Male Grooming on a Budget

Image showing face cream, a razor, a brush and wash cloth on a table

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Manscaping

By Nathan Walters

published 27 June 2023

in Buying Guides

Quick Tips

Invest in quality over quantity. This may sound counterintuitive when you’re trying to save money. But buying fewer but higher quality grooming products is often more cost-effective in the long run.

Gift sets: who says gifts can’t be for yourself? During holidays and seasons, stores often advertise deals for masculine gift sets at a lower price than usual. Consider buying some and stocking up for as long as possible, provided you have the space. For example, at Boots, you can get a ‘Nivea For Men’ gift set, which includes face wash, moisturiser, shaving balm and shave gel for just £10 saving up to £17 when sold separately.

The Philips Series 1000 electric shaver is reliable and affordable for those seeking an efficient and smooth shave. It has self-sharpening blades and a four-directional head to ensure a close and clean shave over facial contours. When cordless, it has a shaving time of around 45 mins on an 8-hour charge, and the need for a quick-charge option may be a downside for people in a hurry. It’s also easy to clean under the tap. The Series 1000 is a solid choice for a budget-friendly electric shave.

The Remington Barber Beard Trimmer is a cost-effective grooming tool. Equipped with ceramic-coated blades and nine pre-set lengths, it offers precision and flexibility for various beard styles. Its stand-out feature is the “Lube for Life” system, meaning the blades never need oiling for a maintenance-free experience. However, while the battery life is similar to competitors, the charge time is much longer, and the Barba cannot be used for wet shaving. Despite this, the Barba Beard Trimmer is a practical and budget-friendly choice for beard owners.

Priced at around £20, the BaByliss 7107U is an excellent choice for a very affordable yet effective beard trimmer. Precision control offers five different cut lengths from 3mm to 15mm. The blades are detachable for easy cleaning but must be replaced when they eventually go dull. The shaver also uses regular disposable batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable one, so the overall cost over time may be more than its slightly more expensive counterpart. But for its low price point, it is an excellent choice for those on a strict budget.

This trimmer stands out with its 20-length settings allowing for a customised and precise trimming experience at a budget-friendly price point. It also has lifetime sharp blades, which ensure long-lasting, uniform performance. The cordless version is also great, with 50 minutes of running time on a 10hr charge with a 5-minute quick charge option for a fast morning trim. With its washable, hassle-free head and comb, the Braun BT3322 is an excellent choice for detailed or fast trims on a budget.

The Wahl Chromium 11-in-1 is a versatile, budget-friendly option for anyone seeking a multi-functioning grooming tool. With eleven different attachments, including a nose trimmer and detailer, it caters to a wide range of grooming needs. The self-sharpening blades ensure long-lasting results but do need occasional oiling. The head is also detachable for easy cleaning. A great all-rounder offering value and versatility at a very reasonable price.

Gillette Mach 3 blades have a long-standing reputation for quality and reliability in the shaving industry. These blades offer a close shave with a design that allows for fewer strokes resulting in less skin irritation. They also come equipped with a lubrication strip, reducing the risk of nicks & cuts. While pricier than many alternatives, the consistent performance and quality of Gillette Mach 3 blades justify the cost. Overall, Gillette is a solid choice.

Wilkinson Sword Quattro Essential 4 blades deliver a high-quality shaving experience but have a more expensive price point than many competitors, with 4-blade subscriptions costing almost £12. They feature four precision blades on each cartridge, ensuring a close and comfortable one with fewer strokes. An added lubrication strip helps to prevent nicks & cuts, and the blades are very durable, maintaining sharpness over multiple uses. While cheaper alternatives are on the market, Wilkinson Swords's long history of reliability, starting as a sword company, speaks for itself.

A new company compared to its more famous competitors. Grüum razors deliver an impressive shave at an affordable price, with six blades delivered to your door that promise a close and even shave for only £9. The blades are sharp and durable, with a lubricant strip that minimises irritation and lessens nicks & cuts. Grüum’s subscription service is also the easiest to use out of this list. While they may not have the market tenure of more established brands, the performance and convenience of Grüum razor blades make them a noteworthy competitor.

