Anything that relates to body hair isn't an area of your beauty routine in which to take a punt on a subpar product. This includes finding the best bikini trimmers, which will make light work of their job, get great results and, crucially, won't result in any uncomfortable irritation.
Though it can feel like a high-stakes endeavour, it is worth making the effort to find a great tool, as there are so many good things about using a bikini trimmer. Even the best razors for women can leave this more sensitive area feeling uncomfortable. Trimmers are easy to operate, effective and, when used properly, comfortable. “[They] are good for the bikini area because there is less risk of irritation,” confirms board-certified dermatologist Dr Debra Jaliman MD. “They're also less painful to use than both waxing and epilating and can help prevent razor burn.”
While even the best bikini trimmers tend to neaten up a hairy bikini line, rather than completely eradicate hair, their convenience factor offsets this. Hair removal specialist Rosie Khandwala agrees: "The advantage of bikini trimmers is they can be adjusted to the length of the hair desired to keep the area tidy," she says. From clean-shaving clippers to sensitive skin-friendly options, this is our all-time best bikini trimmer hotlist.
The best bikini trimmers, reviewed by our beauty experts
Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
RRP: £27.99 | Shower Safe | Battery operated
Fantastic for beginners, this cordless design means you won't have to worry about reaching those hard-to-get areas. Thanks to its curved neck, bikini trimming head and mini shaving head attachments, we found trimming completely comfortable from start to finish. We were able to trim hair down with the metal trimming blades before using the shaving head to tame hairs anywhere.
It may be the best for newbies, but it isn't the fastest device; it took a few passes to completely clear an area, so don't expect a clean and quick trim in one go. It can be used wet or dry on the bikini, armpit and leg areas, but it's battery-operated, so make sure you have a spare set of these around. These are minor gripes, though – all in all, this is an excellent tool at a great price and would make a great starter kit for bikini-trimming newbies.
Reasons to buy: It's a great all-rounder
Reasons to avoid: Takes several passes
RRP: £30 | Shower safe | USB chargeable
This is a great all-rounder for removing hair from the whole body but, thanks to being so lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, it's particularly suited to the bikini line. The device is topped with a metal shaving head plus two trimming edges that can cater to different parts of the body. It also comes with trimmer and shaver heads, a USB charging cable and a travel pouch.
Although it doesn't feel like the sturdiest piece of kit, we loved how light this device was when testing, as well as the fact that it can be used in the shower. Using it was pain-free and we didn't experience any irritation, plus we were able to trim first and then shave our bikini area without any tugging. It removed even the finest of hairs although, like most electric shavers, we couldn't get a completely clean shave with this. However, the biggest draw of this device is its 100 minutes of use with each charge, which is plenty to remove any unwanted body hair and then some.
Reasons to buy: Great battery life
Reasons to avoid: Not the best for a clean shave
RRP: £299.99 | Shower safe | Chargeable
If you're looking for a device that does a bit of everything – bikini trimming, shaving, epilation, skin exfoliation and massage – this luxe model from Braun is a great option. It has four heads, each of which can also be customised. Starting with the shaver and trimmer, the sleek silver shaver ran smoothly over our bikini line with zero snagging and, thanks to its larger surface area, provided a closer trim than any other device we tried. You can also click on a comb to increase this to a 3mm length if you prefer.
The epilation heads have a flexible neck ideal for the bikini area's contours. The tool can also be customised with a massage roller to make it comfier, a facial cap to precisely grab onto any straggly chin hairs and a skin contact cap for faster work. There's no sense in claiming that the epilation was pain-free – ripping hairs from the root is always a bit painful – but this device's efficiency made it as smooth an experience as possible.
Reasons to buy: Does-it all, luxury design
Reasons to avoid: High price point
RRP: £11 | Shower safe | Manual
This is more like a traditional razor than bikini trimming tool, but if you find yourself riddled with ingrown hairs and irritation after shaving your bikini area, this sensitive skin-safe razor could be the answer, thanks to the irritation defence bar and blades that offer a smooth shave without any nicks or bumps. Aside from its protective benefits, we were pleasantly surprised by its shaving capabilities; it was great at shaving tough-to-reach spots in intimate areas without irritating or pulling at the hair.
However, this razor isn’t for everyone. It has a small blade count, so may not provide a super close shave if that's what you want – and if you're on the lookout for something electric that doesn't need replacement heads or refills, you'll obviously need to look elsewhere. But since sensitive skin-safe bikini trimmers are hard to find, this razor made top marks in our books, particularly in keeping dreaded razor burn at bay.
