The Best Pubic Hair Trimmer (2024)

Most adults engage in some sort of pubic hair maintenance. According to a 2017 study, about 67% of men and 85% of women in the US remove or trim the hair down there, using any or a combination of methods, including razors, wax, scissors, depilatories, and laser treatments. Unfortunately, all of this hair removal isn’t without risk; 25% of the self-reported pubic hair groomers indicated they had sustained a related injury, with lacerations being the most common, followed by burns and then rashes. Between 2002 and 2010, US emergency rooms reported 12,000 injuries related to pubic hair grooming. The biggest culprit? Laceration by razors.

Trimmers are likely safer than razors, said Dr. Benjamin Breyer, chief of urology at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. “The lacerations and infections that bring people to ER are mostly related to using a razor,” he told us. By reducing or eliminating the risk of serious cuts that can be caused by shaving—and the harm to hair follicles from waxing, which can lead to ingrown hairs and increased risk of infection—pubic hair trimmers offer the potential of being a safer hair-removal method, Erika Collazo-Vargas, an assistant professor of public health at Hawaii Pacific University, agreed. “Hair trimmers tend to just cut the hair itself and do not carry as big a risk to the skin or the hair follicle.” (They’re not, however, 100% nick-proof; more on that in our Use, care, and maintenance section.)

You can’t use a pubic hair trimmer to fully remove hair, as you would waxing or shaving (and for that, we have a guide to body razors). But for someone hoping to shorten hair, it’s the perfect tool.

In an annoying example of squeamish marketing, most pubic hair trimmers are not advertised as such (video). They’re often called “bikini trimmers,” when marketed to women, and “body hair trimmers” or “manscapers” when men are the intended audience. For this guide, we chose to ignore the labeling on the tools and instead selected our contenders based on objective criteria. This led us to also include beard trimmers, which are functionally similar to tools marketed as pubic hair trimmers. We retested a cordless model we recommend, which has a narrow cutting surface that can navigate both facial and pubic hair.

We considered dozens of models, eliminating those that didn’t meet the following criteria. A quality pubic hair trimmer is:

• Water resistant: Because these are tools some people will choose to use while they shower, we wanted to make sure they could indeed get wet. (Water resistance isn’t waterproofing: Don’t expect your trimmer to survive a dunk in the tub.)
• Cordless: Being tied to an outlet limits where you can use a trimmer.
• Rechargeable: We looked for models with rechargeable batteries.
• Flexible with guard settings: Depending on the aesthetic you’re going for, having a few guard settings will give you more hair-length options, so we looked for models that offered a range of choices.
• Easy to maneuver: Since much of pubic hair grooming involves navigating wrinkly, foldy, and extremely delicate flesh, we looked for models with smaller heads, which were generally easier to wield and small enough to move around bends in skin.
• Complete with a warranty and/or replaceable parts: We prioritized models from companies that offered money-back or satisfaction guarantees, or at least the option of parts replacement.

We considered certain accessories (including various attachments, cleaning tools, and a travel case) to be nice but not necessary.

We asked four people (two with penises, two with vulvas, all with different self-identified hair textures) to test four trimmers over the course of 16 weeks. Each panelist used at least two different length settings (using different guards, or going guard-free) on each model, trying them both in and out of the shower. Panel members evaluated efficacy (how well a trimmer cut through hair), maneuverability (how easily a trimmer reached the hairs the panelist intended to groom), noise, safety (or at least the perception of it), and the ease of cleaning away any loose hairs.

The Panasonic Electric Body Hair Trimmer and Groomer for Men ER-GK60-S scored well with all of our panelists, thanks to its perfect blend of power and maneuverability, and it was the favorite trimmer of our two female panelists. It cut through all panelists’ pubic hair in a single pass over each section. And they still felt protected from nicks and cuts, even when using this model without a guard (because of the trimmer’s round-edge blades). In fact, this was the only trimmer that didn’t cause one nick on any panelist over the course of our weeks of testing. However, it comes with far fewer attachments than other trimmers we’ve considered.

