Panasonic ER430K Nose and Ear Hair Trimmer Review
Product Name | |
Reviewed by | Sue McCarthy |
Review date | |
Summary | Battery operated nose and ear hair trimmer with built in vacuum and safety features to prevent accidental cuts and nicks. Hypoallergenic stainless steel blades to trim hair without irritating the sensitive nasal lining. Safe to use in shower, comes complete with travel pouch and cleaning brush. We think this is great value for money at under $15 online. |
Rating | 4.0 out of 5 Stars |
What you Get
Here's what you get in the box:
Product Overview
The Panasonic ER430K nose and ear hair trimmer is operated by one standard AA battery which is widely available but sadly, not included with the product.
It does mean that it is easy to use anywhere, without the bother of having a cord for mains power, or remembering to recharge batteries.
The device features include an ergonomically curved design and comfortable grip, stainless steel dual action blades and built-in vacuum system to effectively keep nose and ears free from cut hair.
The product dimensions are: 14cm (h) x 3.5cm (w) x 4.8cm (d) and it weighs in at 3.84 ozs.
A Look at the Features
Design
The device has nice feel to it, with a curved body design and non-slip handle which is equally comfortable used in either the right or left hand.
The whole thing is neat, light and easy to store, so convenient and easy to take with you on your travels.
Inserting the AA battery is a simple process:
The circular battery cover, located at the base of the device has a mark. When twisted in an anti-clockwise direction so that the mark lines up with its counterpart on the body of the device, it slides off.
Once the battery has been inserted, replace the cover by slipping it back on with the marks aligned, and twist in a clockwise direction.
One battery should be good for about 90 minutes worth of use, but you might want to remove the battery to preserve its life if you are not regularly using the trimmer.
Dual-Edge Blades
The blades are precision made from stainless steel and hypoallergenic to reduce risk of irritation to the delicate nasal lining.
Specially curved and dual-edged, they they work in a rotary system to simultaneously and effectively cut the hairs from both the sides and the top.
To clean the blades after use, first remove the outer blade frame by turning it to line up the marks and pull up. The inner blade can be removed from the outer blade so that cut hairs can be removed with a tissue or brush.
The filter can then be removed in the same way, to clear the whole thing of debris.
You can wash them with water if you need to, but make sure it is properly dry before reassembling in reverse order.
Safety Cone
The safety cone is designed to protect the skin from injury by preventing direct contact with the blades.
At the same time it steers hair into the blades, to ensure that you get the closest trim that you can safely achieve, whilst enough is retained for its important filtering function.
Vacuum System
The integral micro-vacuum collects hair trimmings into a special chamber for clearing out after use.
This not only makes clearing up a breeze, but keeps your nose or ears free of pesky clippings as you go along.
Wet or Dry
I'm not sure that this is a particularly critical feature - personally I would not want to trim my nose hair in the shower as I would like to be able to properly see what I am doing.
However the option is there for wet or dry use, should you so desire, and it is certainly handy when cleaning it after use.
How to Use the Panasonic ER430K
Make sure that you read and follow the instructions provided with the device thoroughly prior to use.
As a guide, the blades should be good for about 3 years with average use of once a week.
Why Trim Nose & Ear Hair vs Waxing or Tweezing?
The first and most glaringly obvious thing that comes to mind is pain; if you wax or tweeze hair you are yanking it out at the root, which is always going to be a painful process.
If you think about that in the context of the delicate skin inside your nostrils, it is clearly going to figure somewhere in your decision.
Trimming is painless but furthermore, if you are careful and choose the right tools, it is safe and should be free from side effects.
Talking of side effects, waxing and tweezing generally increases the risk of ingrown hairs all over the body, and nasal hair is no exception.
So it is quite possible that you could be swapping unsightly nasal hair for equally unsightly and potentially painful red lumps, bumps (possibly pus filled) and irritation.
Nose hair is there to serve several important functions and it is important not to remove all nose hair, but just the offending visible hair that strays outside the nostrils.
Providing you use as instructed and do not push it right up into the nose, trimming with special round ended scissors or using an electric trimmer is the safest way.
Finally, trimming is easy, particularly with an electric trimmer, convenient and cost effective and definitely the option that I would recommend.
FAQ's
Can the Panasonic ER430K Trimmer be used for eyebrows?
No - in the instructions provided with the device it states that this product is specifically designed for nose and ear hair trimming only.
Is it fully waterproof?
Yes. It can be used in the shower and cleaned under running water for convenience, and is fully immersible.
Is it rechargeable?
No - it takes one standard AA battery, or you can buy rechargeable AA batteries to use in the product. Note that batteries are not included with the purchase.
Conclusion
I think if you have unsightly nose or ear hair, and you want a quick, easy and painless DIY method of improving them, then using an electric trimmer is a good, safe option.
Yes, it will grow back and you will need to include the trimming in your regular routine, but this device is a practical and inexpensive tool.
It has some good features - the safety cone, vacuum system and dual edged cutting blades all help to make it an efficient little, easily portable device, at a very affordable price of less than $15.
