Babyliss beard trimmer review

I'd been using a standard electric razor for years and finally decided to switch things up and give this a go. Overall I'm glad I did, but there are a few things worth knowing before you buy.

The shave itself: Don't expect this to leave you completely smooth. No matter how many passes you do or how carefully you go over an area, you're always left with a tiny bit of stubble, somewhere around 0.5 to 1mm. If you're chasing that baby smooth, freshly shaved look, this probably isn't going to get you there. But if you're happy with a "not quite clean shaven" finish, it works really well. It reminds me a lot of the finish you'd get from the clippers a barber uses to tidy up your neckline or fade, rather than a proper wet shave.

Set up and extras: It comes with a solid range of guard and comb attachments so you can dial in different lengths depending on what you're going for, whether that's a close trim or something a bit longer. There's also a genuinely nice little zip up travel bag included, which is a small touch but means you're not just chucking loose attachments in a wash bag. The trimmer itself is compact too, so it travels really easily, good for weekends away or holidays where you don't want to pack a full razor kit.

A word of warning: This thing is sharp, properly sharp, and it moves quickly through hair, which is great for getting the job done fast. The flip side is that I've nicked myself with it more than I ever did with my old standard razor, so you do need to take a bit more care, especially around the jawline and neck where the skin's thinner.

Mess factor: Don't even think about doing this over a bathroom sink. The cut hairs go absolutely everywhere, up the wall, on the mirror, across the floor. I'd genuinely recommend doing this in the shower where you can rinse everything away afterwards, or at least somewhere you don't mind giving a proper clean once you're done.

Battery and price: Battery life has held up well so far with no issues on charge holding. And at £50 from Boots, it feels like solid value for what's in the box: the trimmer, multiple attachments, and the travel pouch.

Would I recommend it? Yes, if you want a barber style trim rather than a fully clean shave, don't mind being a bit more careful with a sharp blade, and like the idea of something compact you can easily take with you. If you specifically want dead smooth skin every time, you might be better off sticking with a standard razor.