This trimmer also stands apart because of its vertical orientation. One tester noted that its unique, V-shaped head resembled that of the alien in Alien. It’s easy enough to maneuver around folds of skin.

Running at about the same volume as the Philips Norelco Multigroom Series 3000 MG3750, the ER-GK60-S would be hard to hear over the sound of a shower running. Fully charged, this model’s battery doesn’t last as long as the Philips Norelco’s (40 minutes for the Panasonic, versus the Philips Norelco’s 60). Still, we found a single charge enough for several weeks’ worth of trimming sessions—even for the most werewolf-like among us. The device is covered by a two-year warranty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

We don’t like the bulkiness of the ER-GK60-S’s charging stand; it lacks a cord, so it just hovers in the outlet for all to see. After three years of use, this trimmer didn't hold a charge for quite as long as it did when brand new, but it still lasted long enough to complete the job.

While trimming pubic hair, go slowly and carefully. Good lighting is a must for this task, and mirrors may be useful for those who are new to the technique. When you are trimming near the delicate skin of the scrotum and labia, especially, it helps to pull the skin taut so that it’s less likely to come in contact with a blade. With any trimmer, even if there’s a safety guard securely in place, “there is still a risk of cutting or irritation,” said James Madison University’s Collazo-Vargas.

If your pubic hair is quite long and you intend to cut it short, start with the longer comb attachment for a first run, and then use the shorter attachment after. To trim most effectively using the comb attachment, move the trimmer against the direction of hair growth. For trimming without the comb attachment, you can cut—carefully—with or against the direction of hair growth. If hairs accumulate in the blades during use, pause between strokes to clean them out, either by rinsing the trimmer under water, pulling hairs out by hand, or using one of the included cleaning tools.

To optimize the working life of your battery, manufacturers recommend that you charge your trimmer only when the battery is low or empty and that you not charge it for longer than 24 hours at a time. Even if a trimmer is waterproof, do not store it in the shower or any other wet place.

If you want an adjustable comb attachment: Compared with our top pick, the ER-GK60S, the Panasonic ER-GK80-S All-Over Body Hair Trimmer has an even more powerful motor, and its battery is said to last 10 additional minutes. Our testers found the ER-GK60S plenty powerful, and its battery life was sufficient for several shaves. The ER-GK80-S offers more cutting lengths than the ER-GK60S, thanks to a dialing function in the head that adjusts it between 3 and 12 mm. The GK80S typically costs around $30 more than our pick. But if you find it on deep discount, it may be a worthwhile buy.

If you want different hair lengths but nothing skin-close: The Wahl Manscaper, like the ER-GK80S, comes with a dialing attachment which lets you select 20 length options. All of those options cut well, but if you choose to forego the guard for a closer trim, the Manscaper tends to nick and cut skin. If you prefer a longer-pubic-hair style, however, this one impressed us, holding a 100-minute run time off a 60-minute charge. It comes with a limited five-year warranty.

If you want a trimmer you can also shape a beard or groom other hair with: Consider the Philips Norelco Multigroom Series 3000 MG3750. Formerly the budget pick in Wirecutter’s guide to beard trimmers, the MG3750 can also be used to trim pubic hair. Our testers found that its sharp steel blades cut through hair easily without needing more than a few repeat passes, and its multiple guard options give you plenty of choices on (and control over) hair length. Without a guard attached, the MG3750 cut our hair nearly down to the skin. In our testing, we had to do a few more passes when trimming with this tool, compared with using the Panasonic ER-GK60-S. The MG3750’s battery lasts for about an hour of total use (around 20 minutes more than our top pick’s lasts). Like our top pick, this model has a two-year warranty. An added bonus: The Multigroom 3000 comes with 13 attachments. The nose-hair trimmer, especially, was a hit with our testers.