Reasons to buy: Gets into tough spots
Reasons to avoid: Shave isn't super close
RRP: £16.50 | Shower safe | Battery operated
Looking for a product that marries a traditional razor and a bikini trimmer? You're in luck, as this dual-sided product pairs a moisture-strip five-blade razor with a battery-powered bikini trimmer to make clean-up super easy and stubble a thing of the past. Fans of a time-saving two-in-one tool (guilty) won't have to worry about irritation rearing its ugly head whenever they reach for this trimmer, as that nifty built-in hyaluronic acid moisture strip did its job hydrating as we went along.
The waterproof bikini trimmer is another treat: It offers four different length options for trimming, so you can keep the hair down there as neat and tidy as you like. If you want to get all of your shaving done in one shot, minimise your shower clutter and give yourself extra peace of mind during shaving, this razor-bikini trimmer duo will make your upkeep much more straightforward.
Reasons to buy: Multi-tasking design
Reasons to avoid: Button has to be pressed while shaving
RRP: £60 | Shower safe | Rechargeable
If you're looking for a comfortable and gentle bikini trimmer and shaver, the Philips Lady Shaver Series 6000 is an excellent option. Its rounded trimmer tips and skin stretcher cap provide a gentle shaving experience that doesn't result in any scratches or cuts. We found the shaver easy to use and comfortable to hold, making it easy to reach all areas of the body. The floating foil maintains close contact with the skin for a smooth shave, and it's versatile for both wet and dry use.
This tool also comes with a soft glide cap and exfoliation glove for added convenience. The only downside is its battery life, which provides up to 40 minutes of cordless use and takes a while to charge. But overall, we were impressed by this easy-to-use option that provides a comfortable shave, making it suitable for sensitive areas.
Reasons to buy: Comfortable shave
Reasons to avoid: Limited battery life
How we tested the best bikini trimmers
A selection of bikini trimmers we tested for this guide
We tested dozens of options to find the best bikini trimmer for women, using them both wet and dry on various lengths of regrowth. As well as noting factors like price and the overall design, as well as how easy we found each device to use, we also paid attention to the special features Dr Jaliman advises looking out for, which are as follows.
- Waterproof design: If you shave in the shower, this is a must.
- Cordless functionality: Reaching awkward angles is eminently easier without leads.
- Lightweight design: To save yourself from achy arms and wrists.
- Customisable use: Many of the best bikini trimmers also work on other areas.
- Different comb lengths: To tackle various lengths of hair and regrowth.
The tools that made our edit ticked many, if not all, of these boxes and offered a comfortable and convenient trimming experience. Devices with safety features scored highly and those that included options for other hair removal methods, such as epilation heads and razors, got bonus points.
How to choose the best bikini line hair remover
This really comes down to personal preference, with each of the common methods of pubic hair removal – trimming, shaving, waxing and laser – having their own merits. While using a bikini trimmer is quick, easy and pain-free, the end result is more of a tidy-up over full hair removal.
"Trimmers are great for shaping the hair you do have, whereas shaving or waxing is more useful to remove hair altogether," Aimee Piper, senior skin therapist at Vie Derma, told us. "If you are looking for a smooth, clean result, the use of a trimmer might not be the way to go as you do not get as much of a clean finish compared to shaving or waxing."
Using a bikini trimmer or razor also won't yield as long-lasting results as waxing or the even longer-lasting results of laser. "With trimming, shaving (and sometimes even waxing) you are still likely to see stubble and regrowth after a few days, which is why laser hair removal is a really great option if you are looking to get rid of unwanted hair for good," Piper continued.
How to trim your bikini line safely
- Exfoliate first: It’s a good idea to start some skin smoothing a couple of days before trimming the area. You could use a traditional scrub or even body lotion with skincare acids. Why? Number one, exfoliating removes excess oil, dirt, and dead skin cells. And number two, it can also lift the hairs so they’re not lying flat to help achieve a smoother shave. Word of warning: don’t exfoliate on the same day as trimming as this can cause irritation.
- Never dry shave: If you use a bikini trimmer or razor on dry skin, there’s no slip and slide which can result in razor burn, nicks, and cuts as well as a stinging sensation. Shaving gels and creams are designed to prep your skin for a seamless shave without any irritation.
- Work in one direction: Do not, we repeat, do not trim the hairs in all directions. If you do, there’s a high chance you will irritate the skin, cause razor bumps and even increase the chance of ingrown hairs. Instead, trim the hairs in the same direction that the hair grows.
- Moisturize after: After you're finished trimming, be sure to apply a generous layer of your favorite body moisturizer. This will not only soften the skin but will reduce the chances of ingrown hairs.
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