Best Beard Trimmers

Before the pandemic, it was already an interesting time for men with facial hair as companies accepted beards, goatees, and mustaches in the workplace.

However, current physical distancing protocols and work-from-home setups may have reduced men’s concern with keeping dapper.

Even then, the current situation grants a more open platform for genuinely presenting ourselves whichever way we’d like.

As such, the best beard trimmers are here to stay.

If you’re someone who wants to keep looking neat and scruffy at the same time, we’re giving you five quality beard trimmer options.

Our Top Picks

1. Philips Norelco Multigroom 3000

Philips is undoubtedly one of the forerunners in grooming electronics, and they don’t hold back on the features of the Norelco Multigroom 3000.

It is a 13-piece multipurpose trimmer capable of pruning facial and head hairs using its interchangeable attachments.

What’s more, it is very affordable and comes with a two-year warranty.

Take note that the 13-piece count includes the device itself, the power adapter, and a portable storage pouch.

Product Highlights

The Norelco Multigroom 3000 comes with self-sharpening, iron-reinforced tempered steel blades that are non-corrosive.

Philips boasts that it doesn’t require any maintenance lubrication, but you could see the difference in performance with a well-oiled mechanism.

It takes eight hours to charge its built-in lithium-ion battery fully, and it can operate continuously for 60 minutes after a full charge.

If, however, you find yourself undone and the battery dies, you can give the device a five-minute quick charge to continue grooming.

The Good

We like that the set includes seven trimming guards: three for hair, three for beard, and one for pre-formed stubble.

It also comes with a detail trimmer and a rotary nose trimmer.

You can use the detail trimmer to stylize your facial hairs and shift to the rotary trimmer for nasal and ear hairs.

All the blades and trimmer guards are washable, making cleaning and maintenance a breeze.

The Bad

We hate that the battery charging of the Norelco Multigroom 3000 takes too long.

The device also doesn’t have an LED light to indicate that the battery is full.

2. Wahl Micro GroomsMan

Like Philips, Wahl is another conglomerate specializing in producing highly innovative and exceptional quality grooming tools.

For this segment, we will look at the Wahl Micro GroomsMan.

The Micro GroomsMan is a pen-sized personal trimmer and detailer, allowing high-precision hair removal without pulling or nicking.

Product Highlights

In addition to the Micro GroomsMan battery trimmer, the set includes a rotary head, a detailing head, an eyebrow guide, and a protective cap.

Its power source is a single AAA battery, which is not included in the package.

The Micro GroomsMan is a multipurpose trimmer capable of cutting hairs from the ears, nose, face, and neckline.

You can use it to trim your beard, goatee, mustache, eyebrows, nose hairs, and ear hairs.

The Good

When it comes to portability, the Wahl Micro GroomsMan has unmatched potential.

It is so tiny and lightweight, meaning you can tuck it into any small pocket so that you can trim your beard anywhere with incredible precision.

We also like that the device works under wet or dry conditions with its premium anodized aluminum casing.

The Bad

A small device like this is not enough for someone with long beards and thick facial foliage.

Using it to reduce the bulk of a thick set of facial hairs can be very tedious and time-consuming.

The device can only be highly functional for trimming small amounts of stray hairs and facial detailing.

3. Brightup All-In-One Electric Grooming Kit

Although Brightup is relatively new in the market, it boasts best-selling grooming equipment, including hairdryers, eyelash kits, and beard trimmers.

The company’s entry for this selection is the All-In-One Electronic Grooming Kit.

It is a cordless beard trimmer with multiple interchangeable attachments and essential grooming kit accessories.

Product Highlights

The Brightup All-In-One Grooming Kit offers professional-grade functionality, complete with three precision trimmers, a body hair trimmer, nose and ear trimmer, and a micro shaver.

It also comes with five variable-size hair trimmer comb guards, four of which have fixed sizes and one with adjustable lengths.

Other extras include a stand base, a USB charging cable, a cleaning brush, a comb, and a small bottle of blade oil.

All in all, it is a 17-piece set.

The device only requires about two hours of USB charging time, and the battery offers up to 90 minutes of continuous operation.

You can charge it through any five-volt supply USB adapter.

The Good

We like that the trimmer and all of its included attachments are 100 percent washable.

However, the device is not fully waterproof, and the manufacturer does not recommend prolonged submersion in water.

Another advantage is the device’s Smart LED Display, which indicates the available percentage of battery power and tells you when to wash your trimming heads.

The device also features a child safety lock that you can engage using a three-second press of the power button.

The Bad

The downside of the Brightup Grooming Kit is the intermittent nicking and hair-pulling tendency of its blade after several months of use.