Our panelists found that the now-discontinued Manscaped The Lawn Mower 2.0 performed fine but lacked the features that set apart our picks. The Lawn Mower came with two reversible attachments for length customization, but we didn’t like that when one of those attachments was on, the device became extra-bulky. (We chose not to test the 2.0’s replacement, The Lawn Mower 3.0 Plus, since it, too, lacks the features our panelists preferred and warranty coverage.) A wireless charging dock, a travel lock setting, and an LED spotlight set The Lawn Mower 4.0 Pro apart from its predecessors. We’ve found the spotlight helpful, especially when trimming in a poorly lit bathroom. Like earlier Manscaped models, the 4.0 Pro also comes with two length attachments. Overall, though, it’s less bulky than its predecessors. It’s a great tool, but it is pricier than our picks and is covered by a lesser warranty (90 days). Manscaped offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its trimmers.

We chose not to test Meridian’s The Trimmer because it costs more than our top pick, plus it is not eligible for return and lacks warranty coverage.

The Philips Bikini Perfect was the least-effective model of all those we tested—and it was by far the loudest. Our testers found that this trimmer, without the guard on, was prone to pulling hair as it cut through it, causing a few nicks on panelists of both sexes.

We chose not to test the Panasonic Bikini Shaper and Trimmer for Women ES246AC (currently unavailable), which has good customer ratings on Amazon, and the popular Philips Norelco GOSTYLER, because they rely on AA batteries.

The Philips Norelco OneBlade Face + Body Hybrid Electric Trimmer and Shaver QP2630/70 has high ratings on Amazon, and it seems like it would work well for those seeking a closer-to-the-skin pubic hair trimming. But we ruled it out because it doesn’t offer as many length options as the competition, and its blades require replacement about every four months.

We looked at the Wahl Pure Confidence Purple Rechargeable Trimmer, but we dismissed it because of poor customer reviews (in particular, those noting that it required multiple passes to trim hair).

We chose not to test Wahl’s Lithium Ion Stainless Steel Groomer 9818. Given its heft and larger size, we concluded that it would be more difficult to maneuver around genitalia compared with our top pick.

The Wahl Aqua Blade 9899 offers great versatility but less control. Due to the shape of its blades, to get a very close trim you need to push the trimmer up against the skin; this worked fine on our mons pubis but ended up cutting the delicate skin in the folds of our hips and labia.

This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.

1. Matthew D. Truesdale, MD; E. Charles Osterberg, MD; Thomas W. Gaither, BS; et al., Prevalence of Pubic Hair Grooming–Related Injuries and Identification of High-Risk Individuals in the United States, JAMA Dermatology, November 2017

2. Jennifer L. Bercaw-Pratt, MD; Xiomara M. Santos, MD; Judith Sanchez, MD; Leslie Ayensu-Coker, MD; Denise R. Nebgen, MD; Jennifer E. Dietrich, MD, MSc, The Incidence, Attitudes and Practices of the Removal of Pubic Hair as a Body Modification, Journal of Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, February 2012

3. Debby Herbenick, PhD, MPH; Michael Reece, PhD, MPH; Vanessa Schick, PhD; Stephanie A. Sanders, PhD; Brian Dodge, PhD; J. Dennis Fortenberry, MD, MS, Sexual Behavior in the United States: Results from a National Probability Sample of Men and Women Ages 14–94, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, October 2010

4. Scott M. Butler, PhD, MPH; Nicole K. Smith, PhD, MPH; Erika Collazo, MPH; Lucia Caltabiano, BS; Debby Herbenick, PhD, MPH, Pubic Hair Preferences, Reasons for Removal, and Associated Genital Symptoms: Comparisons Between Men and Women, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, November 2014

5. Michael Boroughs, Guy Cafri, and J. Kevin Thompson, Male Body Depilation: Prevalence and Associated Features of Body Hair Removal, Sex Roles, May 2005

6. Maureen O’Connor, The Great Diversification of Pubic Hair, The Cut, November 12, 2018

7. Dr. Benjamin Breyer, chief of urology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, email interview, August 15, 2019

8. Erika Collazo-Vargas, assistant professor of public health at Hawaii Pacific University,, email interview, August 15, 2019