Just because people don't see it very often, it doesn't mean you shouldn't take your body hair grooming seriously. I hadn’t taken “body hair topiary 101”, nor have I spent a particularly long time thinking about this topic, but even my own amateur handiwork can be elevated with one of the most user-friendly body hair trimmers around: the Philips 7000 multigroomer. Thanks to the ingenious double-headed design, it blends a trimmer on one end and a close foil for skin-tight shaving on the other. The result? A versatile, affordable grooming tool that can tackle all your potential hair-related headaches, be that on your head, face, chest or below the belt, with confidence.
Without going into an oral history of the gadget, this particular device has been knocking around since 2018, but is still largely the weighty, ergonomic trimmer you really want to use. The rose gold plastic shell has a brushed aluminium effect and black patterned grips creating a sleek two-tone scheme. In your palm, this cordless device has a balanced weight to it, suggesting durability but also dexterity. But does it justify the price? I've been testing it for two weeks to find out.
Dual heads get more done
On one end there is the compact clipper head with five length settings between 3-11mm. On the other, a micro-perforated foil bordered by two rounded tip blades. What isn’t shaved by the trimmer is hungrily consumed by the hypo-allergenic foil that keeps skin nicks a near impossibility while giving a comfortable, close shave. Also, the four-directional “Contour Following System” boasts soft, suspended movements in every which way. The only thing to say, is the foil head could be slightly smaller to ensure maximum ease. But, that’s certainly not a dealbreaker, it would be just one more step towards total and complete perfection.
Maintenance is important. But even more important is zero maintenance. This shaver just needs a good splash of water, the occasional brush, and unlike other shavers, no oiling. As for the battery, the shaver has a simple and capable single-speed motor so won't require much power. The battery has around eighty minutes of runtime from an hour's charge, which is middling compared to other devices but plenty of time to get the job done.
Its first outing was in the shower, so the 100 per cent waterproof case immediately ameliorated any fears of breakage. While the grip was excellent in wet conditions, and the trimmer getting a pretty even trim, the stuck wet hairs suggested that I should be shaving in the dry. The waterproofing was excellent for ease of cleaning, though.
In the dry, the slender shape easily weaved between my downstairs mix-up and the foil shaver was brilliant when roving around the more sun-deprived parts. Only a few times did my heart skip when it pulled at the skin, but I can safely put this down to my inexperience with the product.
Philips 7000 verdict
For those keen to get involved in trimming and tidying around the body, the Philips 7000 is a welcoming entry point to the uninitiated and nervous as well as the more adept groomers looking for an affordable body groomer. The dual-head design complete with ergonomic handle and decent motor means you won't find too many hairy areas this trimmer can't handle, and the simple clean-up process is a big win in my eyes.
Given it's a lower cost when compared to some other alternatives, you'd be forgiven for being a tad wary about wafting around your nether regions, but the skin-safe blades are kind to sensitive skin and I didn't have any mishaps during testing. Philips backs it, the people back it, and now, British GQ backs it.
The Philips Series 7000 is available from £90. At amazon.co.uk, boots.com, johnlewis.com philips.co.uk.
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