Customer Reviews

Groom Mate Platinum XL Nose & Ear Hair Trimmer

5 star:		(327)
4 star:		(81)
3 star:		(50)
2 star:		(53)
1 star:		(71)

 

 

I was intrigued to try a non-battery operated nose/ear trimmer, and after speaking with the company, I decided to try the Platinum XL (U.S made two-handed model) and the TrimIt (Japanese made one-handed model)both sold by Groom Mate. Let me say that this company is very open to questions and really tried to make me happy with my purchase. I like that, and it is so rare in today's marketplace.
Both of the nose/ear trimmers arrived sealed and brand new. Both were better made than I expected, much better made; the Platinum XL was notably hefty and durable. Another rare find in today's world of cheap throw-away consumables.
I was fully expecting the Japanese made one-handed TrimIt model to wipe the floor with the two-handed XL, but I was wrong. Using two hands to twist and guide the XL made for a faster and closer nose trimming experience. Also, the tactile feel of using two hands made me feel more in control.
When I went to my ears, I feared that having to use two hands to use the XL trimmer would lead to a clumsy experience: That fear was unfounded. The Platinum XL works great on the ears, and I had no fear of nicking either.
The TrimIt works nice, but I often feel that I am just clacking along with no sense of how the job is going. To its credit, it is super comfortable to use on the ears.
It is true that the XL (and the TrimIt) require a little more time than the battery operated ones that I have used (those that actually cut hair), but the extra time spent was negligible. More important, I know I am using a quality machine when I am using either the Platinum XL or the TrimIt.
For the record, I have plenty of experience with battery operated nose/ear trimmers. I have used the Sharper Image battery trimmers and after the 2.0 they literally did not cut worth a darn. The 5.0 twirls the blade so fast that my eyes watered, and that's no joke...and no fun either. Besides, they break far too fast for a product as expensive as they are. The Remington model is decently made but is worthless for cutting nose hair (the side burn attachment is ok but it's not why I bought it!). The two Panasonic models I had recently bought were slower and cut good, but both broke within months of use...I was afraid to buy another! That's what brought me to these non-battery operated nose/ear trimmers.
As I stated earlier, both the XL and the TrimIt are amazingly well made; I fully expect them to last for years of use.
I never expected to be so into a nose/ear trimmer, and 20 years ago I would have laughed at the prospect of even needing one. Now, at 42, it's a weekly reality that I don't need to worry about--will my nose trimmer break, will the new model even cut, etc. Thanks to the Platinum XL, I know I now have a tool that I can rely on to do the job, so I don't have to worry about entering the world with any hints of embarrassment holding me back.
The Platinum XL is easily the best Nose/Ear trimmer I have ever used, and the TrimIt is worth your consideration if it suits your style.
I hope my review has helped you to make a decision on whether to buy a Groom Mate trimmer and the pros and cons of these two top of the line trimmer models.
All the Best, MLC

I can't believe that I'm writing a review on such a mundane device as a nose hair trimmer but here you go...

I felt compelled to share my thoughts on this marvelous, or should I say ingenious, little gizmo because for years I have been battling pesky nostril hairs with everything from scissors to tweezers to a few very poorly made battery or electric nose hair trimmers with varied results. Let's just say that when using any of these devices that I've managed to cut the inside of my nostril, bring tears to my eyes, and even pull nose hairs out by the roots. I even had a friend recommend hot waxing the inside of my nose to eliminate the hairs once and for all! Can you even imagine?

The Platinum XL nose hair trimmer is very solid and made of 100% stainless steel and feels very substantial even though it is only 2.6" in length. It has these very accurate rotating blades at the top of the trimmer that the manufacturer describes as rotating micro-scissors. To activate these blades all you have to do is to simply insert the trimmer partly into your nostril and rotate the bottom of the handle. You control the speed at which you trim your hairs and it is even guaranteed not to pull the hairs out like the battery-operated models all seem to do. I also like the fact that the blades are guaranteed to never dull. I had one of the "brand" name battery operated trimmers and the blades went completely dull after just a few uses and there was no way to replace them so in the trash it went.

