Trimmers: the three specs that decide whether you will keep using it

Trimmers are sold on attachment counts and cordless convenience. In practice, whether one stays in use after a month comes down to three things.

1. Runtime, and how it is charged

A trimmer that lasts 40 minutes sounds fine until you realise a single haircut uses 20 of them and it takes eight hours to charge. Look for 90 minutes or more if more than one person will use it. A USB-C trimmer you can top up from a power bank is far more practical than one with a proprietary charging stand you will eventually lose.

2. Blade material

Stainless steel holds an edge and can be rinsed. Cheaper coated blades dull quickly, and a dull trimmer pulls hair rather than cutting it — which is the single most common reason one gets abandoned. Titanium-coated blades sit in between and stay sharp longer.

3. Length range and the smallest setting

Check the shortest length, not just the number of combs. A trimmer that starts at 0.5mm cannot do a proper fade; one starting at 0.25mm or lower can. If you want a clean-shaven finish you need a foil head, which is a different tool from a clipper — many multi-head kits include both.

Washable or not

Fully washable trimmers can be rinsed under a tap, which takes ten seconds. Non-washable ones need brushing out, which takes longer and so tends not to happen. Hair left in the blades is what kills a trimmer's motor over time.

What the attachment count really tells you

A 10-in-1 kit is not ten times better than a 4-in-1. Most people use two heads regularly and leave the rest in the box. Buy for the heads you will actually use — a nose and ear head, a beard head and a precision head covers almost everything.