Many women consider their lovely complexion as their best asset, thanks to dermaplaning.
Legend says that Helen of Troy’s face was so beautiful, a vast fleet of warships came to her rescue when she was kidnapped. It was she who had the iconic face that launched a thousand ships.
Professional hair removal like dermaplaning and over-the-counter depilatory creams are a large portion of the multi-billion-dollar beauty industry. Your facial hair may be light peach fuzz, or you may have dark male-pattern facial hair, called hirsutism.
Everyone has light facial hair, including women. If you have a fair complexion with blonde or light-colored hair, your facial hair may be baby fine and hardly noticeable. If you have a darker or olive skin tone with black or dark brown hair, your facial hair may also be darker and problematic.
Most women notice fine facial hair above their upper lip and the sides of their faces. Some may also have some hair growth on their chin and jawline. Your facial hair may be sparse enough for an occasional tweezing or depilatory cream application.
What Causes Hirsutism?
Excessive female body and facial hair is a common issue that most women find embarrassing. If the females in your family had it over the generations, the chances are that you also inherited the dreaded curse.
Your first instinct as a teenager may have been to use a razor, but your mother probably warned it would come back thicker with a vengeance.
Several medical conditions can lead to hirsutism, especially high concentrations of testosterone. If you’ve been diagnosed with the polycystic ovarian syndrome, it can also cause it. Women with adrenal or kidney diseases may have issues with hirsutism.
Talk to your doctor if you notice excessive facial hair and are on medication. Specific prescriptions, such as ones for endometriosis, are notorious for causing the problem. Be careful if your partner uses prescription androgen creams because they can affect you if they come in contact with your skin.
Through the years, you’ve probably tried many ways to get rid of unwanted facial hair. Perhaps you’ve experimented with a plethora of smelly creams and bleaches and painful waxing. These standard treatments are temporary, often expensive, and can leave your face red and sore.
Laser hair removal is a more permanent solution, but it is costly and often requires multiple visits to the dermatologist for the best results. If you are tired of creams and waxing and don’t have the extra cash for laser treatment, maybe dermaplaning is for you. It’s worth investigating if you want smooth, glowing skin.
What is Dermaplaning?
Although dermaplane therapy has been around for years, it has recently become a hot trend in the beauty industry. The dermatologist or aesthetician uses a sterile surgical scalpel shaped like a butter knife to scrape critical areas of the face gently. Dermaplaning exfoliates the uppermost layer of dead skin cells and temporarily removes fine hair growth, often leaving silky and glowing skin.
Before you consider this or any other hair removal treatment, be sure to do some research. Talk to your dermatologist about what is best for you. Most dermatologist and aesthetician offices provide service with trained and experienced staff.
Are you tired of fighting unwanted facial hair and want to try something new? This process may be a viable option. If you are thinking about a dermaplaning procedure, here are some pros and cons to consider before you try it.
Pros of Dermaplaning
1. You May Save a Little Money
While a dermaplane procedure may not be cheap, it is much less costly than chemical peels, dermabrasions, or laser hair removal. Depending on your area and where you get the procedure, many offices offer discounts for multiple visits. It doesn’t hurt to ask if they do.
2. You, Will, Have Minimal or No Downtime
Do you want an exfoliation and hair removal treatment that won’t keep you off work for a couple of days? With the dermaplane procedures, you can usually schedule a 30-minute session during lunch break and go right back to work. Since it is as painless and straightforward as light shaving, you can expect no downtime, unless your skin is unusually sensitive.
3. It is Gentler on Your Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, many chemicals and cumbersome dermatological procedures can cause redness, tenderness, and painful rashes. Many women who have sensitive skin conditions opt for the gentler dermaplane method. If you are pregnant or nursing, it may also be a safer option for complete exfoliation, and you can do it as often as needed.
4. You Can Use It as a Preliminary Procedure
Are you scheduled for a facial, chemical peel, microdermabrasion, or laser treatment? You may talk to your dermatologist about getting a dermaplane treatment first. With fresh exfoliation, the products may penetrate more efficiently.
5. Results Can Last Up to Six Weeks
Some exfoliation and hair removal kits for home use don’t last the time the package says. Most professional dermaplaning treatments can last up to six weeks before your next visit. Unlike chemical or laser treatments, you can safely have a dermaplane session as often as needed.
6. This Procedure May Enhance Your Daily Beauty Regimen
When you have a microlayer of dead skin cells and fine hair on your face, it may be more challenging to apply your makeup. Foundation often makes tiny facial hairs more noticeable. After a dermaplane session, you may notice that you can apply your makeup smoothly and evenly for glowing skin.
7. Past Acne Scars May be Appear Lighter
Who among us didn’t get at least a couple of pimples as a teenager? While mild blemishes fade with adulthood, people who had severe cases often have scars for life. If you choose to have a dermaplane procedure, it won’t erase acne scars, but it can make them less noticeable.
8. Treatments Won’t Change Hair Density or Texture
The old wives’ tale about shaving changing the hair’s texture isn’t accurate, nor is it valid for dermaplane procedures. When the facial hair gradually returns, it may feel a little coarser because it is shorter. However, it will be the same thickness and texture between treatments.
9. Dermaplaning Procedures Can Give You A Smoother Complexion
Each day, your skin sheds millions of dead cells and replaces them while you sleep. While many of these dead cells fall or rub off naturally, some remain and can block your pores. Manual exfoliation from a dermaplane session clears these cells away, making your skin glow and be less apt for breakouts.
Did you know that dry, flaky skin can highlight any wrinkles you may have? Each time you have a dermaplane procedure, the exfoliation brightens your skin and make fine lines less noticeable. Your face will feel fresh, clean, and make you appear younger.
10. You Can Do the Procedure at Home
Like many uncomplicated facial treatments, you can do dermaplane sessions at home. You can purchase dermaplane kits online or at some dermatologist clinics. Just use a mirror and gently apply the dermaplane blade to glide across your cheeks, forehead, and your jawline.
Cons of Dermaplaning
1. Dermaplane Procedures Aren’t Cheap
While you will undoubtedly spend less money on dermaplane sessions than laser hair removal, they can still be pricey. If cost is an issue, you may consider other hair-removal options. Dermaplaning procedures are considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance.
2. Your Results May Not Last as Long as Other Methods
As with any cosmetic procedure, results for dermaplane sessions will vary from client to client. Like shaving, a dermaplane process cuts fine hair off at the surface. Alternative methods like waxing and laser techniques remove the hair from the root, and the results typically last longer.
3. Everyone’s Hair Growth Cycle Is Different
The rate that your skin regrows hair is different for everyone. Some people may have a dermaplane hair removal that will last longer because of slow hair growth, while you may see quicker regrowth. If you have a faster regrowth rate, you will need more sessions that will cost more money.
4. Certain Skin Conditions Prevent You from Being a Client
Do you have adult or cystic acne? Maybe you have rosacea or another painful skin condition. If so, having a dermaplane session could only irritate your skin more, so you shouldn’t take the risk.
5 – Dermaplane Procedures are not for Hirsutism
Because of hormone imbalances, heredity, and other issues, many women have hirsutism. This condition causes excessive, thick hair growth generally found in men. If you have been diagnosed with hirsutism, a dermaplane procedure could make your situation worse, so it’s not right for you.
Final Thoughts on Deciding if Dermaplaning is Worth Your Time and Money
Fortunately, you needn’t put up with unsightly facial hair as a woman. Dermaplaning can be a good option if you meet the criteria and have a tight budget. It may be a temporary fix, but you can have a session as often as needed, and it can boost your self-confidence.
