You lean into the mirror to check your foundation and see it catching on fine hairs. You would love make-up to sit more smoothly, and you would also like those visible hairs gone. Dermaplaning and facial waxing can sound like two routes to the same finish, and each has its own charm: dermaplaning removes fine hair at the surface along with superficial skin cells, while waxing pulls hair out. The right choice depends on your hair, your skin and the result you are after.
Start with the hair you would like to address
Fine facial fuzz and coarse individual hairs are different concerns. A treatment chosen for a smoother-looking surface may not be the most practical answer to a few persistent, thicker hairs.
Point out the areas you would like treated and explain whether your main focus is visible hair, make-up texture or both. Treating one patch never means you have to remove all your facial hair.
It also helps to mention if your hair growth has changed over time, so your practitioner can plan the right approach with you.
What dermaplaning adds beyond hair removal
Dermaplaning uses a blade across the skin’s surface to remove fine hair and superficial dead skin cells. Cleveland Clinic describes the procedure as a form of surface treatment, and it is a helpful read before your appointment.
Its appeal is a beautifully smooth-feeling finish rather than the longest possible gap before hair reappears. It works at the surface, so hair continues to grow as normal.
RPA’s London service describes this combination of exfoliation and fine-hair removal, which makes it worth comparing with your skin’s needs as well as with the price of waxing a small area.
What waxing does differently
Waxing removes hair by pulling it out, which is a different action from cutting it at the surface. The AAD’s hair-removal guide describes the process in detail.
Mention your current skincare routine to any practitioner, even at a familiar salon appointment.
Waxing is discussed here as an alternative method rather than an RPA service. If it is the option you would like, confirm the service and choose a well-trained provider.
Sensitive skin changes the comparison
Both methods ask something of your skin, which is why a quick look first makes such a difference.
If your skin is having a sensitive moment, it may simply be best to wait a little, and your practitioner can tell you when the timing is right.
A previous comfortable appointment is helpful history, and if your products or skin have changed since, mention it when booking so the treatment can be adjusted.
Make room for your routine afterwards
Ask which cleansing, moisturiser and sun protection suit you afterwards, and when make-up or active products can return. Your instructions should reflect your treatment and your skin rather than a generic beauty checklist.
Enjoy the smoothness without adding a scrub or peel at home, because more exfoliation will not preserve the immediate finish.
If you have a special event, give yourself time for a first trial well beforehand, so you know how your skin responds before any photographs or important occasion.
Does adding a peel make dermaplaning better?
RPA lists combined options, and a package is an invitation rather than a requirement. Ask what the additional treatment would contribute and whether the combined exfoliation suits your skin.
A chemical peel has its own formulation, purpose and recovery considerations, so it is best added for a clear reason rather than on the assumption that smoother skin always benefits from more exfoliation.
A simple appointment is a lovely choice in its own right. A clear goal, such as temporary fine-hair removal, is just as worthwhile when you keep the appointment simple.
What to book in London
Our simple London dermaplaning treatment is £80. It combines surface exfoliation with facial hair removal; confirm suitability and what the appointment includes before booking.
At RPA’s medically led Wimpole Street clinic, a short walk from Bond Street station, explain the balance you would like between hair removal, skin feel and ongoing upkeep. Contact the team with your current routine and any recent skin reactions.
The best comparison is practical: which method addresses the hairs you care about, suits your skin today and involves upkeep you are happy to continue? You can make that choice with confidence, knowing that both are temporary approaches to a smoother finish.
Your questions, answered
No, it removes hair at the surface, which is a key difference from waxing.
Ask a professional first. Your skin’s tolerance and the purpose of each step both need to be considered before combining methods.
Dermaplaning is made for fine, soft hair. Discuss your actual hair type and whether another approach would suit it better.
A peel will not make hair removal last longer. Ask what separate skin concern it would address, and choose it for that reason.
Facial waxing is not on RPA’s current treatment list. Contact the clinic if you are specifically looking for waxing rather than dermaplaning.
