What can keep my beard check?

Normal trimmers break, scissors take lots of time and attention, the glory must be well maintained to remain.... well, glorious.

What can do the job time and again without fail?

If beard trimmers aren't doing the job enough, then I would go gung-ho and use a hair clipper. Get one with a rotary motor (the most powerful one) and that will clip through the thickest hair possible without any problems and in any lengths you want it to. In the forum we recommend either this Andis cordless clipper (it's cordless so quite handy to use and comes with everything in the set) or the Oster 76 clipper (and get the extra range of guiding combs for more flexibility in lengths to choose). They are awesome for sideburns anyway and I know guys who use them regularly to trim their beard. I own both clippers and use them mostly for the facial hair (beard) on the sides (cheeks).

The only thing is that hair clippers are not as practical as beard trimmers in that clippers are designed to buzz through smooth curves and not sharp angles as in the chin and around lips. However, considering that the thickest hair in the face tends to be located below the chin (neck, smooth surface) and cheeks/sides of the face, you could use any of the two hair clippers above and then do the more careful hair with a good beard trimmer. I actually do that when I forget my beard trimmer. Likewise, with no guiding comb attached (a #0), you can clip through easily around the mustache/lower lip/chin, it's just when you attach any guiding combs that it gets a bit awkward to maneuver.

Have you tried all beard trimmers though? The most powerful ones can double up as a hair clipper so there are some pretty good ones. However, the cheap or regular beard trimmers will not only not cut through thick facial hair but also pull it instead of slicing it which makes for some painful times. In fact, you know a trimmer is absolute junk if it pulls/hurts you when you trim your beard.

Have a look at our complete beard trimmer and hair clipper guide as we have some powerful recommendations there (including the Andis and Oster above). Perhaps you just need to shop a bit more to find a proper trimmer like the ones we recommend in the linked guide above, or instead you may just go with the gung-ho option of using a hair clipper for just about all your facial hair except the mustache, lower lip and chin area 

Hey Guys,

I am thinking of buying my husband a beard trimmer. No rhyme or reasons. Just because gift. I don't want to spend a lot. He doesn't have a full beard. A little bit more than a five o'clock shadow. I was thinking of getting him a Remington MB-200.

Your thoughts? Is it a good buy?

Best,
Megan