Does Dermaplaning Make Hair Grow Back Thicker?

By now, you’ve probably heard of dermaplaning and seen impressive videos on Instagram of people getting dirt, hair, and impurities removed from their faces using a tiny scalpel. Like most people, you’re probably intrigued by this skincare method and possibly considering getting it done!

We don’t blame you. The results are impressive! We’ve seen faces full of dark spots, blemishes, and peach fuzz turn into smooth, soft, and radiant complexions within an hour thanks to dermaplaning. It’s like magic!

However, it’s not permanent — eventually, your peach fuzz will grow back in, which is where most people begin worrying.

Does dermaplaning make your hair grow back thicker? It turns out that neither shaving nor dermaplaning makes your hair grow back thicker, so you don’t have to worry about that at all.

In this article, we’ll discuss the specifics of dermaplaning, how often you can do it, and why it doesn’t make your hair grow back thicker.

What Is Dermaplaning?

For those of you who don’t know, dermaplaning is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure typically done at a plastic surgeon’s or dermatologist’s office. 

The goal of the procedure is to remove the top layer of the dermis, including tiny hairs, dead skin cells, acne scars, and dark spots.

The procedure often has anti-aging effects, too. Fine lines and wrinkles become less noticeable, and the skin of the face becomes smooth, clear, and bright. Glowing, if you will.

The way the procedure works is your doctor or technician will use a special dermaplaning tool (a sharp, razor-like scalpel) that glides over your skin at a 45-degree angle. 

This technique removes all the above-mentioned impurities without damaging the skin. The result is a smooth, bright, youthful-looking complexion in under an hour!

The procedure is typically not covered by insurance, so you’ll have to pay for it out of pocket. Most places charge around $150-$300 for dermaplaning.

Recently, beauty companies have been creating and selling home dermaplaning kits. That’s right, you can now get a kit and do your own dermaplaning at home for a fracture of the cost!

Although it comes with a few more risks than getting it done professionally, it’s a great way to save money. A typical dermaplaning kit costs around $20.

Dermaplaning Pros And Cons

So far the procedure sounds like a dream come true, but let’s look at the pros and cons.

Dermaplaning Pros

Here are some of the benefits of dermaplaning:

• Reduces the appearance of acne scars
• Removes dull skin
• Removes dirt and impurities
• Removes dry skin
• Reduces the appearance of fine wrinkles
• Removes peach fuzz and visible hairs on the face
• Reduces breakouts
• Painless procedure
• Can be done in under 1 hour
• Immediate results
• No recovery time needed
• Non-invasive procedure
• Results last 3-5 weeks
• Hair does not grow back thicker
• Gives you a clear glowing complexion

Dermaplaning Cons

As with any cosmetic procedure, there are some downsides, too. Here are a few:

• Costs $150-300 if done professionally
• Not covered by insurance
• Some redness, swelling, and tingling can happen for 48 hours after the procedure
• Not recommended for those who have severe acne, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, or sunburn
• Not recommended for those taking isotretinoin
• Infection of the skin is possible, especially if you use a DIY dermaplaning kit
• Skin becomes more vulnerable to UV light after the procedure (always wear sunscreen!)

As you can see, there are a lot of pros for dermaplaning and a few cons. Most people can get dermaplaning done with no problems. 

The vast majority of patients don’t experience any side effects of irritation at all, and those that do typically recover within 48 hours. 

Dermaplaning is a great procedure to do before important events like weddings and photoshoots. 

You can do dermaplaning once or you can maintain it by doing it regularly. Both options work well. It’s not one of those procedures that you are required to keep up with if you don’t want to.

Does Hair Grow Back After Dermaplaning?

A common hesitation among people considering dermaplaning is the concern over how their hair (or peach fuzz) will grow back.

A lot of people seem to believe the myth that hair grows back thicker, darker, and faster after it is shaved off. 

Thankfully, it is an absolute myth. But it’s important to understand the mechanism of dermaplaning, shaving, and hair growth in order to understand where the myth came from, and why you have nothing to worry about with dermaplaning.

How Long Does It Take For Hair To Grow Back After Dermaplaning?

Yes, dermaplaning does remove hairs from your face. You may not even realize how much hair you have on your face because most of it is fine and light.

Depending on genetics, you might have longer or darker peach fuzz than someone else. But almost everyone has some form of hair on their face!

Dermaplaning removes all of that hair, along with dead skin cells, to uncover a smoother and brighter complexion.

Eventually, however, your hair does grow back. Most facial hair for women grows back within 3-5 weeks.

Does It Grow Back Thicker?

No, your hair or peach fuzz will not grow back thicker after dermaplaning. We’ve mentioned that it’s a myth, but let’s discuss why this myth exists.

This myth most likely originated with people noticing that leg hair or beard hair feels coarser after shaving. People came to the conclusion that shaving makes hair change on a structural level — but that’s impossible!

There is no scientific way that physically shaving hair can change its structure on a genetic level to make it thicker, darker, and coarser. The only thing that can change the structure of your hair is medication or a medical condition.

What most likely happens during regular shaving, is that the hair gets “cut” by the razor at a 90-degree angle, making the tip of the hair blunt. 

Normally, when your hair grows, the tip of the hair gets thinner and tapered at the end, giving it a softer feel. You might even think the hair is lighter in color because of how thin the end is.

When you shave the hair, you remove its thin, tapered end. As it grows out, the first thing you notice is a blunt, thicker end. This is why one might think that shaving causes hair to grow back thicker!

In reality, your hair doesn’t become thicker — it was this thick all along. The hair was simply tapered to the point where you didn’t notice how thick it is.

