Professional dermaplaning has emerged as a sought-after skincare treatment, renowned for its ability to deliver a smooth and luminous complexion. Explore what dermaplaning entails, how it works, and the reasons why people are increasingly getting this advanced exfoliation service!
How Dermaplaning Works
Dermaplaning is a non-invasive exfoliation technique performed by skilled estheticians or skin care professionals. It involves the use of a specialized surgical-grade scalpel to gently remove dead skin cells and vellus hair (peach fuzz) from the surface of the skin. This process effectively exfoliates the outermost layers, unveiling a refreshed, radiant complexion beneath.
What Does Dermaplaning Do?
Enhanced Skin Texture: Dermaplaning removes accumulated dead skin cells and debris, resulting in a softer, smoother, and more refined skin texture. It can address roughness, unevenness, and the appearance of fine lines, promoting a youthful and rejuvenated complexion.
Improved Product Absorption: By eliminating the barrier of dead skin cells and vellus hair, dermaplaning optimizes the skin’s ability to absorb skincare products. This enables serums, moisturizers, and treatments to penetrate deeply, maximizing their efficacy and delivering enhanced results.
Instant Radiance: Dermaplaning reveals an immediate glow, unveiling a brighter and more luminous complexion. By eliminating the superficial layer of dead skin cells, the skin reflects light more evenly, imparting a healthy and vibrant appearance.
Makeup Application and Smoother Skin: With the removal of vellus hair, dermaplaning creates a smooth canvas for makeup application, allowing foundation and other products to glide effortlessly. This results in a flawless finish and longer-lasting makeup wear.
Is dermaplaning just shaving?
No it is not. Let’s compare professional dermaplaning to home shaving with a shaving razor or drugstore dermaplaning tool :
Results:
Home shaving with a shaving razor or drugstore dermaplaning tool removes minimal if any dead skin cells and provides inconsistent hair removal at varying lengths of each hair shaft. For safety reasons, the blade(s) is less sharp and less efficient than professional ones. Your skin is left more or less smooth in patches, and dead skin cells remain, clogging your pores.
Professional dermaplaning results in visibly smoother skin, freed pores, improved texture, and a brighter complexion due to the precise removal of dead skin cells and vellus hairs (peach fuzz) as close to the root as possible with an expertly-wielded scalpel. You actually notice your skincare products absorbing better and foundation use is buttery-smooth.
Technique:
At-home shaving typically employs a regular razor or a blunter, drugstore dermaplaning tool that you attempt to use from challenging angles and with varying, inconsistent pressure.
Professional dermaplaning involves skilled skin technicians using a precise, specifically-engineered scalpel with which they remove hair and debris at a consistent skin layer depth, even in hard-to-reach areas such as around the contours of the nose and chin.
Skin Safety:
Shaving or dermaplaning at home carries a high risk of razor burn, accidental cuts and skin irritation, even though the blades are already less sharp than professional ones. Blunter blades means less efficacy while self-dermaplaning involves risk of injuries and lasting scars.
Professional dermaplaning is performed under well-trained, experienced, and sanitized conditions to execute the exfoliating technique safely and effectively. This leaves you with noticeably soft and dewy skin free of injuries.
Which Celebrities Love Dermaplaning?
Most celebrities don’t fully share the secrets to the skin care routines they receive from professional skin technicians. Luckily for us, some of them sometimes do pull back the curtain on the beauty and skin care treatments they swear by. Here are a few who love dermaplaning:
Karlie Kloss: The supermodel and entrepreneur has mentioned receiving dermaplaning as part of her skin care routine in many interviews. She loves its exfoliating benefits and ability to create a flawless canvas for makeup application.
Kate Hudson: The actress and fitness enthusiast has discussed her skincare routines, which include having dermaplaning done. It is one of the treatments she enjoys for maintaining healthy-looking skin.
Huda Kattan: The beauty influencer loves how it helps her achieve smoother, radiant skin.
Gwyneth Paltrow: The actress and founder of a lifestyle brand has highlighted dermaplaning as one of the skincare techniques she incorporates regularly into her beauty regimen.
What to Expect During a Dermaplaning Service:
1. Skin Consultation: Your skin technician will begin by conducting a thorough skin consultation to assess your specific concerns, goals, and any underlying conditions. They will discuss your skincare routine, medical history, and answer any questions you may have. This consultation helps ensure a customized and safe dermaplaning experience.
2. Lie Down Comfortably: After the consultation, you will be guided to a comfortable treatment bed or chair. You will be provided with a clean and cozy environment to relax during the procedure.
3. Cleanse and Prepare the Skin: Before commencing the dermaplaning treatment, your skin technician will cleanse your skin thoroughly to remove any makeup, oils, or impurities. This step ensures a clean surface for the treatment.
4. Dermaplaning Procedure: Once the skin is prepped, your skin technician will begin the dermaplaning process. They will hold the dermaplaning tool: a surgical-grade scalpel (that should be specially engineered for dermaplaning if you are at a high-quality spa), at a specific angle and gently glide it over the skin’s surface in upward strokes. The blade will remove dead skin cells and vellus hair, promoting exfoliation and revealing a smoother complexion.
5. Additional Treatments (Optional): Depending on your skin care goals, your dermaplaning treatment can be the starting point for other treatments such as a facial, mask, serum, or moisturizer. Your skin is able to use the full potential of active ingredients. These additional steps provide added nourishment, hydration, or targeted benefits.
