For the past 20 years I have shaved my face with a pair of barber’s head hair clippers.
I used the device without a numbered length limiting clip on it (e.g. #1, #2) and it cut my beard down fast and painlessly to stubble length, i.e. about 0.5mm or less.
I liked this because I didn’t have to scrape my skin with a razor, and I didn’t have to buy and dispose of plastic razor blades, and I prefer to go to stubble than bare skin.
The device finally broke.
I have tried a £50 Braun beard trimmer and it didn’t work properly.
I tried a £50 Wahl clippers to replace my original clippers and that didn’t work either - was awkward to set up and hurt my skin.
Any ideas of a good way to shave down to stubble?
I am prepared to pay more to get something that works well.
I bought a pair of Wahl clippers from a professional hardressing supplier in about 1988. They work as well today as they did when I bought them.
At the time there were, as far as I was aware, no ‘consumer’ equivalents available as there are today.
The only maitenance my clippers have had was a set of replacement blades. Being intended for professional use, if you send either the blades, or the whole clippers, to Wahl, they send you a refurbished set by return instead of making you wait for your own to be serviced (or sharpened if you just send them the blades) so once you have bought a pair, they should last indefinitely.
Jim, been the same for over forty years useing mainly Panasonic rechargeable with good effect currently using a Phillips trimmer using the shortest attachment, works well.
Ironically the Philips came highly recommended by a Professional Barber despite being one of the cheapest on test.
I can’t stand “designer stubble”, and a beard doesn’t suit me (anyone read Roald Dahl’s Twits BTW?), so I need to shave every day. Once I discovered an electric razor in maybe late 70s I was pleased to abandon blades with their inevitable nicks as well as hassle. My preferred type/brand is Braun, should you feel like trying the clean-shaven look…
I’ve been using the 50 GBP (well, $80 cad) Braun beard trimmer for 3-4 years now and it’s been okay for me. I had the Wahl before that and it wasn’t as good.
You may have a more coarse beard than me.
I’ve had a stubble shave/beard for about 20 years now, except for about 4 years when I went back to work in an engineering office.
I used a very cheap beard trimmer for years, not realising how poor it was until I replaced it with (the then-equivalent of) a Philips BT5502/13 Series 5000. About £60 from John Lewis and has worked immaculately for years. I use it on the 7-9mm ranges but it goes right down to 0.5mm for all your stubbly or ‘manscaping’ needs.
I’ve been using the cheaper version of the Philips OneBlade for about 5 years. Works fine. Use the 5mm comb for general beard and feathering in with the 3mm below the chin line. Without a comb it does a reasonable job on the other areas. To be honest I only use it every couple of weeks when the itch has gotten to annoy me into action.
From an aesthetic perspective are you looking for a device to give a clean wet shave look and/or a dry clipped look ?
From my experience you cannot successfully have a device that does both.
You need to decide your look, then research what’s best.
Your experience is great. I have never had a device lasting longer than 2 years max.
My best ones are those I could strip back and service. Usually Babyliss.
Although I do a one size trim on the full noggin.
