Dermaplaning: The Gentle Exfoliation Treatment for Instantly Radiant Skin

If you’re searching for a treatment that delivers immediate results, requires zero downtime, and leaves your skin impossibly smooth and glowing, dermaplaning might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. This gentle yet highly effective exfoliation technique has become one of the most requested treatments at Skin + Chamomile—and once you understand what it does and experience the results for yourself, you’ll understand why.

Dermaplaning is a manual exfoliation method that uses a surgical-grade scalpel to gently remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells along with vellus hair, commonly known as peach fuzz. The result? Skin that looks brighter, feels smoother, and absorbs your skincare products more effectively than ever before. It’s a treatment that fits beautifully within our holistic skincare philosophy because it works with your skin’s natural renewal process, revealing the fresh, healthy skin that’s been hiding underneath.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about dermaplaning—what it is, how it works, who it’s for, and why it might become your new favorite treatment.

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What is Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is a physical exfoliation technique that has been used in medical and aesthetic settings for decades. Using a sterile, surgical-grade blade held at a precise 45-degree angle, a trained esthetician gently scrapes across the skin’s surface, removing dead skin cells and fine vellus hair in one smooth motion.

This isn’t shaving in the traditional sense—it’s a precise, controlled exfoliation performed by a skilled professional using proper technique and sterile equipment. The blade removes only the very top layer of dead skin cells and the fine, colorless hair that covers most of our faces. It doesn’t reach the hair follicle, which means the hair grows back exactly as it was before: soft, fine, and light.

The treatment is performed on clean, dry skin and typically takes between thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on whether it’s done as a standalone treatment or integrated into a custom facial. There’s no discomfort, no downtime, and the results are immediately visible. You’ll walk out of your appointment with skin that looks luminous and feels like silk.

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The Benefits of Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning offers multiple benefits that make it appealing for a wide range of skin types and concerns. Understanding these benefits helps you appreciate why this treatment has become such a cornerstone of effective skincare.

Instant Exfoliation and Glow

The most immediate and noticeable benefit is the radiant glow you’ll see right after treatment. By removing the layer of dead skin cells that can make skin look dull and tired, dermaplaning reveals the fresh, healthy skin underneath. Light reflects more evenly off smooth skin, creating that coveted luminosity that makeup can only try to replicate.

This isn’t a subtle difference—the glow is real and immediate. Many clients schedule dermaplaning appointments before important events like weddings, photo shoots, or special occasions because they know their skin will look its absolute best.

Superior Product Penetration

Dead skin cells act as a barrier that prevents your expensive serums and treatments from reaching the living skin cells where they can actually work. After dermaplaning, all those collagen-boosting peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and antioxidant-rich botanicals can penetrate more deeply and work more effectively.

This makes dermaplaning an excellent complement to your at-home skincare routine and professional treatments. When you invest in quality organic skincare products, dermaplaning ensures you’re getting the maximum benefit from every drop.

Smooth Canvas for Makeup

If you wear makeup, you’ll notice a dramatic difference in how it applies after dermaplaning. Foundation glides on smoothly without catching on dry patches or fine hair. Your makeup looks more natural and flawless, and it tends to last longer throughout the day. Many makeup artists recommend dermaplaning before important events specifically for this reason.

Even if you don’t wear makeup regularly, you’ll love how smooth your skin feels and how beautifully it absorbs your moisturizer and facial oils.

Reduction in the Appearance of Fine Lines

While dermaplaning isn’t an anti-aging treatment in the same way that microchanneling or collagen-stimulating facials are, it does make fine lines less noticeable. By removing the dead skin cell buildup that can settle into fine lines and make them look deeper, your skin appears smoother and more youthful. Over time, with regular treatments, the improved product absorption also supports your skin’s overall health and resilience.

Treatment for Rough Texture and Dryness

If you struggle with rough, uneven texture or persistent dryness that doesn’t respond well to moisturizers alone, dermaplaning can be transformative. It’s particularly effective for Colorado residents dealing with the effects of our dry climate. By removing the buildup of dead cells that contributes to roughness and flaking, dermaplaning allows your skin to function more efficiently and absorb the hydration it needs.

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Debunking the Myths: Will the Hair Grow Back Thicker?

Let’s address the biggest concern most people have about dermaplaning: the fear that removing facial hair will cause it to grow back darker, thicker, or more noticeable. This is perhaps the most persistent myth in skincare, and it’s time to put it to rest once and for all.

