Let’s face it: a mustache is a high-risk venture. It’s easy to get it wrong, and some people just don’t suit the look. But when someone puts effort into making a mustache look good, the results can be magnificent. Science has actually proven that men with mustaches make more money! Don’t believe us? A study found that mustachioed men make 4.3% more than their clean-shaven counterparts.
Mustaches are definitely coming back into fashion! More and more manly men are rocking mustaches these days. Henry Cavill, James Franco, and Tom Selleck all prove that trying for a mustache can work.
Of course, to cultivate a mustache, you need the right tools. And in this day and age, you don’t have to just rely on scissors anymore; there are trimmers built specifically for mustaches! Most of these tools brand themselves as general facial hair trimmers, so I’ve combed through all the top-ranked facial trimmer and handpicked the best mustache trimmers that the market has on offer!
Table Of Contents
Best Mustache Trimmer Comparison Table
| Model | Running Time | Combs | Notable Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wahl Stainless Steel #9818 | 4 Hours | 12 Guards | 4 different head | Check Price |
| Philips Norelco Series 7000 | 5 Hours | 14 Guards | Shave all body zone | Check Price |
| Panasonic ER-GB40-S Mens | 50 Minutes | 19 Length | Adjustable Dial | Check Price |
| HATTEKER RFC-588 Trimmer | 60 Minutes | 5 Combs | 4 different head | Check Price |
| Philips Norelco Series 7200 | 80 Minutes | 20 Length | Vacuum system | Check Price |
| Remington MB4040 Trimmer | 2 Hours | 9 Length | 3 precision blades | Check Price |
| Wahl Trimmer #9916-4301 | N/A | 7 Combs | 5 Length Settings | Check Price |
Top 7 Mustache Trimmer Reviews
If you’ve got an unruly mustache that needs taming, read on to find the best mustache trimmer for you! Below we’ve compiled the seven mustache trimmers, with our notes regarding their capabilities.
Wahl Stainless Steel #9818
Our very top pick for the best mustache trimmer is from a giant of the men’s grooming industry. Wahl has been making grooming products from clippers to trimmers for a hundred years, and they know their stuff.
The Lithium Ion Plus is mostly made of stainless steel. It weighs in at a bit under 13 ounces, and comes with a stainless steel blade. Its main claim to fame is adaptability: that blade can be switched out for any of three other heads also included in the box. You have your choice of a detail trimmer, a detail shaver, and an ear and nose trimmer. Of all these heads, we’ll mostly be using the standard blade and the detail trimmer for mustache trimming.
There are twelve combs to provide you with a bunch of options for length. You’ve got eight standard combs, from 6mm to 25mm, and four stubble combs from 2mm to 8mm. Overall, a good assortment depending on the style you want to try.
It’s cordless-only operation, but as the name indicates, that battery’s pretty good: four hours of operation. Charge time lasts an hour, and if needed, you’ve got a quick-charge option of one minute on the plug for three minutes of use. In all cases, keep an eye on your power button, as it flashes when the battery’s low.
The box comes with the usual for a trimmer: blade oil, cleaning brush, and the charger. It also includes a beard comb and storage case, making for easier travel and grooming. For those worried about it turning on while in a bag, there’s a travel lock on the tail, activated by a red plug. If inserted, the plug prevents the Lithium Ion from turning on.
The other heads come in handy when you want to keep the rest of your face in order, or trim hair elsewhere. The detail shaver is a foil head that cuts close to the skin, while the ear and nose trimmer will do for the pesky hairs the other heads can’t reach.
Its main downside is that it isn’t waterproof. This means that you can’t clean it under a tap because the blade will rust in bare weeks; the body’s lack of grip also means it’s slippery if it gets wet.
Fear of water aside, the Lithium Ion is just about the best you can get when you want to keep a mustache in order. Plus the extra heads give it more utility instead of just being a device restricted to your facial hair.
