No service in my treatment room attracts more internet mythology than dermaplaning. Put the words "blade" and "face" in the same sentence and people's imaginations do the rest. After 30 years in aesthetics — and a great many dermaplaning sessions — let me sort the facts from the folklore.
What dermaplaning actually is
Dermaplaning uses a sterile, single-use surgical blade held at a precise angle and drawn across the skin in short, feather-light strokes. It removes two things at once: the layer of dead cells sitting on the surface, and the fine vellus hair — the "peach fuzz" — that traps oil, dust and makeup. It's painless. Most clients describe it as a soft scraping sound more than a sensation, and more than a few have drifted off mid-treatment.
There are no chemicals, no needles and no recovery time. It's one of the most instantly gratifying treatments I offer: you see and feel the difference before you're off the table.
No, the hair will not grow back thicker
Here's the myth that refuses to die, so let's kill it properly. Your body grows two kinds of hair: vellus hair — fine, soft, nearly colorless, the fuzz on your cheeks — and terminal hair — thicker, darker, like brows and beard hair. They come from different follicles, and one cannot become the other because a blade touched it. Cutting hair changes nothing about its thickness, color or growth rate; that's decided below the surface, by the follicle, which the blade never touches.
The confusion comes from geometry. A hair that tapers naturally to a wispy point feels softer than one cut straight across, so regrowth can feel slightly different for a few days. It isn't thicker. It never was. Three decades of faces back me up on this. If cutting hair really changed it, every man who has ever shaved would have a beard like a hedge by forty.
What you actually get
Immediately smoother texture — makeup glides over dermaplaned skin instead of catching on fuzz and flakes. A brighter, fresher tone, because you've removed the dull surface layer that scatters light. And better product absorption: the serums and masks applied afterward reach skin instead of sitting on debris, which is why I love pairing dermaplaning with a hydrating treatment in the same all-inclusive session. It's also a favorite before big events for exactly these reasons.
The effect lasts about three to four weeks, which is why dermaplaning every four to six weeks keeps skin in a steady state of smooth. Clients who wear foundation tend to become the most devoted — the difference in how makeup sits is visible from the very first application. And mature skin, where cell turnover has slowed and dead-cell buildup happens faster, often sees the most dramatic brightening of all.
Who should skip it (for now)
Dermaplaning and active, inflamed breakouts are not friends — gliding a blade over angry skin irritates it and can spread bacteria around. Very reactive skin having a bad week should also wait. This is exactly why every appointment starts with a skin analysis: if your skin says "not today," we pivot to something gentler, like a fruit enzyme treatment, and you still leave glowing. Nothing is wasted, because you booked time, not a menu item.
About those at-home razors
The little pastel face razors at the drugstore aren't dangerous, but let's be honest about what they are: an eyebrow tidy-up tool. The blade quality, the angle, the prep and the products applied afterward are what separate a quick shave from professional dermaplaning. If you use one at home, keep it clean, keep the skin taut, go gently, and don't use it over breakouts. There's also the matter of what happens next: in the studio, dermaplaning is followed by serums, a mask and SPF chosen for freshly polished skin — the part of the treatment no bathroom mirror session replicates. Come see me and feel the difference; most people are converts inside one appointment.
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Every appointment at Truth In Beauty is all-inclusive — book your time and we design the treatment together.
Book Online Call | Text (209) 639-7637Frequently asked questions
Does dermaplaning make hair grow back thicker or darker?
No. Dermaplaning removes vellus hair — the fine, soft peach fuzz — and cutting a hair cannot change its thickness, color or growth rate. The blunt tip of a regrowing hair can feel slightly different for a few days, but it grows back exactly as it was.
Does dermaplaning hurt?
Not at all. It is a gentle, feather-light scraping sensation, and most clients find it relaxing. There are no needles, no chemicals and no downtime — your skin is simply smoother and brighter when you leave.
How often can I get dermaplaning?
Every four to six weeks is a good rhythm — that roughly matches your skin renewal cycle and the natural regrowth of the vellus hair. More often than that is not necessary.
Should anyone skip dermaplaning?
Yes — active, inflamed breakouts are the main reason to wait, since gliding a blade over them irritates the skin and can spread bacteria. If that is your skin right now, a fruit enzyme treatment delivers a similar glow gently, and the skin analysis at the start of your appointment is where we decide.
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