The hair on your face is vellus hair—fine, soft, colorless or light-colored hair that’s completely different from the terminal hair that grows on your scalp, underarms, or legs. Vellus hair doesn’t have the same structure or growth pattern as terminal hair. When you remove vellus hair through dermaplaning, it grows back exactly as it was before: fine, soft, and light.

The myth that shaving makes hair grow back thicker likely comes from the fact that when hair is cut with a blade, the blunt edge can feel slightly coarser as it first emerges. But the hair itself hasn’t changed—its diameter, color, and growth rate remain exactly the same. Within a few days of growth, the hair tapers naturally and returns to its normal soft texture.

Think about it this way: men shave their faces daily, and while their beard hair is thick and coarse, that’s because it’s terminal hair—a completely different type of hair. If shaving caused hair to grow back progressively thicker, men who have shaved for decades would have impossibly thick beards. The type of hair on your face simply doesn’t work that way.

You can trust that dermaplaning will not change your facial hair. It’s a safe, effective treatment that has been performed for years with consistently beautiful results.

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Who is Dermaplaning For?

Dermaplaning is appropriate for most skin types and concerns, making it one of the most versatile treatments available. It’s particularly wonderful for several specific situations.

If you have dry or dehydrated skin, dermaplaning removes the barrier of dead cells that prevents moisture from penetrating, allowing your hydrating products to work more effectively. Those dealing with dull, lackluster skin will see immediate brightening and renewed radiance. If you have fine lines or rough texture, dermaplaning creates a smoother surface that looks and feels more youthful.

Pregnant or nursing clients who cannot use certain active ingredients like retinol appreciate dermaplaning as a safe, effective exfoliation option. Individuals with sensitive skin who find chemical exfoliants too harsh often tolerate dermaplaning beautifully because it’s purely physical and doesn’t involve acids or potentially irritating ingredients.

Anyone preparing for a special event will love the immediate, dramatic results. Dermaplaning is also ideal for those who want to maximize the effectiveness of their professional treatments and at-home products by ensuring optimal absorption.

When Dermaplaning May Not Be Appropriate

While dermaplaning is safe for most people, there are a few situations where it’s not recommended. If you have active acne with inflamed pustules or cysts, dermaplaning could spread bacteria and worsen breakouts. We’ll wait until your skin is calmer before performing this treatment.

Those with active cold sores, open wounds, or skin infections should postpone dermaplaning until the skin has healed completely. If you have extremely sensitive skin conditions like active rosacea, eczema, or severe irritation, we may recommend gentler exfoliation methods first.

Clients who have used isotretinoin (Accutane) within the past six months should avoid dermaplaning, as the medication can thin the skin and make it more vulnerable to irritation.

During your consultation at Skin + Chamomile, we’ll assess your skin and discuss whether dermaplaning is right for you. Our goal is always to recommend treatments that will truly benefit your unique skin.

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What to Expect During Your Dermaplaning Treatment

Understanding what happens during a dermaplaning appointment helps you feel comfortable and confident about the experience.

Your treatment begins with a thorough cleanse to remove all makeup, oil, and impurities. Your skin needs to be completely clean and dry for dermaplaning to be effective and safe. We’ll then prepare your skin and position you comfortably for the treatment.

Using a sterile, surgical-grade blade held at a precise angle, your esthetician will make gentle, feathering strokes across your skin. You’ll feel a light scraping sensation, but it shouldn’t be uncomfortable. Many clients find the sensation quite pleasant and relaxing. The treatment covers your entire face, carefully working around delicate areas like the eyes.

If you’re receiving dermaplaning as part of a custom facial, we’ll follow it with targeted treatments, serums, and masks that can now penetrate deeply into your freshly exfoliated skin. The products we apply immediately after dermaplaning are incredibly effective because they have direct access to the living skin cells.

Your skin may look slightly pink immediately after treatment, similar to the healthy flush after a facial. This subsides quickly, usually within an hour or two. There’s no downtime, and you can return to your normal activities immediately. In fact, you’ll probably want to show off your glowing skin!

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Aftercare: Protecting Your Newly Revealed Skin

After dermaplaning, your skin will be more receptive to products and slightly more sensitive to the sun for the first few days. Proper aftercare ensures you get the best results and protects your newly revealed skin.

Sun protection becomes even more critical after dermaplaning. In Colorado’s intense high-altitude sun, this is non-negotiable. Apply a mineral-based SPF of at least 30 every morning and reapply throughout the day if you’re outdoors. Your fresh skin deserves protection.

