It may seem like nose hair sprouts more prolifically as we age, but in reality, they’re the same hairs just growing longer and coarser. Surprisingly, your nose has the same amount of follicles as your head. The reason? To protect you from breathing in dust and particles. When they get too long though, the best nose hair trimmers will take care of them in a hurry.
Best overall: Manscaped Weed Whacker Nose and Ear Hair TrimmerBest value: Wahl Ear, Nose, & Brow Trimmer ClipperBest for heavy growth: ConairMAN BatteryPowered EarNose TrimmerBest for travel: Wahl Micro Groomsman Personal Pen TrimmerBest analog: Tweezerman Nose Trimmer
How we selected the nose hair trimmers
Most nose trimmers have the added benefit of doubling as an ear hair trimmer or detailer for other delicate areas. You can definitely find nose trimmers costing more than $75, but we’ve narrowed our list to the $50 and under price point since you can find a perfectly acceptable option for less than $20. The top factors for choosing a trimmer are safety, ease of use, and design. We’ve also opted for models without a ton of attachments that can get lost or be annoying to assemble. And, while you’re not going to spend hours trimming your nose hairs, reliable battery life is a nice perk for keeping it quick and easy when you do.
Best nose hair trimmers: Reviews & Recommendations
Best overall: Manscaped Weed Whacker Nose and Ear Hair Trimmer
Why it made the cut: It ticks all the boxes for good-looking and easy to use. Specs:
9,000 RPM rotary bladeRechargeable battery90 minutes per chargeWet or dry use
Pros:
Easy to useWaterproofRechargeable
Cons:
PricyNo attachmentsNeeds to be plugged in
This modern trimmer strikes a solid balance of performance, comfort, and convenience, including a 600mAh rechargeable li-ion battery you charge with a USB cable and AC adapter. Even though it will last for up to 90 minutes of use, you’ll only actually need a few minutes to get the job done, so it’s good for several go-arounds. The ceramic blades take a different shape than traditional stainless options, which makes them less prone to snags and nicks. With a 23-degree angle to match the contours of the nose and ear more precisely, there’s a 9,000 RPM motor powering the 360-degree, dual-edge blade system, which also works relatively quietly. You can use it dry or wet for a quick touch-up in the shower thanks to an IPX7 waterproof rating, which means it can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in meter-deep water. Ultimately, you don’t need to freak out if you accidentally drop it in a bubble bath and you can clean it easily for good hygiene, but in real life, you probably don’t want to use it in a swimming pool if you ever hope to get invited to another pool party.
Best value: Wahl Ear, Nose, & Brow Trimmer Clipper
Why it made the cut: A cutting-edge trimmer from a classic barbershop brand. Specs:
Requires one AA batteryWorks on ears, noses, and eyebrowsWet and dry operation
Pros:
LightweightWaterproofAffordable
Cons:
NoisyNon-rechargeable batteries
Wahl is a brand that has been kicking around old-school barbershops (and hipster barbershops) since 1919 and that longevity comes with a good reason. This battery-operated, multifunctional trimmer offers the reliability you would expect from a company that has pioneered electric clippers and trimmers for a century—without being too flashy. The kit includes a few detachable heads to clean up edges, eyebrows, noses, and necklines. It includes a starter alkaline battery to power it. You can use it wet or dry and easily trim nose and ear hairs, as well as other pesky growths around your neck and sideburns. There’s also a dual-position guide for short to medium eyebrow trimming (tip: always proceed with caution around your eyebrows so your facial expression isn’t permanently surprised until they grow out.) It’s not an expensive device and it won’t give you the same kind of performance as some higher-end models, but that’s not a big deal if you only need to trim occasionally.
Best for heavy growth: ConairMAN BatteryPowered EarNose Trimmer
Why it made the cut: A good all-arounder that trims at all angles. Specs:
Three cutting bladesBattery-poweredWater-resistant
Pros:
DurableWorks on coarse hairsUnique designAttachments included
Cons:
Not waterproofLoud with attachments
Need to trim an especially coarse or dense thicket in your ears or nostrils? This model from ConairMAN parts ways with the conventional nozzle-style tips you’ll find on many trimmers and blazes its own trail with a distinctive mushroom-like top. Undoubtedly, the bulbous protrusion may give you pause but don’t worry, it’s surprisingly unobtrusive in action. The top is actually a patent-pending design featuring a 360-degree beveled blade system. As such, this cordless, battery-operated grooming device is engineered to cut from the top, middle, and bottom. It trims neatly and closely, clearing even very tough and thick hairs with ease and speed. You don’t have to be particularly accurate with it to get a clean cut. For portability and storage, it comes packaged in a convenient pouch and includes a detail trimmer and shaver attachment for tidying up other facial hair. The pouch is a nice touch for not losing the peripherals. The minimalist, wireless design makes it easy to maneuver around delicate areas like your nose and ears. Likewise, if you’re rocking a ‘stache, it’s a solid tool for avoiding straggly, food-trapping overgrowth. However, be forewarned, it does sometimes operate slightly more noisily with the attachments. Another downside is the handle is not waterproof and can’t be immersed in water, but the attachments are washable for maintaining good hygiene.
