Dermaplaning vs Shaving Your Face: What’s the Difference?

Close up of a cheek and jawline after at home dermaplaning
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The short answer

Shaving only removes facial hair and can leave blunt tips. Dermaplaning uses a finer blade at a 45-degree angle to remove peach fuzz and exfoliate dead surface skin, giving a smoother, brighter finish and better makeup application. Dermaplaning is exfoliation first; shaving is hair removal only.

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They look similar, but the goal and the result differ. Here is how dermaplaning compares to shaving, and to waxing, so you can pick the right method.

The tool to look at is the Michael Todd Sonicsmooth Pro+.

Dermaplaning vs shaving

A facial razor is designed for hair only. A dermaplaning tool has a finer, angled blade that also lifts away dead skin, which is why the glow is more noticeable. If you want more than fuzz removal, dermaplaning wins, so see the best at-home dermaplaning tools.

What about waxing?

Waxing pulls hair from the root, so results last longer, but it is more painful and can irritate facial skin. The full comparison is in Dermaplaning vs Waxing.

Does the hair grow back differently?

No, this is the biggest myth. Removing vellus hair at the surface does not change the follicle, so it does not grow back thicker or darker. More on that in dermaplaning mistakes and side effects.

My recommended tool: the Michael Todd Sonicsmooth is the at-home dermaplaning tool I personally use and rate 4.7 out of 5. Read the full review.

Shop the Sonicsmooth Pro+

Also looking at hair removal? Dermaplaning clears peach fuzz for a week or two. For hair that keeps coming back on legs, underarms or the bikini line, at-home IPL is the next step up, and the one to look at is the Nood Flasher Pro, the only at-home IPL device with an energy figure in a public FDA file.

Start with the full IPL comparison, or go straight to Nood vs Ulike Air 10, Nood vs Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 and Nood vs Philips Lumea 9000.

Frequently asked

Is dermaplaning just shaving your face?

No. Shaving removes hair only; dermaplaning removes hair and exfoliates dead skin with a finer angled blade for a smoother finish.

Is dermaplaning better than a razor for peach fuzz?

Yes for most people. It removes fuzz more precisely and adds exfoliation a basic razor cannot.

New to this, where do I start?

Read is at-home dermaplaning safe? then how to dermaplane at home, and what to use after dermaplaning for the skincare step.

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