircut of any kind should consider getting a model with a more robust motor, like the Wahl 79602 Elite Pro.
This professional quality, corded trimmer has a powerful motor and will allow you to easily remove a lot of hair quickly. This model is the type of trimmer one might expect to be used in a barber shop or hair salon.
The Wahl 79602 Elite Pro comes with 8 different attachable guards that enable a cut from 1/16 of an inch to a full inch. This gives a good selection of lengths for doing everything from fades to all-over, short buzz cuts.
And since this shaver was designed to allow you to give actual haircuts, it also comes with all the necessary accessories one would need to do a proper haircut, including a pair of scissors, a barber cape and a bag to keep all the guards together.
The bottom line is that the Wahl 79602 Elite Pro is a superb hair clipper that will allow you to easily give yourself or someone else a haircut from the comfort of your own home. Read reviews on Amazon >
Buying Guide: How To Choose The Best Body Hair & Beard Trimmer
- Corded or Cordless
- Battery Type
- Attachments or Built-in Cutters
- Cut Length
- How the Trimmer Deals with Cut Hair
Corded vs. Cordless
Corded or cordless is a pretty gray area. Using trimmers while they are plugged into the wall means no worry about how much charge is left on the battery. Using trimmers as cordless means more freedom to move around while using them.
The reason this is a gray area is that most cordless trimmers can also be used while plugged into the wall, making them both types in one. One thing to think about, though, if using them as a corded trimmer is the length of the cord. Many models come with only a short cord meant to charge the unit. If using it in corded mode is desired, make sure the model chosen is one of those that has enough cord for the task.
Battery Type
The battery type is a factor in cordless trimmers. While adequate, the universal consensus is that NIMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries are inferior to Lithium-ion batteries. NIMH batteries have a memory. This means charging them when the battery is partially charged runs the risk of the battery’s capacity being “set” to the current amount of charge. In other words, charging a NIMH battery that has half a charge left runs the risk that the battery will be damaged and never able to charge more than half way. This is not a factor with Lithium batteries.
Attachments vs. Built-in Cutters
The next consideration is whether to choose a model that has its cutting system integrated into one unit or one that has different cutting heads that can be exchanged to handle different tasks. The general consensus is that integrated systems are a little more robust and cut more effectively, while removable heads are easier to clean and are more specialized to the cutting task at hand.
One note on interchangeable heads models: While virtually every interchangeable head trimmer features one, most people find the screen shaver to be a totally inadequate replacement for a bladed razor or standalone shaver.
Cut Length
How great a cut length the particular model can handle is the next consideration. While the differences between models are usually small, as in – a difference of a couple of millimeters, these differences could be the deciding factor in whether a particular model gives a satisfying trim.
Generally speaking, every trimmer on the market will handle anything from a down to the skin cut to trims that leave a little over a quarter of an inch. For a man who just wants that perpetual 5 O’clock shadow, pretty much any model will handle this. Those who want to keep a bit more length will need to take a closer look.
Anyone who wants even more length than most personal trimmers can handle may be well served by looking into a good pair of hair trimmers. In addition to being able to leave longer hair in its wake, a good hair trimmer will be able to glide through dense head hair with no effort at all. For anyone who wants to use the trimmers for an actual haircut, this can save a ton of frustration. Trying to cut a full head of hair down to a uniform quarter inch length can require some very slow going and several passes to actually get all the hair cut without jamming the cutters and pulling hair instead of cutting it.
How the Trimmer Deals with Cut Hair
The last, and perhaps most important, consideration when choosing a personal trimmer is how that particular trimmer deals with cut hair. Trimming a beard every other day, for example, can result in a face worth of tiny hair pieces that can get stuck in clothes and jab the person for the rest of the day. The resulting itch and unsightly cut stubble stuck in clothing can be socially awkward.
The cheapest trimmers have no mechanism of dealing with these discarded stubble pieces. With these, the only way to avoid being irritated by the hair for the rest of the day is to use the trimmer naked while standing on a towel or newspaper and jump in the shower immediately after the trim. After the shower, the person then gets to clean up the trimmings that inevitably land on the actual floor.
The way some better trimmers deal with the problem of these discard cuttings is by being waterproof. Being able to make trimming part of the shower routine means these trimmings get washed off and down the drain immediately. While it does theoretically increase the odds of the drain getting clogged, in practice, such short hairs make virtually no impact on whether the drain clogs.
Other trimmers feature a vacuum system. As the motor turns, it also powers a fan below the blade that sucks up all the little hairs. Depending on the particular model, a vacuum system can be anything from completely useless to almost perfect. It also enables one great advantage. A trimmer with a vacuum system can be used for a touch up without needing a shower during or after. Anyone in a rush to leave the house but who wants to look his best will appreciate this advantage.
While they all do the same thing, choosing a personal trimmer with an eye to the various advantages its features offer will ensure that hair related personal grooming is a quick and easy part of a person’s life.
Comparison Chart
Our Top Pick
$$$$$
3
39
Washable
Yes
Ni-MH
Best Value
$$$
4
20
Washable
Yes
Lithium-ion
Best Budget Model
$
13
6
Washable
Yes
Lithium-ion
Best Head Shaver
$$$
10
8
Not Waterproof
No
Corded
Top Rated
$$$
1
19
100{88454e838380835437410b8dd4980e42836d50c1d7c06d32c28ecbc57e5157a9} Waterproof
Yes
Ni-MH
Very Good
$$
8
8
Washable
Yes
Lithium-ion
Good
$$$$
2
25
Washable
Yes
Ni-MH
Good
$$$$
1
5
100{88454e838380835437410b8dd4980e42836d50c1d7c06d32c28ecbc57e5157a9} Waterproof
Yes
Lithium-ion
Related Product Guides:
Top 3 Electric Razors
3 Best Electric Toothbrushes
Top 10 Hair Dryers
7 Best Oil Diffusers