The Philips Series 5000 NT5650 (£17.99 at John Lewis) is the best nose hair trimmer for most men, because it does nose, ears and eyebrows and is fully waterproof. If you only care about your nose, the cheaper Panasonic ER-GN30 does that one job well.
We haven't lab-tested these trimmers. The picks come from manufacturer specs, blade design, retailer reviews taken as a whole and UK prices checked on 28 September 2026. Some links go to Amazon UK, and TheBarberBoard may earn a small commission if you buy through them. That doesn't change the price you pay or which trimmers we list.
A nose hair trimmer is one of the cheapest grooming tools worth owning, and a good one costs less than £20.
Nose hair trimmers compared
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Trimmer | Price | Power | Eyebrow comb | Blade type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips NT5650 | £17.99 at John Lewis | 1 x AA, included | Yes, plus detail trimmer | Protected rotating blade |
| Panasonic ER-GN30 | Budget | 1 x AA | No | Dual-edge rotary |
| Remington NE3850 | Mid-price | Battery | Yes, plus vertical trimmer | Rotary |
| Braun EN10 | Check current price | Battery | No | Rotary |
Prices checked 28 September 2026. Prices on these small items move often and some listings are third-party sellers, so check the price and the seller before you buy.
Verdict
Get the Philips NT5650 if you want one tool for nose, ears and eyebrows. Get the Panasonic ER-GN30 if you just want nose hair gone for as little as possible. The Remington NE3850 sits between them on price and adds eyebrow combs.
Our picks
Philips Nose Trimmer Series 5000 (NT5650/16) £17.99
1 x AA battery (included), fully washable and waterproof. Comes with eyebrow combs and a detail trimmer. £17.99 at John Lewis.
The blade sits behind a protective guard, so it can't touch the inside of your nose. With the 3mm and 5mm eyebrow combs and the detail trimmer, it covers nose, ears and brows. You can rinse the whole thing under the tap. The cheaper Series 3000 (NT3650) also comes with two eyebrow combs.
Pros: nose, ears and brows in one, waterproof, battery included
Cons: runs on AA batteries, not rechargeable
Check price on Amazon UKPanasonic ER-GN30 Budget
1 x AA battery, waterproof, wet or dry, vortex rinse.
The ER-GN30 has been on sale for years and does one job well. Its dual-edge blade cuts in both directions as it spins, so you need fewer passes, and the rinse design flushes clippings out under the tap. There are no eyebrow combs.
Pros: very cheap, waterproof, simple
Cons: no eyebrow or ear attachments
Check price on Amazon UKRemington NE3850 Mid-price
Rotary nose head and a vertical trimmer, eyebrow combs, showerproof.
The vertical trimmer with combs handles eyebrows and the edge of the ears, which the Panasonic can't. It usually costs less than the Philips, though it's showerproof rather than fully waterproof. We picked it over the dearer NE3870 because it covers the same jobs.
Pros: eyebrow combs, two heads, low price
Cons: showerproof only
Check price on Amazon UKBraun EN10 Similar to the Philips
Battery powered, fully washable. Braun also sells a newer, pocket-size EN21.
The EN10 is a compact, simple ear and nose trimmer. It has no eyebrow comb, so for about the same money as the Philips you get fewer jobs out of it. Buy it if you prefer Braun or want the smallest trimmer here.
Pros: compact, washable
Cons: no attachments, fewer jobs than the Philips
Check price on Amazon UKDo nose hair trimmers hurt?
A good one shouldn't, as long as you don't push it deep into the nostril; the usual cause of pain is pulling, when the blade can't cut a hair cleanly and grabs and tugs it instead.
Pulling usually comes from a blunt blade, a weak battery that slows the motor, or hairs longer than the opening in the guard. A dual-edge rotary blade like the Panasonic's cuts on both sides of each turn, so each hair gets two chances to be cut cleanly. Whichever trimmer you have, try a fresh battery first.
Is it bad to trim nose hair?
No: trimming the visible hairs at the entrance to the nostril with a guarded trimmer is safe, as long as you leave the deeper hair alone, because nose hair filters dust and germs.
If a nostril is sore, swollen or bleeding, stop and let it heal. See a pharmacist or GP if it doesn't settle.
Is it bad to pluck nose hairs?
Yes, don't pluck them: pulling nose hairs out can lead to infection in the follicle, so trim them instead.
How do you use a nose hair trimmer?
Blow your nose first, insert only the tip a few millimetres, and move it in small circles without pushing against the inside of the nose.
You're trimming the visible hairs, not clearing the whole nostril. Don't use a beard trimmer instead: its blades are exposed and too wide for a nostril.
How often should you trim nose hair?
Every week or two for most men. It's quick enough to do as part of a weekly beard or neckline tidy.
How do you clean a nose hair trimmer?
Rinse the head under the tap after each use if the trimmer is washable, as the Philips, Panasonic and Braun are; otherwise brush the clippings out.
Don't share it, either. A nose trimmer passed between people passes germs between them too.
Ears and eyebrows
For ears, trim only the hair on the outer ear and the entrance to the canal, and never push the trimmer inside. For eyebrows, a 3mm or 5mm comb takes down long stray hairs without changing the shape. Leave shaping, like a tidy between the brows, to your barber if you're unsure. Many barbers will do brows as part of a cut if you ask.