Philips Norelco Multigroom Series 7000, MG7750/49
Where the Wahl Lithium Ion was a facial hair trimmer with extra utility, Philips Norelco’s Multigroom is a true generalist made to trim hair anywhere on your body.
It’s got a set of blades, the same way the Wahl Lithium Ion does, to handle hair around the body. We’ll be using two particular ones: the default blade and the detail trimmer. The others are a foil shaver, an extra-wide blade, and a nose and ear trimmer. You can get some use out of them once you’re done with facial care.
The blades are stainless steel, and the motor beneath delivers excellent power, so you’ll be cutting through hairs without trouble. The standard blade does fine for most trimming work, and then you can switch in the detail trimmer for the tighter areas around the mouth and beneath the nose.
The Multigroom comes with a set of fourteen combs, of lengths from 1mm to 16mm. Of particular interest to us are the three beard combs, of 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm lengths. With this many combs, you’ve got enough options to experiment with mustache lengths.
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The other blades can come in handy during your facial grooming routine. The foil shaver is made to cut as close to the skin as possible, so you can use that for the spots that need a clean shave. The other two heads will help for other trimming needs around the body, or the head. Want to maintain some muttonchops to go with your mustache? The Multigroom has the tools for it.
In terms of battery, you’re in good hands. It lasts for five hours, and topping up the battery takes two hours. A quick-charge needs just five minutes. And if you really need a trim now, you can also run it corded. No worry of this running out of charge mid-shave, oh no.
The Multigroom isn’t waterproof, but it is washable, so cleanup under the tap is definitely possible, just as long as you make sure it’s dry afterwards.
There’s just one downside, and that’s basically a consequence of the Multigroom being a generalist. Since it’s a jack-of-all-trades, it won’t do as well as a specialist tool in its field. The Multigroom can get by, but not as well as a dedicated facial hair trimmer. Plus it can get a bit finicky to handle, with so many accessories to juggle.
This minor fault aside, the Multigroom performs great! If you want to buy just one tool that can handle multiple grooming needs around your body, then the Multigroom will serve you well.
Panasonic Cordless Men’s Beard Trimmer
They might not be as big a name in the US, but Panasonic is the name to beat when it comes to men’s grooming in Japan. The ER-GB40-S is made for facial hair; so how well does it hold up?
The trimmer is sized nicely, letting it get into tight spaces with no problem. The handle is rubberized, letting you get a good grip and not worry about dropping. The blades are hypoallergenic stainless steel, angled at 45 degrees for fast and clean cutting, and combined with a good motor, there’s no tugging at all while it shaves.
Length control is excellent. You get one comb, adjusted by a dial on the trimmer itself from 1mm to 10mm, in 0.5mm increments; this gives you nineteen options for styling.
The battery provides 50 minutes of working time, which is fairly average, but it’s betrayed by a 15-hour charging time. The charging dock does make things convenient, so instead of leaving it lying around, just stick it onto its slot.
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It’s also waterproof, so you can use it in the shower if needed. When it comes to mustache care, dry is definitely the way to go, but it’s helpful for styling the rest of your facial hair, where you might prefer to shave wet. And regardless of wet or dry shave, waterproof also means it’s easier to clean. It even has a water drain built into the unit to help remove excess water and hairs caught in the blade. Just give it a good rinse and pat it dry, and you’re good to go.
There are some downsides. We’ve already noted the hideously long charging time. The blades are also fussy, since they need oiling after every shave. That’s to be expected out of a clipper seeing heavy use.
If you can work with its maintenance requirements, then the Panasonic ER-GB40-S makes an excellent facial hair trimmer, letting you look after your beard and mustache with equal proficiency.
HATTEKER RFC-588 Trimmer Kit
They may be a Chinese brand, but Hatteker can still put out a good product. Likely you’ve seen some of their other grooming products; this one is specifically for trimming facial hair.
