Best beard trimmer for detailing – the insider top 5!

Beards look good when they are kept well detailed – there really is no secret to it. When I first started trimming my beard I was amazed at how much like trimming a hedge it appeared to be! Detailing is a skill that you can learn and it can also help you maintain your beard at home – saving you a load of money along the way! Here in Australia, I can pay $60 for a beard trim…I’ve been doing it myself for over a year and have saved so much! That said, you need the right tools for the job – so what is the best beard trimmer for detailing? Here’s my top 5!

The best beer trimmer for detailing is the Andis Finishing Combo Trimmer + Shaver. If you are detailing a beard you need a beard trimmer that you can trust, has all of the power that you need and cuts with millimeter precision.

This combo will help you get the finish you need on your beard and has the extra foil shaver – perfect for detailing while traveling too! The corded trimmer and T-shape gives you the best combo of power and precision! After the right tools you need to get the skills too – that comes with time and practice…as well as a few mistakes!

In a hurry? My pick

Andis Finishing Combo Trimmer + Shaver

4.6 out of 5 Stars

  • Gold Titanium Hypo-Allergenic Foils,
  • Corded Trimmer + Lithium Shaver,
  • Fine-Tooth, Carbon-Steel Blade

Pros

+ Everything you need for detailing

+ Professional quality

+ Corded

Cons

~ A little loud during operation

~ Corded may hinder movement

Table of products

ProductLink
Andis Finishing Combo Trimmer + ShaverGet price on Amazon
Philips Norelco Beard and Hair TrimmerGet price on Amazon
Andis 32475 Slimline ProGet price on Amazon
Wahl T-Styler ProGet price on Amazon
Andis 23475 PivotPro T-Blade Get price on Amazon

Product reviews

Andis Finishing Combo Trimmer + Shaver

4.6 out of 5 Stars

If you are looking for a trimmer to detail your beard – you really need to consider this combo. Not only do you get the power of a corded T-blade trimmer but you also get the addition of a foil shaver that will keep your neckline and beard shape looking sweet!

This combo comes with great reviews online and you have everything you need to keep your beard looking sharp and maintained. Great for traveling too as it comes with a soft case to keep everything together.

  • Gold Titanium Hypo-Allergenic Foils,
  • Corded Trimmer + Lithium Shaver,
  • Fine-Tooth, Carbon-Steel Blade

Pros

+ Everything you need for detailing

+ Professional quality

+ Corded

Cons

~ A little loud during operation

~ Corded may hinder movement


Philips Norelco

4.3 out of 5 Stars

This trimmer is small, agile and has a huge array of legths that it can trim. That makes it perfect for fades and detailing your beard.

It is easy to maintain and has self-sharpening blades. But, as with all trimmers, you’ll need a little bit of maintenance to make sure that it trims effectively.

  • The Philips Beard Trimmer Series 5100 is good for more than just your beard; It doubles as a hair clipper to effectively trim your face and head with one tool
  • Dynamic beard guide system lifts and guides hair efficiently, designed to deliver a skin-friendly and even trim
  • Using the Zoom wheel, there are 17 built-in precision lengths settings from 1/64 inch (0.4mm) to 1/2 inch (13mm)
  • Skin-friendly self-sharpening steel blades prevent skin irritation
  • Lithium-ion battery delivers up to 70 minutes runtime after a 1-hour charge; Fully washable for easy, thorough cleaning
  • The self-sharpening steel blades are designed to effectively cut each hair perfectly, preventing skin irritation. They are double sharpened to cut more hairs in every pass for faster trimming
  • Innovative lift & trim technology effectively lifts and guides hairs for a more efficient cut. Rounded contour comb technology is designed to deliver a skin-friendly and more even trim
  • 17 built-in precision lengths settings from 1/64 inch (0.4mm) to 1/2 inch (13mm), easily adjustable with the trimmers zoom wheel

Pros

+ Three adjustable guards

+ Low maintenance (no oiling)

+ Allows corded trimming

Cons

~ A little on the heavy side

~ No battery readout


Andis Slimline Pro

4.3 out of 5 Stars

These trimmers are the first in the list with a T-shape. The T-shape allows you to see all around the trimming surface and be confident that where you point the trimmer you actually cut.

