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The derma roller is a skin treatment tool that has been used for years to stimulate hair growth, reduce wrinkles and acne, and help with other skin concerns. But did you know it can also be used on your beard to encourage beard growth? This post will explore how you can use the derma roller for beard growth, along with some tips on how to do it safely. We’ve got all the information you need in order to get started! So, read on!
What is a derma-roller, and how does it work?
Derma rollers are handheld devices that look like a small pinecone, but instead of prickles, the roller head has hundreds of tiny needles. These needles go just under the skin to induce collagen production, which can make the skin tighter and improve the appearance of scars. They also induce blood flow to the area, which can increase hair growth.
First, women used them to reduce wrinkles and scars on the face, but men soon found them and started using them for scalp hair loss and then to fix patchy beards.
When the tiny needles go into the skin, they cause little injuries, and the body sends collagen to heal this injury. Collagen is one of the main structural proteins in the body, and it makes up our connective tissues like hair, nails, and skin. By causing these tiny injuries all over your face (and other parts of your body), the derma roller encourages new collagen and increases blood circulation in the area.
By doing this, you are encouraging new hair growth.
It’s also important to note that results are not guaranteed when using a derma roller for your beard! Results are never 100%, but it can significantly help men with a patchy beard who are looking for a solution.
Are derma rollers effective for beard growth?
There are not many studies on whether or not a beard roller can aid in hair growth, but many men have seen great results. Some of them are part of online beard communities that do before and after comparisons. You can check these photos for evidence that the derma roller works!
Also, there is a study that did determine that micro-needling along with minoxidil lotion can help with hair growth. Minoxidil lotion is the only FDA-approved treatment for hair loss; however, some men have reported negative side effects from using it, including redness and scalp irritation. But don’t worry, we are going to talk about it later.
How to use a derma roller on your beard?
While micro-needling is not rocket science, there are certain things to consider before you start derma rolling your face. So let’s see what you need to do before you start the treatment, and then we’ll go over what to expect from the process.
The following recommendations can be used for all skin types, but if you have very sensitive skin, your doctor may recommend a different approach.
Pre-micro-needling routine
Before you use your beard roller, you should have a pre-micro needling routine. This will help to prepare your skin for the treatment.
So what do you need to do? You should wash your face with a gentle cleanser or an exfoliating scrub and then pat it dry with a soft towel. Don’t rub your face with the towel since this can increase irritation to the skin.
After your face is clean and patted dry, you can start using your derma roller to start stimulating beard growth.
Pressure
You should make sure that you are not pressing it too hard on your face. A good way to regulate this is by doing a patch test on your arm first. If it hurts, you are probably pressing too hard. If you feel no pain, then that’s the perfect pressure to use on your face. But you might need to put a bit more pressure on certain areas like your cheeks because there is no resistance from a bone or something like there is on your arm.
Duration
You should use the derma roller for beard growth anywhere from 1-7 minutes, but make sure it is no more than 7.
Longer than that could lead to bleeding, irritation, and other unwanted side effects. Just make sure you have gone over all the areas you want to work on.
Direction
Make sure you are rolling back and forth across all directions horizontally, vertically, and diagonally for the best results. You want to get even coverage around your face. You don’t have to be too precise with this step, though, because over time, you will be able to tell what the most effective angles are for you. Start covering all directions, and the experience will guide you!
Frequency
The frequency of micro-needling depends on skin type, the pressure used, the duration, and the needle size. You need to give your skin enough time to heal and recover. This is because your body sends collagen and blood to the area during the healing process, which will help with hair growth.
As a general rule of thumb, if you are using 0.50mm needles and above is that you should wait 48 hours between treatments. If you are using .25mm needles and below, you can do it daily. But because every person is different, you should let your body be the judge!
Post-micro needling routine
After using the derma roller on your face, you want to clean it with facial hair wash and apply a beard conditioner or beard oil.
How to clean your beard roller?
Cleaning the derma roller is very important because it will prevent infections and ingrown hairs. Plus, if you don’t clean it, it will become a breeding ground for bacteria!
All you need to do is to keep your roller in a glass of disinfecting alcohol overnight. You can also wash it with soap, but make sure no oil residue is left on the roller since this will help bacteria grow.
How to Choose a derma-roller?
Choosing a beard roller can be confusing because you might not know what to look for. Here are some of the key factors you should consider.
Needle length
You should choose a needle with a size less than 0.75mm and over 0.25mm. It is important to note that the larger the needle length, the faster and better results you will get. The minimum size of 0.25mm will puncture your skin and cause blood circulation but sometimes won’t be enough to stimulate beard growth because it won’t reach the hair follicles. If you want to get the most out of beard growth, choose a beard derma roller in the .50mm – 0.75mm range. Larger than 0.75mm needles are better suited for use on scalp hair to fight hair loss.
Needle material
There are 2 materials that beard derma rollers’ needles are made from, stainless steel and titanium.
Both of these materials are safe to use and have pros and cons.
Titanium needles are of better quality because they are firmer and cause less damage that can lead to infections or injury.
