7 best beard trimmers for keeping every style of facial hair in check

Robust, reliable and easy to use, this trimmer from Remington is beautifully designed to sit comfortably and securely in the hand, while the angle of the head means you can reach all the bits you need to without problems.

There are nine pre-set length settings, controlled by a zoom wheel, to tackle everything from stubble to full on grizzlies and there’s a handy pop up trimmer for defining edges. Catching every hair under the nose (a difficult task at the best of times) took a little patience but we got there in the end. One of the simplest and most straightforward trimmers we tried – and certainly one of the best value ones – it even makes blade maintenance a cinch by having “lube for life” blades that don’t need to be oiled. Proof that, sometimes, simple really is superior.

Designed for beard, head and body hair, this super-stylish clipper features just three length guards (from 1mm-3mm) so it’s strictly for those wanting super-short, neat beards of those who aim to maintain stubble a la Jason Statham. Not much thicker than a fat cigar, it’s smaller and more compact than the other trimmers we tried, is quiet and, thanks to the knurled handle (a common feature of quality safety razors on which its design is based), it offers superb grip too. Perfect for travel, the style conscious and, since Barbarossa Brothers are a Leeds-based shaving company, for those who like to support home grown businesses. For lovers of bling, the gold coloured version is the biz.

The new kid on the block, Panasonic’s innovate multi-functional, beard and hair trimmer kit features two guard attachments (a short one at 1mm-10mm) and a medium one (11mm-20mm) that allow you to trim both your beard and your hair, with the same tool. Cutting lengths are adjustable thanks to a dial, which actually offers a whopping 39 possible lengths in total, so if precision is your thing then this is the Daddy.

What elevates this above the average beard trimmer, though, apart from the beautiful design, is the fact that it’s a customisable gadget you can add different heads to. There’s a nose trimmer, shaver, and even an electric toothbrush head all available, meaning that in one – super stylish looking tool – pretty much all your grooming needs are met. It’s not the cheapest trimmer here but it’s a premium grooming tool and, unusually for multi-functional gadgets, is a jack of all trades and a master of all too.

The Philips oneblade is one of those grooming tools that once you’ve tried it you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. This dinky device is designed to trim, style, edge and contour facial hair as well as shave skin around your beard. It’s incredibly easy to use and uses revolutionary blade technology, including a “dual protection system” to reduce the chance of snagging or irritation to the max. The pro version pimps up the features on the standard edition too, with an adjustable beard comb that offers 12 different length settings that go up to 9mm.

You’ll need to replace the dual sided blade once every four months or so but that’s a small price to pay for the convenience and great performance of this brilliant little gadget. A better tool for tackling barely there facial hair (think four-day old stubble, goatees, ‘taches and jazz spots) you’ll be hard pressed to find. It’s great for travel too.

This one is currently unavailable online, but Boots assures us more stock is coming soon.

Another multifunctional tool (it cuts hair and as well as trims beards) this award-winning kit allows you to cut the hair on both your head and face, while a stubble comb means you can easily master shorter styles. A full-sized foil shaver attachment means you can keep skin around your beard smooth too.

It ploughs through even the toughest of hair, is 100 per cent waterproof so can be used in the shower and cleaned under the tap. Plus, it offers an impressive five hours cutting time on just one four-hour charge, making it perfect for lazy types who are always forgetting to charge things. As a back-up there’s a five minute quick charge function that’ll give you enough power for a decent trim, making it the king in terms of battery performance.

If there’s a criticism, it’s that the length dial on the cutting comb feels a bit plastic-y, but we liked the gold coloured blades and detailing which makes it stand out against its competitors.

If you’re into your tech this digital beard trimmer from BaByliss should be your go to grooming tool. The trimmer allows for a wide range of cutting (from 0.4mm-5mm) which can be adjusted in ultra-precise 0.2mm increments making it ideal for precision freaks too. The digital display is a cool addition allowing you to see exactly which length the trimmer is set to before trimming, how much cutting time is left in the battery and it even has a memory function that’ll store the last length you used, which is handy if you like to maintain a particular length of beard.

An additional feature that marks it out from the other trimmers here is that it has a flexing head like some electric shavers have, allowing the trimmer to follow the curves of your face for extra comfort and precision. It’s beautifully designed, too, with a quality feel that feels super sexy in the hand.

If you’re looking for an affordable, entry-point beard trimmer that pits function over fancy add-ons, this trimmer from Braun is your man. Nicely designed and easy to use – you just move the precision dial to select a length – it offers 20 separate cutting lengths up to 10mm. It also features lifetime sharp blades, though you may need to come back to us in 50 years to see how well they’re holding up. It’s super-straightforward to use, sits nicely in the hand and feels pretty robust.

The battery charge time could be better – a full recharge takes 10 hours and gives just 50 mins of cutting. And it only comes with a two-pin plug so you’ll need an adapter too. That said, we really couldn’t fault its performance on the pitch and the RRP is excellent too.