GROOMING: 5 tips to selecting the best beard trimmer

Anyone who has seen my face recently will know that I have a nice little beard coming along – it’s finally getting to the length though, particularly on the sides where it needs to be tapered down so that most of the hair is on and around my jaw line. I could attempt to do this using a pair of scissors and a comb but given my lack of dexterity the chances of me cocking it up stand at about 99.99%. With that in mind, a beard trimmer is a must and as my creaking Braun trimmer came to the end of it’s life I had to go out and buy another. With this in mind I thought I’d share some tips on choosing the right beard trimmer for you.

First things first, research, research, research. Without this you could end up with a right lemon or worse, cripple your bank account and end up with a lemon.

My first port of call was the Beardoholic website and it was a great place to start.  

A good trimmer is a must have for those who can cultivate facial foliage. My main concerns/need were price, it had to be a brand I trusted, it had to have a charge level indicator and varying trimming speeds.

First, consider these questions when choosing a beard trimmer:

Should the trimmer have a cord?

What features do you want the trimmer to have?

Consider the battery power. How long does the battery last before you need to recharge? What is the battery’s lifespan?

Quality of the trimmer’s blades. The better the blade, the better cut. How well do the blades cut stray hairs?

Is the trimmer comfortable to hold?

Is the trimmer easy to use?

Is the price, right?

If you like having a beard, ensure your beard is well-kept - always. There is a difference between a messy beard on your face and a clean, well-kept one. You need to keep your beard tidy. This requires care. A barber can help you, but if you are trimming once a week it soon adds up and becomes unsustainable.

An electric beard trimmer is a convenient and easy device to use. A quality beard trimmer will cut unsightly beard hairs. You should never use hair trimmers as beard trimmers. Keep the two types of trimmers for their specific uses. Beard trimmers use custom blades. These razors come with an extra guard to trim beard hair to create clean cuts.

The distance between the trimmer blades determine beard hair length. Beard trimmers have higher precision. It can cut hard to reach places like above the lips or chin.

Make a rational decision when choosing a razor. Choose a trimmer based on practicality. A rechargeable clipper for efficiency sake. Similarly, buy a trimmer that allows guards or has an adjustable trimmer head. This will give a degree of versatility.

Get a clipper with detachable cutting heads so you can clean your blades easily.

GQ offers some advice too:

Ask your barber for guidance - If you're on good terms with your local barber, consider hitting him or her up for a technique tutorial on how best to use your new kit at home. Learn from their mistakes and you would be surprised how many barbers are happy to provide practical advice and assistance if you just ask.

Pay Extra for a Trimmer If Needed - It's worth paying extra for a trimmer with an additional specialized mini blade for fine detail work around the moustache and under the lips. Personally I must have a trimmer that cuts the hair away from around my upper lip.

Finally, an honorable mention for blade maintenance! Some trimmers do not require much maintenance. Others do. Some require only a switching of the guards; other more complex adjustments. You might need to apply oil to the blades after several uses. You must consider all of these issues when choosing a razor.

Keep an eye out for the review of my new beard trimmer, coming soon! 

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SPONSORED: Men's online shopping catalogues

The sheer amount of merchandise you can purchase off the internet is astounding. 

This avenue has spawned shopping cultures and trends that were simply unimaginable at the turn of the century. Much has been made about the insecurities that come with choosing products online, but the truth is that shopping online is now a reality and has been for over a decade now. While a big number of shopping avenues makes it easier for customers to make choices by looking at varieties, it presents a problem; where do consumers look?

Since there are so many avenues, it is imperative that you as a male shopper have an idea of the things they offer and the places to look. To aid you to make the perfect choice in your shopping endeavours, here is a list of top 5 online men's shopping catalogues in the UK.

Joe Browns

This catalogue has attained somewhat of a cult following among male fashion enthusiasts all over the United Kingdom. The amount and types of clothes available span different ages as well as body sizes. At the website, shoppers can easily browse prices and products until they get what they want. Shopping is easy, as all you have to do is add products to a cart. There are options for making returns if products are not satisfactory. You can make payments by use of MasterCard or maestro.

