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Grooming
By Owen Gough
These nose hair trimmers will prune your nostrils, tidy up your ears and neaten your eyebrows.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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It creeps up on all men, unsuspecting and stealthy, before it suddenly erupts at the most inopportune time: a sprouting of nose hair. A blight that deserves absolutely zero mercy, what you need to clear it away before it affects your day-to-day business is one of the best nose hair trimmers. The dedicated grooming tool for tackling the unsightly, they are purpose-built to clear away stray hairs that venture out beyond the edge of your nostrils. Just like some of the best beard trimmers can take care of your chin fluff, the proper tool will have your nose squeaky clean, stat.
These tools are entirely specialised for the job of nose cleaning, with long, thin stalks complete with skin-safe microtouch blades to complete this single unlikeable task…they can also double up as an ear hair trimmer or a tool to shape up your eyebrows for a complete facial clear out of unwanted hairs. These devices are more comfortable and efficient than a pair of tweezers and should be the final touch in your complete grooming routine to take you from shabby to ship shape. Interested? Good. Let's go through the best options together.
The best grooming gadgets of 2024
There's absolutely nothing wrong with catching a look at yourself in the mirror and realising you might need to do a bit of tidying up. It can be overwhelming to think about the best approach to a full trim – be that head hair, beard, nose or the rest of your body – and we don't blame you for letting things go a little bit to avoid the hassle. However, it's not as difficult as you might think to get it cleaned up so long as you have the right tools for the job.
Luckily for you, we're grooming experts and know exactly what you need to do a full body once-over, with dedicated guides on our favourite devices for the job. Interested? Good. Check out our roundups on the best beard trimmers, best electric shavers, best razor, best hair clippers, best body hair trimmers and the best electric toothbrush to make sure your bathroom cabinet is fully decked out.
What are the best nose hair trimmers in 2024 at a glance...
- Best overall nose hair trimmer: Panasonic Multishape,
£99£70 at amazon.co.uk - Best premium nose hair trimmer: Manscaped Weed Whacker, £40 at amazon.co.uk
- Best nose hair trimmer for most people: Philips Series 5000,
£24.99£23 at amazon.co.uk - Best basic nose hair trimmer: WAHL Extreme Grip Detail Trimmer, £15 at amazon.co.uk
- Best affordable nose hair trimmer: Amazon basics, £8 at amazon.co.uk
- Most complete noise hair trimmer kit: Manscaped Tool Box 4.0, £140 at amazon.co.uk
- Best precision noise air trimmer: Wahl Micro Finisher, £8 at amazon.co.uk
- Best all-in-one nose hair trimmer: Philips 7-in-1 trimmer, £22 at amazon.co.uk
Skip to: How we test nose hair trimmers | Is trimming your nose hair painful? | How do you use a nose hair trimmer? | Is it safe to use a nose hair trimmer? | Is there a downside to trimming nose hair? | Can I use a nose hair trimmer in other areas? | How do you clean a nose hair trimmer? | Should I buy a rechargeable trimmer or a battery-operated nose hair trimmer? | Features to look out for in a nose hair trimmer | Do nose hair trimmers really work? | What is the best type of nose hair trimmer? | Do you need to replace nose hair trimmer blades? | What are the best nose hair trimmer brands? | How much should I spend on a nose hair trimmer? | GQ's pick of the best grooming guides
How we test nose hair trimmers
Before sticking blades up your nose, you'll want to know that these devices have been used and are worth buying. GQ has an obvious and storied history of advising men on the best tools and gadgets to look after their hair and face, with a huge range of guides to nudge you towards your dream devices. Below, our grooming editor, Owen Gough, has personally subjected his nose hair to the best trimmers and electric razors around to discover which one garners the best results. Owen’s pedigree in men’s grooming is similarly robust, with more than seven years of expertise in the field writing guides on how to trim beard hair and the best tools to make shaving your head as simple as possible.