Hatteker markets this as a 5-in-1 trimmer, and it achieves that capability the same way as the Wahl Lithium Ion and Philips Multigroom, with a set of switchable trimmer heads. You get one each of full-size, engraving, wide hair, body hair, and nose trimmers, and for facial hair purposes, we’ll largely use the full-size and engraving trimmers.
There’s not much of a curve to the body or much in the way of grip assistance, but the indented back does help the hand curl around the trimmer body. All the blades are stainless steel, and are crafted to reduce heat for best comfort.
You’ve got an excellent range of possible lengths. There’s always the option of using it without a comb for the shortest cut possible. For short lengths, the adjustable comb has your back, with a range of 1mm to 10mm in 1mm increments. For a less-fiddly comb, the beard comb can do 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, or 6mm. For longer lengths, there’s another four combs, one each of 6mm, 9mm, 12mm and 15mm. And when you really need precision work, the adjustment slide above the power button gives you 0.8mm, 1.3mm, and 1.8mm.
In short, you’ve got pretty much all you need for any mustache up to 10mm, and beyond that, you still have some longer options.
You get an hour’s shaving time with an hour and a half of charging; which is quite good as far as battery life goes. You also get a charging station that holds the combs and auxiliary heads, so you can set it up somewhere comfortable and be ready. The display up front shows charge duration, and both how long you have left on the battery and how long until it finishes charging. It’s also waterproof, so cleaning is super easy. Of course you have to remember to dry it off before using it again.
If it has a downside, it’s mainly in power; it has a tendency to catch on hairs rather painfully, or to just not cut at all, especially the nose trimmer.
That issue aside, there’s very few things wrong with the Hatteker. It’ll give you excellent service, and tons of versatility.
Philips Norelco Series 7200, BT7215/49
Whenever you cut hair, you have to deal with the cut hairs getting everywhere! This is why vacuum hair products were invented: instead of letting the hair get in everywhere, these products vacuum it up before it becomes an annoyance.
The Series 7200 sports this vacuuming feature better than almost any other product on the market! The body is brushed steel and black plastic with only a slight curve, and overall it’s not difficult to grip. The blades are stainless steel and self-sharpening, and are made to reduce irritation.
It comes with two heads: the standard head already fitted and a smaller detail head for precision work. Unlike the other trimmers we’ve covered, the Series 7200 only has two heads, so it’s not a multirole trimmer; it’s a dedicated beard trimmer, just with a precision option when needed.
Of course, the star feature is the vacuum. Philips claims that it sucks up 90% of the loose hair, and it holds up to that promise! The reservoir is removable, so just take it off and dump the cut hairs after you’re done shaving.
There’s a good selection of length settings, from 0.5mm to 10mm, in 0.5mm increments, adjustable with the zoom wheel just above the power button. The detail head comes with two of its own combs, providing 0.3mm and 0.5mm.
Power capability is excellent. You get 80 minutes of use from a full charge, and it takes an hour to top up the battery. A quick-charge option of five minutes plugged in gets you one trim session. And if necessary, it’s also usable corded.
It’s not waterproof, but the combs and heads are washable, which is really our main concern. The vacuum hair reservoir is also tap-washable. Once everything’s clean, dry it all out before putting it back together.
The main downside is that the vacuum struggles to cope with longer, bushier facial hair. For users who maintain stubble or short mustaches, you’ll be well served, but if you wear a longer mustache, you may have to clean out the vacuum chamber mid-shave, which is understandably a pain.
The Series 7200 is an excellent trimmer that can keep your mustache trimmed while also saving you a good deal of hassle. If you like convenience, this might be the best mustache trimmer for you.
Remington MB4040 Trimmer Kit
If you’re looking for personal care products, it’s hard to go wrong with Remington. Their MB4040 is made for facial hair, delivering great cutting power for a bargain price.
To start with, it’s got a curved body, so it makes for an easier and more natural grip that gets the blades where they need to be. The body is also rubberized to ensure you don’t lose your grip, and weight comes out to a pound.