These trimmers can also me zero gapped. Zero gapping is the term given to the close alignment of the threads of the blade so that the gap between the threads is on the lower side. They provide a close cutting/trimming experience with a smaller probability of hair getting missed while running it over your head, face or body.

  • Balanced, ergonomic trimmer for outlining, designing and dry-shaving
  • Sleek, lightweight cord/cordless design for greater flexibility
  • Powerful rotary motor for increased speed, power and life
  • Lithium-ion battery delivers upto 2 hours of run time with a 2, hour 15 minute charge time
  • Equipped with close-cutting T-blade (may be zero-gapped)

Pros

+ Lightweight

+ Zero gapping possible

+ Great battery life

Cons

~ Struggles a little on thick hair

~ Plastic construction


Wahl T-Styler Pro

4.2 out of 5 Stars

This stylish trimmer comes with all of the accessories that you need to get your beard lines looking sharp. This is the first in our T-blade recommendations. The -blade overhang allows you to get nice sharp edges to your beard and also allow you to get the cutting edge really close to your lines.

  • Edging – Get crisp clean lines & sharp edges with Wahl’s zero overlap blades; Blades are 0.2 mm and leave a crisp ash line for excellent line definition with the power of a full-size clipper in a easy to hold compact trimmer unit
  • Bump-Free Dry Trimming – Edge Pro’s zero overlap precision ground T-blade provides a super close, clean shave without causing razor bumps; High-torque rotary motor & precision machines drive components allow for professional quality shaving at home
  • 12 Individual Blade Guards – Edge Pro allows for 12 cutting lengths with included guide combs. Featuring 12 guide combs for haircuts and trims; Included attachment combs range from short (1/8”) to long (1”)
  • Durable Wahl Blades – Our high carbon precision ground blades are durable and stay sharp longer than other blades. The high-quality trimmer, clipper, & detailer blades provide smooth hair clipping, beard trimming, beard & neckline detailing, and total body grooming
  • The Brand Used by Professionals – Wahl clippers and trimmers have been used by professionals in the salon & barber industry since 1919. With self-sharpening precision blades Wahl clippers, shavers & trimmers deliver a smooth shave

Pros

+ Low skin irritation

+ Sharp lines

+ Long cord

Cons

~ A little bit buzzy

~ No switch to adjust blade cutting height like the pro


Andis PivotPro T-Blade 

3.7 out of 5 Stars

These are another T-blade recommendation for getting those beard lines crisp! This trimmer is perfect for beards and easy to clean.

The T-shaped blades help you see where you are cutting and to get into the tricky bits in the nose and mustache.

  • Powerful pivot motor for professional trimming and light-duty clipping
  • 4-times the power of comparable magnetic motor trimmers
  • T-blade is ideal for trimming necks, beards, moustaches and edging around ears
  • Fine cutting teeth for extremely close trimming
  • High-quality, stainless-steel blades for long cutting life

Pros

+ Great for beards

+ Precision cutting

+ Light and agile

Cons

~ Only four guides

~ Some reports of under-powered cutting


Buyers guide

Okay, if you are looking for a great trimmer for detailing your beard you need to take into account the way that it’ll be used! Getting clear and defined lines on a beard relies on a great quality trimmer and one that you can be sure that you can use with confidence.

Here is what I look for when looking for a beard trimmer to detail my beard.

Blade visibility

On the above list there are a couple of T-shaped trimmers. I like this style because there is more room around the cutting edge to actually see what you are doing. It also cuts over a larger areas so you can create defined lines over a larger portion of your face.

Maneuverability

Getting a defined and detailed line on your beard requires you to be able to hold the trimmer in the position that is required to cut the shape.

I like smaller, lighter trimmers and do not mind having a cord. The cord makes sure that there is enough power to trim even the thickest of beards.

If you can, take a test drive of the trimmers at a local shaver shop or equivalent before buying. Hold it up to your face for a while and make sure that you can get to all of the important trimming areas of your face!

