The Real Difference Between Dermaplaning And At-Home Facial Shaving

Hair removal has always been popular but in recent years, there's been a huge increase in those wanting to remove hair from their face through methods such as dermaplaning. "Dermaplaning is one of the easiest ways of removing unwanted hair from the face at home," Laurence Newman, CEO of CurrentBody, told Harper's Bazaar. "In the same way that shaving works, it uses a painless blade to gently scrape away facial hair (often referred to as 'peach fuzz') and rids the skin of any build-up of dead skin cells, all which can contribute to making your skin look dull or uneven." She continued, "Just like an exfoliation, it removes any barriers which would stop your skincare from penetrating — meaning your products often work much more effectively after a treatment." 

But how exactly does dermaplaning differ from at-home facial shaving? According to dermatologist Estee Williams, MD, it's basically just a way more thorough version of shaving with a whole heap of added benefits (via Cosmopolitan).

While at-home facial shaving will rid you of unwanted hair, dermaplaning will do that, but also exfoliate your skin and even help combat acne. "By removing the top layer of dead skin cells, dermaplaning prevents oils, dead skin and debris from being trapped inside the follicle," Kerry Benjamin, esthetician and founder of StackedSkincare, told Today. Better yet, it also helps to smooth your skin. "Makeup goes on smoother [when dermaplaning], and you end up using less complexion products like foundation, concealer and powder because they work more effectively on smooth, exfoliated skin," Sarah Lucero, makeup artist and Stila Global Executive Director of Creative Artistry, said (via TODAY). 

But that doesn't mean dermaplaning is for everyone. As Dr. Ana, skincare expert and aesthetic doctor at Kat & Co, warned Refinery29, dermaplaning can irritate sensitive skin. If it's just hair removal you're after, you may be better off simply using a facial razor.