In every case, we’ve tested the below to assess their value for money, quality of build, and efficiency in trimming and tidying nose hair. Vigorous testing includes shaving over a month of use, clipping and trimming to judge how comfortable they are to use and how much battery is available, as well as if each device is waterproof, ergonomic and easy to store and take with you on your travels. Bonus points are also given to devices that have replaceable trimmer heads or swappable attachments.
Is trimming your nose hair painful?
Unless you have a very low pain threshold, you're unlikely to feel any pulls or nicks from any of our electric nose hair trimmers, simply because they are designed to gently slice the hair away with minimum fuss or tug. These rotary trimmers are more or less entirely pain-free and certainly a much less tear-jerking option than plucking or waxing your nostrils, which can damage the skin deep inside your nose. Most have tiny blades that sit within a skin-safe guard, meaning you can shove it right up there and guide it around the edges of your nostrils or ear hole for a painless hair removal session. As they are battery-powered, they don’t have the gusto to do much damage to your sensitive skin, so long as you look after the blades, though, they are very easy to clean.
How do you use a nose hair trimmer?
It's all well and good having the tool, but you ought to know how to use it properly for best results. Place the tip inside your nose, squeeze it and twist it to trim the offending hair you can see. Then do the same for the other side of your schnoz. It really is a very simple process.
In almost all cases, our favourites below have comfortable, ergonomic handles that offer a flawless cleaning system for top results every time you use them, but it’s well worth using a cleaning brush or holding it under the tap to clear away the gunk.
Is it safe to use a nose hair trimmer?
As mentioned, the thought of shoving a blade in your nose is ample reason to give you concern, but the process and technique of clearing out your nose hair with a proper tool is entirely safe and recommended. The blades themselves are skin-safe and designed to be kind to the right bits of your nostrils while keeping a tough stance on nose hair, and unless you've got a particularly rusty set of blades, you're being overly aggressive in your trimming or especially sensitive skin, then you're all good to go. And it's a hell of a lot better than using the kitchen knife or a pair of scissors.
Is there a downside to trimming nose hair?
As unsightly as nose hair is, there is actually a scientific reason for having it. The hairs cross through your nostrils to act as a barrier and filter against dust, allergens and other particles, preventing them from getting into your respiratory system. This can help keep you healthy or sneezing excessively. Trimming this down will inevitably open you up to more sneezing or unwanted particles, so we'd recommend you trim moderately and avoid cutting down your nose hair every day.
Can I use a nose hair trimmer in other areas?
Well, within reason. Most nose hair trimmers will also work wonders on your ears, for example, and the longer blades of some will also do a number on your whole head, with eyebrow combs or multipurpose swappable heads. Others in our edit come as part of wider kits to conquer other grooming details such as nail clipping, while others are multi-groomers with dozens of attachments, so you can keep your body hair in check wherever it erupts. For reasons we hope are obvious, we wouldn't recommend you take the blades to your chest or back hair, but for most intricate shaving sessions, these will do the job. It’s also not the best choice for your beard generally or to get a silky-smooth jawline, as rotary blade shavers or dedicated beard trimmers will often be a better option.
How do you clean a nose hair trimmer?
As with all grooming devices, the largest frustration comes from having to clean the thing once you're done tidying your whiskers. Thankfully, nose hair trimmers are significantly easier to clean than your average beard trimmer, mostly because you're clipping fewer hairs in one session, and they are a lot smaller.
In most cases, the hairs will simply tumble from your nostrils and ear canals into the sink or shower, as the devices aren't big enough to collect cut hair. However, if they do, almost all options we've tested below have removable heads so you can pop it under the tap to give it a rinse under hot water.
To go the extra mile, you can also use a lint-free cloth or cotton buds soaked in alcohol to properly clean the blades and remove the threat of nasty bacteria.
Should I buy a rechargeable trimmer or a battery-operated nose hair trimmer?
Because of their diminutive size, most nose hair trimmers don't have the space to house powerful motors and batteries, so they take advantage of replaceable batteries to keep them powered. While this is obviously not as kind to the environment, it means you'll need to decide which model you go for and how you want it to be powered.