Best for travel: Wahl Micro Groomsman Personal Pen Trimmer
Why it made the cut: The capabilities of a full-size trimmer in a micro package. Specs:
Weighs less than 2 ouncesAluminum caseRequires one AAA battery
Pros:
Lightweight and smallCan be used wet or dryAttractive case
Cons:
Unclear manualMore delicate than other options
With a sleek, anodized aluminum casing, this travel-size trimmer does exude business trip-ready, but you can also just toss it in your gym bag for quick trims. It packs quite a bit into the compact design, including an eyebrow guide attachment. You can use it wet or dry, and more importantly, rinse the steel blades under water to keep them clean. Like its full-size counterparts, it has a battery-operated rotary head—in this case, you’re looking at one slim AAA battery to power it. It’s fairly self-explanatory to use; however, the manual is less than stellar but provides the general idea. Along with trimming ear and nose hairs without snagging or pulling, you can use it to quickly maintain other facial hair on the go (including your beard if you’re really in a pinch). Although it’s clearly designed for travel, if you’re looking for a trimmer only to keep the occasional irreverent nose or ear hair at bay, it’s a reliable pick to stash in your bathroom cabinet just in case. After all, under no circumstances should you ever be poking around your nose or ears with scissors of any size (your kindergarten teacher was right). Along with potentially puncturing a nasal passage or ear canal, you could increase your risk of infection, and plucking hairs with a tweezer can up your chance of ingrown hairs. Overall, this tiny grooming gadget punches well above its weight.
Best analog: Tweezerman Nose Trimmer
Why it made the cut: Reliable, easy to use, and doesn’t require power of any kind. Specs:
No battery or plug is necessaryFully enclosed blades for safetyCleaning brush included
Pros:
QuietSimple to use
Cons:
BulkyPrice similar to battery-operated models
For those who embrace the hot towel, straight razor barbershop shave, this nose, and ear hair trimmer provides a quieter, unplugged experience—albeit not as pampering or luxurious, you are just snipping some nose and ear hairs. The mechanisms on this gadget are pretty simple and quite ingenious. It has fully enclosed rotating blades which don’t make contact with your skin to prevent nicks and cuts. When you squeeze the handles, this action rotates the blades and lops off the ends of your nose or ear hairs, painlessly, safely, and quickly. It also has indented finger grooves for added comfort and control. The important thing with this trimmer, however—and pretty much all nose and ear hair trimmers—is to keep it where you can see it. It shouldn’t be an excavation mission. Another trick is to not tug or pull, and just snip. To keep it clean, it comes with a brush for dusting out the hairs, and then you can wipe it down with an alcohol wipe. This is also your most eco-friendly option since it doesn’t use any batteries or require charging, and anecdotally, some report the blades will not dull as quickly as powered options over time.
Things to consider when buying the best nose hair trimmer
Before you place an order and get to grooming, there are some essential things to consider. Here’s a list of some of the most important variables that will affect your trimming experience:
Design
You want a trimmer that is easy to hold and maneuver. Avoid overly clunky handles or too many accessories that can get lost. Less is more when it comes to extraneous add-ons since you probably won’t need or use them.
Additional features
Get more bang for your buck with a nose hair trimmer that does double-duty to maintain excessive ear hairs as well. Some models work for general facial grooming and detailing other sensitive areas, which can add value to your new device if your nose isn’t prolific when it comes to growing whiskers.
Cleanability
Trimming nose and ear hairs does have the yuck factor of heading into areas with mucus and cerumen (a.k.a. earwax). To keep your trimmer functioning in peak condition, look for models that are easy to clean. Some models come with an included cleaning kit, which can make the maintenance process simpler and more convenient.
Waterproofing
Grooming in the shower can make clean-up simpler for both your skin and your device. If you want to get your nose hair trimmer extremely wet, look for an IP rating to indicate how waterproof the device really is. The IP stands for “ingress protection” and it’s typically expressed as two numbers. Look for a rating in which the second number is a seven or eight (IPX7 or IPX8) if you want something fully waterproof.
A final thought about the best nose hair trimmers
A nose and ear trimmer has become a modern grooming essential to have in your arsenal for looking polished. From the cutting-edge to the classic, they allow you to safely and quickly clean up facial hairs or even shape your eyebrows and touch up a beard or mustache. Whether you want to look extra sharp for an important event or interview, or just stay on top of regular maintenance, nose hair trimmers are easy to use, painless, budget-friendly, and surprisingly versatile.
