Gift guide · 12 ideas
Grooming gifts for him
Start with his face. A full beard, a daily shave and a shaved head each call for different tools, and the right one gets used every morning.
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Most men’s grooming setup is an old trimmer, a pack of drugstore razors and whatever shampoo was on sale. That makes it an easy thing to upgrade, with one catch: the gift has to suit his face. A man with a full beard has no use for a razor, and the nicest beard trimmer there is would be wasted on someone who shaves every morning.
So the beard trimmer, the electric razor and the clippers are each matched to what he has going on: a beard, a clean shave, or hair he keeps short. The rest suit nearly any man, from a trimmer for nose and brows to a gym bag that keeps his wet things apart. Each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists.
A beard trimmer
For the beard he’s proud of, or the stubble he swears is on purpose. A trimmer that goes back to the exact same length every time keeps it even, not a little shorter on one side after each Sunday trim.
Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer and Hair Clipper Series 5500 (BT5511/49)
$50–$75
A zoom wheel with 40 lengths from 0.4 to 20mm covers everything from three-day stubble to a full beard, and the comb lifts flat-lying hairs into the blades so one pass does the job. It runs for up to 90 minutes and keeps going while it charges.
What owners say: Easy to adjust, it gets through thick, dense beards cleanly, and the battery charges fast and lasts. Mustaches are another matter for some, who find them almost impossible to trim with it, and durability and value split opinion.
A closer look: Start on a long setting and work down a step at a time, since it’s far easier to take more off than to wait for it to grow back. It rinses clean under the faucet but isn’t made for the shower, and because it runs plugged in, a dead battery never stops a trim halfway.
- 40 length settings
- Up to 90 minutes cordless
- Rinses under the faucet
A massage gun
He finishes a run or a round of basketball stiffer than when he started. A few minutes with a massage gun on tight calves and shoulders is the upkeep a grooming kit doesn’t cover.
Opove M3 Pro 2 Massage Gun
$100–$150
A full-size gun built for leaning on: a 12 mm stroke and 70 lb of stall force, so it keeps hammering a tight glute or hamstring where lighter guns stall. Five speeds, six heads, a carrying case, and a battery that runs four to eight hours between charges.
What owners say: Owners say it gets deep into big muscles and loosens them fast, the battery goes a long way on a charge and recharges quickly, and the case keeps the heads together.
A closer look: Start on the lowest speed with the ball head and let the weight of the gun do the pressing; the stall force is there for when you want to dig into a quad, not for every session. The fork head straddles the spine for the muscles either side of it. Everything packs back into the case, which is handy for the trunk of the car.
- 6 massage heads
- 4–8 hours a charge
- Fork head straddles the spine
An electric razor
A daily shave has left him with one nick too many. An electric razor is done before the coffee is, dry or in the shower.
Philips Norelco Shaver 3900 (S3341/92)
$75–$100
Three rotary heads that flex and pivot in five directions to keep contact along the jawline and down the neck, 27 blades that sharpen themselves, a trimmer that pops up for sideburns and a full hour of shaving from a one-hour charge.
What owners say: Owners rate it highly wet or dry, with one shaving in the shower and others after a dry morning once-over. The battery, the closeness of the shave and whether it irritates the skin all get a mix of reports, and several are put out that no wall adapter comes in the box.
A closer look: Rotary heads follow the jaw and neck well, so it copes with the awkward angles under the chin. Shave in small circles rather than straight strokes, and rinse the heads under the faucet after each use. Philips rates the blades for two years before they need replacing.
- Rotary shaver, three heads
- Shaves wet or dry
- 27 self-sharpening blades
A terry cloth robe
For the man who steps out of the shower and drips across the bedroom looking for a towel. A cotton terry robe dries him off while he shaves and gets dressed, like the ones hanging in a good hotel.
Alpine Swiss Aiden Cotton Terry Velour Robe
$50–$75
The robe for right after a shower: all cotton, with a soft velour face and an absorbent terry lining that dries you off like a towel. It has a shawl collar, wide sleeves, a removable belt and three pockets, two at the hips and a smaller one at the chest.
What owners say: Owners call it high quality, with a soft velour outside and a fit with plenty of room, warm without being heavy; one keeps it for winter hot-tub nights, and the color is said not to show lint.
A closer look: Keep it on the hook nearest the shower, as the terry lining works best while skin is still damp. Expect more weight than a fleece robe and a longer drying time after a wash, and stick to the garment label on heat. The small chest pocket is sized for reading glasses.
