When you first read about what a derma roller is, and how it can apparently deliver better beard growth, it’s easy to be skeptical and maybe a little shocked at what you actually do with it.
A derma roller consists of hundreds of tiny needles that you roll across your skin. If you tell someone you are doing that, they might think you are a little bit nuts, but once they see the results, they might be convinced to try it themselves.
The truth is that using a derma roller for beard growth can be a quick, easy and effective way of doing just that.
But there are a few things you need to know, like what to do, what not to do, and what the best derma roller to buy is.
So let’s have a look right now at how you can improve your beard growth, thickness and consistency by following a few simple tips on successfully using a derma roller.
What Is A Derma Roller?
Microneedling is something that has been common in female skincare for some time, but it’s only recently that men have cottoned on to the fact that it can help them as well.
Microneedling is achieved through using a derma roller. It contains hundreds of tiny needles which you roll across your skin. The object is to inflict tiny injuries on the surface of the skin, which provokes the body into increasing blood flow, along with targeting an increase of collagen and elastin in that area.
Generally, use of a derma roller can promote the following benefits:
So even if you’re not looking to specifically use a derma roller to promote better beard growth, using one is a guy can help you to improve the look of your skin. That’s no bad thing in itself.
But obviously, the fact it can introduce more blood flow and skin conditioning chemicals to the area of the beard, along with helping to keep the skin and follicles healthy, means that simply rolling some needles over your face can really help.
Some guys use a derma roller on their scalp, in conjunction with the male pattern balding product Minoxidil. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that this produces better results in slowing down or reversing male balding.
So there is no reason why you couldn’t use the same combination on your beard if growth is patchy. It certainly cannot hurt to try, and the evidence suggests that this double-pronged attack can really produce results.
Preparing Your Skin And Beard before Using A Derma Roller
It’s always a great idea to prepare the skin a bit before using a derma roller.
It is possible to type the hair when using a derma roller. So it’s recommended to have a trim before you start. Obviously, it’s impossible to roll your skin if your beard is 6 inches long.
Other than that, you are good to go. You don’t need to add any oil to the skin, although some people do recommend using something like black seed oil, which has a reputation for stimulating skin growth before. The idea is that as you roll, the oil is pushed into the skin.
However, this runs the risk of causing infection, so it’s something you should consider in depth before trying.
How To Use A Derma Roller On Your Beard
The first thing you need to know is that there are different gauges of derma roller.
You can get them larger than 0.5mm (that’s the width of each needle). But it’s only at this size and smaller that the top layer of skin skin is truly penetrated and collagen is consistently produced. On top of that, a larger needle stands more chance of damaging the skin generally, rather than precisely penetrating it.
When you use your derma roller, it’s important that it is clean. You are piercing the skin, even if you really can barely notice. This means you need to disinfect it before each use. This is easily achieved with either medical alcohol, or a specialist disinfectant product. Simply place the derma roller in a glass so that the Roller itself is completely covered and leave for a few minutes.
As a rule of thumb, you should roll in each direction 10 times. So roll down each strip of your beard is 10 times, working your way around your face. Then roll across the beard 10 times in the same way. Then 10 times diagonally, left, then right. So total of around 40 times.
You don’t need to apply much pressure, just slight pressure to keep the needles against the skin. You can test the pressure you will need by rolling it on your finger, or forearm first, so that you get a feel for it.
After using the roller on your skin, give it time to settle. You can use moisturizer, or beard oil, or something for hair growth, but don’t do it immediately when the skin is broken and infection could enter.
If you are going to use a specialist hair growth product such as Minoxidil, it’s recommended to leave application until at least 24 hours have passed.
How Often Should You Use A Derma Roller?
Although it’s only minor, derma roller use breaks the skin and cause trauma reaction. So once or twice per week is the maximum that you should be using one.
In the beginning, you really should only use a derma roller on your beard once per week, or maybe just once per fortnight, so that your body can get used to it, and you can monitor the effect it is having, whether positive or negative.
More isn’t always better, and it’s a common misconception you need to keep in mind to avoid skin and follicle damage, which could have the opposite effect on the quality of your hair growth.
So once per week or less, gently but with consistent pressure is the way to go.
Using A Derma Roller: Any Side Effects?
The only negative side effects you can get from using a derma roller on your beard are those you create yourself through rough application, or lack of cleanliness.
The key to avoiding skin damage is to use it precisely.
This means lifting it clear of the skin between each change in direction. If you twist the roller in a new direction on the skin, you will tear it and cause additional and unwanted damage.
We have already talked about disinfecting your derma roller before application. It is a simple step which takes five minutes, and failure to do so could cause infection.
But generally, apart from some redness, or very small light spots that will heal in a few moments, you should not see derma roller side effects on the skin.
Choosing The Best Derma Roller
The size of the derma roller you choose to help with beard growth is subjective, but as we have said, should be a maximum of 0.5mm. So anything around 0.3-0.5mm should work well.
If you are concerned about which gauge to get, you can buy roller kits that contain different microneedle rollers in a range of widths. For example, for around $25 you can buy one handle and five different gauge wheels.
You will be looking for a stainless steel derma roller with a high quality construction. To guarantee this, you will need to buy it from a retailer that provides a lot of reviews. Amazon is ideal for this, because most products have dozens reviews, which will give you a good idea on the quality and build the product.
It’s possible to buy a very cheap derma roller and for it to be good quality. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but obviously you get what you pay for so looking for a mid-priced roller is probably best if you want to minimize risk.
As an added bonus, some rollers come with a stamp. This is basically a fixed roller, allowing you more precision in a small area.
In summary, the best derma roller to use for stimulating beard growth will have:
Using a derma roller on your beard can produce significant skin and hair growth benefits. But you mustn’t expect miracles. Your beard is not going to increase in density in a couple of weeks, but over a few months you will see positive results.
As long as you are realistic and understand that positive results will take time, and you are sensible in how you use your derma roller, then it should be money and time well spent.
