Shaving Face

Sounds good, but we’re sure you’re asking the same question we were… won’t the little hairs come back thicker or coarser? Dermatologists say no. “What you do to the surface of the hair doesn’t thicken or coarsen it—including true shaving,” says Dr. Lupo.

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And as Schook points out, the blade used for dermaplaning is different than a regular old drugstore shaver. “A shaver is built to shave the thick hair on our bodies, and it cuts hair in a crudely blunt way. Dermaplaning is like that scene in The Bodyguard, when Kevin Costner uses a samurai sword to cut the silk. It’s precise and effortless.”

Interested in trying it? Make sure to go to a licensed aesthetician with experience in dermaplaning, or see your dermatologist to find out if it’s right for you. “It’s a safe procedure when performed by an experienced practitioner, but it’s inappropriate if you have certain medical skin conditions such as eczema, cold sores or psoriasis,” notes Dr. Kauvar.

And if you want to go the DIY route, use a brow razor with a safety guard—not a regular shaver. “A shaver will make hair feel stiff, rough or blunt,” says Schook. One more word of caution? “Go slowly—only do it when you don’t have to rush!”