- Cotton velour, terry lined
- Machine washable
- Dries you like a towel
Hair clippers for home haircuts
Keeping it short means a barbershop visit every three weeks, and he’s done the math on that. A clipper with a separate trimmer for the neckline handles the whole cut at home.
VGRPRO Cordless Clipper and Trimmer Set (V-007 and V-109)
$50–$75
A full barbering kit in one case: a 7,000rpm clipper with a fade lever, a separate three-in-one trimmer with a zero-gapped T-blade for edges, beards and nose hair, nine guide combs plus left and right ear tapers, a fade comb and a barber cape. The clipper runs up to four hours on a charge and has a quieter 70 dB mode for kids.
What owners say: Owners say it has saved them hundreds in barbershop visits, cuts cleanly and precisely, and feels solidly made rather than plasticky, with a reassuring weight in the hand. The battery runs far longer than they expected, and one notes the blade head comes off with a Phillips screwdriver for a thorough clean.
A closer look: The LED display shows how much battery is left and reminds you when the blades need oiling. There’s a quieter 70 dB mode for children who don’t like the buzz, handy if the whole family lines up for a trim. No wall adapter comes with it, but any USB phone charger does the job through the USB-C cable.
- Cordless, up to 240 minutes
- Separate T-blade trimmer included
- 70 dB mode for kids
An electric scalp massager
Short hair or a shaved head leaves his scalp right there, and a few minutes of kneading after a long day feels better than he’d guess.
COMFIER Cordless Electric Scalp Massager (CF-4902)
$30–$50
Four rotating silicone heads with 84 soft nodes between them turn clockwise and then counterclockwise, which feels more like fingers than a buzz, and it stands on its own charging base between uses. Waterproof to IPX7, so it doubles as a shampoo brush in the shower.
What owners say: A hand massage is the comparison owners reach for: it eases tension, it’s easy to use anywhere, and the battery lasts a good while between charges.
A closer look: Detangle long hair first, rest the heads straight on the scalp and keep it moving slowly rather than pressing. A charge takes about two hours and gives about two hours of use. The massager itself can be rinsed after a shower session; the base, cable and charging contacts stay dry.
- Four heads, 84 soft nodes
- Waterproof, works in the shower
- Stands on a charging base
A nose, ear and brow trimmer
Somewhere past forty, nose, ear and eyebrow hairs start growing like they have somewhere to be. A trimmer with a brow comb deals with all three in a minute, and nobody has to say a word.
Manscaped Weed Whacker 3.0 PRO
$30–$50
Manscaped’s third-generation trimmer swaps between a rotary head for nose and ears and a SkinSafe eyebrow blade with 3mm and 6mm combs, with an LED spotlight on the body to find stray hairs deep in the nose or around the brows. The lithium battery charges by USB-C in an hour and runs for 60 minutes.
What owners say: A battery that keeps going and a body that’s easy to handle win it fans. How close it trims, how much power it has and the price all draw mixed reports, and some have had one fail within a few months.
A closer look: Hold the lock button for three seconds before it goes in a bag, so it can’t switch itself on. The 2mm comb on the rotary head keeps ear and nose trims even, and the eyebrow combs keep brows to one length. Rinse it under the faucet; Manscaped rates it for a meter of water for 30 minutes.
- USB-C, 60 minutes a charge
- Rotary and brow heads
- Travel lock
A body groomer
If he’s been borrowing his beard trimmer for his chest and wondering why it tugs, this is the tool he’s missing, for a quick tidy-up before the beach or the gym.
PRITECH Body Hair Trimmer with Charging Stand (PR-3233)
$10–$20
A ceramic blade with a chamfered edge where it meets the skin, three combs that give five lengths from 1.5mm to 12mm, and a built-in LED light for seeing what’s being trimmed. It charges upright on its own stand with the blades facing up, so they dry off between uses.
What owners say: Owners find it gentle in delicate spots like the underarms, with no pinching or irritation, and say it runs smoothly on a battery that lasts a good while; a few had theirs stop working after a couple of months.
A closer look: Start with the longest comb and work down to the length that looks right, moving against the hair on the chest and more gently with it lower down. The small screen shows the battery level and charging status, and a five-second press on the lock button keeps it from switching on in a bag.
- Waterproof, use wet or dry
- 3 combs, 5 lengths
- Blades dry upright on stand
An electric toothbrush
The bathroom upgrade nearly everyone means to make and almost nobody buys for himself. Once it’s on its charger by the sink, the old manual brush can finally go in the trash.
