Gift Ideas for Men: Grooming Tools

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or his birthday, here are 20 grooming gift ideas for men that make a polished appearance easy to achieve.

Depending on how well you know the man, personal grooming tools can make thoughtful gifts.

If you live with him, you’ll already know what’s missing on his sink ledge. If not, look for where upkeep could be sharpened—be it the hair of his scalp or face, a shave that falls short of smooth, or nails that let him down.

Or is he making changes to his appearance? Without the right tools, a newly shaved head often brings ingrown hairs. Young men experiment with facial hair, only to shave it off because they lack the one item that would keep it neat.

Just make sure he knows you well enough not to take your gift the wrong way. He shouldn’t feel that you’re hinting at neglect or inadequate personal hygiene. You’ll see what I mean in the course of the following list.

Shavers and Trimmers—The Standard Gift Idea for Men

Looking at other websites, you’d think trimmers were the only grooming tools for men—in other words, you’ve probably seen enough of them already.

Nevertheless, they can’t be left out. And being the most obvious of grooming gift ideas for men, they’re the natural place to start.

So, while we get them out of the way, I’ll give you an expert perspective without vested interest.

1. Electric Shavers

Rotary shavers are for longer, coarser hair—ideal for men who don’t shave regularly. Foil devices are better suited for those who shave daily, preferring a closer, smoother look.

Obviously, both are great for travel or a quick shave on the go.

But dry shaving pulls and stretches the face, which, with time, causes sagging around the jaw and neck. This is particularly true for older men, whose skin doesn’t bounce back as readily as it used to.

The head, however, is another matter.

Men who shave their dome daily with a multi-blade cartridge often show razor bumps. A foil device avoids this while giving the same close feel.

A matching incidental gift—probably more interesting than the shaver itself—would be barber powder. A sprinkle prior to shaving prevents irritations and makes stubble more visible.

Scalp moisturizer is another excellent gift idea for shaved men: Headblade’s Headlube comes in glossy and matte.

2. Beard/Hair Trimmer

Whether he has a full beard, a goatee, a mustache, or sideburns, a beard trimmer keeps it neat and tidy.

And it’s a game changer for men with male pattern baldness. Not finding time to visit a barber, many allow their horseshoe fringe to overgrow; a trimmer makes a DIY crop easy.

The device should have various guard sizes to both shorten and thin. I use mine for my mustache, horseshoe, and brows, that’s how versatile it is.

3. Nose and Ear Hair Trimmer

I had no clue that I had nostril hair until somebody pointed it out when I was 27. I was most put out.

At some point I got over it, but not the fact that tweezing was a most painful procedure.

In other words, it’s a very personal matter, and not all men know about nose and ear hair trimmers.

With barely any difference in price, these come as manual and battery-operated devices, each with a nozzle containing a rotary blade that fits into the nostrils and earholes. They’re 100% safe and take only about 30 seconds to clear offending hair.

Some battery-powered models come with an extra eyebrow attachment. For men who clearly haven’t yet tackled nose hair, you could present it as a brow trimmer, pointing out that the nozzle attachment fits the nostrils and earholes if needed. What could be more discreet?

4. All-in-One Trimmer

Better still, a nose and ear hair trimmer is often included in all-in-one kits. When the man discovers what the nozzle thing is for, he may try it out.

I once had such a kit by Braun that even included a foil shaver attachment, thus meeting all my hair grooming needs.

5. Body Hair Trimmer

Because they’re quite different by design, body hair trimmers are rarely part of all-in-one devices.

They’re safer for sensitive areas, have a stronger motor, special attachments for the chest, back, and groin, and are often waterproof.

Manscaping is favored by athletes and men who prefer neatness without full removal.

If the man you’re intending to gift has a lot of body hair, don’t assume he’ll appreciate a trimmer. Some of us embrace our hairiness in all its glory.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

Wet Shaving Gear

Wet‑shaving gifts often have a traditional, male‑specific character, which makes them especially appealing.

6. Lather Bowl

Apart from working up a lather, a bowl is ideal to keep shaving gear in one place. It can hold a razor, brush, and soap stick. Placed on a sink ledge, it tells the world that this is a man’s bathroom.

Fledgling shavers will love it—especially if you add an Arko shaving stick with its old-school artwork.

7. Razor

Multi-Blade Cartridge Razor

These shave whiskers below skin level, which may cause razor burn and ingrown hairs.

On the other hand, I prefer cartridges for my head, since they’re safer for blind‑shaving than a single‑blade razor.

If you’re buying a complete starter set (handle and cartridges), consider cost. Would a very young man be able to afford the high price of replacement cartridges? There are cheaper drugstore models, but a cheap gift is never a good gesture.

Maybe you should rethink.

Safety Razor

After a long stint with cartridges, I eventually went back to the good old safety razor. It shaves smoothly without irritation, its blades are cheap, and it has a more masculine feel. My all-man father and grandfather both used one.

A lot of men today complain that they’re more prone to cutting than with cartridges. The trick is to lather up with a brush—canned foams and gel won’t work.

By the way, don’t buy him a straight razor unless it’s his specific wish. Few modern men know how to use one, and most don’t want to.

8. Shaving Brush

Lathering up with a brush is the most fun part of shaving. Lifting the whiskers, it allows the blade to cut through them efficiently without damaging the skin.

