If you’ve landed on this article in an excited frenzy to gather all there is to know about dermaplaning, then you’ve come to the right place! This trendy treatment has been raved about by beauty gurus, influencers, and celebrities alike, prompting the rest of us to wonder if the hype is worth trying out for ourselves. To make the shave or not, that is the biggest question – one that we would be happy to answer for you!
In this article, we list down the pros and cons of dermaplaning. With all these facts in mind, we hope you gain the confidence (and the excitement!) to make an informed decision. But first, let’s start with the basics!
Quick Facts About Dermaplaning
If you haven’t already read our ultimate guide to dermaplaning, then we invite you to do so! There, we discuss the benefits, side effects, and procedure in detail, something you may enjoy learning about. But if time isn’t on your side today, we’ll cut to the chase and share these quick facts:
- Dermaplaning is an effective yet gentle physical exfoliation technique that will remove dead skin cells and peach fuzz (a term used to describe our ‘invisible’ facial hair) from your skin’s surface.
How does dermaplaning work?
- It is a non-invasive procedure that involves a medical-grade scalpel to gently scrape off these impurities from the top layer of your skin. By getting rid of dead skin cells and facial hair, you’ll be left with a radiant skin tone, a smooth skin texture, and overall healthier-looking skin.
- The procedure takes between 30 to 40 minutes, and is safe enough to do once every month.
- There is no downtime or recovery period after a dermaplaning treatment.
Simple enough to comprehend? Well, that is where the danger often lies. Because of how simple and straightforward this technique is, people often assume that it’s easy enough to do on their own – which leads us to a common question:
Is dermaplaning at home safe?
Unfortunately not!
With DIY kits and at-home razors widely available at our disposal, we understand how it could be tempting to perform the procedure yourself. If you’re this close to purchasing these beauty products, then allow us to stop right there!
We’ll save you a skin cut or two (or many!) with this piece of advice: Dermaplaning involves a sharp scalpel and proper techniques that only professionals are trained to handle. It is best left to a certified board dermatologist, a medical aesthetician, or a skin therapist. Point is: If done by someone inexperienced, it can lead to wounds, sores, or worse, infection!
Your role is to do your research like a pro – if it is the best option for your skin condition and to find the best provider to do it for you – which, as luck would have, is where we can help you out! Here at Lovoir Skin Body & Beauty, we’ll gladly provide you with the information AND the treatment, so you won’t have to do it yourself!
First up: Knowing the pros and cons.
Pros of Dermaplaning
Goodbye Facial Hair
Perhaps the biggest praise about dermaplaning is its ability to remove facial hair – even the ones we didn’t know were there! Apart from removing hair on our upper lips, unibrows, and other more obvious parts of our faces, dermaplaning is especially effective in targeting vellus hair. These are the translucent, fine hair strands on our faces, or simply (and more popularly) put – peach fuzz. Although they are not as evident as body hair, peach fuzz still contributes to that unexplainable look of having uneven skin tone and texture. And with today’s selfie culture – having facial hair (as light and as little as they may be!) may not look as good up close!
But that’s just the half of it – peach fuzz is much more than hairy skin. It can cling on to dirt and clog our pores, and if left on their own, your skin is likely to build up on oil, grease, grime, and other unwanted debris. Yikes! You can see why dermaplaning is such a hit then. By sloughing off peach fuzz, you are left with clean, hair-free skin!
Dermaplaning vs waxing
Compared to other hair removal treatments for the face, dermaplaning is a good alternative for many reasons. The biggest one: Pain level.
Unlike waxing and threading, dermaplaning only targets hair at the skin’s surface. It does not tug, pull, or pluck from the root. Hence, pain-free hair removal!
That said, the top question we got from customers is this:
Does dermaplaning make you hairier?
To that way, we say: Absolutely not! On the contrary, hair growth follows the exact same thickness and speed of your original vellus hairs. Rest assured, no big beards with dermaplaning!
Smoother Skin, Brighter Complexion
More often than not, the immediate culprit of a dull complexion and rough skin texture is dead skin cells. If you don’t make it a habit to exfoliate and slough off those pesky old skin cells, they are bound to accumulate and cause problems. Not only will they cause dry and lackluster skin on the surface, but they can also clog your pores, which in turn lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and acne breakouts.
Dermaplaning does a good job at removing these dead skin cells, giving way to brighter, smoother, more even-looking and youthful skin in just one session!
