Regardless of hair type, most men can significantly benefit from touching up their hair after going a while in between cuts. However, a sub-par hair trimmer will often do more harm than good, ensuring your trusty barber has their work cut out for them. Thankfully, there are plenty of great hair trimmers on the market that excel at minor touch-ups, expertly blended fades, and even precise detail work.
Buying Guide for Men’s Hair Trimmers
Why buy a hair trimmer?
Many men embraced giving themselves touch-ups during the coronavirus pandemic after new regulations made regular barber appointments a challenge. In fact, with the right hair trimmer, elevating your hairstyle isn’t hard. Using a hair trimmer is also a much more economical way to look your best since you will need fewer appointments with your barber to maintain your hair. In fact, men who wear buzz cuts can eliminate barber visits entirely while maintaining barber-quality results from the comfort of their own homes.
What should you look for in a hair trimmer?
- Blade: Naturally, one of the most important components of a hair trimmer is its blades. While there are different types of blades on the market (stainless steel, ceramic, and titanium being stellar options), the blades’ sharpness and durability must be closely considered as well. Sharp blades are known for affording a much more comfortable and precise trim than duller blades and are especially useful for creating fades and detail work. Durable blades will have to be replaced less often and will ensure your trimmer operates as good as new for as long as possible.
- Motor: Without a powerful motor, even the sharpest blades on the market will falter when used on a head full of thick hair. Thus, investing in a hair trimmer with a powerful motor is a no-brainer. A hair trimmer’s motor will also determine how loud your trimmer gets when it’s being used, so finding a model with exceptional power and a quiet design is the best bet for those seeking something that won’t wake up the kids.
- Attachments: Depending on how you plan to use your hair trimmer, you may consider a model that comes with a variety of guards and other attachments. These can be incredibly handy when you are attempting a fade or blending various hair lengths for a unique, modern look. Many models even come with body hair and beard guards, making them an ideal choice for men seeking an all-in-one grooming solution.
Should you invest in a corded or cordless hair trimmer?
In the past, cordless hair trimmers tended to have a fraction of the power of corded electric models. Thankfully, those days are gone. Thus, many DIY barbers are turning to cordless hair trimmers due to their superior convenience and maneuverability. That being said, if you’re going to invest in a cordless hair trimmer, it is important to do your research first. While some models will give you hours of continuous use, others will need to be recharged more frequently. If you plan on giving multiple friends a trim in a single afternoon, your best bet is to invest in a hair trimmer with stellar battery life or a corded model with a long cord and the features you need.
Our Picks for the Best Hair Trimmers
Pros: Featuring a quiet motor with above-average cutting power, the Wahl Personal Haircutting Kit is an excellent choice for those looking for something compact and effective. This kit comes with a wide range of durable guards and even includes an adjustable taper lever for even more versatility in terms of hair length. For its price, it also impresses thanks to its durable build quality, which promises years of reliable use if properly oiled and maintained.
Cons: Realistically, many people will turn away from this kit due to the trimmer’s corded electric design, which is a real shame when considering its overall quality. For those on the fence, it’s worth noting that the trimmer’s power cord is long enough to easily reach most outlets, even in bathrooms with less-than-ideal outlet placement.
Bottom Line: In terms of quality, durability, and dependability, there are few, if any, hair trimmers that can compete with this product. Especially when compared against similar budget-friendly models, this hair trimmer kit feels like an homage to days gone by when hair trimmers were just a little more rugged and effective. Simply put, if the power cord isn’t a deal-breaker, you can’t go wrong with this trimmer kit.
Pros: Featuring a quick-charge battery that retains its charge like a champ, even after days of use, the Philips Norelco Multigroomer 7000 is versatile enough for beard and body hair trimming while also serving as a powerful hair trimmer to add to your arsenal. This trimmer kit comes with six dedicated hair guards, including two fading hair combs, offering a nice level of variety for those seeking a blended fade. Also, its combination of a powerful motor and steel self-sharpening blades limits pulls and snags better than most other trimmers at its price point.
