Dermaplaning Vs. Waxing
There are countless beauty treatments available that often target similar concerns but achieve the results in varying ways. As treatments continue to evolve, the goals for achieving smooth, clear, and clean skin remain the same.
Although waxing has been a popular, if not routine, beauty process for decades to remove unwanted hair, dermaplaning treatments have also grown in popularity.
Both treatments work to target unwanted hair while also exfoliating the top layer of the skin.
Dermaplaning is an ideal treatment for the face, while waxing is more versatile in terms of where it can be applied. Both are similar in their goals and results, creating a smooth and radiant canvas.
Is dermaplaning or waxing the better option for you?
Although they may seem similar in their goals, dermaplaning and waxing serve distinct purposes in your beauty and skincare routine. Both can be paired together; however, dermaplaning is a facial treatment that exfoliates the skin, while waxing removes unwanted hair from a desired area.
Below, we’ll discuss each treatment in depth, how they differ, and how to determine which process is the right option for you.
What Is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a cosmetic treatment that uses a small scalpel-like tool to remove hair, peach fuzz, and dead skin cells from the face. It creates a radiant and smooth appearance on the skin and is a non-invasive process.
While it is typically performed by a dermatologist or other skin care professional, tools are also available for it to be done at home.
Dermaplaning uses a small tool to gently scrape the face, removing the top layer of dead skin cells. It helps to exfoliate the top layer of the skin, providing a smooth and clear surface for skincare and makeup application.
Here are some pro dermaplaning tips from Viva Vitality MedSpa on YouTube.
Dermaplaning Benefits
Dermaplaning is a treatment designed to exfoliate the skin, revealing a more radiant and even complexion underneath.
The knife gently scrapes away the top layer of skin, which can cling to dead skin cells and excess debris easily, leading to clogged pores or a dull appearance.
It is also capable of closely removing hairs from the face, including the soft peach fuzz that can be difficult to capture.
It will exfoliate the skin, but should not cut the skin like regular shaving can do. Exfoliating the surface level of the skin can help skincare products absorb more effectively and penetrate deeper into the skin.
Removing peach fuzz can also help makeup products, especially foundations, sit more smoothly on the skin.
Oftentimes, it is also paired with a facial treatment to receive maximum skin benefits.
Dermaplaning Side Effects
Although dermaplaning is a non-invasive treatment, it can cause slight irritation to the skin, especially in sensitive individuals.
The irritation can include slight redness after the treatment or itchiness. While the scalpel tool used is intended for the treatment’s purpose, there is also a risk that it can cut or scratch the skin if not handled properly.
With any cuts or scrapes, there is always a chance that it could lead to scarring. It is essential to handle the tool as recommended, especially when performing dermaplaning at home.
While it can be done at home, the dermaplaning tools available are not as sharp or high-grade as those used by dermatologists or estheticians.
However, it is essential to keep the tools clean, as improper cleaning can lead to bacterial infections. If the tool is also used over the face, it can easily spread bacteria around the face.
Dermaplaning Process and Recovery
The dermaplaning process is non-invasive, quick, and does not require any downtime.
You can resume your normal activities after the treatment, unless it is being done in combination with a facial treatment that has its own recovery process. Sessions for dermaplaning typically last between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on your individual needs.
Your dermatologist will assess your skin and begin the treatment by lightly dragging the scalpel over the skin in small sections. The process is done by using short, quick strokes of the scalpel tool in downward motions over the face.
Dermaplaning can be done once a month for maintenance; however, it is best not to have the treatment done too often, as the skin can become sensitive or too vulnerable.
What Is Waxing?
Waxing is a cosmetic treatment that uses a melted, hot cosmetic wax to remove hair from the root of unwanted areas. It is completed in sections, with strips to completely remove sections of hair from the face or body. Waxing allows the hair to be pulled from the root, allowing for a smooth, clean surface.
Waxing Benefits
Waxing offers numerous benefits for hair removal, as it creates a smooth surface and can effectively remove unwanted hair from almost any area of the body.
It removes hair from the root, allowing the results to last longer. It can also be budget-friendly, as many salons offer waxing services, or it can be completed at home with the proper tools and products.
Although its main focus is to remove unwanted hair, waxing can also help to remove dead or dry skin cells that get trapped on the skin. It also does not carry the same risk of cutting or scratching as dermaplaning or shaving.
Waxing can also help to slow the regrowth process of the hair. As it removes the hair from the root, it can take about 4 to 6 weeks for the hair to regrow.
It does not cause stubble, which can occur after a few days of shaving. It is also ideal for removing a large amount of hair from a larger area.
Waxing Side Effects
One of the main complaints about waxing is that it can be uncomfortable, especially if the hair is being removed from a sensitive spot.
It can cause redness or itchiness, especially in individuals with sensitive skin, after the treatment.
It is also not recommended to shave between waxing appointments, as this allows the hair to grow enough to be removed with the wax.
If you are allergic or sensitive to the wax, it can cause a potential reaction or irritation on the skin. There is also the chance that it can cause ingrown hair bumps, which can be uncomfortable and irritating.
Waxing Process and Recovery
Similar to dermaplaning, waxing is a non-invasive process that requires no downtime before resuming daily activities. There are two processes for waxing that can be done with warm or hot wax, based on the salon and your preferences.
With warm wax, the soft, melted wax is applied to the section of the skin, and then a strip of cloth is pressed into the wax. The strip is pressed firmly into the wax to ensure it all adheres properly.
After a moment, the strip is quickly and firmly pulled off with the wax to remove the hair.
Hot wax is a similar process, but without the use of a strip of cloth to remove the product. The hot, soft wax is applied to the skin where the hair is to be removed.
After waiting until the wax is hardened, it is peeled away from the skin while removing the hair in the process.
Both methods are performed in small to medium sections to ensure that all unwanted hair is removed.
Should You Do Dermaplaning Or Waxing?
While both treatments can achieve similar results, depending on your goals for the service, it can help determine which process is right for you.
The two treatments can also be applied to different parts of the body, with dermaplaning focusing on the face, while waxing can be performed on the face or body.
The main goal of dermaplaning is to exfoliate the skin while also removing hair. The treatment will give you a radiant complexion that is smooth and clear.
It helps to eliminate any thin, soft facial hair, like peach fuzz, for a smoother appearance.
Waxing can be done to remove unwanted hair on the face, but is ultimately ideal for removing a significant amount of hair in larger areas.
It can also be used to shape or define the eyebrows by removing excess hair growing outside the desired shape. With waxing, the hair is removed from the root, allowing the skin to remain smooth and hair-free for up to four weeks.
Conclusion
Overall, both treatments yield similar results and can be combined to treat different parts of the body.
If you are primarily looking to exfoliate your skin for a radiant appearance and want the added benefit of removing unwanted peach fuzz, dermaplaning is the right process for you.
However, if you are looking to remove more hair, shape and define the brows, or target areas of the body, waxing will be the best choice.
Both options will leave your skin looking radiant and smooth, with no downtime required to achieve the results.
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