Let’s be clear, we’re not advising you to pick up the razor and start shaving your face but if you’ve heard of Dermaplaning, you may be wondering how it differs.
Firstly, let us explain the different hair types. As a foetus we all develop a layer of very fine downy hair called ‘Lanugo’. These are the first hairs produced by the hair follicles, but this is usually shed before birth. This is then replaced by light, short, fine hairs that cover most of our body called ‘Vellus’ hair.
As we enter puberty and throughout our adult life, hormones cause ‘Terminal’ hair to be produced. The more testosterone, the more likely that there will be more hair growth. This hair is coarser and thicker than Vellus hair and can be found all over the body with males normally developing facial hair. This is less common in females due to the different levels of hormones. However, there are different medical conditions that can cause unwanted hair growth in this area in females.
Most of us will have Vellus hair on our face so why would we want to remove it?
Some people may feel self conscious as although the hair is fine it can appear in dense patches, particularly on the jawline, cheeks and in front of the ears. But there are so many benefits to dermaplaning;
- Exfoliation to remove dead skin cells
- Aids more effective absorption of skincare products by up to 80%
- Brightens the complexion making skin look more radiant
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation
- Allows for a smoother, more flawless makeup application
To remove the Vellus hair, we use a surgical blade to gently scrape the hair and dead skin away. We are cautious not to remove any Terminal hair such as eyebrows, sideburns or coarse hairs on the lip, chin or anywhere else on the face that they may appear. For coarse hairs, we would suggest another type of hair removal at least 48 hours prior to a dermaplaning facial.
Men can have this facial too, but the beard area is usually avoided so as not to cause any discomfort as the blade used is not suitable to shave coarse Terminal hair.
The facial causes very little to no discomfort and many clients report the sensation as being very relaxing. The treatment can be carried out every 4 weeks if desired but no sooner as we take into account the cycles of hair growth and skin shedding.
There is no downtime after this facial but we do insist that clients wear a sunscreen every single day to protect the skin from UV damage (one of the main causes of pigmentation and premature ageing). We would recommend clients to avoid makeup for approximately 24 hours for full benefit and to allow the skin to fully absorb the products applied during the facial.
Want to try it? Never attempt it yourself at home.
Choose a skin specialist who is qualified to perform this treatment and enjoy the relaxation.