If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best electric razor for a teenager is then I’d recommend the Conair I-Stubble Trimmer as the best one.
Looking for the best stubble trimmer to up your shaving game?
I’ve done some research on stubble trimmers. It should help you sort through the big brands and the niche players so you can take your facial hair game to the next level.
Today's post is also gonna show you how to use a stubble trimmer to get your stubble fresh and sharp.
Capiche? Sound good? Let’s get it going.
All Stubble is not Equal!
Stubble refers to your facial hair that is less than, approximately, 5 mm.
But, just waiting around for your hair to grow out is not going to result in the kind of stubble you want. The just wait around approach only results in hairs of different lengths growing in patches. Who wants that.
That is why sharp and fresh stubble is entirely different. The length needs to be consistent. Moreover, the hair needs to be neat and tidy.
We hear a lot of talk about being equal and having equality these days. But, don't get it twisted, bro: not all facial hair is stubble, and not all stubble is created is equal.
Is it still called a 5 o’clock shadow?
OK. So, you wanna make a move in your facial hair game. You wanna go from having a beard to rocking some stubble. That's cool.
Let's dig-in to the details. We need to tackle the elephant in the room. Yes, I am gonna tackle the big question: what on earth is meant by a '5 o'clock shadow.'
The term '5 o'clock shadow' is being thrown around in all kinds of ways.
For example, the most common usage of this term is: "Rough night last night? Got that 5 o'clock shadow." That is according to my personal favorite source of information, i.e., urbandictionary.com .
Note that the (imaginary) dudes on urbandictionary are talking about a man who has not shaven for two days. So, logically, this refers to what should be called two-day stubble … Am I right, or am I right?
True 5 o'clock shadow, on the other hand, refers to a man who is only eight or nine hours out from his last shave and yet *still* has a faint shadow of beard and mustache. That's right, a man with a true 5 o'clock shadow is pulsing with testosterone.
In order to rock a real 5 o'clock shadow, you too need to pulse with testosterone. You need to be clean-shaven one moment, then the next moment you have noticeable growth. Is that you, bro?
5 o'clock shadow and two-day stubble are *not* the same thing - don't get it twisted, bro.
What kind of stubble are you going for, really?
Stubble is coming back in to fashion - “designer” stubble any one? (Some women even say that stubble is sexy. Of course, you are a grown man and don’t groom your facial hair in a particular manner based on the preferences of anonymous women. Right?)
But, seriously….
Here is my real question for you - what are you looking for?
- Are you looking for that effortless five o’clock shadow?
- Are you wanting to rock some scruffy two day stubble?
- Are you going for the designed stubble look?
Depending on the exact look you want to achieve, well you may be more or less flexible about certain features in your stubble trimmer. For instance, if you are dead set on a five o’clock shadow, then you are absolutely going to need something that trims as close to the skin as possible.
Don't worry, if you are serious about getting your stubble game on point, then you are in the right place.
Some bros will claim that its ‘no big deal’ to get your stubble on point: “Just dont shave for a few days, bro.”
While I have no problem with bros -- or any other identifiable group -- let’s get serious: If you want to get your stubble on point, you are going to need the correct instrument.
Not all trimmers are suitable for stubble, and You are gonna need to find what works best for you and for your stubble. Since i’ve already figured this out on my side, i’m gonna give you some tips.
Key Features to Look For in a Stubble Trimmer
Here is what you should watch out for, and these are the factors I prioritized in identifying and reviewing your best bets:
Length Settings
As hinted at already, it is actually pretty simple: in order to get your stubble looking ‘tight’ you are going to need a trimmer that gets the razor tight to your skin.
The current industry standard is a 0.4 millimeter gap between face and razor. My personal recommendation is that your stubble trimmer needs to go down to 0.4 mm.
Power
My facial hair is relatively thick and coarse - thanks dad! Some trimmers simply cannot hack it, and end up just pulling at my beard rather than trimming.
Obviously, you don’t want to buy a trimmer only to have it pull at your beard and irritate your face. So, the trimmer needs to have power, which really means a fast, consistent motor and reasonably sharp (well maintained!) blades.
Wet or Dry?
Some trimmers are waterproof and enable you to get things done while still in the shower.
Personally, this is not my jam. But, i know a lot of guys swing this way, and that’s cool. I am not judging you, hommie.
Cord or Cordless
For me, this is not a big deal either way.
But, I know some guys like to avoid cords. I got you, hommie.
Battery Life
Trimmers with a longer lasting battery are gonna be more expensive. Simple as.
The bigger issue is that some cheap products have batteries that can only hold a few charges. You get what you pay for, hommie.
Size & Design
At first glance, this may seem to be a matter of preference.
