If you ask me, and I’m going to go ahead and assume you have, one of the rare privileges of womanhood is not having to shave your face. I dunno. Maybe I’ve seen one too many fellas patched up with bloody tissues after a battle with a blunt razor, or suffering a nasty case of shaving rash. Whatever. Facial shaving just looks all kinds of awkward and, quite frankly, life endangering (blade, throat etc).
But now I’ve gone and done it. Yup, that’s right, I’ve gone and shaved my face. Before you vomit a little, let’s make one thing clear. I am no kind of bearded lady. My face is about a 2 on the 1-100 scale of hirsuteness. My mo’ is certainly not at contemplative twiddling length (dammit) and if I have any kind of shadow at all, it’s more 1 minute past midnight than 4 o’clock.
But I digress. I was recently alerted to this new (but not at all new) beauty trend on the good ol’ interwebs and, being the ever-willing guinea pig I am, I decided to give it a crack. Hey, if it’s good enough for Maz Monroe and Cleopatra…
After googling ‘female face shaving melbourne’ (must clear search history), I discovered that Carlton’s Clinica-Lase were the local experts in Epi-Blading or Dermaplaning, as it’s more technically known. A little ill at ease on arrival, I was ushered into a treatment room by the lovely Justine. She told me that as a fine-haired blonde with sensitive skin, I was the ideal candidate for dermaplaning (it’s less successful on dark, coarse hair, and more gentle on irritable skins than wax).
After a thorough cleansing, my smugness disappeared as I realised I WAS ABOUT TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH A RAZOR BLADE. ON MY FACE.
So, Here’s What Went Down
Using a straight-edged facial razor (not a Lady BIC), Justine got down to weed whacking. The technique involves a dry shave, with the razor held at a 45-degree angle to get a safe but super-close shave. As well as tackling peach fuzz, epi-blading gives a thorough exfoliation, much like a microdermabrasion treatment. Which means your newly strokable face will benefit from cellular renewal, skincare ingredients will penetrate deeper, and you’ll score a nice, healthy glow.
As for the question on everyone’s lips: no, it doesn’t hurt. The shaving sensation is not at all unpleasant, BUT I did take one or two deep yogic breaths when the blade hovered in more crucial spots. Justine wielded her blade with the precision of a surgeon, though, expertly stretching my skin as required to tackle tricky spots like the lip.
Once it was over, I was kind of disappointed not to see a pile of hair like at the hairdresser. (But I did see bits of it, and it was that kind of good-disgusting feeling you get squeezing a blackhead). My reactive skin was very mildly pink and maybe a wee bit sensitive and kind of itchy for an hour or two. After that, I couldn’t keep my hands to myself. My silky-smooth face needed to be touched every half hour or so.
Who Should Do It?
Epi-blading won’t be for everyone–emotionally or physically–but it’s an option for those with light, downy hair who prefer not to wax. It’s suitable for sensitive skins (but let your aesthetician know any skin conditions beforehand), and should be done every six to eight weeks.
But… How Does It Grow Back?!
Unlike shaving with your regular leg razor, I’m told the hair will not grow back thicker and stronger, and I definitely won’t develop a Burt Reynolds ‘tache. The more treatments you have, the lighter and downier the hair is said to become. I’m only a few days out, but it’s been smooth sailing so far (sorry).
Image credit: Hudabeauty