There’s a lot of you that needs grooming, from head to toe. Unless you plan on shaving, exfoliating, and cutting your fingernails with the same Bowie knife, you need more than a few tools to get the job done. So we went ahead and came up with a semi-comprehensive list: 17 grooming tools we think every guy should have on hand. You may not need every single one—you don't need a razor if you haven't shaved since the Obama administration—but most of these grooming tools are essential.
Here they are, in no particular order.
Electric Shaver
Even if you're usually a razor guy, you should think about picking up an electric shaver for a few reasons: First, they’re a terrific way to look fresh-faced for a day or two, without ever experiencing razor burn, ingrowns, and other irritations. Second, you can shave quickly and in pretty much any setting: the shower, the gym, the airport lounge, or even a dry cleanup at home before rushing out the door. Even if you’re dedicated to a razor or a beard trimmer, an electric shaver will come in handy enough times that it justifies the investment.
The Best Electric Shaver
Braun Series 7 electric shaver
Beard Trimmer
If you've got a beard, you need a beard trimmer. Look for one with interchangeable heads and attachments: you want customizability with your trimmer, so that you can grow and shape your whiskers exactly as you choose.
The Best Beard Trimmer
Philips Norelco all-in-one groomer
Hair Clipper
Get yourself a dedicated hair clipper, independent of a beard trimmer. They’re designed to cut tougher, given your head haid has much more volume than your facial hair. Unless you demand a $200 barbershop-caliber clipper, you can get a low-cost cutter for any DIY buzzes and cleanups.
The Best Hair Clipper
Wahl hair cutting kit
A Razor
The best razor to you may not be the best to everyone else. A safety blade (single or double sided) can offer a closer shave for sensitive skin types or ingrown-prone shavers, while a cartridge is the tried-and-true way we all learned to shave, be it 2-bladed or 6 (!). Even if you aren’t a frequent shaver, having a razor ready for the if and when is going to come in handy, whether it’s for a wedding or a work thing.
The Best Single-Blade Razor
Supply single-edge safety razor
The Best Cartridge Razor
Tweezers
Whether your goal is great brows or simply taming the unibrow (or the occasional mole hair that sprouts up), a tweezer is an essential tool to have for tiny tasks. And as a bonus, it’s one of the best ways to remove a splinter or bee stinger.
The Best Tweezers
REVLON tweezers
A Comb
Sometimes you want tautly tamed hair, other times, swept into one direction but not so gripping. The type of styler you use plays a role, but having a double-sided comb gives you the ability to achieve different types of styles, while also having more functions: Use the fine-tooth side to detangle straight hair or comb thin hair, and the wide-tooth side to detangle curls or tame dry strands.
The Best Comb
BYRD pocket bomb
Blow Dryer
A blow dryer locks in your hair, so that the style you leave the house with is also the one you have at the end of the day. However, it can also significantly fry, fray, and frizz your hair. So, get a blow dryer that is ionic and ceramic: Ionic to dry the hair from the inside out (while protecting the cuticle’s protective nature), and ceramic to create a type of heat that also protects the hair’s natural hydration levels.
The Best Blow Dryer
Elchim ceramic and ionic blow dryer
Body Groomer
Your standard-fare beard trimmer is designed for the angle at which you trim your face. And if there’s anything true about trimming your back, pits, chest, and the rest of ya, it’s that angles are the issue. Get a body groomer that changes the way the blades rest against your body, and fit into crevices as needed.
The Best Body Groomer
Panasonic GK80 body groomer
Callus Grinder
Calluses are ultimately preventable with proper cushioning, buffing, and moisturizing, but let’s be honest: Most of us end up with calluses on our heels—if not elsewhere around the foot, too. The easiest way to wear it down fast is a callus grinder. Be careful not to overdo it!
The Best Callus Grinder
Care Me callus grinder
Nail Clippers
Between your fingers and toes (both big and small), you’ve got lots of potential for grime, jam, and dirt to crawl up under there. You want a set of two nail clippers to handle everything correctly, with a file on hand to smooth it down.
The Best Nail Clipper Set
FIXBODY nail clipper set (finger, toe, file, grime remover)
Mustache Scissors
Of all the beard grooming products, facial hair scissors are underrated. They clean up the mustache as it starts to dangle over the lips, and they offer easy detailing for sideburns, strays, and even eyebrows.
See also: How to grow a mustache
The Best Mustache Scissors
Tweezerman facial hair scissors
Scalp Scrubber
The grooming world is waking up to the value of scalp care—that’s where your hair grows, after all. Using a scalp exfoliator twice weekly stimulates circulation and boosts blood flow and nutrient delivery to the follicles. It also helps the scalp itself by lifting away dead cells and preventing flaking.
The Best Scalp Scrubber
Jupiter scalp scrubbing brush
Electric Toothbrush
You gotta brush twice a day, and for more than 15 seconds each time. You gotta swap out your brush (or brush head) every three months. It’s hard to honor these intervals. So, get an electric toothbrush with a timer, and one that has an automatic head replenishment program. You’ll be able to brush for the proper amount of time every time, and you’ll never use a brush past its peak performance window.
The Best Electric Toothbrush
Colgate Hum Rechargeable Toothbrush (replacement head subscription available)
Beard Brush
When you grow a long beard, you need a brush more than ever. It’ll help detangle the whiskers, but more importantly, it also distributes the natural oils from your face to the end of each strand—as well as any oils you apply to it.
The Best Beard Brush
Zeus boar bristle beard brush
Facial Hair Comb
A beard or mustache comb will distribute oils (both natural and applied) throughout your bristly hairs, and help style beards of all lengths.
The Best Facial Hair Comb
Cremo beard comb
Shave Brush
A shave brush can save your face: It lifts the hairs up to an easier, cleaner angle for shaving, thus preventing ingrowns or missed whiskers. Plus, you’ll feel nice and old school as you do it.
The Best Shave Brush
Perfecto badger hair brush
LED Skincare Device
Here’s the unlikeliest addition to this list. A blue- and red-light LED device can kill the bacteria that cause acne, and increase collagen production in skin (making it one of the best devices against acne and aging alike). Use it twice a week, for 10 minutes, on freshly cleansed skin.
The Best LED Device
DemarkQ POP handheld LED device
Read More
Everything You Need to Know to Start a Skin-Care Routine
GQ grooming columnist Phillip Picardi breaks down how every guy can—and should!—create a regimen of creams and serums for himself.
By Phillip Picardi