To let it do business where it needs to, it comes included with three blades. Already fitted onto the trimmer is a beard blade, and you also get a stubble blade and a detail blade. Switching blades is done with the button on the back of the trimmer. These are titanium-coated, precision-ground blades, self-sharpening and self-oiling; Remington has done everything it can to make maintenance easy.
The motor drives the blades with enough power that it can cut through most hairs it encounters, so if your facial hair is particularly coarse, you’ll be fine; the MB4040 will still go through.
You’ve got a good range of length options, thanks to the adjustable comb. It goes from 1.5mm at the shortest to 18mm at the longest. If you want to get particularly close, you can also take the comb off. Remember to exercise caution if you choose to do so; we don’t want you cutting yourself.
Battery life is fairly average: two hours working time, three hours charging time. This should be enough for most trims, though it’s cordless only. In terms of cleaning, it isn’t waterproof, so you’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way with the included cleaning brush.
For downsides, the biggest one is travel-related. The charger is rated only for US standard voltage of 120V. If you plan to travel to Europe or Asia, who are mostly 240V, you’ll need a voltage adapter. It also doesn’t come with a travel case, so you’ll have to make your own arrangements if you want to bring it along.
These minor failings aside, the MB4040 combines a bargain price with commendable performance. If you don’t want to take a bite out of your budget, it’ll serve you well.
Wahl Beard and Mustache Trimmer #9916-4301
Rounding out our list is another product from Wahl. The Lithium Ion is a beard trimmer that has other uses, but the #9916 is a dedicated facial hair trimmer.
Getting a nice good grip is easy; the shape fits well into the hand, and grip pads help you keep that grip. It also has a bent neck that lets the blades come in close to the skin without the rest of the trimmer get in the way. It weighs just over a pound.
The motor is quite powerful, and combined with the precision-ground carbon steel self-sharpening blades means that pretty much any hair you encounter will be cut. No pulling or multiple passes with the #9916.
Trim length options are excellent. Not only do you get a 6-position guide comb, you also get seven fixed-length combs to go with it. That gives you the advertised 14 length options: 13 with combs, and no comb. The adjustable comb goes from 2mm to 12mm, while the fixed combs are three stubble combs and four longer ones: 3mm, 6mm, 10mm, and 13mm.
Now the battery life doesn’t really compare to the others…because it holds a charge for two months! However, that’s assuming a trim once or twice a week; more frequent grooming sessions will of course shorten that working life. Recharge time is eight hours, but that’s not so bad compared to how long the charge lasts. And if needed, you can use it corded.
It has two downsides. One is the motor; though it’s powerful, it pays for that power by being loud. This doesn’t affect performance, but it can still be an irritant, especially since you have to deal with it every time you shave. The other is that the fixed blade makes it difficult to do precision work; you may have to twist it awkwardly in to fit where it needs to go.
Despite these, it’s still a competent Wahl product. With this many combs, you have lots of options for length and trim, and you can experiment at your leisure. And it also comes at a bargain price!
A Buyer’s Guide to Mustache Trimmer
There’s no perfect trimmer for everyone! There are a few key precautions that you should consider before heading out to buy mustache trimmer. We outline these points below:
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Battery And Power
Ideally, you want as long a battery life as you can manage, balanced by a short recharge time. Generally speaking, long battery lives also mean long recharge times, but some models fare better with this than others. It’s up to you to determine how long is acceptable to you in both counts; a long recharge time might not be so bad if you plan on sticking your trimmer back on the charger after every use.
Also consider if you want a trimmer that can run corded as well as cordless. All of the trimmers we’ve listed above are cordless, but some also have cordless capability. While this does limit their range of movement, it also means they won’t die mid-trim. This may come in useful if you foresee a need for a long grooming session and don’t want it interrupted.
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Combs And Length Control
The more settings for length you have, the more options are available to you, and options are always good. You can find a length that’s comfortable for you, and you also have room to experiment. Depending on the model, a trimmer may have the older style of fixed-length combs, or might have a single adjustable comb.
