Why should I buy a beard trimmer?
A beard trimmer is the most effective way to maintain your beard with precision and efficiency. You can trim your beard with scissors, but it takes a lot of time and can often miss shorter hair and have fewer styling options. You can also trim your beard with a straight razor, but this can lead to skin irritation and if you miscalculate, you might end up having to shave your entire beard. Beard trimmers are more accurate, so you won’t find yourself with a lopsided beard.
Can’t I just use a regular hair trimmer?
You can, but you won’t get the precision and specialty features offered in a dedicated beard trimmer. Hair trimmers often come with heads that are two wide for effectively trimming beard hair.
Can I style my beard with a beard trimmer?
Absolutely. Most beard trimmers come with at least a few removable heads that make it easy to tailor your trimming to your specific needs and the style you desire.
Should I get a battery operated or rechargeable beard trimmer?
While both battery operated and rechargeable beard trimmers can have their pros and cons, you’ll generally get better results using a rechargeable beard trimmer. Rechargeable trimmers save you money on batteries, and if you feel the trimmer needs and extra boost of energy you can always just let it charge for a little while. Rechargeable beard trimmers can run up to 40 minutes or longer on a single charge. Some models, such as select Remington models, can even be charged using a USB cord so you can re-charge your trimmer even if you lose the cord.
Should I get a corded or cordless beard trimmer?
They both have pros and cons. A corded beard trimmer will generally pack more punch during use, because they never lose energy. However, a cordless beard trimmer gives you better range of motion during use. In general, most men prefer cordless beard trimmers because it allows you a lot more freedom during trimming.
What are some standard features of beard trimmers?
Some things you will usually find on quality beard trimmers are adjustable length settings. A good trimmer can have up to 18 length settings to choose from, which is a great deal of variety and allows you to custom every trim to your unique needs. You should also look for a beard trimmer that has an LED light that will alert you when it’s fully charged or needs to be charged soon; this is fairly standard on most higher-quality and even lower-quality beard trimmers.
What additional features should I look for in a beard trimmer?
Some features that good beard trimmers include are removable distance combs, detail combs, memory features, ergonomic handles, vacuum suction, power boost, and multiple styling heads.
What is a distance comb, is it better than adjustable length settings?
A distance comb can help you trim hair of different lengths in your beard. You might have longer hair near your chin than your cheeks, so a distance comb can help you trim the hair on your chin without trimming too much. A trimming comb is not necessarily better than trimmers that include adjustable length setting, but it can be handy if you don’t want to have to constantly adjust the length on your trimmer.
What is a detail comb?
A detail comb is a feature that acts as a small comb that allows you to get at hard-to-reach spots, such as just above or below your lips or near your ears.
What is a memory feature?
A memory feature “remembers” the last settings you used in terms of speed and power and applies them when you go to use the trimmer again. This saves you time and effort in not having to re-program your beard trimmer every time you use it.
Do I need ergonomic handles?
While they aren’t an absolute requirement, ergonomic handles can really take a lot of the pain out of trimming your beard. While it may not take you long to trim your beard hair, it can feel like longer from constantly holding the beard trimmer at different angles. Ergonomic handles help make it easier to fit the trimmer into nooks and crannies that otherwise would be awkward to reach.
What is vacuum suction?
Many trimmers, especially high-end Norelco trimmers, include a vacuum suction feature that sucks the trimmed hair into an enclosed space. This keeps you from having to clean up stray hairs from your sink and floor, and is very handy.
What is power boost?
Some Norelco and Braun trimmers include “power boost” features, which give you an extra shot of power during the trimming process. This is especially handy if you have coarse hair, which can be harder for some trimmers to properly cut.
What sorts of different styling heads are there?
Some common types of styling heads are beard, goatee, mustache, and stubble. Each specifically targets the area it’s named for; stubble heads will help you achieve a “rugged” look.
Is there a difference between digital and manual adjustment trimmers?
Not necessarily. Digital trimmers might be more stylish and user-friendly if you are good with technology, but an adjustable knob or other manual-style adjustment option will do just fine as well.
What sort of blade should I look for?
The best sorts of blades are steel, titanium, or titanium-plated. You can find trimmers made with aluminum or other metals, but you’re best choice for durability will be one of the higher-end models made with titanium or steel.
Will I need to replace the blades?
You will want to replace the blades on your trimmer occasionally to keep it running at top efficiency. How often you need to change the blades will depend on the trimmer you buy; consult the manufacturer or instruction manual. You can prolong the life and performance of your blades by using blade oil on them regularly. Some blades are self-sharpening and do not need additional oiling.
How should I clean my beard trimmer?
Beard trimmers are very easy to clean. Simply run the head under water to get rid of any stray hairs. Vacuum suction trimmers usually don’t even require this simple step.
Can a beard trimmer trim other facial hair?
Depends. Some beard trimmers include optional nose or ear hair trimmers, or mustache trimmers. These would come in the form of removable heads that you can take on or off the unit as you desire. In general, the more additional uses a trimmer has the more expensive it is, but it may be worth it as opposed to buying multiple dedicated trimmers for all your facial hair.
What about body hair?
Many beard trimmers do just fine on body hair if you remove the trimming cap, or even just using them as is. It will depend on the strength of the trimmer, and how much body hair you have.
Can I use a beard trimmer in the shower?
Some beard trimmers can be used in the shower, but it’s generally not recommended. Wet hair can look much longer than dry hair, leading you to trim too much and be unsatisfied with the result. Your best bet is to trim dry beard hair.
Do beard trimmers make a lot of noise?
Beard trimmers make a slight buzzing sound; it may be louder if you buy a lower-quality trimmer. Usually noise is a not a complaint with beard trimmers.
What about the vibrations?
Unfortunately, vibrations are a necessary part of trimming your beard. Higher-quality beard trimmers will have less vibration than lower-quality trimmers, but both with have at least a slight buzzing sensation. This is an additional reason to invest in an ergonomically designed trimmer.
How large are beard trimmers?
Most beard trimmers are no bigger than your hand, making them very convenient to travel with. They are also easy to store, making them a happy addition to any household.
Are beard trimmers safe?
Definitely. Despite the somewhat alarming idea of motorized blades coming close to your face, beard trimmers are perfectly safe to use and include skin guards that will not allow the blades to nick or cut your skin.
