In recent years, more men are beginning to pay more attention to their hair, beards, and facial hair. As a result, newer trimmers are becoming more commonplace in the market. However, because of the similarities between beard and hair trimmers, many wonder if there really are any differences between the two. As a beard enthusiast, I understand why you would want to know if you can use a hair trimmer for your beard, or if you should get separate trimmers for facial and scalp hairs.
Beard trimmers and hair trimmers are not the same. While beard trimmers are designed for shorter or finer hair, such as the hairs on your face, hair trimmers are made specifically for cutting and styling scalp hair. Although they both share some similarities, you cannot use them interchangeably.
Whether you choose to keep a clean shave, don’t mind a 5 o’clock shadow, or you’ve worked so hard to train your beard and will give anything to keep it that way, one thing is certain—you will need a trimmer to maintain your preferred look. However, using the wrong tool for your facial hair can cause unpleasant and sometimes embarrassing outcomes. Regardless of how similar beard and hair trimmers may be, they have their special purposes.
However, you probably already know that beard trimmers obviously have a different function than hair trimmers. After all, they are named differently! The real question most people have is not just about specific functionalities, but also about whether the two can be used interchangeably. In other words, you’re probably wondering if these similar trimmers can also serve the same purpose. That is exactly what we will be discussing in this blog post.
Let’s begin by taking a look at why anyone would think of using beard trimmers for hair, or the other way around.
Why Most People Consider Using Trimmers Interchangeably
Unless you are a professional barber, expert stylist, or hair model, you will most likely want to find the best and quickest way to get through your daily personal grooming. Beard and facial hair grooming is a quick affair for many men—there are just too many things competing for their time, and spending precious hours shaving is not one of them! If that’s you, then having two trimmers for yourself may be a bit cumbersome.
Since you probably don’t own a hair salon, it may not make that much economic sense to buy two trimmers when just one is likely to suffice. If you are like most men, one look at both trimmers could make you tempted to buy just one for both functions. It makes sense, considering that no one likes to throw away money, right?
There are a couple other reasons someone would contemplate using a beard trimmer to cut their hair, or vice-versa.
For example, imagine you packed your bags in a hurry and traveled out of town, only to discover that you brought only your hair trimmer instead of your beard trimmer (even though you’ve recently had a haircut!). In that case, you may wonder if you could use your hair trimmer to groom your facial hair as a temporary measure. After all, it’s just for the meantime, and it’s a cheaper and more convenient option than spending money on a new beard trimmer when there are probably other important things competing for your hard-earned cash!
But consider this: the cost of treating skin irritations that can happen on your neck and face can quickly add up. Using the correct tool for the right purpose might be just what you need to avoid being penny wise and pound foolish.
And speaking of a convenient option, perhaps that is the main reason many people want to know if it’s okay to interchange beard and hair trimmers. It is handier to use one tool for cutting your scalp and facial hair than switching between two very similar tools. Let’s face it: is there any significant difference between your facial hair and the hair on your scalp? Of course, the length and texture differ, but it’s basically the same hair, or is it?
We’ll get to that question later. For now, let’s delve into the similarities and differences between beard and hair trimmers.
What’s the Difference Between Hair and Beard Trimmers?
Try this: place a beard trimmer and hair trimmer side by side and see if you can spot the difference by merely looking at the electric devices. If you did as suggested…
- Similarities
Although they are built for different purposes, beard and hair trimmers share some similarities, which is why you are probably asking if they are the same. Some features that make these trimmers look the same include the following:
- Both trimmers work with the same mechanism of oscillating blades.
- They have a similar compact and portable build.
- They come with several similar attachments.
Besides these similar features, the most obvious likeness is that both trimmers cut hair. The type of hair these trimmers cut is what makes all the difference.
