How often should you dermaplane?

What dermaplaning is

Dermaplaning is a manual exfoliation. An esthetician holds a sterile surgical blade at a low angle and gently skims the surface of your skin, lifting away dead skin cells and the fine, soft facial hair known as vellus hair, or peach fuzz. It takes a few minutes per area and it doesn’t hurt: most people describe a light scraping feeling.

Why every 3 to 4 weeks

Your skin sheds and renews its outer layer in a cycle of roughly four weeks in younger adults, and more slowly as we age. Dermaplaning removes the build-up at the end of that cycle. Scheduling it every three to four weeks keeps texture smooth without taking off skin that hasn’t finished its job as a protective barrier.

If your skin is sensitive, start with every four to six weeks and see how it responds.

Is dermaplaning good for your skin?

For most skin types, yes. The benefits you’ll notice:

• Smoother texture. Dead skin and peach fuzz are gone, so skin feels soft straight away.
• Brighter look. Fresh skin reflects light more evenly.
• Better makeup. Foundation sits more smoothly without catching on fuzz or flakes.
• Better absorption. Serums and moisturizers reach the skin instead of sitting on dead cells.

It’s best to skip or postpone dermaplaning if you have active acne or open breakouts, a rosacea flare, a sunburn, a cold sore, or very sensitive or irritated skin. We check at the start of every facial.

Does hair grow back thicker after dermaplaning?

No. Vellus hair grows back exactly as it was: the same colour, thickness and amount. Dermaplaning cuts the hair at the surface, and cutting a hair can’t change the follicle underneath. Regrowth can feel slightly different at first, because a cut hair has a blunt tip instead of a tapered one, but it isn’t thicker or darker.

Does dermaplaning make you break out?

It usually doesn’t. Breakouts after dermaplaning tend to come from:

• Treating skin that already has active acne.
• Heavy, pore-clogging products applied straight afterwards.
• Touching the face or using unclean tools, especially with at-home razors.

A professional treatment with a sterile blade, followed by light, non-comedogenic products, keeps the risk low.

Dermaplaning in Calgary’s climate

Calgary’s dry air, chinook winds and months of furnace heat leave a lot of us with flaky, dull skin by midwinter. Dermaplaning is a satisfying fix for the flakes, but freshly exfoliated skin also loses moisture faster, so follow it with care:

• A hydrating serum and a richer moisturizer for a few days.
• A humidifier at night through the heating season.
• SPF 30 or higher every morning, all year. Calgary gets around 2,400 hours of sunshine a year, and snow reflects UV back at your face in winter.

Dermaplaning at Mood

At Mood, dermaplaning is booked as a dermaplaning facial: a full facial, with cleansing and hydration, built around the treatment, in about 75 minutes. It’s a good first visit, because your esthetician can see how your skin responds. For more on facials, see our skin services.

Questions we hear

Can I wear makeup after dermaplaning?

It’s best to wait until the next day, so your skin can settle.

Is at-home dermaplaning the same?

Not quite. At-home tools are designed to be gentler and blunter, and it’s easy to nick the skin or irritate it by going over the same spot. A professional treatment is more even and uses a sterile blade.

Can I dermaplane before a special event?

Yes, ideally two to three days before, so any redness has settled and makeup goes on smoothly.