Cons: This trimmer kit has two minor shortcomings that keep it from being the best of the best. First, while it comes with a variety of high-quality guards and attachments, the trimmer and guards aren’t adjustable, which somewhat limits what you can do with them. Also, due to its many attachments, this isn’t the easiest hair trimmer kit to store or keep organized.
Bottom Line: Those seeking a versatile hair, beard, and body groomer likely won’t find a better option than the Multigroomer 7000. While some may not like the idea of an all-in-one grooming product, this one’s an enticing option given how easy it is to clean, not to mention its head- and body-specific attachments. Additionally, in terms of battery life, this is one of the most impressive cordless trimmers on the market.
Pros: For those on a budget, the Philips Norelco Multigroomer 3000 offers excellent blade and motor quality for the price. When used in a slow, controlled manner, this trimmer minimizes snags with the best of them, making it a great option for those with sensitive skin. This kit also scores points for being insanely easy to clean, thanks to its easy-to-remove attachments, water-resistant design, and self-sharpening blades that don’t require oiling.
Cons: Since this trimmer only comes with three hair guards, it does somewhat limit your styling options. That being said, those who prefer simple buzz cuts will find the hair attachments more than adequate for their needs. Also, while its smaller cutting area is great for precision trimming, this will also mean your buzz cut will take slightly longer to complete.
Bottom Line: Let’s face it, a trip to your favorite restaurant will probably set you back way more than this trimmer. On the other hand, the Multigroomer 3000 can offer you years of dependable performance for even less. While this isn’t the flashiest or most powerful trimmer kit on the market, it certainly surpasses expectations in terms of performance. That being said, those seeking world-beating battery life are better off choosing the Multigroomer 7000 over its budget-friendly cousin.
Pros: Featuring a unique, compact design that gently glides over the contours of your scalp, the Remington Shortcut Pro is a dream come true for men who wear their hair short. One of the best things about this product is how quickly it works, achieving a perfect, close-cut trim in a few minutes where conventional trimmers take much longer. For balding men like this writer who like to quickly trim their hair every few days in order to look their best, this easy-to-clean trimmer is the way to go.
Cons: Seeing as how this trimmer lacks the versatility of other products on this guide, it may seem a bit expensive to some at its current price. Thus, those who aren’t interested in keeping their hair short have other options that can likely be picked up at a fraction of the cost.
Bottom Line: While this definitely isn’t a hair trimmer that will appeal to everybody, men who wear their hair short due to preference or necessity will find a ton of value here. Sure, there are less expensive ways to achieve a close, even trim. However, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a device that can achieve the look as quickly or conveniently as the Shortcut Pro.
Pros: Featuring an incredibly sturdy feel for a trimmer at its price range, this hair trimmer from AMULISS is a great option for those who desire a trimmer that’s able to cut close for quick fades and line ups. It also offers convenient USB charging that can be done almost anywhere. If you’re looking for a cost-effective trimmer for shaving your head or precise detail work, this is definitely one to consider.
Cons: While this trimmer’s motor impresses in terms of power, its blades are unfortunately not the sharpest you will find. Pulls and snags may occur if you don’t take your time. Additionally, compared to similar trimmers, it’s fairly tricky to remove its guards. While this technically means that the guards stay secure while in use, some will find this quirk fairly bothersome.
Bottom Line: Finding a trimmer that’s suitable for precise details on a budget is not easy, but this one has enough going for it to make it worth the investment. While its carbon steel T-blade does hold this product back from reaching the next level, its quiet but effective motor compensates for this fairly nicely. Also, it looks super cool.
Final Thoughts
Finding the perfect hair trimmer for your head isn’t exactly easy. Without careful research and forethought, you could end up with a product that is a pain to use both literally and figurately. Thankfully, there are plenty of great products on the market, and we’ve gathered some for you here.