Mind you, we are talking about *stubble* trimming. Trimming all of your facial hair to leave a short, perfectly contoured landscape of man hair is gonna mean covering a fair amount of territory. So, you don’t necessarily want your trimmer to be super small.
Scroll down for my specific reviews -- I got you, hommie.
Conair I-Stubble Trimmer
As the name suggests, Conair’s I-Stubble Trimmer is a specialized instrument. Getting your stubble to look its best takes more than just an ordinary trimmer, and Conair has embraced that challenge.
The I-Stubble Trimmer has just about everything you need for a precision trim without unnecessary and expensive extras. What does the I-Stubble Trimmer bring to your stubble game?
It has high-tech, electro-chemically formed blades. These are serious, sharp blades. They can handle thick facial hair.
For me, the single most important feature is that Conair’s I-Stubble Trimmer can trim your beard and moustache down to 0.4 mm. Because of the included accessories, it can also maintain a beard of up to 5.0 mm. Along the way, you get super precise digital adjustments for tight length control.
The I-Stubble Trimmer is designed around what Conair calls an ultra-flex contouring head. (Sounds erotic, I know.) This ultra-flex contouring head will track the profile of your face.
So, for example, if you have a very sharp, hard, masculine jaw then you can still rest assured that the I-Stubble Trimmer will smoothly pivot around even the sharpest angle. The result should be a consistent shave across your entire face
This bad boy even has a length memory feature that will remember the setting you last used. This could come in handy if you are trimming your facial hair while either half asleep or intoxicated. (Note: please do not trim your facial hair while intoxicated.)
Moreover, Conair I-Stubble Trimmer is versatile: you can use it to trim around your mustache, sideburns, or even the back of your neck. It also comes with a protective comb guide that ensures consistency and is removable for easy cleaning.
However, there are a couple potential drawbacks to bear in mind.
First, the I-Stubble is not waterproof. So, it should not be used in or around the shower. That might be inconvenient, if you are one of those guys who likes to shave in the shower.
Second, while the I-Stubble can be used cordless, it has a relatively weak battery. The battery’s run time is a modest 45 minutes. You will also need to charge the battery for four (4) hours to get a single run cycle.
Conair Men’s Super I-Stubble Trimmer
The Conair Men’s Super I-Stubble Trimmer is the deluxe model in Conair’s I-Stubble range. If you are looking for a stubble trimmer and have some extra cash then this is your product.
Straight up, the differences between the standard and deluxe versions are modest. You would be looking at getting the “Super” primarily if:
- You like expensive things;
- You need to trim in the shower;
- You know you need a long-lasting battery.
The Super I-Stubble Trimmer is waterproof. This could be useful in various ways. Of course, it means that you can use it in the shower, if that is your preferred facial hair maintenance spot. For another thing, it means that you can rinse your device under the faucet.
The battery on the Super I-Stubble Trimmer is also impressive. You only need to charge for 80 minutes and you get 70 minutes of charge in the lithium-ion battery. That is a respectable ratio and a very impressive run time.
You also get a LED light that indicates how much charge is remaining in the trimmer’s battery.
Because this is a trimmer, I do not personally feel that a long lasting battery necessarily needs to be a priority. But, I can also see that it might be an important feature for some guys.
Especially if you are taking your trimmer to the gym or on short business trips, the improved battery life and waterproof-functionality on the Super-I Stubble Trimmer might be useful for you.
Finally, The Super I-Stubble Trimmer has 24 length settings where the standard Conair trimmer only has 15. (But, it does not get any tighter to the face than the standard. It still trims down to that .4 mm threshold.)
In addition, you have all of the advantages that described above for the standard Conair: a sharp, powerful blade that can cut through thick facial hair. A contoured “ultra-flex head” that will caress the contours of your face.
So, this really is the king of stubble trimmers. The only downside is the price. But, if you have the funds then it is hard to beat. I mean it is pretty much like having a barber come over to your house and work on your stubble.
Brio Axis Beard Trimmer
The Brio Axis Beard Trimmer is definitely worth checking out.
You may not have heard of this relatively new company out of Michigan. The dudes who started it - apparently they are brothers? - have an internet-based business model that is described as ‘direct to consumer’.
This allows them to put more into the product: better components, better design and better service. They are turning out some respectable products that some people believe may even be able to disrupt the health and personal care space. In fact, they started with trimmers and now offer a range of trimmers for various beards.
The Brio Axis was designed specifically for shorter facial hair styles.
The Axis has a .5mm cutting length that can produce a tight stubble. This is not necessarily five o’clock shadow territory in terms of tightness but it is still tight.