But good badger brushes are expensive, unless you want one that sheds and loses its shape within a matter of weeks.

A synthetic brush, on the other hand, costs less and can last a lifetime if it’s well-made.

Mine is by Kent. Beautifully packaged, it makes an ideal gift.

9. Shaving Sets

A gift I’ll never forget is the one my father presented me when I first started to shave. Basically, it was as described above: an assortment of razor, brush, and soap arranged in a bowl. A self-assembled gift kit requires thought and is always appreciated.

A shaving mug set is another possibility. This comprises a mug and soap puck. It’s probably more suitable for older men.

10. Fogless Shower Mirror

Even if James Bond has been known to do it, I’d never bathe in a tub full of whiskers, and don’t consider the shower to be more appropriate. But each to his own.

If a man you know shaves in the shower and always has a nick or two, he may need a fogless mirror.

With a suction pad to fix to tiled walls, these are also ideal for travel.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

Beard and Mustache Tools

So, let’s have a look at how gift ideas for bearded and mustachioed men can extend beyond trimming devices.

11. Beard Brush

Whether a beard or a stand-alone mustache, a brush keeps it healthy. It stimulates circulation for stronger growth, distributes sebum for improved condition, and exfoliates the skin beneath to keep follicles clear.

Sisal bristles are available, but boar is better since it helps lay the cuticle flat for a shinier, more luxuriant appearance. This is why it’s the best choice for training new beards and mustaches to stay in place.

Boar bristles are humanely harvested and, according to Talmudic sages, kosher.

12. Beard and/or Mustache Comb

These have several uses.

• They distribute oils, balms, and wax evenly through the whiskers.
• Like brushes, they help train whiskers that won’t lie flat.
• Because a comb slips easily into a trouser pocket, it keeps facial hair tidy throughout the day.

Many beard combs are made of wood and have two sides: one with wider teeth for the thicker beard area, and one with finer teeth for the mustache.

I have a mustache comb by Kent. Made of tortoise-shell-effect plastic, it’s hand-sawn to keep whiskers smooth and damage-free.

In my post How to Trim a Mustache, I demonstrate how a comb can be used as a guide and guard when thinning and shaping.

When trimming a full beard, a good-quality carbon or handsawn hair comb is a better option. You could include one as part of a gift set together with beard balm or mustache wax.

Balm is basically a leave-in conditioner that helps keep whiskers in place.

Wax is perfect for men thinking of growing a handlebar—especially if you want to encourage him.

In the early stages (after about 14 days of growing out the ends), he’ll need a stiff-setting product like Brothers Love. For the more established handlebar, he’ll already have a comb and favored wax.

13. Beard/Mustache Scissors

There are dedicated scissors for beards and mustaches, but standard hairdressing scissors work equally well.

Most bearded and mustachioed men need them to trim above the lip and snip whiskers that won’t lie flat.

If you’re looking at grooming sets that include scissors, those with rounded tips are designed to safely trim nose and ear hair. Beard scissors are straight and pointed.

14. Beard Shaping Tool

If you see a man with scruffy or asymmetrical beard contours, the perfect gift is staring you in the face.

A beard shaping tool is made of durable plastic or acrylic and is designed to act as a stencil for clean cheek, jaw, and necklines. Most are transparent or semi‑opaque so the beard remains visible while shaping. Some models feature comb teeth for fading and thinning.

This saves a trip to the barber every time a trim is needed, making facial hair easier and cheaper to maintain.

15. Precision Trimmer

If you assemble a beard and mustache gift set from the above ideas, you could add a precision trimmer—Wilkinson Sword has one specifically for men.

It can trim beard contours and brows, but I like it for removing awkwardly placed hairs that connect my mustache to my nostrils.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

Nail Care—Less Obvious Men’s Gift Ideas

I think it’s fair to say that nails are a chore for many men. Most clip them, some file them, and a few push back the cuticles.

But metal tools found in men’s manicure sets wreak havoc. So, let’s look at grooming items that keep nails healthy without added effort.

In fact, a combination of all five of the following ideas make an ingenious gift set, and even better if you include a masculine hand cream like Kamill MEN.

16. Nail Clippers

For man-sized fingernails, toenail clippers work best.

All it takes is a snip across the nail and another at each corner to round it off.

17. Glass Nail File

It may not seem the most masculine gift—but wait.

Filing is something most men want over and done with as quickly as possible, which usually means a hasty back‑and‑forth motion. A glass file is the only one that allows this without causing splits.

18. Rubber Cuticle Hoof

I’ve seen men pushing back their cuticles with the rounded end of a metal file or, worse still, their front door key. This, of course, scrapes and weakens the nail plate.

A rubber cuticle hoof does the job just as easily, but without damage.

19. Tweezers

Slanted tweezers are more versatile than the pointed variety.

Apart from tidying up loose or ragged cuticles, its pointed corners can remove splinters.

And, of course, they’re great for plucking stray brows.

20. Callus Remover/Foot File

If you’re gifting toenail clippers, why not include a callus remover for the feet?

I recommend the Credo Smart Cutter. It combines the effectiveness of a planer and the safety of a rasp.

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Men can be notoriously difficult to buy for, but I hope these gift suggestions spark a few ideas—enough to leave you feeling less stumped and more confident in choosing a present that’s both thoughtful and practical.

© 2025 J. Richardson