- Differences
There’s no arguing how both devices are meant for cutting hair, but they don’t actually work in the same way. They definitely don’t produce the same result on your skin (particularly the skin on your face) over long-term use. But I’ll get to the side effects or consequences of interchanging trimmers later. For now, let’s take a look at some of the marked dissimilarities in functionality.
Beard Trimmers |
Hair Trimmers |
| In most cases, beard trimmers come as cordless devices that are rechargeable or powered by standard double-A batteries. | Usually, hair trimmers are available as corded devices. |
| Best for trimming thin hair. | Best for cutting and styling long hair. |
| The blades are thin and suitable for facial skin. | They have thicker blades designed for scalp skin. |
| They can cut extremely close to the skin without uprooting hair follicles. | It is best for full fades and layered cutting that provide more definition. |
| The sharp blades are especially suitable for sensitive skin. | They can be adjusted for multiple cutting levels. |
| Lightweight. | Usually heavier than most beard trimmers. |
| Designed to work for short periods because beard hair takes less time to trim. | Built to work for longer periods because head hair takes longer to cut. |
Each Trimmer Has its Specific Purpose
Looking at the table above, it doesn’t require a genius to quickly see that beard and hair trimmers each have their specific purposes. The fact that both trimmers have blades doesn’t make them the same. Even though a knife is a type of blade, you wouldn’t use it on your hair or beard, would you? Also, although a razor can give you a clean shave, many people with sensitive skin are still wary of using it.
The point is this: each hair cutting tool is designed to do a specific thing. The market has a plethora of high-quality beard trimmers designed to give you excellent trims over and over again. The best part is that they come at a decent price range. For example, this beard trimmer is rated one of the best and comes at just the right price.
Although you can use beard and hair trimmers interchangeably, you should always use each trimmer for its intended purpose—not just because it’s the correct thing to do, but because it is what is best for your skin and hair and will save you a lot of unnecessary hassle.
Why You Should Stick to Purpose
Anyone can choose to use a beard or hair trimmer to cut hairs on any parts of their body and get a pretty decent finish. For example, you can give yourself a great haircut using only a beard trimmer, as long as it is a high-quality device, and you know exactly how to use it like a pro hairstylist. Also, if you keep a long beard, you can use some of the attachments of a hair trimmer to manage a fine beard trim.
However, the consequences of using blades interchangeably may outweigh the immediate and often temporal results, especially if you use the wrong trimmers continuously. The earlier example of forgetting to travel with your beard trimmer could be a good reason to use a hair trimmer for your beard temporarily. However, if that becomes regular practice for you, it could lead to some not-so-pleasant outcomes. By the way, if you are considering sharing your friend’s or roommate’s beard trimmer because you forgot yours, I strongly suggest you read this post first.
Perhaps it will help to highlight some of the possible issues that can come up when you don’t stick to using the correct trimmer. And when I say issues, I am not just referring to what can go wrong with the electric device. Your hair and skin can be affected adversely, too.
Using a Beard Trimmer for Hairs
Using a beard trimmer to cut your hair can be quite challenging. Here some possible setbacks you will face if you choose to use a beard trimmer for your scalp hair.
- You can run out of battery power.
For starters, you need to charge the batteries fully before you begin. You don’t want to risk running out of power in the middle of a haircut! Because cutting facial hair usually doesn’t take long, a beard trimmer is not designed to work continuously for long periods. And, as you know, haircuts last longer than beard trims.
- You will probably use too many batteries.
Even if the trimmer uses a double-A disposable battery, you may run through a couple of batteries just to get a decent haircut.
- The beard trimmer can develop fault quickly.
Whether you have a high-quality beard trimmer or not, if you use it beyond its recommended capacity, it can quickly develop a fault or even lead to permanent damage.
- Your hair can get stuck in a beard trimmer.
Before you experiment with giving yourself a haircut with a beard trimmer, be aware that your hair will get stuck in the device more often than not, especially if you have long hair. The experience will not be a smooth ride at all! If anything, it will be a tedious task.
