Does dermaplaning cause hair to grow thicker? Let's talk.
One of the most common questions We hear from individuals hesitant to get a new skincare regimen is: does dermaplaning cause hair to grow thicker ? It's a valid concern. Nobody wants to start a treatment intended for a smoother face only to finish up with a five o'clock darkness per week later. There's this persistent aged wives' tale that shaving—or any form of blade-based hair removal—turns delicate peach fuzz into coarse, dark bristles.
The brief answer is really a difficult no. It's literally impossible for dermaplaning to replace the framework of your hair, but I completely get why it might feel this way for a few days after you've done it. Let's dive into exactly why that myth exists and what's in fact happening along with your skin and hair whenever you take a blade to it.
The science behind hair development
To realize why the solution is simply no, we have to look at just how hair actually expands. Your hair will be produced by follicles that will live deep below the surface of your skin. Whenever you dermaplane, you're utilizing a surgical-grade scalpel (or an at-home tool) to gently clean the very top layer of lifeless skin cells and vellus hair—the specialized term for peach fuzz.
Crucially, dermaplaning only slashes the hair in the surface level. It doesn't contact the root, also it certainly doesn't reach down into the follicle to modify the DNA or the growth pattern of that hair. Think about it such as cutting the lawn or trimming the ends of your own hair on your own mind. Trimming your divide ends doesn't make the hair growing out of your own scalp thicker, ideal? The same reasoning applies to your face.
Hormones plus genetics are the particular only things that will truly dictate just how thick, dark, or even fast your hair grows. Unless you're dealing with a hormonal shift—like being pregnant or menopause—your peach fuzz is meant to stay peach fuzz forever, regardless how often you get rid of it off.
Why does it feel different when it grows back?
If the hair isn't actually thicker, why do so many people trust that it is definitely? It usually arrives down to the shape of the hair tip.
Naturally, vellus hair is tapered. It's thinner at the particular end and thicker at the base, which makes it feel soft and wispy. Whenever you use a dermaplaning blade, you're cutting that hair at an angle, leaving a flat, blunt edge. When that will blunt edge begins to peek back again through the surface area of the skin, it feels a little bit more "prickly" or even "stiff" than the particular soft, tapered ends you're used to.
It's an optical plus tactile illusion. As soon as the hair develops out a little more, that blunt edge softens up, and it'll feel exactly like it did before. In the event that you were to look at the hair under a microscope before and after, the diameter associated with the hair shaft wouldn't have changed at all.
Vellus hair vs. terminal hair
It's also essential to distinguish among the different types of hair in your encounter. Most of us have "peach fuzz" (vellus hair) covering our cheeks, forehead, and jawline. This hair is translucent and very fine. Then there's "terminal hair, " that is the darker, coarser hair found on your eyebrows, your own scalp, and occasionally your upper lip or chin.
Dermaplaning is perfect for getting rid of vellus hair. However, if you have thick, dark port hairs—like those stubborn chin hairs that seem to show up overnight—dermaplaning will reduce them, but these people will definitely seem like stubble when these people return because they were already thick to start with. If you're worried that does dermaplaning cause hair to grow thicker does apply to these darker hairs, rest assured they'll just come back because they were—no the no less bad than before.
The real benefits of dermaplaning
Therefore, if we've destroyed the "thick hair" myth, why should you in fact do it? Beyond just getting rid of the fuzz, dermaplaning is a giant for exfoliation.
By getting rid of that top layer of dead epidermis cells, you're essentially "power washing" your own face. It results in your skin extremely smooth and allows your expensive serums and moisturizers to actually sink in instead of just seated on top of a level of dead skin.
Also, can we talk about makeup application? If you've ever noticed your foundation looking cakey or even settling into great lines, it's often because it's clinging to the peach fuzz on your encounter. Once that's gone, your makeup skims on wonderful. This gives you that "glass skin" appear that's so difficult to achieve otherwise.
Can a person do it at home?
While a lot of people prefer heading to a professional esthetician to get a medical-grade treatment, at-home dermaplaning has become large. If you're heading to do this yourself, you just need to be careful.
The equipment you buy at the drugstore are generally less sharp than what a professional makes use of, which is more secure for newbies but may require a few more passes. The key is to use a clean, sharp cutting tool every single time. Using the dull blade is usually a recipe intended for irritation and ingrown hairs, which may lead people to think the hair is growing back "wrong" or thicker.
Pro tip: Always dermaplane on clean, dry epidermis (unless you're using a specific oil-planing method), and keep your skin taut. Move in short, light strokes from a 45-degree position. And please, don't go over the same area too numerous times, or you'll end up getting a raw, red face.
Who should prevent it?
Actually though it's the relatively gentle treatment, it's not for everyone. If you possess active, cysts, a person should definitely miss dermaplaning for a while. Dragging the blade over the imperfection can spread bacterias or, worse, nick the pimple and cause scarring.
Similarly, if you have incredibly sensitive skin, rosacea, or eczema flares on the face, the physical exfoliation may be an excessive amount of. It's always better to wait for the skin to calm lower before trying to scrape away the particular surface layer.
Post-dermaplaning care
What you perform after the treatment is usually just as important as the shaving itself. Since you've just removed your skin's physical obstacle (the dead pores and skin and hair), your own face is going to be a bit more vulnerable.
- Sunscreen is non-negotiable: Your fresh skin can burn much faster compared to usual.
- Maintain it easy: Prevent using harsh actives like retinol or strong acids (AHAs/BHAs) for at minimum 24 to forty eight hours. Stick to a gentle, hydrating moisturizer.
- Don't touch: It's tempting to keep experiencing how soft your own face is, but try to maintain your hands off to avoid introducing bacteria to those fresh pores.
The bottom collection on the "thicker hair" fear
Honestly, if dermaplaning actually caused hair to grow back again thicker and fuller, it would become the world's greatest cure for baldness. We'd all end up being rubbing scalpels on our heads to get a thicker mane!
The truth is that hair growth is natural and internal. Nothing one does on the surface of your skin with the razor is going to change the thickness or diameter of your hair. If you've been holding back again because you're scared of sprouting a beard, you can formally let that fear go.
Dermaplaning is a single of those treatments that gives instant gratification. You observe the "gunk" coming off the blade, and you observe the glow instantly afterward. Just remember that the particular "stubble" phase is temporary and purely a result associated with the hair's form, not its width. As soon as you get previous that first time or two of regrowth, you'll likely realize it was almost all in your head—and your skin will look better than ever.