Dollar shave club requires you to fill in a questionnaire about your shaving needs and will automatically add recommended face washes and gels to the plan, but they can all be removed. Dollar Shave Club razor blades offer a smooth and close shave with a lubricating strip that reduces irritation, nicks and cuts. The edges remain sharp for a considerable time for a consistent shave. Although they are not the cheapest option, the long-lasting blades are good value for regular shavers.

While the most expensive options aren’t always the best, cheaper chemical-based options may be harsh on the skin. These face washes are not only affordable but effective and readily available. There are also companies out there that create ‘copycat’ versions of popular brands without the premium price tag, websites such as skinskoolbeauty have handy tools that allow you to compare cheaper brands with similar ingredients to more affordable items. But always consider your skin type and needs when choosing a face wash. Your skin will thank you.

Bulldog is a famous brand known for its cruelty-free and vegan products. Their Original face wash is a standout competitor thanks to its gentle but effective cleaning. It’s a non-drying solution suitable for all skin types, with aloe vera, camelina oil and green tea. From personal experience, I have also found that a little goes a long way. This particular face wash is reasonably priced at £5 for a 150ml tube.

Manscaping is a reasonably new addition to the male grooming routine, and using a razor near the more intimate regions of the body can feel like cutting wires on an explosive in an action film; one small mistake and the results may be disastrous. Thankfully, there have been several developments in manscaping technology that makes intimate razor nicks a thing of the past. Manscaping groomers tend to be slightly more expensive than regular razors and trimmers, but the price is generally worth keeping your crown jewels intact; they also save money in the long term.

The Braun Body Groomer 5 is a versatile and well-designed grooming tool that is a valuable addition to a personal care regimen. It has a variety of attachments for precise body hair trimming and is fully waterproof for hair care in the shower or accidental drops. However, its SkinShield technology is the stand-out feature, which allows for precise trimming without the nicks & cuts. At £60, it's more expensive than a conventional razor initially, but with the need for two razors (one for the face, one for the body), you’ll save money in the longer term.

The Lawn Mower 3.0 is the most expensive on this list but worth the money. Manscaped have a 4.0 version, but for the sake of budget, the 3.0 is just as good where it counts. With its patented SkinSafe technology, the Lawn Mower 3.0 gives a safe, close trim on the most challenging areas. It even has an LED light so you can more clearly see what you’re aiming at down there. The Lawn Mower 3.0 is also fully waterproof for use in the shower and uses changeable ceramic blades that last around three months for those who trim regularly. It also comes with a convenient charging dock.

The Series 3000 is an excellent body groomer for those with a smaller manscaping budget. Its patented rounded-tip head design and hypo-allergenic foil result in a close trim without the nicks. The Series 3000 also has a bi-directional trimmer, making cutting longer hairs easier. However, you get what you pay for; the combs are fiddly, and the motor is relatively loud. But for only £40, you get a great value, safe shave.

The Ballber is an excellent option for those who want a long battery time twice as long as most competitors but for a reasonable price. The Ballber also has a dual-edge design making it easy to shave in either direction for a more straightforward trim, and its Nut-Safe technology ensures no harm to your goods. Combined with its waterproof build and ultra-quiet motor, The Happy Nuts Ballber is a strong contender for all your manscaping needs.

Not interested in taking a trimmer to your area? No problem. I’m adding Bare Nuts hair removal cream as an honourable mention. Bare Nuts is a hair removal cream designed for intimate male places that can be applied by hand, so you don’t need to contort yourself for those hard-to-get parts. Rich in glycerol, it moisturises and removes hair without requiring a razor with a balanced composition to minimise skin irritation. For £12.99, it’s a reasonable alternative to electric or conventional razors.

I started at MyVoucherCodes as a Deal Expert, sourcing top deals and discount codes. I combined these skills with my passion for writing to become an Editor, helping readers save money. As a former student and homeowner, I understand the need to budget and provide shopping tips, especially for vegetarian and vegan diets. I've also written for publications like The Sun, My Weekly, iPaper and Pick Me Up!

I play video games, write reviews for GameReport in my spare time, and love trying out the latest tech gadgets. I also enjoy DIY projects, having worked in a tool store and renovated my home on a budget.