Rechargeable cordless options that are usually the best budget choices come at a premium but will either need to be recharged with a USB cable or a two-pin cable. They will often take around two hours to charge but do provide more versatility and are an infinitely better option if you're travelling, as you won't have to consider packing a spare set of batteries in your toiletries bag. They are also cheaper to run, as there are no ongoing costs to keep the thing going.
Battery-operated options are less powerful and don't last as long generally but are ultimately cheaper to buy up front but do require a constant cost to purchase batteries. You can, of course, buy batteries when on your travels, but there are perils to be found when hunting for a specific type of battery in a supermarket in a country whose language you do not speak.
Features to look out for in a nose hair trimmer
So what else should you be looking out for before you get stuck into clipping down your nose hair? Aside from its obvious hair-cutting capabilities, there are plenty of other features worth considering before you make your purchase.
Waterproofing - Shaving in the shower is like chutney with a cheese board. It elevates the entire experience and makes total sense once you start combining the two. Shower shaving is great because it allows you to wash away the chopped hair as it falls, making the post-shave cleanup significantly easier overall. It also allows for a total body trim should you need it, with one of the best body hair trimmers, perhaps the best razor and possibly one of the best beard trimmers thrown in for the complete hairless routine.
Additional extras - Everyone loves getting a few extras to increase the bang for your buck, and nose hair trimmers are often a place to find value with one or two included accessories in the asking price. For instance, you might find a pair of detailing scissors, a travel bag, a cleaning brush or even a guiding comb to tackle your eyebrows for one low price, so check out what's part of the deal before you buy. There aren’t many, but a few devices might also add a vacuum system that makes it significantly easier to clean up after yourself, so keep an eye out for that.
Ear and eyebrow trimming - As mentioned, nose hair trimmers are well positioned to take on the grooming of eyebrows and ear hair, with small detailing shaver heads that can shape and slice as needed. Just take care with the eyebrows, as it's surprisingly easy to clip off way more than you intended.
Size - We always appreciate a grooming tool that takes up a small amount of space as possible, so we'd recommend hunting for a nose hair trimmer that's small, discreet and easy to store away. Most are no larger than a pen and about as wide as your thumb, but it's worth considering if your bathroom is already overflowing with grooming products.
What is the best type of nose hair trimmer?
The best nose hair trimmer is the one that gets the job done with little fuss, but of course, it's not always as easy as that. In our opinion, top-tier options are dedicated trimmers that are specifically designed with small skin-safe blades that will fit inside the nostril and gently shave away hair without cutting or irritating the skin.
Some larger devices, like beard trimmers and body groomers, may come with nose hair trimming attachments, but we'd fear that the motor could be too powerful to give you a comfortable shaving experience. For that reason, we'd always opt for dedicated nose trimmers given the choice.
Do nose hair trimmers really work?
Not every man will require these dedicated tools for managing the onslaught of nose hair (perhaps they are blessed with slow growth), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still take a blade to early sprouting hair. Shaving your hair doesn’t make it grow any faster, so there’s not really any excuse for not keeping them in check, even if they aren’t tickling your upper lip.
And while a pair of tweezers – or a very steady hand wielding some scissors – will get the job done, it’s always worth properly investing in the right equipment, even if all it does is reduce the chance of a mishap.
These devices typically don’t cost a lot to buy – most are under £50 and are cheap and easy to run over a long period of time. Given that they will ultimately trim nose hair with precision, it’s a worthy use of your cash in our eyes.
Do you need to replace nose hair trimmer blades?
Keeping blades sharp and ready to go is an essential part of most grooming device care manuals, but for nose hair trimmers, it’s a slightly different story. You should always aim to look after your tools; lathering them in blade oil, pat-drying them when you rinse them under the tap, and storing them safely (rather than bunging them in the bathroom cabinet when you’re done).
However, unlike other beard trimmers and electric shavers that require care and frequent attention with resharpening of the blades, nose hair trimmers need far less maintenance.