This nose hair trimmer is made in the USA, has a lifetime warranty, is extremely easy to clean and is very compact. Also, I have to say that one of my pet peeves about doing business online is paying way too high shipping costs for relatively inexpensive items. This company, Groom Mate, didn't even charge me for shipping and I got my order in just 3 days! Great job. My nose is happy and so am I!

Cheers, John Channer.

A little awkward to hold when using on ears, but once you get used to it, it is great. Really works very well, trims the nostril and ear hair closely and without pain or pulling. I have tried lots of others and this is the best. You will get used to it, recommended above all others.

I should preface my remarks by saying I'm a simply guy who enjoys simple things. This little gadget is one of my favorite finds online. I am completely happy with this little nose/ear hair trimmers and would recommend to anyone.

Pros:
- doesn't have batteries to replace
- no cord to plug in
- super compact (about the size of my pinkie)
- no maintenance required whatsoever
- solid material...with lifetime warranty
- IT WORKS!!!

Cons:
- Have to twist around a little longer than expected at times to catch all hair. But it works!

I highly recommend. It's well worth the price.

This little bloodthirsty monster works absolutely fantastic 99% of the time - spin and trim, gets the stragglers that electric back-and-forth models miss, easy and fast.

Then there's that 1%. It transforms, magically, into an instrument of evil Torquemada would have included in his torture kit. It becomes a little set of pilars, rather than a clipper.

Every so often it grabs a hair. It doesn't gently fondle the hair, and it doesn't caress the hair, and it doesn't bloody brush it: it grips it with the strength of ten frickin' Grinches, plus two, and...

It.

Will.

Not.

Let.

Go.

I sear I can hear it giggling over the sound of my screaming.

I carefully reviewed the reviews about clippers before ordering this one. And I am convinced it is best in class. But it still only works in a fair manner. It takes many turns to pull out all the hairs (and it does pull, although not too painfully, rather than cutting), and does not do very well unless it is attacking a rather big nasty hair, rather than the peach fuzz that is more common in the nasal passage & around the ear. I did have an electric rotary version before this one. It worked even more poorly. So I guess I will be satisfied with this one, for lack of a better alternative.

Insert into nostril a short ways, hold the barrel in one hand, rotate the tip back and forth in the other hand, and Bob's your uncle! You can effortlessly remove annoying nose hairs in seconds without the fuss of unreliable battery powered trimmers. By the way, when was the last time you bought something of value not made overseas? This nifty little gadget is made in the USA!

This trimmer works just about like the reviews indicated... Very well considering it is not motorized. That being said, I didn't find it as easy as one of the reviewers mentioned it would be with two hands. And, to add to my fun, I wear bi-focal glasses and just can't seem to get my head turned up and to the side while both hands are trying to position this thing in my ear. All this is happening while I'm looking at my reflection in the mirror. Kind of funny... I haven't tried the motorized one, but I would imagine if they put a small battery and motor on this thing where a person only had to use one hand, it would be perfect... Don't let this mislead you, it does do the job well when operated by someone who can think back-wards while looking in a mirror with both hands over his head and wearing bi-focal glasses. And, it seems to be built rock solid out of substantial materials. So far (about two months) so good...

I used the Panasonic ER411 for several years before the blades started hitting the top blade enclosure causing a loud clanky noise, so I had to find a new trimmer. I searched amazon.com for reviews of nose hair trimmers, and this product had by far the best and most reviews. I was suspicious that this was not a battery-powered trimmer like the Panasonic one that I loved (but that model was no longer made). But, since I live 55 miles (one way) from the nearest store that sells trimmers, bec. I didn't want to make a special trip JUST for a nose hair trimmer, bec. I REALLY needed to trim my nose hairs, and because this product had a lifetime guarantee, so if I didn't like it, I could send it back and get a full refund, and bec. with 491 reviews at the time of my purchase, with a breakdown as follows:

491 Reviews
5 star: (331)
4 star: (61)
3 star: (29)
2 star: (31)
1 star: (39)

I decided to buy the Groom Mate Platinum XL and try it out for myself. To its credit, it arrived within 3 days of my ordering. I was very excited to test it. The compact and durable/solid/sturdy design is impressive and ingenious.

