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

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High-Torque motor ensures there is no power lost or hair missed while cutting, enabling a smooth trimming of even hard, dense beards. 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 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. Look for a trimmer that offers a wide range of length settings. This allows you to customise your beard style and easily achieve your desired length. Most trimmers come with attachable combs that can range in size from 0.2mm to 30mm; others have adjustable combs built in that you can switch up with a wheel or a touchscreen. Blade Quality 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.

Moisturising your stubble and the skin beneath can also improve its overall health and appearance. Consider using a top-quality beard oil or moisturiser to hydrate both the hair and the underlying skin. This not only reduces itchiness but also promotes healthy stubble growth, keeping it soft and manageable. Of course, there’s more to take into account during the grooming process than just what length the trimmer is set to. You tend to get two types of attachment with beard trimmers: comb-shaped ones and more box-shaped guards. Both have teeth to stop the blades getting too close to your face, giving you a shorter cut than you had in mind, but not all attachments are created equal.

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Then there’s the fundamental flaw in the idea itself. The laser will only ever be as straight as you hold it, and since you have to move the trimmer as you cut there’s no guarantee that this will offer a straighter trim than just going by sight alone. A well-designed trimmer will offer a comfortable grip and easy manoeuvrability. An ergonomic design ensures precise control, making it easier to shape and trim your beard with accuracy. Maintenance and Cleaning 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. While it might have the most high-tech appearance of all the trimmers in the test, and its built-in laser guidance system is undoubtedly unique, the Philips Series 9000 just doesn’t do enough to justify its price tag and for that reason we can’t recommend it. We were looking for teeth that would lift the hair up for cutting but wouldn’t flex too much in use and put your nice even look under threat. While overall face maintenance was our primary concern we also took into account what secondary attachments or features each trimmer had. Could they cater for top lips and finer details, for example?

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.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. Lastly, protect your beard from harsh environmental factors. Shield it from extreme cold or excessive sun exposure by wearing a scarf or utilising beard balm with UV protection. 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 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. It’s also important to treat your stubble with the same care you give to your skin. Regularly washing with a mild facial cleanser is crucial to remove dirt, oils, and dead skin cells that can accumulate. Incorporating exfoliation into your routine once or twice a week can effectively prevent ingrown hairs, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable stubble growth. The two longer comb attachments only adjust in 2mm increments, so you can’t be too fussy about the length, but they’re all incredibly easy to attach, even the ones that require you to change the entire cutting head. While the adjustable ones perhaps don’t fit as snugly as on the more expensive trimmers available, and the mechanism itself is a bit looser as well, it never feels like it’s about to slip. To look after a long beard, you’ll need to give it consistent care and attention. As with stubble, regular washing is key. Make sure to cleanse your beard thoroughly using a gentle beard shampoo or cleanser. This will effectively remove dirt, debris, and excess oils without stripping away the natural oils that keep your beard healthy. The trimmer is suitable for both wet and dry use and can also work with shaving gel or foam. The trimmer is 100% waterproof, allowing you to have excellent and easy hygienic maintenance as you can simply rinse the trimmer under running water. The trimmer also offers a 50 minute usage when charged, for the most precise, uninterrupted trim.Everything about the ER-GB86 bellows sturdiness, whether it’s the rotating barrel-style adjustment that sits under your thumb, the three plastic comb attachments that fit securely over the blades, or the textured, waterproof chassis that makes it easy to clean. There’s also a hole that allows you to rinse the cutting head right through. The ER-GB80 is one of the two trimmers we tested that is designed to be used on the top of your head as well as the bottom of your face. The other is Wahl’s SPL 4-in-1 Multigroomer, which isn’t quite as bathroom-friendly as the rest. Changing the cutting length requires swapping out the attachment, which also means you sometimes need to change the cutting head. That doesn’t take long but it’s less convenient than just twisting a dial or adjusting a slider. Plus they don’t all fit as snugly as you’d want when performing irreversible facial topiary.

The Philips Series 5000 is a perfectly serviceable trimmer but doesn’t stand out compared to the Panasonic ER-GB96 or BaByliss Super Beard, and its maximum cutting length of 10mm also rules it out if you’re looking to cultivate something particularly rugged. It feels fairly solid and well built, but the smooth plastic chassis doesn’t offer the most reassuring grip. Next, conditioning is essential for long beards. Apply a high-quality beard conditioner or beard oil to moisturise and soften your facial hair. This helps prevent dryness, reduces frizz, and promotes healthy growth. A beard trimmer designed for all types of beard and control over any length of facial hair. It features a powerful cutting motor, special wider blades and 3 attachments. The Panasonic ER-GB86 Beard Trimmer offers 58 cutting lengths giving you the ultimate control over personal styling. The Super Beard’s plastic build doesn’t look as premium as Panasonic’s two options or the Philips Series 5000, but it feels solid enough, plus it comes with a stand for charging that keeps things neat and tidy at home but isn’t the most practical solution for travel.

Most beard trimmers take the name very literally. The attachments they come with vary by length but when it comes to shaving clean around the edges or taming an unruly ‘tache they can often be left wanting. 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. Still, whatever length you’re after this offers a consistent cut with no tugging and little cause to go over the same spots again and again. No trimmer will catch everything first time but the GB96 does a better job than most. Regular trimming and shaping are necessary to maintain the desired shape of your long beard and prevent split ends. Using sharp beard scissors or a reliable beard trimmer, carefully trim any stray or damaged hairs. Daily application of beard oil is highly recommended. Its four attachments and half-millimetre adjustments mean it’s hugely versatile, offering a whopping 58 different cutting lengths in total. Admittedly, the very longest one is only of use to people with real rugs - it maxes out at 30mm - but if you can’t find the right length from that lot there’s no helping you.