The Hut

The Hut is another famous destination for men wishing to go out for the latest trends. However, it is much more than just a clothes store. It also offers products like electronics and gaming tools. In addition, men can purchase toys for their children at the hut. Making payments is never a hassle, as the store caters to customers who use MasterCard, Visa, Visa electron as well as maestro.

Next

This shopping store caters for all types of clothes as well as home wares. Apart from the UK, Next is available in over 70 other countries around the world. There is no limit to what a man can buy for himself and his family at Next. Extra products include wines, flowers and gifts. From time to time, the shop offers gifts and bonuses to its clients.

Littlewoods

At Littlewoods, shoppers have the luxury of knowing that they can always make returns if products are defective. However, there are rules for returns. They should occur within the first two weeks of purchase. If there were gift items, they should come back as part of the package. Customers can make credit payments using Visa and Maestro.

Dial a TV

There is a wide range of home wares and electronics that a man could take a pick of on this site. While the electronics are more than the rest of the items on sale, the diversity is simply amazing. At Dial a TV, there are bonuses for shoppers, even though these do not have a regular timing. If clients need clarification, they can always contact support and customer care services, as they are available around the clock.

One of the main benefits of shopping through an online catalogue is the ability to spread the cost of your purchases. Spread the cost usually allows you to pay what you owe in monthly or weekly installments. You can check out a full list of pay monthly catalogues here.

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SPONSORED: Get Your Skin Ready for Summer

The weather has gotten a lot warmer in the past few days, which has naturally meant that sitting at the office is twice as tough (not for me at the moment, which means big grins all around).

Now just like your mind needs a little boost to get the party summer smile on, your skin also needs a bit of a makeover after the exhausting cold winter. After all, you want to feel gorgeous inside and outside once you are finally free to roam the sunny parks (that's not meant to sound like my inner stalker speaking).

Here are some tips for preparing your skin for summer.

Start Off with Exfoliating

It all starts by exfoliating the skin properly. Don’t just exfoliate the face either; your whole body could do with a bit of a rub. 

There are great products for men, such as the Yves Rocher Blackberries Exfoliating shower gel. But you can even consider trying a simple homemade, natural exfoliator. For instance, the oatmeal and sea salt exfoliator recipe at Inhabitat is a good pick.

Add Extra Moisture

If you have a tendency for dry skin, you’ll definitely need much more moisture after the long cold days and nights of winter. Although lotions are typically the first choice, you could swap the usual lotion to an oil-based moisturiser for summer.

The oils can actually enhance your tan while keeping the skin in top condition, not to mention the extra moisturising effect of oils!

Now it must be said that oils can take a bit getting used to. The chances are your skin is already really dry and adding a bit of oil for the first time makes it feel…well oily.

Use a thin layer for the first times at home; after a few applications, your skin should be more open to the oils! Very oily skin can actually be a symptom of dry skin, so don’t automatically assume your skin’s too oily!

Get a Proper Sunscreen

The biggest mistake to make when preparing your skin for summer is to skip the sunscreen.

You don’t want to be sitting under the shade all day long (or maybe you do!), so adding enough sunscreen will guarantee you don’t look like a cooked lobster once the summer sun dies down.

If you don’t like adding lotion, get one of the spray bottle options instead!

Don’t Shy Away from Shaving

You don’t need to go hairless, but you’d be feeling much better if you at least keep your hair under control. Shaving during summer just seems like the right thing to do to me.

Remember to shave after you’ve warmed the hair follicles. This isn’t anything fancy; just sit in a warm bath before bringing out the razor. 

Remember proper moisturising to prevent ingrown hairs and itching!

You may need a few more beauty products for the above, check this out if you are looking for a bargain. VoucherBin has plenty of offers from top UK beauty brands, so you might end up saving a bit of money.

And don’t forget to check out the fashion section for summer styling tips!

*SP

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