In fact, for most of our top picks below, there isn’t anything that needs to be done post-trim besides rinsing it under a tap. The blades are so small and you’re only typically shaving for a few seconds at a time that you don’t get the same dullness to the blades overuse. And since most devices don’t house internal lithium batteries that require a wall charger to get back up to a full battery, you won’t have to worry about replacing your device after a few months when the battery goes. In most cases, you can just swap out the tiring AA batteries for new ones and you’re good to go.
What are the best nose hair trimmer brands?
You'll likely be familiar with top-tier grooming brands like Braun, Philips and Wahl for their exceptional beard trimmers and body hair groomers, but in most cases, these German tech-makers also know how to manufacture the best nose hair trimmers, as well. How? The skin-safe blades permeate the entire roster for the vast majority of brands, so if you see a quality set of blades and a good motor on one product, it's likely the same sort of system will be used for its more affordable nose trimmers.
Philips, in particular, are a great choice if you're working on a budget, and the travel-friendly, ergonomic options have a strong hold among our favourites throughout testing. Elsewhere, a brand like Manscaped provides the grooming equivalent of a blade-wielding super engine (only, for your nostrils) with products like the brilliantly-named Weed Whacker.
How much should I spend on a nose hair trimmer?
For those blighted with hairy nostrils, the general costs for the best nose hair trimmers are blessedly low, with most trimmers costing well under £50 and lasting at least a few years, providing the sort of long-term value that we can get behind.
The basic budget-friendly options can be as low as £15 from Amazon, though you should expect them to be plastic, a bit scratchy and decidedly low-quality compared with something you might spend a bit more on.
Stepping up to the £20-£30 mark will get you greater longevity and build quality, and the device may even come with additional accessories like a travel case, blade sharpeners and/or extra heads.
Anything above that will offer the most features and generally be the best option overall – just be prepared to pay top dollar.
GQ's pick of the best grooming guides
If all this chat about shaving your nostrils and tidying up facial hair has inspired you to be the best version of your grooming self, then allow us to guide you through this exciting new world of trimming, shaving and moisturising. Regardless of your future aims to take care of your skin and hair, it's always helpful to follow tips and advice from the experts, and we certainly class ourselves in that category. Below is a collection of our carefully curated roundups to help you figure out exactly what products and gadgets you should be buying to propel yourself along your grooming journey.
Grooming electricals
Best electric shavers | Best razors | Best body hair trimmers | Best head shavers | Best hair clippers | Best nose hair trimmers | Best ball hair trimmers
Grooming
Best beard oils | Best Moisturisers | Best men's fragrances | Best SPF moisturisers | Best eye serums | Best anti-ageing creams | Best shampoos | Best face washes | Best night creams | Best deodorants | Best exfoliators | Best body washes | Best LED face masks | Best beard washes | Best hair products
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Shop GQ's edit of the best nose hair trimmers for 2024…
Best overall nose hair hair trimmer
1/10
Manscaped
The Weed Whacker
- Tools: N/A
- Waterproof: Yes
- Power source: USB-C charging. Up to 45 minutes of charge
We loved the original Weed Whacker for clearing away unwanted nostril hair, so the upgraded 2.0 is a welcome edition to Manscaped's impressive line-up of grooming tools.
So where are the improvements found? This latest edition features a much more powerful motor – with up to 7,000 RPM across a 360-degree shaving head to totally eradicate those unsightly whiskers – and an enhanced body that feels weighty, ergonomic design that's of a much higher quality, with a textured grip to stop those nasty slips as you shave in the shower. The cutting head features completely skin-safe blades for an effortlessly comfortable clean-up, and it can also tackle your ear hair should you be blighted with that secondary issue also. Unlucky.
We found the actual nubbin of razors at the top to be a little short for our nostrils, requiring us to really shove it in there to get towards the base of the follicles, and we'd like to see a slightly longer tip to fix this issue, but perhaps that's simply us with our long snout.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Premium design
- USB-C recharge makes it quick to get back to 100 per cent
- Improved blade quality and skin-safe design
Cons
- Expensive
Best travel-friendly nose hair trimmer
2/10
Phillips
Series NT5650/16 5000
- Tools: Travel bag and two combs
- Waterproof: Yes
- Power source: Battery-powered
Philips is typically the master of men's grooming products, and it's yet again the obvious choice to fulfil your clean-shaven nostril goals for 2023. This model is battery-powered (taking the AA variety), so you don't have to worry about finding a plug to top up, which also combines with the handy travel bag to make it a great trimmer to chuck in the weekend bag.