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Blades And Cutting Power
What we’re really asking here is: how many times will you have to pass over the same spot? Ideally, you should only need one pass to get the trim you want. The combination of a sharp blade and a good motor will help here, so consider both of those factors when you’re choosing a trimmer.
A good blade and a competent motor means you finish faster. A more efficient cut also means less risk of pulling on the hairs and thus a more comfortable grooming experience. It’s one of those things you don’t notice if it’s good, but you’ll definitely feel if it’s bad.
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Design And Hand Fit
Ergonomics, in other words. It’s a concern in everything you use. You want something that fits in your hand and won’t slip out, and easily gets to the places you need it to trim. A comfortable trimmer means you’re not fighting your own equipment, and that means an easier time shaving.
Plus, don’t forget size, not just of the trimmer itself but also the blades. It’s why a lot of switchable heads include a detail trimmer; too large a blade, and you might trim something you don’t want to cut. Ideally, you want something that’s large enough for you to hold comfortably, but small enough that it can maneuver well around the face area and put the blade where it needs to go.
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Extras And Attachments
While you can ultimately do without most of these, having attachments come with your trimmer helps expand your repertoire. Combs are the extras you most usually see, along with other types of heads, the way some multirole trimmers do. For those trimmers, what you’ll want most of all is a detail or precision head. These will have smaller blades than the usual types of head, and are most useful when you’re trimming around the tight spaces around your mustache.
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Cleaning In Water
Unlike other men’s facial hair grooming products, wet shaving capability isn’t much of a priority for mustache trimmers. In fact, mustaches should be trimmed dry, with shaving cream better used for other areas of facial hair. Since precise care is important, trimming your mustache in the shower isn’t the best of ideas; you should have a mirror to check how well you’re doing.
However a waterproof mustache trimmer is still helpful because it makes for an easier clean. Just stick it under the tap, dry it off, and you’re back in business.
A Two-Part Guide To Grooming Your Mustache
Mustache care comes in two parts. Part I covers trimming and cutting, while Part II covers styling.
Part I: Mustache Trimming
After you’ve let the mustache grow out, you have to clean things up or else it looks like an unruly thatch on your top lip. This part of the guide covers how you do that.
Comb Your Mustache
Straight and ordered hair is always easier to style than a disorderly tangle, so it’s time to grab a fine-toothed comb. You’ll want a small comb intended for facial hair, so that it won’t get in the way. In all cases, make sure your mustache is completely dried at this point. You can apply product to soften it beforehand, but make sure that it’s dried once you get to trimming.
Trim The Bottom
Once it’s all straight, time to begin. Start at the bottom side of the mustache, along your lip line. Press very gently on the top of your lip line and pull away. Remember to work from the outside and move to the center, working on one side at a time; once you’ve finished with one side, move on to the opposite side.
Trim The Top
This is to make a nice, clean top edge for your mustache. Again, same principle: press at the top of the mustache and pull away, and work from the outside going in. You’ve also got the choice of trimming at an angle going to your lips for more shape, or leaving it straight for a fuller mustache. Also, don’t forget the part where the mustache meets the nose; you’ll want to trim that, so it doesn’t look like overgrown nose hair.
Reduce Mustache Volume
This is to control how long and full your mustache is; you might not want it too heavy. This is where the combs on your trimmer come in. Attach a long comb first, and remember to trim in the direction of hair growth. In this case, that’s downwards. Remember, go from long to short. You can always cut again, but you can’t un-cut something that’s too short.
Recomb And Recheck
Go over your mustache with the comb again, to straighten it and thus see if you missed anything in the first round. Turn your head and examine your mustache from an angle to see if anything sticks out. Once you’ve found the problem spots, go at them with the trimmer again.
Part II: Styling
Some mustaches don’t need any more than a trim to maintain. Some other styles need care and attention in the form of styling. If you’re going for a good and curly handlebar mustache, read on.
