Gift guide · 12 ideas
Grooming gifts for him
The bathroom-shelf upgrades he keeps putting off, from a better trimmer to skincare that isn’t just shower gel.
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Plenty of men are still using the trimmer they were given years ago, a blunt pair of nail clippers and whichever shower gel was on offer. That makes grooming one of the easier things to buy for: almost everything here is an upgrade he’ll notice the first morning he uses it.
The trimmers, shavers, toothbrush and massagers come from our top lists, where we compared the main options side by side. The rest are smaller things that round out a wash bag.
A beard trimmer
His beard gets a tidy every weekend, and a trimmer that keeps to the length he likes takes the guesswork out of it.
Braun Series 5 Beard Trimmer BT5525
£64.99 RRP
- Length wheel locks
- Guard up to 20mm
- Fully waterproof
- Needs a shaver socket or adaptor
Forty lengths in half-millimetre steps, locked in place so a trim can’t slip, and two hours of cordless running. Styling tools in the box shape the edges along the cheeks and neckline, so the outline stays as neat as the length.
What owners say: Owners like how it looks and the half-millimetre steps on the length wheel. Some find the build feels cheap, the two-pin plug catches out anyone without a shaver socket, and the length lock gets mixed reports too.
A closer look: The lock stops the length wheel turning by accident mid-trim, which is how most beards get an unplanned bald patch. Being fully waterproof, it can be rinsed under the tap afterwards. A two-hour battery means it goes on holiday without the charger.
An electric shaver
Shaving is the one job he can’t skip on a rushed weekday morning, so a proper shaver earns its place by the sink.
Philips Series 3000 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver
£50–£75
- About 60 minutes per charge
- Wet and dry use
- Pop-up trimmer
Philips’ 5D Pivot & Flex heads carry 27 blades that sharpen themselves, with SkinProtect for comfort, a pop-up trimmer and around an hour of shaving from a charge. Philips has been making rotary shavers since the first Philishave in 1939.
What owners say: Owners get a clean, comfortable shave wet or dry and like how well it holds its charge and how quickly it recharges. Some find it doesn’t match a blade for closeness, and reports on how long it lasts are mixed.
A closer look: Rotary heads follow the jaw and neck well, which makes them a good fit for someone moving from a razor. It can be used in the shower with foam or gel. It charges from any USB plug, so it travels light.
A OneBlade for stubble
He’s kept the same stubble for years but wants a clean shave for a wedding or a Valentine’s dinner; this does both.
Philips OneBlade 360 Face + Body
£50–£75
- 1, 3 and 5mm stubble combs
- Three blades in the box
- Body comb and skin guard
Not quite a shaver and not quite a trimmer: it shaves clean, trims to even stubble with three combs, and does the body too. The blade flexes through 360° to follow the jaw, and it edges a beard’s outline as well as trimming it.
What owners say: Owners like how smooth and quick it is for a tidy-up. Some report charging problems, many get a close shave with no irritation while others get the odd nick, and some find it pricey.
A closer look: It’s designed to cut hair rather than skin, which is why it suits faces that hate shaving. Three blades in the box will last a good while. It suits the man who keeps permanent stubble rather than a clean shave.
A hair and beard trimmer kit
Between barber visits he tidies his own hair, and one kit covers the back of his neck, his beard and his nose.
Philips Multigroom 7000 Series 17-Piece Trimmer
£50–£75
- Guard up to 20mm
- Self-sharpening blades
- 0.2mm precision comb
Seventeen pieces for beard, head, nose, ears and body, and a precision comb that trims in 0.2mm steps. It suits someone who cuts his own hair as well as trimming a beard, since one handle takes every head.
What owners say: Owners like having an attachment for every job and find it light and smooth to use, with a battery that lasts. It feels solid, though views on how well it holds up over time are mixed.
A closer look: BeardSense reads how thick the hair is and pushes more power into dense patches, so longer beards don’t snag. The 20mm guard handles a fuller beard that many trimmers can’t. There are a lot of pieces, so a wash bag or drawer to keep them together helps.
An electric toothbrush
Still on a manual brush? Of everything on his bathroom shelf, it’s the one he’ll pick up twice a day, every day.
Oral-B iO3 Electric Toothbrush (with travel case and spare head)
£50–£75
- Brush slows if pressed hard
- Travel case in the box
- Spare head in the box
Oral-B’s iO brush in its simplest form: three modes, a pressure sensor that slows the brush and lights red when you scrub too hard, and a two-minute timer that buzzes every 30 seconds. A travel case and a spare head come in the box, so it’s ready for a trip from day one.
What owners say: Owners say it leaves teeth feeling properly clean, is easy to use and runs quietly; battery life, reliability and the design all draw mixed reports, with some brushes failing within months.
A closer look: If it suddenly goes gentle mid-brush, ease off: the pressure sensor slows the brush as well as lighting up, so it’s asking for a lighter touch, not running out of battery. Its small round head gets round the back teeth more easily than a long manual brush.
A mini massage gun
For runners, cyclists and five-a-side regulars, a few minutes on tight calves and quads after a session feels great.
Bob and Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun
£50–£75
- Light at 0.43kg
- Quiet, under 40dB
- Switches off after 10 minutes
Bob and Brad are the Minnesota physical therapists who became YouTube favourites, and their mini gun is phone-sized and still strong enough for calves and quads. The maker puts its noise under 40dB, quiet enough to use on the sofa with the television on.
What owners say: Owners are surprised by how much power there is in something so small, and many reach for it after a run. They mention a battery that lasts, USB-C charging and a useful spread of heads.
