Dermaplaning at home: what the blade takes off, the myth it does not deserve, and when to leave it alone

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Researched. We have not used this one long enough to give you a verdict, and we would rather say so than invent one. What follows is how it works, who it suits, and what it will not do. When we have used it properly, this page carries the verdict and the date.

Schick Hydro Silk Dermaplane Razor

Dermaplaning is shaving your face with a small, fine blade, and it does two things at once. It removes the soft, pale hair most faces have — peach fuzz — and it takes a thin layer of dead skin cells off the surface with it. That is the whole of it, and it is why skin looks smoother and makeup goes on more evenly straight afterwards.

The myth, dealt with

Hair does not grow back thicker, darker or faster after you shave it. The number of hair follicles and the kind of hair they grow are not changed by cutting the hair off at the surface. What changes is the tip: a hair that grew naturally tapers to a fine point, and a cut hair has a blunt end, which can feel slightly stubbly as it grows back. It is the same hair.

The listing makes the same point, and it is right to.

What the tool is built for

According to the listing: a weighted metal handle with a non-slip silicone grip, for control; small guards along the blade, meant to protect facial skin; and six refill blades with the handle. The weighted handle matters more than it sounds, because control is most of what makes dermaplaning go well.

The listing also says it is dermatologist approved, without saying by whom or on what evidence — so we would not lean on that line.

How to do it

On clean, completely dry skin, with no oil or cream on it. Hold the skin taut with your free hand. Keep the blade at a shallow angle to the skin and use short, light, downward strokes, letting the blade glide rather than pressing it in. Go around the nose and the edges of the eyebrows carefully, and never near the eyes themselves.

Afterwards, a plain moisturizer, and sunscreen the next day and every day — the fresh surface you have just uncovered is more exposed to the sun than the one you took off. There is more on that in what SPF measures.

How often

The listing says every two to four weeks, and that is about right. Skin needs time to renew the layer you remove, and doing it more often trades smoothness for sensitivity. Swap to a fresh blade regularly: a dull blade drags, and dragging is what irritates.

When to leave it alone

Skip it over any spot that is raised, sore or inflamed — a blade across a bump will catch it. Skip it on skin that is sunburned, broken, peeling or already irritated. If you use a prescription retinoid or have been told your skin is fragile for any reason, ask whoever prescribed it before you start. And do not use it the same day as an exfoliating acid or a retinol; the blade is already doing the exfoliating.

A blade is personal. Do not share it.

What it will not do

It will not remove hair for longer than any other shave — the fuzz grows back on its usual schedule. It will not do anything for pores beyond making the surface look smoother for a while. And it is not a substitute for proper cleansing or exfoliation between sessions; it is an occasional extra, not a routine step.

The product

A dermaplaning razor with a weighted handle and guarded blades, and enough refills to last months at the recommended pace. It suits anyone who wants smoother-looking skin and a better base for makeup, with a steady hand and a little patience.

The one people are searching for is the Schick Hydro Silk Dermaplane Razor, 1 Handle & 6 Refills.

Schick Hydro Silk Dermaplane Razor

We do not print prices here, because a price we typed last month is a price that is wrong today.

Written by JamieG in Garner Town, Tennessee.