BUT, I didn't like the Platinum XL nose hair trimmer and am returning it.

1. When I used it, I had painful tugs and yanks of my nose hair, something I didn't have when I used the battery-powered Panasonic ER411. Not all the hairs had painful tugs and yanks, but many more than the Panasonic. My guess is that the speed at which a battery-powered trimmer's blades spin and cut is MUCH FASTER than the speed at which a human using two hands can twist the Platinum XL. The slower speed makes the device tug and yank, causing pain. It's analogous to taking a Band-Aid off your skin: if you pull it off fast/quickly, the pain is over quickly; however, it you pull it off slowly, the pain is more severe. It was very rare for me to have any pain, tugs, or yanks with my Panasonic ER411. I do note that several commenters said their battery-operated trimmer tugged and yanked, but their XL did not. I envy their experience with the XL; it just isn't my experience. I'm wondering if the fact that I always used brand new, fully juiced (not old) batteries when I use my Panasonic trimmer helped me have pain-free and tug/yank-free trimming.

2. The XL does NOT cut the very base of the hair's shaft; it leaves several millimeters of nose hair there, hair that my Panasonic trimmed, almost right down to the skin. When I trim my nose hair, I want it done right and completely. I don't want semi-long hair left in my nose, which makes me have to trim yet again in a week or 2. With my Panasonic, I was able to trim once every 4 weeks, about as often as I cut my head hair.

3. It's slow and time-consuming. With the battery-powered trimmer, trimming my nose hairs took 3 minutes max, and I really pushed it deep into my nostrils to get the hairs hiding in the back. With the XL, it is SO SLOW. It takes forever to just do one nostril, and it does that with more painful tugs and yanks than the Panasonic did.

4. You have to use 2 hands to operate the XL. With my Panasonic, I liked the freedom of one-handed use, so I could use my other hand/fingers to bend or lift my nose in a way to allow the trimmer to better reach and trim areas it couldn't without the bending/lifting.

I'm not a complainer or a perfectionist, and I feel badly writing this review (especially since I'm so outnumbered by folks who wrote positive reviews), but it is the truth as I experienced it. I don't have an alternate/substitute trimmer yet, as again, it's a long drive to the store for me, but I'm gonna have to get a battery-powered one, possibly another Panasonic.

2/20/10 update: Groom Mate has promptly and without hassle refunded my purchase.

4/10/10 update: I have purchased and am VERY HAPPY with the WAHL Ear, Nose, and Brow Wet/Dry Battery Trimmer, Model 41559-300N that I purchased at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $19.99. I have used it once, and although it took a little more time to cut the nose hairs than my trusty Panasonic ER411 did, it cut down to the base of the hair like I wanted/left just a tiny stub behind and did not painfully tug or yank any of my hairs. I have used it only once, but I am very happy with it and highly recommend it. The packaging indicates the product has a generous 30-day money back guarantee and a 3-year limited warranty.

I rely on user reviews when I shop on Amazon and always appreciate the feedback that people leave so I wanted to write a quick note on the Groom Mate Platinum XL Nose Trimmer. I had never owned a nose trimmer before so at first I was only looking through the electric ones that ranged in price from $20-40. That seemed reasonable to me but the reviews were hit and miss with the ones I was interested in. I came across this "manual" Groom Mate that reviewers seemed to love and decided to give it a shot. It's been a few weeks and I must say I am very satisfied. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it doesn't pull any hair and is very easy to manage. I only use it for my nose for now, and it only takes me a few seconds. Highly recommended.