Aftercare and Skincare Recommendations: Once the dermaplaning treatment is complete, your skin technician will provide you with aftercare instructions and skincare recommendations tailored to your unique skin’s needs. They may advise avoiding excessive sun exposure, using gentle cleansers, and applying SPF for protection. Following these instructions will help optimize and maintain the results of your dermaplaning treatment.
Why Is Dermaplaning Often Done Before A Facial?
Enhanced Product Penetration: Dermaplaning removes the dead skin cells and fine vellus hair (peach fuzz) from the surface of the skin. By eliminating this barrier, it allows for better penetration of skincare products used during the facial. The active ingredients in serums, masks, and moisturizers can penetrate more deeply into the skin, maximizing their effectiveness.
There are 2 bonus side effects you will enjoy after dermaplaning:
- Your daily skincare routine will noticeably absorb better, giving you that healthy, dewy glow.
- If you wear makeup, your buttery-soft skin, free of peach fuzz and dead skin cells, will offer a velvety canvas for primer and foundation to glide onto for that glassy, flawless look.
Can Dermaplaning Improve My Laser Treatments?
The removal of the outermost layer of dead skin cells allows energy-based treatments such as laser and radiofrequency (RF) to penetrate more deeply and evenly into the skin.
By eliminating the barrier of dead skin cells and vellus hair, dermaplaning ensures better contact between the laser or RF device and the skin, maximizing the absorption of energy and optimizing the desired outcomes of the treatments.
This synergy between dermaplaning and energy-based treatments can lead to improved results in addressing various skin concerns such as uneven texture, pigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Professional exfoliation such as dermaplaning also improves your comfort level during your laser treatment. Dead skin cells can make the skin feel rough or uneven, and laser may cause more discomfort or stinging sensations when applied to these areas. By dermaplaning beforehand, the treatment is more comfortable and tolerable.
Can Dermaplaning Help With Acne?
Dermaplaning offers unparalleled exfoliation for all skin types, including mildly acne-prone skin, but it may not be the most effective standalone treatment for actively treating acne. While it can circumnavigate a pimple or two, we do not recommend receiving dermaplaning if you have widespread, active acne.
However, there are targeted facials or exfoliation treatments such as a HydraFace Treatment, needle-free Mesotherapy, or Chemical Peels that visibly help with treating acne. You can explore our treatment guide for acne-prone skin here.
How Often Should I Get Dermaplaning?
Skin technicians recommend getting professional exfoliation such as dermaplaning treatments every 3 to 6 weeks.To understand why this timeframe is suggested, let’s consider the skin cycle:
The skin cycle refers to the natural process of skin cell turnover, where new cells are generated in the deeper layers of the skin and gradually move up to the surface before shedding off. The complete skin cycle typically takes around 28 days, although it can vary from person to person.
Dermaplaning works by manually exfoliating the outermost layer of the skin, removing dead skin cells and revealing a smoother complexion. However, it’s important to allow enough time for your skin to regenerate and complete its natural skin cycle before undergoing another dermaplaning treatment to avoid sensitivity.
Having dermaplaning treatments every 3 to 6 weeks allows for ample time for the skin to go through its natural cycle that deposits dead skin cells on your skin’s surface. This timeframe ensures that you’re getting the benefits of exfoliation while minimizing the risk of over-exfoliation. After each skin cycle (3-6 weeks), you can then exfoliate through dermaplaning to unclog your pores and start a new skin cycle with soft, decongested skin.
Your Total Wrapture skin technician will assess your skin and provide personalized recommendations on exfoliation frequency based on your unique needs and goals.
Does hair grow back thicker after dermaplaning?
Let’s debunk the myth once and for all: Dermaplaning does 𝐧𝐨𝐭 cause hair to grow back thicker or darker! The regrowth process remains the same, and any new hair that grows back will maintain its natural texture and colour.
Vellus hairs (peach fuzz) are normal and natural, but many persons of all genders prefer a smooth canvas. In addition to advanced exfoliation, dermaplaning offers that oh-so-smooth feeling . If peach fuzz is consistently bothersome to you, you will love dermaplaning. If you are looking for long-lasting solutions specifically for facial hair, we highly recommend facial laser hair removal.
What is Dermaplaning Aftercare?
Avoid Direct Sun Exposure: UVA/UVB rays are simply not your skin’s friend. Regardless of how you care for your skin, you should always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF (30 or higher) during the day. This is also important immediately after dermaplaning. Avoid tanning that day too.
Gentle Care: Cleanse your face gently with a mild, non-abrasive cleanser to remove any impurities. Avoid using exfoliants, strong active ingredients, or scrubs for at least a week after your dermaplaning treatment. Try not to touch your face with your phone, hair, eyewear, or unwashed hands for a few hours to avoid irritating it.
Moisturize Regularly: Keep your skin well-hydrated by applying a gentle, non-irritating moisturizer. Your skin technician can help you select the right one for your unique skin.
Avoid Makeup for a Few Hours: It is best to avoid applying makeup immediately after dermaplaning, as the skin may be more sensitive. Wait a few hours before applying any cosmetics.
Your skin technician will provide personalized aftercare instructions based on your unique skin type and the specific dermaplaning treatment. Follow their recommendations for the best results and consult with them if you have any concerns or questions.
Book a dermaplaning facial or add it on to your next facial or laser treatment in one click using our online booking system! Beautiful skin has never been easier to schedule.