© *Maintenance is key, and you need the right tools
The last year has been appalling, admittedly, but among its few bright spots is the sense of grooming freedom we've embraced, either through laziness or the need to experience something - anything - new. Facial hair was already trending mainstream as workplaces shifted casual, but the overnight collapse of corporate culture, dating culture and even pub culture meant that by the third month of lockdown, a lot of men had discovered whether they could pull off a moustache, a beard, or even the full Grizzly Adams.
More power to them. Growing a beard is one of the most flattering grooming moves a man can make, unless that beard is the kind of thatchy mess that comes when you just let hair grow out of your face unchecked. If you're going long then maintenance means a proper washing, brushing, oiling routine (our pick of the best beard oils will help you there), but even if you stick to a light fuzz, you need a quality beard trimmer. Lucky you, because we've tested them all to find the five best beard trimmers you can buy right now.
Best Beard Trimmers 2021
Best all-rounder: Philips Series 7000 Beard and Stubble Less Mess Vacuum Trimmer
Best wet and dry beard trimmer: Wahl Aqua Blade Beard And Stubble Trimmer
Best multi-purpose beard trimmer: Panasonic 3 in 1 Beard Trimmer Kit ER-GB86
Easiest to use: King C Gillette Beard Trimmer
Best value for money: Vo5 Beard Trim
© NetflixApocalypse Clooney's Midnight Sky beard is a grooming power move that demands a heavy duty beard trimmer
What to look for in a beard trimmer
All beard trimmers are not born equal, but cost doesn't necessarily equate to quality. What you need depends on the kind of beard you want to grow and how much attention you're going to lavish on it. These are the key things to consider.
Trimmer length
Just like hair clippers, many beard trimmers are adjustable to different hair lengths using an onboard lever or dial, which will take you from 0.2mm for stubble and edging up to around 2.5cm for keeping bushier bits in check.
Attachments, combs, and precision heads
As well as the integrated length settings, most beard trimmers come with clip-on guards which extend the cutting length, or lift your hair to make it easier to cut. Pro trimmers also include extra heads for precision areas, like your jawline and around your nose and mouth.
Battery life
You don't want a beard trimmer that only works plugged in, obviously. How much juice you need, then, depends on how fiddly your beard is. If you're just trimming it all back to stubble every few days, battery life isn't that important. If you travel a lot, or spend more than 20 minutes at a time sculpting your facial hair, then look for something that offers a least an hour of runtime. Otherwise, at some point, you will end up stuck with half-shaved face.
© Simon Emmett - EsquireIdris Elba, clearly a man who never forgets to charge his beard trimmer
Do I need a dedicated beard trimmer?
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If you've got a set of hair clippers, or an electric razor, then adding a beard trimmer might be overkill, especially if you're just shaving it all to one length. However, if you've got more ambitious ideas then they won't provide the precision that you need for things like tapering, or fading the hair under your chin to give you a nice, defined jaw shape. If you're growing it to more than a couple of inches, a good beard trimmer is essential.
How to use a beard trimmer
As with hair clippers, keeping on top of your facial hair is about more than just running something sharp through it. According to the experts at Ruffians, little and often is the best approach - trimming every three days will keep edges neat and ensure that you don't have to hack the thing back into shape every time you start shaving. You should also start with the edges and work in (pro tip: move the cutting blade away from your beard when you're shaping so if your hand slips, you won't gouge a chunk out of the hair you want to keep).
How we tested the best beard trimmers of 2021
Sixty men with varied beard lengths and styles tried a range of beard trimmers over a two- to three-week period. They assessed each one on how effectively it cut hair, the battery life, noise level, how easy it was to clean and store, and the overall performance. Here are the results.
Best all-rounder
© johnlewis.comPhilips Series 7000 Vacuum Beard & Stubble Trimmer
£49.99
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Voted best on test by our panel, this trimmer gave a powerful, precise cut and was smooth and comfortable to use. The length can be adjusted in increments of 0.5mm up to 10mm and it trims hair in just one swipe, hardly making any noise as it works. The standout feature though is the removable vacuum chamber, which collects hair as you shave so you don't end up making a mess in the bathroom. It's not waterproof but this lightweight trimmer is a breeze to use, and comes with a decent battery life and recharge time.
- Trimmer length range: 0.5-10mm in 0.5mm increments
- Features: Vacuum trimmer
- Accessories: Cleaning brush, precision trimmer
- Battery life: 75 minutes
- Quick charge: Yes
- Waterproof: No
Best wet-and-dry beard trimmer
© asos.comWahl Aqua Blade Wet/Dry Stubble & Beard Trimmer
£90.00
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Handy whether you're trying to maintain short stubble or a longer beard, this one comes with an impressive 16 guide combs to keep your facial hair sharp. It tackles hair up to 25mm in length and is fully waterproof, which means it's easy to clean and can be used in the shower for when you're short on time. Testers described its design as intuitive due to its multipurpose features and array of attachments. They were also happy with how quickly it took to achieve their desired style and how effectively it cut hair in just one stroke. Those with thicker beard hairs experienced some minor tugging but the rubber grip made it sturdy to hold.
- Trimmer length range: 0.2-25mm in 3mm increments
- Features: Shaver, trimmer and body groomer
- Accessories: 16 attachment combs, beard comb, storage pouch, blade oil, cleaning brush, charger
- Battery life: 180 minutes
- Quick charge: Yes
- Waterproof: Yes
Best multi-purpose beard trimmer
© argos.co.ukPanasonic ER-GB86 Beard and Body Trimmer
£89.99
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Panasonic's trimmer is suitable for use on both the beard and hair, and comes with a whopping 58 cutting lengths. There are also three attachments designed to tackle short, medium and long beards. All testers appreciated the high-quality feel of the trimmer, which was simple to use at different angles. They were all happy with their finished look too, giving a precision trim despite the lack of a precision attachment. Note, those with afro hair may find this trimmer less effective, as the wider comb attachments don't grab tight curls as well.
- Trimmer length range: 0.5-30mm in 0.5mm increments
- Features: Travel lock, suitable for beard and hair
- Accessories: Travel pouch, cleaning brush, blade guard
- Battery life: 50 minutes
- Quick charge: No
- Waterproof: Yes
Easiest beard trimmer to use
© boots.comKing C Gillette Facial Hair Trimmer
£20.00
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Providing a fuss-free shave, this trimmer comes with just three comb attachments that are easy to remove and clean. There are 11 length settings to pick from, which are simple to move between thanks to the sliding adjustment feature. Testers found it quick and easy to shape their beards, with 80% saying they were happy with the accuracy of their cut. It's not got the same premium feel or number of features as the above trimmers, but offers excellent value for money.
- Trimmer length range: 0.5-21mm in 1mm, 3-11mm and 13-21mm increments
- Features: Can be used on head hair
- Accessories: 3 comb attachments, cleaning brush, charger
- Battery life: 50 minutes
- Quick charge: No
- Waterproof: No
Best budget beard trimmer
© superdrug.comVO5 Beard Trimmer
£14.99
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Here's another great-value option that's ideal for beginners. It provides you with everything you need for a defined trim without any complicated settings or buttons. Testers liked the easy-to-use design, which was quick to style beards and gave pleasing results. Battery operated, it would make a reliable second trimmer to store in your overnight bag for trips away (when we can eventually travel again), and most found it easy to clean. Basic, yes, but effective.
- Trimmer length range: 2-14mm in 2mm increments
- Features: 7-position comb guide
- Accessories: Oil, cleaning brush
- Battery life: Battery operated
- Quick charge: N/A
- Waterproof: No
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