Now that you know that it’s impossible for shaving to make your hair grow back thicker, you might be wondering if dermaplaning can cut the ends of your peach fuzz hairs to make them look thicker as they grow back.

We have good news for you: dermaplaning does not leave blunt ends on your hair.

Because dermaplaning is done at a 45-degree angle, it “cuts” your hairs at an angle that maintains their soft, tapered ends. This means that when your hair grows back after dermaplaning, it will not appear thicker or coarser at all!

How Often Should You Get Dermaplaning?

If you are interested in maintaining the results of dermaplaning, you will have to get it done regularly. But you don’t want to overdo it either because that can be irritating to the skin.

So, how often should you get it done? Ultimately, it depends on how quickly your peach fuzz grows back and how thick of a layer of dull, dead skin cells your skin develops.

Most people find that getting dermaplaning every 4 weeks is ideal. This is usually enough time for your skin not to be irritated by the repetitive procedures. 

It’s also the optimal time to prevent your skin from getting congested again. Although 4 weeks is the recommended frequency, you can do it more often or less often depending on how your skin feels. 

Some people are totally fine getting it done once every 3 months or only before big events. Do whatever works for you, your skin, and your budget!

Keep in mind that getting it done once a week or more frequently is not recommended. The risks outweigh the benefits if you’re doing it that often.

Your skin is more likely to become irritated and your natural moisture barrier can become compromised. In one week’s time, your hair and dead skin cells are unlikely to return to the level where you need them to be dermaplaned.

If you’re in doubt, you can also consult your dermatologist to see what they would recommend for your skin type.

Are There Lasting Effects To Dermaplaning? 

Although most of the effects of dermaplaning are temporary, there is something to be said about doing it regularly.

Many people have noticed that their skin becomes overall less congested with time. They start to experience fewer breakouts, less scarring, and more clear skin. 

This is because regular dermaplaning prevents the build-up of dead skin cells and hair, all of which can trap sebum (oil) that clogs your pores and leads to more breakouts.

So when you maintain a dermaplaning routine, you help prevent breakouts, which leads to a clearer face overall with fewer blemishes, acne scars, and everything else that goes along with it.

Dermaplaning regularly also helps produce a longer-lasting, anti-aging effect. The more you dermaplane, the more your skin retains its glowy, youthful appearance.

It’s hard to say if any of these effects are permanent, but they seem to be long-lasting. Many people notice that dermaplaning 5-10 times is enough for them to experience these effects for a few years afterward.

However, there can be negative lasting effects, too. Dermaplaning can make your skin more susceptible to UV light — a.k.a. sunlight. If you are not careful, you might damage your skin and cause early aging.

Unfortunately, the effects of sun damage are often permanent, and can sometimes be dangerous. This is why we think it’s so important to always wear sunscreen, especially once you start dermaplaning your face!

Additionally, if you cut yourself during dermaplaning, you could end up with a permanent scar. While these effects are rare, it’s important to remember that they happen.

You should choose a high-quality dermaplaning specialist and make sure they have good reviews. If you do it yourself, make sure you are doing it in sterile conditions and following a good tutorial that prioritizes safety.

How To Care For Your Skin After Dermaplaning

To ensure that your dermaplaning results are as gorgeous as can be, proper after-care is important!

Immediately After Dermaplaning 

The first thing you want to do after dermaplaning is some gentle cleansing. Your dermatologist might do this in-office, but if not, you can do it yourself.

All the dead skin cells, hairs, and sebum that were just removed from the surface of your skin are still floating around after your dermaplaning session.

You should use cool water and a gentle cleanser to remove all that gunk as soon as possible. Cool water will help reduce any redness and irritation, while the gentle cleanser will help break away all the impurities from your face! Just make sure that the cleanser you’re using does not contain harsh soaps and surfactants. 

Another thing you want to do soon after your procedure is applying a hydrating serum, oil, or moisturizer (or all of the above). The skin of your face is fragile right now, and adding extra hydration can help it get back into balance.

Avoid using anything harsh like acne creams, chemical exfoliators, or retinol for at least 48 hours. It’s a good idea to avoid wearing makeup at this time too.

For A Few Weeks After Dermaplaning

Once the first 48 hours are over, you can resume most of your normal routines. You can start wearing makeup, touching your face, and using your regular skincare regimen. 

We recommend holding off on retinol for a whole week as well as any chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid, BHAs, or AHAs. These products contribute to the removal of the top skin cell layer, which you have already removed through dermaplaning. You don’t want to overdo it on exfoliation right now!

Wear a strong, broad-spectrum SPF everywhere you go, even if you spend most of your day inside. Yes, UV rays do come through the windows and you may not even realize how much sun exposure you get every day.

Make sure to drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated and glowy. Dermaplaning can sometimes damage your skin’s moisture barrier and it can take a week or two for it to build back. During that time it’s very important to drink a lot of water!

Avoid doing any other cosmetic procedures for a few weeks as well. We’re talking fillers, microblading, botox, and others that break the skin barrier. It’s best to wait at least 2 weeks before you do anything like that to your skin.

Final Thoughts

Dermaplaning is a safe and non-invasive procedure that can give you beautiful results in just one session. It does not make your facial hair grow back thicker or darker, so don’t even worry about that!

Dermaplaning does have a few uncommon side effects, but with proper aftercare and a quality professional job, you likely won’t experience any of them.

Dermaplaning is so safe that you can now do it yourself — however, we recommend going to a professional the first time you get it done so that you can at least see how to do it right. 

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