Avoid harsh exfoliants, retinol, and strong active ingredients for at least three to five days after treatment. Your skin has just been thoroughly exfoliated and needs gentle care, not aggressive actives. Focus on hydration and nourishment instead. Use gentle, soothing products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, chamomile, calendula, and nourishing plant oils.

Skip intense workouts that cause heavy sweating for the first twenty-four hours, and avoid saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs during this time as well. Keep your skin clean but be gentle—avoid scrubbing or using washcloths.

This is the perfect time to apply your most luxurious, nourishing serums and treatments. Your skin can absorb them more effectively than ever, so take advantage of this window of enhanced penetration.

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How Often Should You Get Dermaplaning?

The rate at which your skin cells turn over determines the ideal frequency for dermaplaning treatments. For most people, dermaplaning every three to four weeks provides optimal results. This timing aligns with your skin’s natural cell turnover cycle, allowing a fresh layer of dead cells to accumulate that can then be removed.

Some clients with particularly dry skin or significant texture concerns may benefit from slightly more frequent treatments, while others may prefer to space them out a bit more. During your consultation and follow-up appointments, we’ll help you determine the schedule that works best for your unique skin needs and goals.

Consistency delivers the best long-term results. Regular dermaplaning treatments maintain that smooth, glowing complexion and ensure your skincare products continue to work at their highest potential.

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Dermaplaning Combined with Other Treatments

One of the beautiful aspects of dermaplaning is how well it works in combination with other treatments. At Skin + Chamomile, we often incorporate dermaplaning into our custom facials to enhance their effectiveness.

Dermaplaning before a custom facial allows all the botanical serums, masks, and treatments to penetrate more deeply. The exfoliation creates the perfect canvas for layering nourishing ingredients, and clients often comment that their skin has never felt so soft or looked so radiant.

Dermaplaning also pairs beautifully with chemical peels for those whose skin can tolerate both treatments. The physical exfoliation of dermaplaning followed by the chemical exfoliation of a peel creates dramatic results for texture, tone, and overall skin quality.

However, it’s important to note that dermaplaning should not be performed immediately before or after microchanneling. These treatments need to be spaced appropriately to allow your skin adequate time to heal between intensive procedures. We’ll help you create a treatment schedule that combines therapies safely and effectively.

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Why Choose Dermaplaning at Skin + Chamomile?

At Skin + Chamomile, we approach dermaplaning as part of a holistic skincare journey, not as an isolated procedure. When you come to us for dermaplaning, you’re receiving care from trained professionals who understand skin health deeply and who use only sterile, high-quality tools in a clean, peaceful environment.

We take the time to assess your skin, discuss your concerns and goals, and create a treatment plan that supports your skin’s long-term health. Dermaplaning isn’t just about immediate results—though those are wonderful—it’s about supporting your skin’s natural renewal process and creating the optimal conditions for your skincare products and other treatments to work effectively.

Whether you choose dermaplaning as a standalone treatment for quick results before an event, or you incorporate it into regular custom facials as part of your ongoing skincare routine, we’re here to guide you with expertise and care.

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Experience the Dermaplaning Difference

There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing and feeling the immediate transformation that dermaplaning provides. Smooth, glowing, radiant skin isn’t a fantasy—it’s what happens when you remove the barrier of dead cells and fine hair that’s been dulling your complexion.

If you’ve been curious about dermaplaning, now is the perfect time to experience it for yourself. Whether you’re preparing for a special occasion, looking to enhance your skincare routine’s effectiveness, or simply want to treat yourself to beautifully smooth skin, dermaplaning delivers results you can see and feel immediately.

Ready to reveal your smoothest, most radiant skin?

Book your dermaplaning treatment at Skin + Chamomile today and discover why this gentle exfoliation technique has become one of our most beloved services.

Your glowing skin is waiting.

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References

Karimipour, D. J., Karimipour, G., & Orringer, J. S. (2010). Microdermabrasion: An evidence-based review. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 125(1), 372-377. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181c2a583

Lee, S. J., Seok, J., Jeong, S. Y., Park, K. Y., Li, K., & Seo, S. J. (2017). Facial pores: Definition, causes, and treatment options. Dermatologic Surgery, 43(7), 945-954. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000001118

Lynde, C. B., Andriessen, A., Bertucci, V., McCuaig, C., Tan, J., Thomas, R., & Vender, R. (2016). The skin microbiome in acne vulgaris and its relationship to therapy. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 20(5), 458-464. https://doi.org/10.1177/1203475416651278

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