Although the manufacturer indicates the blade as self-sharpening, the device doesn’t quite live up to precision cutting and hair detailing expectations.

We also hate that the device could use a better form of charging.

The included USB cable may not work well with some wall adapters, and we think the manufacturer should replace it with an actual charger.

4. Wahl GroomsMan Battery Combo

If you want something more comprehensive from Wahl, the GroomsMan Battery Combo can perfectly match the Philips Norelco Multigroom 3000.

The kit includes two battery-operated devices: a beard trimmer and a nose trimmer.

Don’t mistake this version for Wahl’s newer GroomsMan combo, which comes with a rechargeable beard trimmer.

The updated set has a shinier metallic sheen than the one we’re presenting here.

Product Highlights

The GroomsMan Battery Combo is an excellent tool for trimming, detailing, and grooming facial and head hairs.

Both devices have an ergonomic contour design and soft-touch components for a highly comfortable grip.

The beard trimmer will require two AAA batteries to operate, while the nose trimmer will need one.

The Good

Aside from the bonus nose trimmer, the device comes with eight variable-size guide combs for a more versatile grooming experience.

Seven of the guide combs have fixed clearances from the blade, while the last guide comb offers a six-position adjustable length.

The Bad

The disadvantage of a dual device set is that it can be bulkier than other models.

You can find other products combining all the features of this set into a single device, such as the Philips Norelco Multigroom 3000.

If you want something like the Norelco Multigroom 3000 from Wahl, check out the Wahl Lithium Ion Plus or the Remington PG6025.

5. Remington All-In-One Grooming Kit

Remington is also best known for affordable styling, shaving, and grooming products.

This All-In-One Grooming Kit is very similar to the Norelco Multigroom 3000, and it comes at a slightly lower price.

Product Highlights

The Remington All-In-One is a multipurpose cordless trimmer equipped with a high-quality, self-sharpening surgical steel blade.

It sports a lithium-ion rechargeable battery, providing power for up to 65 minutes of continuous use.

This eight-piece set includes four combs, three different size trimmers, and a wall adapter.

It also comes with a travel pouch for easy storage.

The Good

The Remington Grooming Kit offers a more extensive feature set than the Norelco Multigroom 3000.

Its attachment includes beard and stubble combs, a nose and ear trimmer, a detailing trimmer, a full trimmer, a foil shaver, and an adjustable comb.

The device can offer 14 length settings, which is double the amount of the lengths available to the Norelco 3000.

The Bad

Unlike the Norelco 3000, the Remington All-In-One has an adapter that only works with a 120-volt power outlet.

You might need a step-down power converter if you plan to bring it along with you to a country that uses up to 240 volts.

Beard Trimmer Buying Guide

Men’s facial grooming routines will almost always involve pruning, detailing, and shaving in addition to trimming.

The market is diluted with beard trimming products, so it can be challenging to select the right one for you.

Take note of the following list of considerations when purchasing your first facial hair trimmer.

1. Versatility For Variable Beard Types

The results you wish to accomplish with your facial hair determine the type of trimmer you should buy.

You will need different accessories to create varying levels of facial hair art.

It all falls down to the number of attachment guide combs and the availability of variable length settings.

Manufacturers tend to have their own standards for trimmer guard numbers and sizes, but the measurements are pretty similar across the board.

You will find close-trim guide combs that can cut as close as 1.5mm or as far as 38mm from your skin.

2. Blade Sharpness

The blade is an essential component of a beard trimmer.

Its quality and sharpness determine the trimmer’s cutting performance and performance longevity.

A blade can stay sharp for extended periods of use, but it will depend on the material used for the edge.

Cheap blades will not have strong metals, and they will not be as sharp.

The downside to having low-quality trimmer blades is their tendency to leave rashes and burns on the skin.

Blunt trimmers will also tug against or pinch into the skin instead of slicing clean through the bottom of the hair.

The best trimmer blades will be made out of carbon steel, stainless steel, or even titanium.

However, carbon steel rusts, unlike stainless steel and titanium.

3. Build Quality

Aside from the blade, it is always best to scrutinize every component of the beard trimmer.

Before purchasing a beard trimmer, think about its plastic enclosure.

Determine whether it comprises cheap, brittle plastics or durable, hard-wearing resins.

Additionally, look for rubber or silicon components that can help the device absorb shocks from accidental falls.

Although it is always best to trim your beard while it is dry, a wet-and-dry device will come in handy, especially during cleaning and maintenance.

The silicon parts will play a significant role in waterproofing any electronics within the trimmer.

