How To Dermaplane At Home, Including The Best Tips And Tools

Peach fuzz. We all know it, we all have it, and we don't always know what to do with it. Peach fuzz is what we affectionately refer to as the fluffy, basically invisible hair that is often present on our skin's outermost layer. It's not much of a nuisance, and you're completely fine letting it roam free, largely undetected. Usually, only you and the ring-lighted magnifying makeup mirror are the wiser. Facial hair is just a fact of life, and it's not something anyone notices beyond just yourself. However, for those who prefer a little self-grooming, there's a way to get rid of peach fuzz at home, and it's called dermaplaning.

I first began dermaplaning at home after it was recommended to me by a friend who swore by how it made her skin feel like a baby's bottom, thanks to a $6 tool from Amazon. As someone who tints my own brows with beard dye, I'm a do-it-yourself type of girl, and so I set out to find the best at-home dermaplaning tool and try it for myself. After extensive research and many how-to videos, I stood close in front of my bathroom mirror and watched with a mix of horror and odd delight as little fluffs flew off my face where the tool was gliding over my skin. Now, I repeat the process each month whenever I want a brighter, softer complexion in areas where I accumulate invisible baby hairs, and it makes my makeup sit so smoothly on my skin every time.

If you're looking for solutions on how to dermaplane at home, here's where to start.

What Is Dermaplaning?

Technically speaking, dermaplaning is a spa treatment in which an esthetician uses a scalpel-like tool to exfoliate the outer layer of skin, removing dead skin cells and peach fuzz at the same time. However, there's now been a rise of at-home dermaplaning tools that allow you to achieve similar results at home, albeit less invasive. You're still able to exfoliate and remove baby hairs on the face using gentler face-specific razor tools, many of which you can get affordably from Amazon or the drugstore.

Similar to an exfoliating mask, the benefits of dermaplaning include exfoliation, a brighter complexion (due to the outer layer of skin causing dullness), deeper skin-care product penetration when you're using ingredients like vitamin C or retinol, and smoother makeup application. A common question is if dermaplaning causes hair to grow back thicker or darker on the face, but you don't need to worry, as it does not.

For those who want to try out dermaplaning at home, it's important to heed important guidelines to avoid irritation or skin barrier damage. Here's what to remember.

How To Dermaplane At Home

It's important to note that when determining if dermaplaning is right for you, it is generally not advised for those with sensitive skin, rosacea, active acne-prone skin, or active eczema.

1. Start with clean, dry skin. You'll also need to start with a sanitized clean tool to ensure there's no bacteria present when shaving the skin.
2. Pull skin taut and glide the tool in small motions downwards. You'll notice small puffs of hair accumulating as you shave. Make sure to keep it at a gentle angle to not injure the skin.
3. It's typically easiest to start on the cheeks near your ears and work downwards towards your jawline and chin. Then, follow with around the mouth and the eyebrows, always angling it downwards and using short, gentle motions.
4. Make sure to avoid areas such as your hairline, eyelids, and nose.
5. Afterward, immediately follow with your normal routine minus any active ingredients. Go with a hydrating serum or moisturizer. The skin has now been exfoliated and needs nourishing ingredients instead of harsh ingredients such as retinol.

It's only necessary to dermaplane at home around once a month since it exfoliates more deeply than any serum, so make sure to space out between sessions to maintain a healthy skin barrier. You're also able to tailor where you're using the tool according to your needs, as many people just prefer to focus on the cheeks, around the brows, or on the top lip.

The Best At-Home Dermaplaning Tools

You can find many options on the market today, but I personally always keep a set of the Schick Hydro Silk Touch-Up Exfoliating Dermaplaning Tools in my bathroom cabinet. A three-pack costs only $6 on Amazon. I usually just order another set instead of sanitizing them after usage, just to make sure there are no active bacteria left over.

Another Southern Living editor, Betsy Cribb, swears by the Tinkle Eyebrow Razors, also affordably priced at $6 for a set of six razors, for maintenance, particularly around the brows where many people naturally have more rogue hairs or peach fuzz.

However, much more expensive tools can also be found for those who desire a more spa-like experience. And of course, if you want the absolute best and safest results, always see a professional!