I’ve had absolutely no say in this, but I’m considerably better at growing hair on my body than on my head. This is an irritating arrangement, but it has at least proved useful for testing grooming gadgets like the best electric shavers. In fact, thanks to my role as British GQ‘s contributing grooming editor, between shaving my scalp, keeping my beard tidy, and dealing with increasingly ambitious ear hair, there’s rarely a shortage of work for whatever’s charging in the bathroom.
As with anything in life, the right tool makes all this much less of a chore. Clippers, for example are indispensable for a buzz cut. A beard trimmer, meanwhile, gives you control over stubble, and a good electric shaver can get surprisingly close to a wet shave. There are also options for tidying everything below the neck – or reducing how often you have to bother.
You don’t need a bathroom drawer full of gadgets, either. Several of these can tackle more than one job, so pick the ones that suit your routine.
Haircuts and buzz cuts
If you want short hair rather than a completely shaved head, start with clippers and a set of guide combs. The Wahl Colour Pro Cordless is a practical option for home haircuts, with colour-coded combs that match a key on the handle. Once you’ve settled on a length, remembering the right attachment is easy.
The kit includes eight numbered combs, left and right ear taper combs, scissors, and a barber comb. Wahl quotes up to 60 minutes of cordless use, and you can also use it plugged in. That’s handy given the leisurely 12-hour full charge. The removable blade rinses clean, but the clipper itself isn’t waterproof. Oh, and start with a longer guard if you’re unsure of the length – you can always take more off.
A smooth scalp
For a properly shaved head, the Philips Head Shaver Pro 5000 is one of my favourite tools. Its four rotary cutters sit in a flexible head that follows the contours of my scalp, maintaining contact around the awkward bits without requiring endless repeat passes.
I’ve tried cheaper shavers with more cutters that left my head sore without getting particularly close. The Philips gave me a smooth, comfortable shave, including around my sensitive neck, and let me stretch my usual two-day gap between head shaves to three.
The body is a little bulky, but I’m happy to put up with that for the result. This is a tool for maintaining a shaved scalp, though – use clippers first if you’ve got longer hair to remove.
Beards and stubble
The Philips Multigroom 7000 is a good starting point if you want one tool to cover several jobs. For stubble, the MG7962/30 kit I tested has a precision comb adjustable from 1–3mm in 0.2mm steps, making it easy to get the length just right.
It cut comfortably through my facial hair without snagging, and its textured grip felt secure despite the rather boxy handle. The 19-piece kit also includes tools for body hair, nose hair, and hair clipping, so this could spare you several separate purchases.
Across the kit, the length settings run from 0.5–20mm, so there’s scope for longer beards, too. Just check the model number when buying, as Philips sells several 7000-series bundles with different attachments.
A clean shave
If you’d rather lose the stubble altogether, the Braun Nevo is the indulgent option. It gave me the closest electric shave I’d experienced when I reviewed it, with fewer passes over awkward neck growth and no irritation on my sensitive skin.
It also performed exceptionally well on my scalp, which gives it some appeal if you want one premium shaver for both jobs. I still prefer the shape of a dedicated head shaver for moving around my head, but the Braun’s finish is hard to argue with.
The stainless-steel body feels suitably premium, and the included cleaning station takes care of some of the maintenance. Braun quotes up to 60 minutes of runtime. It’s a luxury buy, but the quality of the shave impressed me far more than the flashy design.
Nose, ears, and eyebrows
The Manscaped Weed Whacker 3.0 Pro deals with the smaller, more annoying bits of follicular maintenance. Its rotary attachment handles nose and ear hair, while a separate guarded eyebrow trimmer tidies those rogue hairs that seem to appear overnight.
Having used plenty of flimsy nose trimmers, I appreciate how solid this one feels. It made short work of my thick nose hair without pulling, and the compact head is easy to manoeuvre around my ears. The built-in LED helps you see what you’re doing, while the waterproof build makes rinsing it afterwards straightforward.
USB-C charging is welcome, too – there’s no proprietary cable to hunt down. If you’re already buying the Multigroom above, try its nose attachment first. Otherwise, the Manscaped is a worthwhile upgrade from the cheap trimmers I’ve used.
Body and intimate hair
The GilletteLabs Body + Intimate i7 made me want to get back into regular body grooming after years of finding it too much of a faff. It dealt with dense hair on my chest, shoulders, and underarms quickly and comfortably, with no nicks, cuts, or irritation during testing.
The built-in light is particularly helpful when working around less accessible areas, and the lightweight body is easy to handle. You get 3mm and 5mm combs plus a sensitive-area attachment, with a waterproof design and up to 100 minutes of claimed battery life.
Use the sensitive-area attachment and follow the instructions when trimming intimate hair. The i7 can also tackle legs and stray foot hair, and I got an even beard trim with its 3mm comb. My whole beard-and-body session took around 25 minutes – a welcome improvement on the slow going I’m used to.
Less regrowth
The Philips Lumea IPL 9900 is an option if you’d like to spend less of your precious time on this mortal plane trimming body hair. IPL uses intense pulsed light to target pigment in the hair and help reduce regrowth.
Philips recommends four initial treatments two weeks apart, followed by monthly touch-ups to maintain the results. The 9900 has five intensity settings, a SmartSkin sensor to help choose a suitable one, and the option of corded or cordless use. It’s a commitment to a treatment routine, rather than an instant fix.
Check Philips’ skin-tone and hair-colour chart before buying. Lumea won’t work on white, grey, red, or light-blonde hair, and it isn’t suitable for very dark skin. Men shouldn’t use it on the face, neck, scalp, or genital area, including around the… well. You know. Tattoos, moles, and nipples are also off limits. Read the full suitability guidance and skin-test instructions before using it. You have been warned.