A closer look: It’s small enough for a kit bag or hand luggage, so it tends to get used after every run or gym session rather than living in a cupboard. It switches itself off after 10 minutes, and a USB-C charger you already own does the charging (there’s no plug in the box). Very bony or sensitive spots are better left to the softer heads.
A neck and shoulder massager
For the desk-bound or the long-distance driver: it kneads out tight shoulders while he watches the match.
iKristin Shiatsu Shoulder and Neck Massager with Heat
£20–£30
- 16 massage heads
- Heat can be switched off
- Hand loops set the pressure
- Heavy at 1.7kg
Sixteen massage heads on four rotating nodes, and it reaches from the lower back up to the neck, and down to the feet too. iKristin sets the heat to hold at 42°C, with overheat protection, and two hand loops let the arms set the pressure.
What owners say: Strong and relaxing from the lower back up to the neck, by owners’ accounts, and some sleep better for it. The complaints are heat that isn’t warm enough for some, units that don’t last, and a massage that can feel painful.
A closer look: It works as well laid behind the back in an armchair as it does round the neck. The wipe-clean faux leather keeps it fresh when it’s shared. It turns itself off after 15 minutes, so dozing off isn’t a problem.
A nose and ear trimmer
Past a certain age the hairs in his nose and ears grow faster than he notices, and it’s never on his own wish list.
Panasonic ER-GN30 Nose, Ear and Facial Hair Trimmer
£16.99 RRP
- Dual-edge blade, sides and top
- Rinses out without removing head
- Waterproof, use in the shower
- Needs an AA battery
- No extra heads or combs
A dual-edge blade that catches hairs coming in from the sides and the top, so it’s good at picking off single stray hairs, and a Vortex system that rinses the clippings out under the tap without taking the head off.
What owners say: Owners find it effective, easy to use and good value, and like that it washes clean under the tap.
A closer look: With no charger to pack, it can live in a travel wash bag, with a spare AA alongside. It’s fully waterproof, so it works wet in the shower as well as dry at the mirror.
A beard care kit
The beard is his pride and joy, but he only ever trims it; oil, balm and a brush are the next step he wouldn’t buy himself.
Viking Revolution Ultimate Beard Kit
£20–£30
A five-piece beard kit in a metal tin: a wooden boar-bristle brush, a double-sided pocket comb, beard scissors, and a beard oil and styling balm, both scented with sandalwood. It suits anyone with a beard or moustache, or someone just starting to grow one.
What owners say: Owners like the quality, the sandalwood scent and how the oil and balm feel in the beard, and think it good-looking and good value with so much included.
A closer look: Brush and comb first, tidy with the scissors, then work a few drops of oil into the beard and the skin underneath, with the balm last to shape it. Sandalwood is a warm, woody scent; for anyone who dislikes fragranced products, an unscented oil is the safer choice. The tin keeps it all together in a wash bag.
- 5 pieces in a tin
- Sandalwood oil and balm
- Beard scissors included
A skincare gift set
For the man whose whole skincare routine is shower gel. Four simple steps, and the washbag it comes in stays useful long after the tubes run out.
L’Oréal Men Expert Fully Charged Gift Set
£20–£30
A four-step set in a washbag: a 3-in-1 shower gel for face, body and hair, a vitamin C face wash, a 24-hour moisturiser and a sheet mask. The washbag has a cotton outer and a lining made from recycled plastic.
What owners say: Owners like the quality and the smell, think it good value, and find the washbag handy for travel.
A closer look: Use the face wash in the morning and follow it with the moisturiser, which sinks in quickly rather than sitting greasy on the skin. The XL sheet mask is shaped to fit a man’s face and takes five minutes, so it’s an easy first try at something beyond soap. It also makes a good starter set for an older teenager.
- 4 products in a washbag
- Shower gel, face wash, moisturiser
- Five-minute sheet mask included
A hanging wash bag
Work trips and weekends away mean cramped hotel bathrooms, and he can hang it on the door instead of lining bottles up on the sink.
Bago Hanging Toiletry Bag (Large)
£10–£20
A large hanging wash bag, about 26 × 23 × 10cm, that takes full-size bottles in its main compartment. It’s made of waterproof fabric, with two mesh pockets inside, two side pockets and a hook at the top.
What owners say: Owners find it well made and roomy enough for full 500ml bottles, like the compartments and take it on weekend trips, though some find it expensive.
A closer look: The hook goes over a door, towel rail or shower pole, keeping the bag off a wet counter and everything in view. A damp cloth wipes it clean day to day, and a hand wash with mild soap and water sorts out anything worse. It comes in several colours, so check the one selected before ordering.
- Waterproof fabric, mesh pockets
- Takes full-size bottles
- Hanging hook
A nail clipper set
Those blunt clippers from the kitchen drawer have done him for years; this set lives in his wash bag instead.
3 Swords Germany Manicure Set (brown case)
Under £10
A four-piece set of finger and toe nail clippers, tweezers and a sapphire nail file, made by hand in Germany from hardened, nickel-plated steel. It all fits in a small brown synthetic leather case.
What owners say: Owners are surprised by the quality, find the file and tweezers work well, like the compact size for travel and think it fairly priced.
A closer look: Separate finger and toe clippers mean one isn’t doing both jobs, and the file has a coarse side for shaping and a fine side for smoothing. At about 11 × 5cm, the case slips into a wash bag or coat pocket, and the microfibre cloth in the box keeps the steel bright.
- Clippers, tweezers and file
- Handmade from hardened steel
- Made in Germany
Tips for grooming gifts
- Check whether he keeps a beard, stubble or a clean shave before choosing between a trimmer, a OneBlade and a shaver.
- A wet-and-dry shaver can be used with foam or gel, which some men with sensitive skin find more comfortable.
- Bundle the small things: the nose trimmer, nail clippers and wash bag make a full present together.
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