It's not particularly powerful, but then again, you don't really want it to when you're playing around with the sensitive bits of your nose, but there are guide combs and a dual-edge head design to trim your sideburns and ear hair should you need it.
Ergonomically, it's well-endowed with a textured handle that makes it tough to slip from your grip in the shower, but like all these things, it's still worth firmly holding it as you go. A simple flick-on-flick-off button is present on the front of the device, which was easy to use throughout our testing, but aside from that, it's devoid of LED displays, additional settings or any other accoutrements.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Shower-proof
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Requires Triple-A batteries to power
Best basic nose hair trimmer
3/10
Wahl
Extreme Grip Detail Trimmer
- Tools: Travel bag and two combs
- Waterproof: Yes
- Power source: Battery-powered
Yes, it looks like a grenade, and companies continue to think that men want gadgets that look like they could be a part of a military care package, but aside from the aesthetics, the Wahl Extreme Grip does have a comfortable, ergonomic handle that makes it easy to hold in the shower and blast away your nose hair.
Thankfully it's not as explosive as an actual grenade, but it does an excellent job at chopping away unwanted hair, with plenty of attachments to trim down the sideburns or shape the edges of your beard – a handlebar moustache is achievable, if only you had the tenacity to attempt it.
It comes with an eyebrow guiding comb to tidy up the bristles, as well as a thinner, more angled nose hair trimmer to completely clear out your schnoz, too.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Shower-proof
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Design is quite divisive
- Triple-A battery operated
Best total nose hair trimming package
4/10
Manscaped
The Tool Box 4.0
- Tools: Travel washbag, nail scissor kit, razor, body hair trimmer, nose hair trimmer
- Waterproof: Yes
- Power source: Rechargeable
Looking for a squeaky-clean hairless body? Inspired by Adam Peaty's seal-like physique? Check out Manscaped's Tool Box 4.0, which houses the Lawn Mower body hair trimmer, Weed Whacker nose hair trimmer, the Plow handheld razor, the Shears nail kit and the aptly named ‘shed’, which is a rather suave travel wash bag to house it all.
It's a hell of a lot of bang for your buck, equipping you with all the gear you need for a complete body trim, with blades designed by Manscaped's skin-safe boffins who have somehow figured out a way to create blades that don't nick even the most sensitive bits of your body.
It might not be the best option if you're just after a tool to trim your nose hair, as it comes with a wealth of additional options to tackle most men's grooming issues but don't let that stop you if you're hoping to expand your hairless horizons.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Complete collection of hair-trimming tools
- Included washbag
Cons
- Costly if you were hoping for a cheap device to trim nose hair
- Includes tools you might not use
Best antimicrobial nose hair trimmer
5/10
Remington
Nanoseries
- Tools: 2x trimmer, 2x combs
- Waterproof: Washable
- Power source: Batteries
Remington's grooming kit tends to prioritise affordability above all else. So it's an especially good 'entry-level' gadget when you're not fussed about enjoying all the deluxe trimmings. Since these are especially unnecessary with a nose hair trimmer, this model fits the bill nicely. It has a straightforward and practical build, enough power to trim without any trouble and, well, it's hard to ask more from something that costs a tenner. Especially since it comes with a set of combs to tackle your eyebrows as well.
The low-end price inevitably draws the question of how long it will last before requiring a replacement, but it's a robust tool for trimming, wrought from a firm plastic that makes it both durable and rather nice to hold.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Anti-microbial
- Affordable
Cons
- Requires Triple-A batteries to power
- Material is plasticy and a bit basic
Best detailing nose hair trimmer
6/10
Remington
NE3150
- Tools: 1x trimmer
- Waterproof: Yes
- Power source: AA battery
Remington's pared-back offering doesn't have any additional attachments, but should still be sufficient to cut back nostril, ear, and eyebrow hair with ease. It features an unusual head that looks a bit like the Tower of Sauron in Lord of the Rings, but there's no burning red eye here, just a motorised razor to clip out the hair within your nose. Because of its design, it requires a bit of finessing to get all the hairs removed from your nose, but once you do, the results will be thorough and it won't irritate or nick your inner nose.
