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by BR Kellie
About six years ago my body started to go a bit haywire. I would wake up in the middle of the night coated in sweat. I'd be driving around and become so hot my car's windows would steam up. My period decided that it was tired of a steady 29 day cycle and began coming randomly. Oh, and I started getting really hairy. Not thick, coarse hair, but fine peach fuzz (aka vellus), mainly on my cheeks, as well as in between my brows. A chat with my doc, along with knowing my mother was young when she began 'the change', and it was decided that perimenopause had sidled up to me and decided it was time we hung out.
The sweats I've learned to deal with. The periods are driving me mad but I can't do much about them as birth control and I are not friends. On the whole I've realised that as I enter a new phase of womanhood I just have to go with it as much as I can, rather than get frustrated with my inability to control it. HOWEVER, the peach fuzz I decided I couldn't deal with because I'm a daily foundation wearer and I was finding foundation emphasised the hair and made the foundation (and my face) look weird.
One quick Google later and I discovered at home dermaplaning was one way to easily deal with vellus hair. So I decided to give it a go... because what was the worst that could happen?
What is at home dermaplaning?
In a nutshell, at home dermaplaning is shaving. Not with any old shaver though, you need a delicate razor. I picked up a three pack from my local Japan Home Mart for a couple of dollars, but Revlon also have Face Defuzzers if you don't have access to a store like Japan Home Mart.
Is it different from professional dermaplaning?
Yes. Absolutely. A professional will use a surgical grade scalpel to dermaplane, which will work better to remove vellus hair while also exfoliating skin.
How easy is at home dermaplaning?
Really easy. After cleansing and drying your skin, you simply take the razor, hold it on an angle, and then bring it over the affected areas in downward strokes. After each pass I cleaned off the razor on a paper towel to remove hair/debris, before going over a fresh area. Afterwards I moisturised.
Did it make a difference?
Did it what!? I was blown away by how much smoother my foundation went on. It looked so good. I was thrilled.
Did the hair grow back thicker?
This I was scared about. The last thing you want when you have peach fuzz is to have thicker peach fuzz. I spent (and this is no exaggeration) many, many minutes googling and watching YouTubers talk about their experience with at home dermaplaning, and the overwhelming answer was no... which gave me the courage I needed to start shaving.
The worst that happened?
I cut myself one day. A tiny, little nick that stung a bit, but barely showed on my skin and healed in no time.
Do I recommend at home dermaplanning?
For me, it worked a treat. I was thrilled to feel less self-conscious about how my foundation looked. However, as always, do your research before trying an at home treatment, patch test if necessary. Or book in and have it professionally done.
So, my beauties... Have you tried dermaplaning? At home or professional? What was your experience? Is it something you're interested in trying? Or not for you?
Chat below!
When peach fuzz first appeared, followed later by random - & alarming dark hairs, I used my trusty tweezers. No sweat, I thought. How misguided I was!
Fast forward a few years, and The Fuzz and more Random Hairs require regular, serious attention.
IPL was my first consideration, but after a lot of research, I decided it wasn't with the investment, for several reasons.
I'm not brave enough to try the razors, so why for the Braun Silk Epil. A battery operated gadget that plucks hairs out. Would I recommend it? No. It's painful and the very small epilation head renders it very initial for peach fuzz over larger areas. It does come with interchangeable heads, but still isn't worth investing in.
Now I'm using Shlick's Hydro Silk Perfect Finish 3-in-1 hair removal gadget. Battery operated with interchangeable heads. It swiftly and painlessly removes peach fuzz and stray hairs. And it's a quick fix when needed! The other beads are an eyebrow shaper and bikini line trimmer. I haven't tried them yet, but am sure they'll be good.
Shlick also seem the face razors ... Now starting to ponder ...!