Do the best nail clippers for men deserve pride of place on your bathroom counter? Nah. You’re going to stash them somewhere out of sight. Because unlike, say, shaving or moisturizing, clipping your nails feels more like a chore than a rewarding act of self care. Most of us tackle the task with whatever nail clippers we grabbed in the checkout line of the drugstore. If those cheap clippers are losing their bite, then it’s time for an upgrade. Or preferably two: we strongly believe everyone should have a dedicated clipper for fingers, and a separate one for toes. (If you’re prone to all-too-common ingrown toenails, then look for toenail clippers with a straight-across blade—cutting your toenails with small, curved jaw makes it all but impossible to get the right nail shape.)
We snipped our way through dozens of devices (and 10 times as many nails) to bring you our favorite clippers. Our testing revealed one undeniable fact: the best nail clippers come from Japan and Germany. Apparently just like their kitchen knives, the two countries excel at sharp edges. For full-on manicure sets, Japanese-made tools with a cult-following, and just-the-basics nail necessities, read on.
The Best Nail Clippers, According to GQ
To start trimming those nails as quickly as possible, check out our grooming gurus’ top choices:
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The Best Nail Clippers for Men, Overall: Tweezerman Clipper Set
Tweezerman isn’t just known for its tweezers: The brand makes a full suite of manicure tools, and its stainless steel nail clippers top this list for their high-quality design and low cost. This pair includes a curved edge for fingernails, plus a larger straight edge for toes. We love that the top and bottom blade are made from a single piece of stainless steel, cut to precision. While there are certainly more innovative designs and powerful tools out there, these are the best of the best at the baseline task of cutting your nails and never rusting. Pro Tip: Instead of rinsing them with water, use an alcohol wipe between uses.
The Sharpest Clipper: KIYA Black Carbon Steel Fingernail Clipper
As soon as we tested KIYA’s black-carbon steel nail clippers, we understood the difference between a great nail clipper and a cheap alternative: A great one (like these Japanese nail scissors) works like a straight razor during a shave. It cuts smoother, cleaner lines with more precision than the duller competitors—which, up until now, you had never registered as dull in the first place. Turns out we’ve been settling for hack jobs all these years. For just a few bucks more, you can upgrade to the sharp-edged carbon steel shears engineered by bladesmiths from Japan. They even have a built-in sheath to capture most of your nail clippings. Our one complaint: The nail file on the bottom of the lever is just so-so. Still, save yourself from subpar scissors and the ragged results.
The Cult Favorite: Green Bell G-1008 Takumi No Waza Nail Clippers
Nailcare obsessives may be familiar with Seki Edge clippers. These Japanese-made cutters have some diehard devotees, as does Green Bell’s cult-favorite Takumi No Waza clippers. We’ll let you in on a secret—Seki Edge and Green Bell are basically the same brand (Seki Edge for the American market, and Green Bell for the Japanese market.) No matter what you call them, this brand makes ’em sharper than the rest, stronger than the rest, and editorially sexier than the rest, too. These clippers are made from rust-resistant stainless steel and have wide, extra-sharp blades.
The Best Luxury Nail Care and Grooming Set: Zwilling Black-on-Black Grooming Set
German manufacturers like Zwilling are famous for their sharp-edged and long-lasting knives, so perhaps it’s not a surprise that this company also makes some of the best fingernail clippers. The Black on Black set includes five tools—grooming scissors, a clipper, a nail file, slant tweezers, and cuticle tweezers. It’s all contained within a black leather case that snaps closed for travel and storage. The stainless steel tools themselves come in a handsome matte black with a carbon-coating finish for added durability. This may just be the last nail grooming kit you ever buy.
The Best Clippers with a Nail File: Revlon Toenail Clipper With File
You don’t need to spend more than $5 to get good nail clippers. And while these drugstore cutters don’t have the sharpest possible blades, they make up for it with a built-in nail file. Unlike the competition, the fold-away metal nail file actually works well. Technically, these are designed for toenails, but the larger size makes them a good tool for men with bigger hands, too. You can also buy a nearly identical version of these clippers for your fingernails (they’re slightly smaller but otherwise the same).
The Best Anti-Splash Nail Clippers: Mr. Green Large Nail Clippers
Germany-based Mr. Green has become a popular brand on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why. The blades are sharp and coated to prevent rusting or dulling. These nail snippers look kind of like staplers, but that’s because they’re designed to prevent splash, i.e., when your nail clippings go flying across the room in random directions. Guys will also appreciate the larger design, as many cheap nail clippers are made for daintier digits.
The Best Cuticle Clipper: Premax Cuticle Clipper
Here’s a bonus pick for your cuticles (and for preventing hangnails). Every time you cut your nails, you should also be tending to your cuticles. While many clippers come with a built-in cuticle pusher, they still strand you without a dedicated, angled clip for the cuticle itself. That’s why this standalone cuticle snipper is a must-have device, thanks to its smaller, angled mouth. It’s so much easier than using tiny scissors, with far fewer (agonizing) accidents along the way.
How To Shop for Nail Clippers
Because nails can be gnarly, the best clippers for men (and anyone, really) tend to be made out of durable, lasting material like carbon or stainless steel. They’ve got to have a sharp enough blade to clip down through hard nails, while also resisting rust and deterioration. There isn’t a ton of room for innovation in fingernail and toenail trimming, but some devices do have small upgrades, like gripped handles, unique ergonomic designs, or even a nail-catching case. Finally, we know that not everyone wants to trim their fingernails with the same clippers they use for their toes. Some brands do make clippers designed specifically for each type of nail. Typically, toenail clippers are wider, and they may also be tougher to punch through thick nails.
If you’re shopping for manicure sets, you’ll find a huge range in prices and overall quality. Retailers like Amazon, Sephora, and Target are full of cheap manicure sets, some of which have 15 or more individual tools for nail care. Generally, we think this is overkill, and that it’s worth investing in a higher-quality kit with fewer items. If you’re meticulous about your mani, then all you really need are fingernail clippers, toenail clippers, cuticle snippers, cuticle pushers, and nail files—and some type of carrying case.