- The trimmer will require repeated cleaning.
You should be prepared to remove hairs from the blades repeatedly because they will wind around the motor. You will also have to clean the blades at several intervals and probably oil and re-oil the blades.
- Beard trimmers can give a bad haircut.
Perhaps the worst thing about using beard trimmers for your scalp hair is that one false move or mistake can mess your hair up badly. For example, an unexpected sneeze or a slightly off movement of your hand, and the razor-sharp blades will chop off a chunk of precious hair! You may end up having to seek an expert barber’s help or change your entire looks until you can grow back your hair.
Using a Hair Trimmer for Beards
If you think beard trimmers are unsuitable for cutting hair, just wait until you use hair trimmers on your beard for a long period (although, I would recommend anyone to do that!). If you are like most men, a hair trimmer used on your beard will cause some nasty and unsightly bumps around your beard area. Worse still, the skin on your chin, neck, and jaw can become irritated quickly because the blade of a hair trimmer would be harsh on the thin skin on your face.
With all these disadvantages, interchanging trimmers may not look quite that appealing now, does it? However, does that mean you are stuck with no other option than buying two (or more) sets of trimmers? Is there no alternative that can incorporate convenience and functionality with a decent price range? Fortunately, there is!
Multigroom Trimmers for Beard and Hair
A multigroom trimmer can cut beards, scalp hair, and hairs on other parts of the body. With these multi-function electric trimmers, you don’t have to worry about packing two or more hair-removal tools when traveling, or getting clumsy with different trimmers when grooming face, hair, and other parts. That is convenient grooming at its best!
There are several great choices available to pick from, but, if you need a multigroom trimmer that has stood the test of time, consider buying from two of the most trusted brands: Philips and Wahl.
I will recommend this Philips trimmer because of its amazing features and high quality. It comes with a rechargeable battery that can run up to five hours and self-sharpening blades that don’t require oil and can last up to five years—talk about durability! This multi-groom Wahl battery-powered trimmer is a cheaper option, but can also be used for ear and nose hair removal in addition to cutting hair and trimming one’s beard.
With so many multi-groom options available, there is really to need to use a beard trimmer for hair or vice-versa.
Okay, let’s get back to the earlier question about the difference between facial and scalp hair. We’ll give a quick answer to that before wrapping this up.
Is Beard Hair and Scalp Hair the Same?
If you still think there’s no significant difference between beard and hair trimmers, perhaps a quick explanation of the two types of hair that grow from your neck upward will help you understand why it is not okay to use beard trimmers for hair and vice-versa.
First, the hair on your head (also known as terminal hair) usually grows from birth. Conversely, facial hair develops as a result of the hormone testosterone. Both hairs grow differently on two different skin types: scalp and facial skin.
Scalp skin is not the same as facial skin. Although the skin on your head is thick and can withstand relatively rougher conditions, the skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive. For this reason, a device meant for scalp hair being used on your face can result in nicks and skin irritation.
Nevertheless, what does all this mean and how does it connect to trimmers? In a nutshell, facial and scalp hair requires different kinds of care. Your beard will do well with milder hair products and specific grooming tools, including trimmers.
Conclusion
Although a beard trimmer can give a haircut, it is not built for that purpose. Using a hair trimmer for your beard could work, but it may not give you the smooth trim you want because it is designed for long hair.
And, even though both trimmers may have a few similarities, especially in appearance, you’ve seen that beard trimmers are not the same as hair trimmers. The differences in functionality and purpose are worlds apart!
Head and facial hair are not the same and should not be groomed using the same device. Imagine how you would look if you had scalp hair on your face! That’s not that attractive a look, now, is it? Instead of experimenting with incorrect tools and possibly ruining your looks in the process, wouldn’t it be better simply to stick to the specific trimmers for each hair type? And, if you absolutely need just one electric hair cutter that can do both jobs excellently, consider getting a multigroom trimmer.