Clean The Corners
Lift the ends of your mustache, then take your trimmer to the corners of your lips. Since the ends are the longest, you want to give them a good clean look. Trim the hairs at the corners of your lips to give your mustache the right shape.
Trim For Length
Use your thumb and pointer finger to twist the ends of your mustache together, then trim them carefully until you get the right length. Doing this while you’re growing out your mustache ensures it’s an even volume and length, and it’s also necessary afterwards to ensure nothing grows too wild or outside the style you’re aiming for.
Apply Mustache Wax
The really fancy mustaches get that way with the aid of wax, so if you want to really rock a handlebar, better get familiar with wax and find a wax that works well for you. Of course, no matter what you pick, usage is similar across the board. Take just a little wax, about the size of your fingernail, and rub it between your fingers to warm it up.
Once it’s warmed up, apply it to your mustache. Start at the center, then spread it to the ends. Then work it into the mustache, going outwards all the while. Keep working it in until you no longer have any visible wax, and then comb your mustache the same way, from the center and going outwards, so that your mustache is properly oriented.
Twist The Ends Away
Take another fingernail of wax, and then apply it to the ends of your mustache. Pull hairs from the middle of your mustache towards the ends, then twist the ends away from your cheek. Then curl as to your preference. Do this for both ends of your mustache until you have the result you like. As always, the more hair you have, the more product you’ll need to use, so a bit of experimentation is always useful until you’re sure of how much wax you should be using.
For particularly curly or long mustaches, extra-hold gel may be in order to keep them in place. Just a little bit applied to the ends will keep them nice and solid for the length of the day.
Nine Mustache Grooming Tips
In addition to our guide above, here’s a few helpful things to keep in mind in the matter of trimming your ‘stache.
- Wax is your friend! Untrained and ungroomed mustaches tend to grow directly downward, so wax is needed to train the hairs to grow sideways. Once it’s trained, you can do some pretty awesome things with wax.
- Moisturize! This is a tip that can be applied to all men of all types, but especially for men trying for mustaches. Healthy skin makes for healthy hair follicles, so nourish that skin and moisturize.
- Comb, comb, comb. Straight hairs are easier to trim, and you can better see any hairs that are too long, and thus need the attention of the trimmer. If you’re investing in your mustache, a proper comb is essential.
- Look after your trimmer. Good tools mean an easier time of grooming, so keep it oiled, keep the teeth clean. Take advantage of length settings and combs!
- Remember the golden rule of cutting hair: Go from long to short. You can always cut a hair shorter. There’s no undo button for real life.
- Care for your mustache before you trim! That means keeping it clean and straight, and drying it out before you trim. A clean and untangled mustache is much easier to trim.
- Take your time. Just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, the perfect mustache doesn’t come in a day. It’s better to trim your mustache in stages, just a little every few days, instead of letting it grow out.
- Don’t be afraid to use gel for the ends, especially for the styles that curl upwards. You can still use wax, but wax has a tendency to droop. Gel stays up.
- Get some beard oil! It works just as well on a mustache as a beard. Oiling your mustache keeps it hydrated and conditions the skin beneath; it’ll also get rid of itchiness.
Twisting It All Together
Make no mistake, a mustache is a lot of work. You will go through a dozen irritations, you’ll suffer through the lean days where you’re waiting for your mustache to grow in, and there will be days where you’re trimming just to be sure you’ve got the right volume. But all that effort is worth it! Once your mustache has properly grown in and you’ve got it styled, it’ll give you an edge of class and maturity that can’t be beaten.
To help you in your mustache journey, we’ve picked out the trimmers that can provide you the best assistance. Whether it’s the multirole convenience of the Wahl Lithium Ion, or the vacuum convenience of the Philips Norelco Series 7200, there’s a trimmer for every mustache need. Don’t wait up; get the best mustache trimmer for you, and show the world what a ‘stache should really look like!