Moreover, these rubber components provide a better grip of the device to ensure precision beard trimming.

4. Motor Power

Every beard trimmer is slightly different, even in how its motors work.

A good quality beard trimmer delivers consistent motor performance up to the instant it loses a power source.

Some cheaper alternatives have motors that gradually slow down and end up inefficiently trimming hairs.

Additionally, some trimmer motors drop in performance after months or years of use.

The best way to find out if a trimmer has a good motor is by checking out available reviews from reputable grooming salons or consumers.

5. Power Supply Options

The best beard trimmers that money can buy will have a built-in battery that can run the trimmer for several months of your trimming needs.

These batteries will also only need a short charging time to provide this lengthy operation.

These features can help you keep up with a busy lifestyle by allowing you to trim your beard wherever and whenever you need it.

Some beard trimmers may also feature a quick-charge functionality that lets you gain several minutes of use from a few minutes of charging.

This feature can be handy whenever the battery runs out of juice mid-session.

Conversely, you may also find a beard trimmer that lets you operate it while plugged into a power outlet.

If, however, you can’t afford a device with all of these features, you might want to settle with one that uses replaceable batteries.

You wouldn’t want a corded device that stops you from trimming your beard away from a wall outlet.

6. Maintenance Requirements

Your trimming heads must always be clean to ensure maximum hygiene and consistent trimmer performance.

When it comes to maintenance, the blades also play an important role.

Some trimmer blades stay sharp for a very long time, and some devices would even have self-sharpening blades.

The wet-and-dry functionality of some beard trimmers also makes maintenance easier.

If the trimming heads are waterproof, you can easily wash the hairs off under running water.

Others have built-in vacuum cleaners that help you tidy up effortlessly.

Another vital thing to remember when working with blades and mechanical metal parts is to have the mechanism well-oiled at all times.

Oiling will prevent rusting, help remove stuck hairs, and prolong the service life of a trimmer.

Beard Trimmer FAQs

1. How Often Should I Oil My Beard Trimmer?

If a trimmer is for personal use, we recommend oiling the blades at least once a week.

Well-lubricated metal blades provide outstanding performance, whereas non-oiled ones pull out hairs and clog up with them.

For commercial use, oil a beard trimmer at least once every day.

2. Can I Use WD40 On Beard Trimmer?

Mineral oils are the best lubricants for beard trimmers, not WD40.

Major trimmer brands sell their own trimmer and clipper lubricants, but you can also find them in bottles in a department store.

We won’t recommend using WD40 and other similar water-displacing or rust-inhibiting lubricants, as they aren’t natural oils.

Besides, they smell pretty bad, and having the odor on your hair won’t enforce looking good in any way.

If you run out of trimmer oil, your next best bet is to use baby oil.

3. Can I Shave Without A Guard?

Trimmer comb guards are essentially available for creating variable beard lengths and keeping the desired hair thickness.

If you want to accomplish a shorter style, removing the guard and trimming with the blades directly on your skin is the fastest way to go.

Most beard trimmers will have a fixed guard to protect you from clipping or wounding your skin.

You can also use the trimmer without a guard for cutting out stray hairs from a stubble beard.

However, you might want to familiarize yourself with how close the trimmer blades should be before it starts cutting.

You wouldn’t want to end up shaving all your beard just because you accidentally shaved a large patch of hair.

4. Which Way Do You Trim Your Beard?

The best direction for trimming a beard depends on your final desired results.

If you want to keep the length but need to reduce thickness or bulk, trim downward or with the grain.

That said, if you want to shorten your beard and reduce its bulk simultaneously, trim upward or against the grain.

5. Should You Wash Your Beard Before Trimming?

The best practice is to wash your beard and wipe it down a bit before trimming.

It doesn’t matter if you wash your beard in the shower or the sink, and with or without soap or shampoo.

Having a clean, slightly damp, and warm beard is ideal as your hair becomes hydrated and easier to cut.

Also, washing will untangle the hairs and give you a better idea of how it will look after trimming.

On another note, washing your beard before trimming is the most seamless and practical way of integrating hygiene into your trimming sessions.

Final Recommendations

Among the products we included on the list, we recommend getting the Philips Norelco Multigroom 3000.

Although it is not as feature-packed as the Remington All-IN-One, it has all the functions you need for head and facial hair grooming.

Furthermore, the voltage range of its power charger makes it more flexible for international travelers.

If, however, you need something more compact for quick and easy partial trims, go for the Wahl Micro GroomsMan.

If none of these models have satisfied your needs, here are other great beard trimmers worth taking a look at: Philips Norelco 9100, Braun BT5090 and Philips Norelco 9100.