The head can be rinsed for hygienic cleaning, and it even comes with a two-year guarantee. Just don't forget to supply your own battery, as there isn't one included.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great for also trimming beard edges
- Affordable
Cons
- Very basic
- Unusual head design can make it hard to get your nose hairs clear
Best precision nose hair trimmer
7/10
Beurer
HR2000 Barbers Corner Precision Trimmer
- Tools: 1x protective cap, 1x storage bag, 1x cleaning brush, 1x 1.5 V battery AA
- Waterproof: Splash-proof
- Power source: Rechargeable
It's not often that you buy a trimmer that actually looks good, but there's no denying this is a fancy-looking bit of kit. And if you're worried it's all style over substance, then think again. This precision trimmer is as adept in your hands as it would be in your barbers' thanks to a powerful motor that cuts through hair quickly, and an easily-cleanable handle, making it one of our favourite models of the year. The thin head can be angled up through your nostrils to reach right up to the back of the nose and allow the blade to do its work.
It's only splash-proof, so don't jump in the shower to eliminate those unwanted hairs. Instead, gently wash it off under the tap and quickly pat dry it with a towel.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Long-lasting battery life
- Extremely precise cutting head
- Ergonomic design
Cons
- Not a particularly well-known brand in the UK
- Pricey for a nose hair trimmer
Best nose hair trimmer under £10
8/10
Boots
Nose & Ear Trimmer
- Tools: 1x trimmer
- Waterproof: No
- Power source: Batteries
Nose trimmers are hardly the most expensive bit of kit for your grooming regime. At the most value-focused end of the spectrum, though, Boots' own take may not boast quite the horsepower of the rest of the competition but will do a fine job for occasional trims if you're not working with weekly Yeti-like sproutings. It even boasts a built-in light to facilitate a neater finish. As singularly focused gadgets go, this is a good one.
Keep in mind it's not waterproof so not great for shower and shave combos, and it's a fairly cheap and scratchy build, so expect to replace it within a year or two.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Direct from Boots makes it easy to buy
- Ergonomic, waterproof design
- Easy to use
Cons
- Plastic design makes it easy to break
GQ's favourite nose hair trimmer
9/10
Wahl
Micro-finisher
- Tools: 3x trimmers, 1x comb
- Waterproof: No
- Power source: Batteries
With three interchangeable heads, Wahl makes sure there'll be no follicle left behind in its mission to eradicate nose and ear hair, while a nifty eyebrow trimmer with plastic comb guard will do a much better job of keeping your brows neat than a hair clipper or beard trimmer. All heads are easily removed and attached, with a quick rinse under the tap all that’s required to keep things hygienic between uses.
You'll even find that the brow trimmer does a good job of touching up your sideburns between barber visits. All that nestled into an anodised aluminium device that wouldn't look out of place in your pencil case? It might just be our new favourite gadget.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great for tidying up beard edges
- Includes an eyebrow comb
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Design is a bit too slick and thin to be ergonomic
- Not waterproof
Best nose hair trimmer for shaping eyebrows
10/10
Wahl
3-in-1
- Tools: 3x trimmer
- Waterproof: Yes
- Power source: Rechargeable battery
Wahl's 3-in-1 tool has three different heads for tackling nose, ear and eyebrow hair. All of the attachments are rinsable for easy cleaning, while a total run time of 120 minutes should mean you'll hardly ever have to recharge its battery. The detailer head can also be used for precise lines around your beard, especially in tricky areas like the lips and chin.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comfortable, ergonomic handle
- Can tackle nose, ear and eyebrow hair from the same handle
- Waterproof
Cons
- Shaver head is quite stubby, requiring you to push the trimmer quite far into your nose
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