Dermaplaning 101

When I’m asked what things have truly improved my skin, I have three easy answers. 1) Retin-A, 2) getting laser treatment from my friend Jordan Harper and 3) dermaplaning at home. 

Dermaplaning is hands down the most effective way to improve the quality of your skin and make sure your skincare products perform at their optimal level. Here is a closer look at what dermaplaning is, how to do it at home and how to implement it into your skincare routine.

What Is Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is a physical exfoliation procedure that gently removes the top-most layer of dead skin and along with it any peach fuzz, or vellus hair if you want to get specific. It can be done by an esthetician with a certain form of a dull scalpel or you can do it at home with these Tinkle razors from Amazon.

Benefits of Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning helps clear away the damaged top layer of skin, which then lets your skincare products do their job. Why use retinol to create new skin cells if you’re not exfoliating the old top layer of skin? 

Dermaplaning makes your skin smoother, your skincare absorbs better and your makeup applies smoothly.

How To Dermaplane at Home

1. First and foremost, I ALWAYS start with a clean & dry face and clean & dry hands! I remove my makeup, clean my face, apply a toner and then let it air dry. The absolute worst thing you could do is do this with a dirty face or dirty hands and just get gunk in your pores. If you are unsure if your face is clean use these cotton pads and micellar water all over until they are 100% clean.
2. After your face is 100% clean & free of debris, you can start dermaplaning. To dermaplane, simply hold the Tinkle razor at a 45-degree angle with one hand, hold your skin taut with the other, and lightly scrape the top layer of your skin in small upward motions. You can go over the skin once or twice to make sure you get the peach fuzz and any skin cells. You won’t really be able to see the dead skin peel off per-say but you should be able to feel the smoothness after.

Dermaplaing Video Tutorial

If you’re a visual learner, check out my dermaplane highlights on Instagram. Or you can watch this dermaplane video tutorial from my friend Jordan Harper. She is the reason I started dermaplaning at home.

Dermaplaning Aftercare

Don’t dermaplane without using an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliant afterward. I used to breakout after dermaplaning until I started using these m61 Peel Pads. These pads have both glycolic acid (an AHA) and salicylic acid (a BHA). 

Glycolic acid exfoliates and breaks up all the dead surface skin cells that could clog pores and cause you to breakout after dermaplaning. The salicylic acid is oil soluble so it can penetrate pores and really prevent acne, especially blackheads and whiteheads. Glycolic and salicylic acids in the m61 pads work in tandem to really clear up everything you just got off your skin while dermaplaning. 

In the past, I’ve used Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliant after dermaplaning. If you have sensitive skin, I suggest using the Tula Get Toned as it only has glycolic acid. I find it very gentle. 

After using the m61 pads, I use Retin-A as normal. If it’s your first time dermaplaning, I’d suggest skipping any retinol for now. I use the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil after dermaplaning and pat it gently into my skin. Then I follow with a moisturizer.

Miss Gorgeous London Razors // Clean Skin Club Clean Towels // Lightstim for Acne // Barefaced Toning Pads II // Barefaced Overachiever // Revision Skincare® C+ Correcting Complex 30% // PowerGlow Peel // Bioderma Micellar Water // Lancer Clarifying Detox Mask // Barefaced Liquid Gold // Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream // Tinkle Razors

Dermaplaning FAQs

How Often Should You Dermaplane

I dermaplane at home every 2-3 weeks. 

Best Dermaplaning Tool

My go-to tool for dermaplaning are these Tinkle razors that I get monthly on Amazon. Never reuse a razor after dermaplaning. These Tinkle ones are so cheap there is no need to reuse.

Who Should Dermaplane?

Everyone should dermaplane! Well everyone that doesn’t suffer from severe acne, eczema or rosacea. If you have one of these issues or are nervous how your skin would handle it then I recommend going to an esthetician for dermaplaning before you try it at home. I think this is a good way to see if you like it and to make sure your skin doesn’t freak out on you. I don’t know why it would since all you are doing is exfoliating off the top layer but better be safe than sorry. My first dermaplaning experience was in an office to see how it felt and learn how to mimic the technique at home.

Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a more aggressive form of exfoliation; microdermabrasion literally has the word abrasion in it for a reason as it pulls and sucks at the skin. You often have redness with microdermabrasion. Dermaplaning is much more gentle and easier to do at home. 

Dermaplaning vs shaving

Because of the smaller, finer blade of the Tinkle razors, dermaplaning can get down closer to the skin than shaving. Besides the obvious of shaving wet to dermaplaning dry, the precision of the dermaplaning blade helps you get more than just hair off your face.

Will Your Facial Hair Grow Back Darker after Dermaplaning? 

One of the biggest myths of dermaplaning is that your hair will grow back darker but that just isn’t the case. You can google and read all about it but vellus hair (or peach fuzz) is different than terminal hair and the only thing that can change vellus hair to terminal hair is puberty and hormones, not a gentle exfoliation procedure. There is a slight chance it could feel different as it comes back but that is just because the end has been cut slightly and doesn’t have a natural tip. It will go back because (surprise!) we are mammals and we have bodies covered in hair, but it won’t grow back longer, darker or thicker. I have never noticed a difference other than I start to look dull and my skin isn’t as smooth.