The 10 Best Mustache Scissors, According to our Mustachioed Grooming Expert (2024)

There are three different reasons you need mustache scissors: to snip away at the lowermost hairs as they encroach on your upper lip, to snip at the occasional stray hair that simply won’t sit in place, and to take uniform bulk or volume out of your ’stache. Of course, guys with walrus and handlebar mustaches will need to maintain a certain length, much like anyone with a fuller, longer beard. (Yes, mustache scissors and beard scissors are effectively one in the same.)

Whether you’re in the market for your first pair or an upgrade to a sturdier, rust-resistant pair, this list of the best mustache scissors can help. These recommendations allow you to handle any of the above tasks with aplomb (even if you rock a handlebar mustache). Some even double as eyebrow or nose hair trimmers. Because, hey, if you’re already in the area with a pair of scissors, why not round all the bases?

The Expert: I’ve been a grooming journalist for more than eight years and have written for nearly every U.S. men’s media outlet in that time, including GQ, Men’s Journal, Robb Report, and Gear Patrol. I love trying new products, speaking with brand representatives, helping readers perfect their self care, and offering my own skin and hair up as a petri dish. Like many of you, I am mustachioed (and usually bearded), so this means I’ve tested and owned many scissors and trimmers, and through my trials, have found the best tools for the job.

What to Consider When Buying Mustache Scissors

Mustache scissors are purposefully simple. Because you’re staring at your own reflection and are snipping away at the upper lip or excess bulk, you only need sharp blades, a comfortable grip, and rust-resistant stainless steel. When you’re trimming your own mustache (or beard), there isn’t much emphasis on buying a dominant-hand scissors. (Unlike left-handed barbers who really do need a southpaw scissors if they want to navigate the task comfortably and effectively.) The best options are all affordable, in the $5 to $30 range.

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Most people will prefer short scissors, under 5 inches in length, for trimming facial hair so that the tool doesn’t weigh down your hand as you trim. You might only fit your pointer finger and thumb through the two respective holes. And that’s by design. It’s laughable reading some mustache scissors reviews, where all these guys think that the tool should be as big as the scissors they use to open packages. What you give up in leverage (something you don’t need much of for snipping facial hair), you gain in precision. Plus, smaller blades means less obscuring when it comes to your view of the scruff.

Whether you prefer round-tipped or pointed scissors is a matter of preference, though the rounded ones are more common for inner-nose jobs than exterior facial hair. Still, their inability to poke the skin can make them preferential for many people. Some professionals prefer mustache scissors with beveled blade edges, which require a bit more force than traditional convex blades but can retain their sharpness longer. Standard convex blades are sharper from the onset, even though they might dull faster. For the multiple years of use you’ll get from them though, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to resharpen them before you’d sooner replace them.

A Quick Note on Mustache Scissor Care

After each use, make sure you clean and fully dry your scissors before storing them away in a cool, dry place. Even stainless steel can rust if it is left wet. The best way to clean any pair is to run an alcohol-tinged wipe or cotton pad over the blades, then leave them open to dry before storing.

How We Evaluated These Mustache Scissors

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to length, weight, and cost of mustache scissors. Some people want a trimmer that can tackle more than just their ’stache—who wants to own three pairs of tiny scissors when one tool can handle the eyebrows, mustache, side burns, and so forth? This list should have one or more devices that check the main boxes for you, and all the models met my baseline criteria: rust-resistant stainless steel, a comfy grip, and sharp blades.