Dermaplane FacialA cleared surface, so everything applied after it works.

The Dermaplane Facial at KIAMO Skin is $199.

Dermaplaning is legal in California and sits within the scope of practice for licensed estheticians and cosmetologists. The California Board of Barbering & Cosmetology confirmed this in an industry bulletin effective January 1, 2022, following Senate Bill 803. The Board draws the line at depth — dermaplaning exfoliates the epidermis and removes vellus hair without going beyond it, which keeps it inside esthetician scope. Every blade used at KIAMO Skin is sterile and single-use.

The real downside of dermaplaning is that it cannot be performed over active or inflamed acne, and those areas are worked around rather than over. It also does nothing for pigmentation, scarring or barrier damage, because it is a surface treatment and the smoothness is temporary as dead cells rebuild. There is no downtime, but the skin is more exposed afterwards, so SPF matters more than usual. If the goal is correction rather than a clean surface, a peel or microchanneling is the honest recommendation.

Vellus hair does not grow back stubbly or thicker after dermaplaning. The blade cuts the hair at the surface and never touches the follicle, and the follicle is what determines thickness, colour and rate of growth. What does change is the cut end — a blunt tip can feel different under the fingertips than a tapered one, which is where the myth comes from. The hair returns exactly as it was.

Everyone has vellus hair on the face, and removing it is a cosmetic choice with no effect on how it grows back. There is no health reason to remove peach fuzz and no health reason to keep it. Most clients choose dermaplaning because makeup stops catching on the surface and skincare absorbs into skin instead of sitting on debris. If the hair itself is not the issue, the exfoliation is still reason enough.

Dermaplaning is safe for melanin-rich skin when the blade technique is correct and the skin is not actively inflamed or broken out. The risk in darker skin tones is not the blade itself but what happens after — sun exposure on freshly exfoliated skin can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which is more common in melanin-rich skin. Daily mineral SPF with at least SPF 30 is required after dermaplaning on any skin tone, but on deeper skin tones it is the difference between a smooth surface and additional dark marks. Dermaplaning at KIAMO Skin is performed by a licensed esthetician trained on Black and brown skin, where the risk of PIH is highest.

Every 4 to 6 weeks is the standard interval. Vellus hair regrowth is part of the natural cycle and not a reason to book sooner — booking more frequently can sensitize the barrier without changing the result. San Diego clients who dermaplane monthly for events typically space the treatments with a HydraFacial between for maintenance. The Dermaplane Facial at KIAMO Skin is $199.

The safest dermaplaning in San Diego depends on blade technique and post-care, not the brand of the studio. KIAMO Skin performs dermaplaning in a private treatment room in San Diego by Kiki, a California licensed esthetician with 7+ years on the Fitzpatrick I–VI spectrum, sterile single-use blades, and the right pre/post routine for melanin-rich skin. The Dermaplane Facial is $199.

Direct sun exposure for 24 hours, retinoids and acids for 48 to 72 hours, and any active that stings — the freshly exfoliated surface is more permeable, which is the point of the treatment, but also why anything strong goes in harder than usual. Daily mineral SPF 50+ is non-negotiable in San Diego’s year-round UV. Makeup can go back on immediately. The Dermaplane Facial at KIAMO Skin is $199.