Portability

If you are detailing your beard you probably want it to look good for a certain event or outing in public. Quite often that happens while traveling.

A set with a carry case is essential for that purpose!

How to detail a beard

Detailing a beard is an art form that you need to practice to master. You need to focus on three key areas that makes your beard look awesome:

  • Your Neckline
  • Your Cheek line
  • Your Beard line or shape!

Check out my video on how to trim your beard at home – it includes all of the important steps:

Okay, let’s take a look at each step of the detailing in…detail!

The lip line

Arguably, the largest variety of shapes and styles are reserved for the crown of your beard – the mustache!

The beards that first attracted me into growing one had large mustaches and thick long – even fancy – styles. However, the practicalities of having a long mustache quickly forced me to reconsider growing a massive one!

I now trim my mustache to just below my top lip. This is the right balance of fullness and practicality that I have come across, personally.

I like it to be a little bit “messy” as I don’t like the super short mustache look.

Some people love a much shorter mustache and if that is your jam. I say go for it!

The mustache notch

One thing I see professional barbers cut is a notch at the center of the mustache. It is said to give it a fuller look and make the flowing style more prominent.

This is my warning – I’ve not yet been able to give myself a god notch without over-grooming. I’d recommend seeking professional help with this one!

The neckline

The neckline is where your head joins your neck and is more visible on shorter beards. It can be quite challenging as the skin on the neck moves around a lot as you tilt your head up and down.

However, both long and short beards look way better if a couple of key neckline rules are adhered to.

Rule 1: Not TOO high!

This is the fatal mistake that I see a load of beard owners committing. There was a trend in the late ’90s to have your beard follow your jawline. It was said to “define your jaw” and “make you look more manly”. The problem is – it has the opposite effect.

The neckline is a tricky spot and I go into detail in my other post about how to tackle it properly!

A jawline beard line really thins out the depth of the beard and makes it look less substantial.

Rule 2: Find where your head attaches to your neck

Finding where your head attaches to your neck is the only way to discover your perfect neckline for your beard. I do this in two ways.

The first way is to tilt your head forward as far as it will go and push your finger up into the crease. Where the top of the crease it – that’s your neckline!

How to trim a beard - neckline

Another option is to find your Adam’s apple and, when looking up, place two fingers on your neck with the bottom finger resting on the top edge of your Adam’s apple. Where the top finger rests on your neck that is your neckline:

Notice how when my neck is stretched the middle part of the neckline seems to be higher than the line at the jawbones. This is because the skin stretches and it can lead to a bit of confusion. Remember to cut your neckline in

Once you have found your neckline you want to trim along it so that it is symmetrical and follows around the side of your head. If in doubt ask an expert to trim yours in for you – then you can maintain that line for yourself.

The beard line and shape

This is one of the biggest grooming choices you have to make when you have a beard. What style are you going to choose?

I recommend googling and saving an imageboard of all of the beards that you come across and love. Personally, I like full medium-sized beards heavy on the chin. that is what I’m heading towards!

As in my previous post – beard-growing tips, do not even attempt to shape your beard for at least 6 weeks worth of growth! The awesome long beards can take years to get to the owner’s desired length.

Get the first beard shape put in by a professional. Don’t be cheap research a good local barber and book yourself in for an appointment.

Once the shape has been set you’ll have something to work to and maintain. I’ve seen a load of DIY beard shapings and it can get really messy.

As you are sat in the chair take notice of the strokes and techniques that the barber does the finishing touches to your beard. Do they sure clippers to flatten the sides? Do they use scissors to keep the edges and sides a final tune?

It’s these final steps that you’ll be able to keep up yourself for a few weeks in between your professional sessions.

Take off the smallest amount possible and if in doubt leave your beard alone!

The Author


Andy Stapleton

Andy is a writer and YouTuber with a PhD in science. He has written and/or produced videos for Science Alert, COSMOS magazine, and Australia's Science Channel among others. He is an avid beard grower and after many years of growing and trialling different beard styles, he started this blog to share the tips, tricks, and science that he has learned along the way!