“I shaved my face to see what the fuss was about…”

If you’re anything like us, you’ll do anything on the plight to being totally hairless (save for bold bushy brows and trending tresses). Basically, dolphin-like skin is your absolute goal. So, you’re probably all over the latest hair we’re looking to lack. And it just happens to come from a trending salon-quality treatment (although it’s taken off in popularity at home). None other than dermaplaning. 

Yep, we’re shaving our faces now people. Who would’ve imagined that our peach fuzz would become imperative to remove? Well PSA: we all have a moustache. And no, you don’t need to be embarrassed, we’re in this together with our random one long chin hair. 

But to find out more about dermaplaning, BEAUTYcrew literally put their fuzz on the line as we headed down to Fayshell to chat all things peach fuzz with Co-Founder Ella James…

What is dermaplaning? 

So, what really is dermaplaning, and why do we want to take a blade to our face? Well James explained it as a really good exfoliation. Taking a blade to the vellus hair will however not only take the bad off, but also the good. 

So, why are we risking our skin barrier? Well for most, the allure of silky smooth skin is enough for them to pick up the blade. But for others, the incredible skin brightening effects combined with the deeper skin care product penetration and of course flawless makeup application is what they’re after. 

But before you rush out and buy yourself a dermaplaning tool (or book an appointment), you’ve got to assess if it’s right for you. If you’ve got active acne, you’re going to need to give it a miss (it’s never worth making your breakouts worse). And if you’ve got hormonal hair, then you are at risk of it growing back coarser. 

What’s the difference between dermaplaning and dermablading?

You might’ve heard the term dermablading being used to describe the procedure as well. But is there any actual difference? According to James, nope. However, you’re probably more likely to hear it called dermaplaning in the salon.

How should you prepare your skin for the treatment and care for it after?

We think whenever you book a treatment these days, it needs to come with a list of ‘not to use’ before having it done. So, take us as your dermaplaning guide of what to do. 

To prep your skin in the lead up, you’ll need to lay off the irritants. Think: any exfoliators, vitamins A and C. Pretty simple really. 

And for after care, you’re going to want to keep the area protected and moisturised. Aim to slather your skin in anything lightweight that offers barrier protection, like BALI BODY BB Skin Ceramide Cream ($34.99 at Priceline), perhaps. And while the treatment itself doesn’t actually come with any downtime, you’re going to want to avoid makeup for a day to remove the risk of any breakouts. 

Any myths surrounding dermaplaning?

Like any treatment, people love to create myths surrounding it. For dermaplaning it comes with three main myths. 

Firstly, that it’s going to make all your hair grow back thick and coarse. Okay, we get where people are coming from with this, but the hairs on our legs are very different from those on our face. So, no you won’t be suddenly growing a beard. 

Secondly is that you’re going to suddenly break out. Look, this myth does walk the fine line of truth at times. But it’s seriously dependent on different skin types. The deep exfoliation can unbalance your microbiome, in turn causing a deep purge. But if you don’t over do it then you shouldn’t see any issues. 

Lastly, it’s painful. And we get it, the thought of taking a blade to our delicate cheeks does spark a sense of fear in our eyes. But honestly, while James did the treatment there was no discomfort at all, only a light tickling feeling. 

How often should you dermaplane?

Okay, this is the question we need everyone to pay close attention to. If we could put this on a big neon sign, we would. For all the ladies at home, dermaplaning should be done at maximum once a month. Why? Because that’s when new skin cells turn over, ensuring your skin has had enough time to build up a strengthened barrier. And not to mention it’ll give your hair time to grow back so you’re not just shaving skin. 

Can you dermaplane at home?

The age old question. And look, if TikTok has anything to say about it then yes, definitely. But we want you to be cautious. In fact, James is flat out against it, saying that the blades aren’t necessarily sharp or sterile enough to get the job done. And people end up getting carried away and don’t remove the top layer properly. 

In saying that, if you promise to never reuse crusty old blades on your face but rather invest in a good quality blade you can sterilise, and always, always ensure you’ve got plenty of hydrating oil on your face first, then we guess you can give it a go. 

Dermaplaning products

Like we said, investing in a good quality blade will ensure the longevity of it, along with increasing the likelihood that it’s actually sharp and can get the job done. We recommend: Make My Shave Metal Dermaplaner ($39 at Make My Shave). 

If you’re looking to dip your toe in the waters, disposable blades are the way to go. We recommend: Schick Hydro Silk Touch Up Disposable Razors ($12 at Woolworths).

And because the skin needs to be hydrated not to get irritated, liberally applying an oil before starting is a must. We recommend: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse ($43 at Sephora). 

And that’s the lowdown on getting unbelievably smooth skin. Our takeaway from the treatment was that it’s best left to the professionals. And, if you’ve got reactive skin, it’s probably best to put the blade down (sorry).

Trying to be totally hairless? We’ve got the best epilators rounded up for you…