Aquasonic Black Series Electric Toothbrush (8 heads)
$30–$50
A sonic brush that comes with eight heads, a hard travel case and a wireless charging base in the box, which is two years of brushing before you buy anything else. It carries the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, and one charge runs about four weeks.
What owners say: Teeth feel squeaky clean after it, owners say, the charge lasts a long time and the modes give it range, though some find the vibration stronger than they expected, and a few units haven’t lasted as long as they’d like.
A closer look: Start on the gentlest mode for the first week, then step up; the whitening and gum-care modes change the vibration pattern rather than the head. The case holds the handle and two heads, so it packs for a trip without the base.
- 8 brush heads included
- About 4 weeks a charge
- Wireless charging base
Heads up: It has no pressure sensor, so go easy: let the bristles do the work and just glide the head along the gumline.
View on Amazon See our top 5 electric toothbrushes →A signature cologne
He’s still working through a bottle someone gave him years ago. A new cologne is one of the few gifts he’ll put on every day, and the people around him get the benefit too.
Versace Eros Eau de Toilette (3.4 fl oz)
$50–$75
Versace’s modern flagship: mint, green apple and lemon up top, tonka bean and ambroxan at the heart, then a warm base of vanilla, vetiver and cedar, in a turquoise bottle with a gold Medusa cap. Strong enough for an evening out, and worn lightly it suits the office too.
What owners say: Owners say it lasts through a working day without being overbearing, that two or three sprays see them through an evening, and that the bottle looks as good as it smells.
A closer look: Mint and apple make the first few minutes sharp and green, and the vanilla and woods come forward within the hour, so wait before deciding whether it’s for you. Spray it on clean, dry skin at the neck and wrists, and start with two sprays: the vanilla and amber base is richer than the fresh opening suggests.
- 3.4 fl oz bottle
- Mint, green apple, vanilla
- Turquoise bottle, gold Medusa cap
A water flosser
Twice a day with the toothbrush, and not a strand of floss in years. A cordless water flosser turns it into a quick rinse he’ll actually keep up.
COSLUS Cordless Water Flosser (C20, ADA Accepted)
$30–$50
ADA Accepted, with a 10 fl oz tank, three modes for gentle to thorough cleaning, and a charge that lasts up to 30 days, so a week away needs no cable.
What owners say: Most say it’s far less of a chore than string floss and leaves the mouth feeling really clean. Battery life and power split opinion, and some units broke within a month.
A closer look: Fill the tank with lukewarm water for a gentler first go, and empty it after each use so it dries out between cleans. Being IPX7, it’s fine to use in the shower once the charging port cover is shut tight.
- Up to 30-day battery
- ADA Accepted, shower-safe
- Braces and tongue tips
A gym bag
Showering at the gym means carrying everything home in one damp heap. A bag with its own wet pocket and shoe pocket keeps his clean clothes clean.
Fitgriff Gym Bag with Shoe and Wet Compartments (Small)
$30–$50
It has both a ventilated shoe pocket and a separate waterproof pocket for a wet swimsuit or a sweaty top, so a swim or a shower after the gym doesn’t soak everything else. At about 19 in long, it also goes on a plane as a carry-on.
What owners say: There’s more room inside than it looks: one owner fits two pairs of size 14 shoes. The wet compartment, the sturdy straps and the long zipper pulls are all singled out, and it has drawn compliments at the gym.
A closer look: Six pockets in all: the main compartment with a small inner pouch, the wet pocket, the shoe pocket, a front pocket and a mesh side pocket for a bottle. Unzip the wet pocket at home so it can dry out, and the waterproof base wipes clean after a wet locker-room floor.
- Holds 30 liters
- Shoe pocket and wet pocket
- Works as a carry-on
Tips for buying grooming gifts
- Look at his bathroom shelf before you buy, or ask whoever shares it: a worn-out trimmer, a box of cartridges or a nearly empty cologne bottle tells you exactly what to replace.
- Choosing an electric razor? Rotary heads like Philips Norelco’s follow the jaw and neck well and cope with a few days’ growth; foil razors from Braun and Panasonic tend to give the closer finish for a daily shave.
- Charge anything rechargeable before you wrap it, and check the box for a wall plug: some of the razors and clippers here charge from a USB cable with no adapter, so add a phone charger if he doesn’t have a spare.
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