Improves Appearance of Skin Conditions
As you already know by now, dermaplaning treatments can improve the appearance of your skin in many ways. Here’s another bonus point: By ridding it of vellus hairs and dead skin cells, you’ll notice an effect on certain skin problems as well!
Fine lines, dark spots, acne scars – while dermaplaning does not claim to be the best solution to completely treat these skin conditions, regular sessions will help reduce their unsightly appearance on your face.
Better Skincare Efficacy
After a dermaplaning treatment, you’ll find that your at-home skincare routine will be more effective. The level of exfoliation you get will allow ingredients to seamless seep through your skin and further work their magic. Better yet, you can couple dermaplaning with other our other beauty treatments to help address more targeted skin problems.
Basically put: Your skin can only get better from here!
This pro is a big one, as it is something that cannot be said about other treatments. On the contrary, most recommend that you stay away from skincare products and other treatments for the time being. That is a limitation you will NOT experience with dermaplaning, among other things – which brings us to our next point:
Quick, easy, pain-free
This is our favorite part about dermaplaning! While you can get the benefits from other treatments like chemical peels and microneedling – at a superficial level, at least – nothing beats how quick, easy and painless dermaplaning is. Don’t be fooled by the sharp scalpel – this non-invasive treatment will cause zero harm and requires zero downtime.
In fact, many seem to enjoy the therapeutic feeling of carefully shaving the skin! Some may even find it ticklish, which is a far better option than any pain or discomfort. The procedure takes between 30 to 40 minutes, after which you can leave scot-free and back to regular programming!
Safe for most skin types
…that is, if it’s done by a professional!
Here at Lovoir Skin Body & Beauty, we can assure you that our skin therapists are trained to handle our tools and your skin in the best way possible. Additionally, we use a sterile scalpel to ensure that skin infections are never a possibility.
That said, this safe procedure can be enjoyed by most skin types. It is gentle enough for sensitive skin, and non-invasive enough for all skin tones, including those with darker skin and dark hair. Since it simple exfoliates the topmost skin layer, it does not affect deeper skin tissues or pigment cells like IPL or chemical peels. So if you’re looking for a mild alternative to these treatments, definitely consider dermaplaning!
Cons of Dermaplaning
Results aren’t permanent
At this point – after sharing so many good things about dermaplaning – it is important to know that results aren’t permanent! In removing peach fuzz and facial hair, dermaplaning targets them at the surface and leaves the rest of the hair follicles in tact. Hence, hair growth is inevitable! If you’re looking for more long-term hair removal methods, you may want to explore IPL or electrolysis.
Minimal side effects for sensitive skin
First, a disclaimer: We did mention that dermaplaning is a safe, gentle, and low-risk procedure, and we still stand by that as a fact! But for those with sensitive skin, it pays to be aware of some common sensations after the procedure. You may experience slight soreness and redness, although they shouldn’t cause excruciating pain or a day off work. Plus, these sensitivities typically disappear after a few hours!
That said, whether you experience side effects or not, aftercare tips should be religiously followed to get the most out of your treatment.
After the procedure, our skin therapist will give you instructions on how to continue taking care of your skin. This usually means staying away from the sun and public pools for the next 24 hours. Additionally, it is best to skip exfoliating for the next week as this may cause further irritation. If you keep up with proper skincare habits, then you should have nothing to worry about!
Now, if you experience anything worse than minimal redness or soreness, then it’s probably due to this next bit:
It should not be done at home
Actually, rather than a con, this is more of a safety measure and a warning!
For the most part, bad side effects come from attempting to do it yourself or getting it done by someone inexperienced. In that case, don’t be surprised if you experience cuts, bleeding, and skin infections. Don’t mistake dermaplaning for normal shaving, it involves sharper tools and more delicate techniques. For that reason, it is best not to do it home.
It’s not for everyone
Yes, we all have vellus hairs and dead skin cells, but that doesn’t automatically qualify us for this skin treatment. Unfortunately, not everyone can partake in its wonderful benefits. If you have any of these skin conditions, don’t worry, we can suggest a more suitable treatment for you!
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Active acne
- Cystic acne
- Cold sores
Why Getting Dermaplaning Done By A Professional Matters
Knowing what you know now, it’s easy to see why finding the right skin therapist matters. Safety and expertise first, and the good results will naturally follow!
At Lovoir Skin Body & Beauty, you can book a dermaplaning facial as a solo service or as part of our facial packages. But if you want to get expert advice on which treatment route is best for you, book a consultation with us, and let’s go from there! We’ll get to know you and your skin goals, followed by a comprehensive analysis of your skin conditions. Sounds good? See you at the salon!
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