Panasonic ER-GB86 Wet & Dry Electric Beard Trimmer for Men, Rechargeable Mens Grooming Kit, Sharp & Durable Blades, 58 Cutting Lengths From 0.5mm to 30mm, 3 Attachments, Long beards

Product Information

So you want to grow a beard. Good idea. Get it right, with the best beard trimmer, and you’ll look great, keep your chin warm and save a whole load of time and cash. For those who may be excited to see something new from Gillette, via the new King C. Gillette branding, it is worth noting that the company has worked with Braun on this beard trimmer – and it’s very similar to its budget offerings rather than something completely new. The quality of the blades is crucial for a precise and comfortable trimming experience. Stainless steel blades are often preferred as they are durable and sharp. Battery Life While some beard trimmers may tout their anti-rust capabilities in product descriptions, rusting is always a possibility when metal is involved. To prevent it, always clean and dry your beard trimmer after use – including taking advantage of any bundled in brushes that’ll let you access the small and hard to each places. How often should you trim your beard? The Wahl is also by far the loudest of any trimmers we tested, which might seem like a minor issue to you, but ask the rest of the household what they think when you fire it up at 6:30am. It does come with an attachment for trimming your nostrils and inside your ears, though, which might seem laughable now, but just you wait…

Bear in mind the trimmer’s job doesn’t end when you’ve finished cutting. All that hair has to go somewhere – what doesn’t fall into the sink and surrounding area gets collected in the attachments and around the cutting teeth of the trimmer, which means you need to clean them regularly. The easiest way to do this is to wash them under the tap, but not all models are completely waterproof, which mean they require a little more maintenance to keep in top condition. There were, of course, other trimmers that didn’t make our final shortlist. We tried models from Wahl and BaByliss but ruled them out because they were just too basic. The thin plastic teeth on it aren’t always the most comfortable to run over your skin, and it can be a bit fiddly to put on and take off when you want to use the bare blades for shaping your hairline, but it cuts consistently without fuss. The guard attachment is also very boxy and square, so it’s not great at squeezing in under your nose to take care of your top lip, but there are trimmers out there that cost double and do an inferior job, so it’s a compromise worth making.

Brushing and combing your long beard is important for its overall appearance and health. Utilise a suitable beard brush or comb to gently detangle and evenly distribute the natural oils throughout your beard.

Let’s start with that laser attachment, which is surely the reason for the Series 9000’s relatively high price. While it sounds like a neat idea in theory, in practice it’s badly implemented to the point of being almost useless. If you’re not careful it reflects off the head of the trimmer and actually makes it more difficult to see what you’re doing. According to Craig Meggs, barber at Ruffians, the most important things to look for in a new trimmer are manoeuvrability, adjustability and, of course, price. ‘Beard trimmers vary in size and durability,’ he explains. ‘It’s best to go for smaller, lighter- weight beard trimmers that come with a cordless rechargeable option, which will help both speed and accuracy.’ Adjustable Length Settings This wouldn’t be a huge deal if it offered a better overall cut than everything else on the list but the results are pretty underwhelming. While it adjusts in 0.2mm increments at the shorter end of the scale it maxes out at 7mm, so is of limited use to those aiming for a bushier beard. The attachments don’t seem to do a particularly good job of lifting the hairs for cuttin, either, which means you end up going over and over the same areas. Nothing makes a beard owner’s blood run cold like the realisation that they’ve just scythed into their painstakingly cultivated facial hair with the trimmer on the wrong setting or the guard not attached properly. All that hard work, wasted. If you like to spend your time perfecting your beard in the morning, you’ll want a long battery life to keep up with your intricate routine. And if you're sporting a great big bushy beard, we can't stress enough the importance of a large battery capacity. The devices on our list will last anywhere between 50 minutes and three hours, which should keep you going over multiple shaves. We typically took around 25 minutes to sculpt. Recharge Time

There’s no one answer to this question, with the length of time a beard trimmer remains viable depending on how frequently you use it and the trimmer itself. If you care about a long-lasting trimmer, look out for models that tout self-sharpening capabilities and offer waterproofing. However, the best way to judge is from the results. If you think your trim is becoming less effective then it’s likely time to upgrade. Should you trim your beard all the same length?