Stainless steel needles are cheaper, but the needles are not as firm.
Needle shape
Different beard derma rollers have different needle shapes, so it is important to do your research here. Round tip beard roller needles are best used on acne scars, wrinkles, or other harder skin surfaces. Flat beard roller needles are good for hair loss because they have a broader contact surface.
Number of Needles
The more needles your beard derma roller has, the better the results will be because it can cover a larger area in less time. The number of needles ranges from around 190 to 540. The fewer the needles, the safer the beard derma roller will be. You should also keep in mind the correlation between the number of needles and their size. Most of the time, the more needles the beard derma roller has, the smaller those needles will be.
Size and grip of beard roller
The derma roller size is important because it affects how much skin the beard roller will cover. A smaller beard derma roller can treat more sensitive areas, while a larger beard derma roller can be used on larger areas of the face or beard. You also want to consider how easy it is to hold and use your beard rollers when you beard derma roller shopping.
Beard derma rollers’ grips materials
- Plastic handle (cheaper and lighter)
- Rubber handle (thicker and heavier)
- Aluminum handle (heavier and more durable than rubber or plastic)
How long does derma roller take to work for beard?
In order to start seeing beard growth results, you should use derma rollers for at least 3 months. You will start seeing the first results after one month of use, but after 3 months of frequent use, you should see solid beard growth. Beard rolling works cumulatively, and every time you use your beard roller, you are stimulating new facial hair follicles, so after a few months, beard growth is going to be very consistent.
Best Derma Rollers for beard
Beard Derma Roller
Beard Derma Roller is the best overall beard roller. It has 0.25mm titanium needles making it safe for use on sensitive skin.
0.5mm Derma Roller
This is one of the best 0.5mm derma rollers you can find on the market. It has 540 titanium 0.5mm needles to help if you have a patchy beard.
Healthy Care 0.75mm Beard Roller
This is one of the best 0.75mm beard rollers on the market. It has 540 high-quality needles to help with fast beard growth.
Micro-needling Side Effects
No hair growth results are worth suffering painful side effects. Before starting derma rolling, you should be aware of the risks and know what side effects there might be so that you can be sure it’s worth it.
While not many beard derma roller side effects can occur, there are some you should be aware of.
Some of the most common side effects are:
- Infection
- Beard hair shedding
- Acne breakouts
- Bleeding.
- Irritation
- Inflammation
The best way to avoid these side effects is to use your derma roller carefully.
- Always disinfect your derma roller before and after use with alcohol.
- Don’t use the beard derma roller every day if you notice your skin gets irritated.
- Make sure your beard derma roller is not too deep in one spot for too long because that can also cause beard hair shedding and bleeding.
- Also, avoid using needles bigger than 0.75mm because that can cause irritation.
Beard Roller and Minoxidil for facial hair growth
One of the most efficient ways to stimulate beard growth is to use Minoxidil along with a beard roller. Minoxidil treatment is scientifically proven to stimulate facial hair growth, so when you combine it with a beard derma roller, the results will be even better.
But if you choose to do that, you should be really careful because Minoxidil, along with a derma roller, can cause skin irritation and itchiness. You should apply Minoxidil like you always did (twice a day) and use a beard roller once a week. Make sure not to use Minoxidil for at least 24 hours before or after you microneedle because Minoxidil will get into the tiny injuries caused by the beard roller and cause skin burns.
Derma Roller FAQ
Can I Dermaroll My Beard Every Day?
It depends on the needle size you are using and on your skin sensitivity. As we mentioned above a general rule of thumb is to use a derma roller every day if it has 0.25mm needles.
If you use one with 0.50mm like we suggest you should use it every two days.
What Do You Put On A Beard After Dermarolling?
As we mentioned above after you finish Dermarolling and cleaning your derma roller you should apply beard oil or some other kind of facial hair moisturizer.
Using a facial hair moisturizer will help your skin to recover faster, it will reduce beard hair shedding and beard itching.
Does A Beard Roller Hurt?
If you are using a derma roller that has 0.25mm needles, it will be painless.
A derma roller with 0.50mm needles also doesn’t hurt a lot but you might feel some pinching.
For beard roller with bigger needles, you will feel some kind of beard hair pulling while derma rolling.
Which Derma Roller Is Best For The Beard?
We have listed above 3 of the best options for each needle size.
Do Beard Rollers Really Work?
Yes, beard rollers work and they are very efficient beard growth stimulators.
Beard rollers like derma rollers are used by beard lovers all around the world.
They have been scientifically tested, and the first results can be seen as early as after a month of regular micro-needling use.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we’ve explored the benefits of derma rolling for the beard but also the side effects. Do the benefits really outweigh the risks? That’s for you to decide! What do you think about this kind of device? Have you used one before? Let us know what you think by hitting the comments below. We’ll be waiting eagerly to read your thoughts on these devices or anything else related to beard growth.
Russell is the founder of themensattitude.com. He is a barber a beard enthusiast and he is obsessed with trying men’s lifestyle products and blog about them. If you have any questions you can hit him up via the contact page.