Brio prides itself on its ceramic blade that is not only harder than steel but also creates less friction and is quiet.
Another great feature of the Axis is definitely the battery. The Axis is cordless and packs 90 minutes of trimming time per charge. It also has an integrated battery status display that encircles the single, on/off button.
As this is a recently launched product, the design is quite sleek. Another perk of going with Brio is the availability of replacement parts including replacements blades.
Primary disadvantages with this product would be that it absolutely has to be kept away from water and other liquids.
You are going to need to take care of the blade with the included brush and oil. Also, unlike the more expensive models sold by Brio, the Axis only has one speed setting.
Wahl Peanut Trimmer
Primarily marketed towards professionals in the barber shop industry, the Wahl Peanut has become a niche style icon and is well known among barbers. Of course it is also available online.
As its name suggests, the Peanut is small and is designed to look ‘cute’ and ‘funky’ rather than being overly masculine. It weighs only 4 ounces and is just 4 inches long (no jokes, bro). The peanut will sit perfectly in your hand - it is ergonomic, lightweight, and very easy to use.
The Peanut packs a rotary motor. Normally I am skeptical about rotary motors because they can be weak. But this one spins at 5,500 beats per minute. The Peanut’s rotary motor is pretty powerful. It sounds good too emitting a powerful but reassuring hum
Next is the blade. The Peanut packs a stainless steel blade makes that can cut through coarse or thick hair. Because the blade is detachable, it can also be easily replaced. (Wahl sells American made replacements, tho you can also find compatible knock-offs from China.)
Straight talk: some Wahl-licensed products are junk from China. The Peanut is different. This mo-fo is made in the U S of A.
In fact, the Peanut is Wahl’s most successful and best selling instrument. This is pretty much the work horse that the company has built its reputation on.
The Wahl Peanut is not the perfect trimmer for you stubble, alas. The number one draw back is the length settings.
The Peanut comes with 4 attachment combs that range from .125 inches to .5 inches. ⅛ of an inch is 3 mm. So that is actually quite long for stubble. If you want to get short stubble, you are gonna need to go raw. Using the Peanut without a guard will cut your beard so that it is at that two day stubble length.
The second drawback is that some models of the Peanut are strictly cord only. Actually, there are up to six models of the Peanut on the market at any given time. (in addition to the basic corded and cordless models, the other models are mostly differentiated by either design or added accessories such as a travelling case.)
Philips’ Norelco Series Beard Trimmer 5100
Philips Norelco has a perennial presence in the hair trimming game. The 5100 series is not perfect but it ticks a lot of different boxes.
If you are looking for a stubble trimmer that can get tight while also covering off your beard and moustache, then the Philips’ Norelco Beard Trimmer 5100 might be worth considering.
Let’s go through the advantages and disadvantages.
First, very important: the 5100 has a zoom wheel that locks in your length settings from 1/64 inch (0.4mm) to 1/2 inch (13mm). As I have stated already, you really want that 1/64 inch (0.4mm) setting in order to trim down to a five o’clock shadow.
The tight 1/64 inch (0.4mm) setting on the Philips’ Norelco 5100 is going to allow you to rock five o’clock shadow, two day stubble, designer stubble - you name, you got it.
Second advantage on this bad boy is the battery. The 5100 is using a built-in lithium-ion battery that will deliver up to 70 minutes of runtime after a 1 hour charge. That is an impressive ratio and can definitely be a source of convenience for you. It also means that you are looking at a cordless product.
In addition to being cordless, this mo-fo is also fully washable. You can run water out of your faucet to clean away extra hairs. Furthermore, the blades are self-sharpening. This means that you don’t have to think about applying oil to your instrument.
So, you might be asking: Johnny the Phillips Norelco 5100 sounds like a beast, why is it not higher up your list? That is a fair question. Let me give you some insight
First disadvantage is that, well, I am not a huge fan of Phillips Norelco. They have put out some shitty products, in the past -- Yes, i am looking at you ‘Philips Norelco OneBlade’. Still, if the ‘OneBlade’ is for boys , then at least with the 5100 they are trying to put out a product that is for men.
Second disadvantage is that i do not like the look of this instrument. Even the 3000 Series Trimmer is better looking.
Finally, I have not personally experienced either short-comings w the length settings, but there are rumors; and, the 5100 is also rumored to be noisy.
Conclusion
Whether you are going for 5 o’clock shadow or two day stubble, the I-Stubble Trimmer from Conair is my number one choice. It has everything you need for a precision trim without unnecessary and expensive extras.
If you prefer to spend a bit more and go for a deluxe instrument, then I would point you in the direction of Conair’s Super I-Stubble Trimmer.
That is all for today guys.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, just shoot an email.