What's A Derma Roller And How Will It Help My Beard?

October 29, 2019

To a man who’s just gotten into the whole beard growing game, it’s no surprise to get overwhelmed by all the ways with which you can aid that mug of yours to grow a respectable face bush. On one hand, you have beardsmen partial to all those beard growth oils and such, and on the other are people who claim that it’s all just about taking some minoxidil. And that’s just a couple of the many, many beardsmen camps out there trying to discover what really helps when it comes to promoting beard growth.

And then, there’s the derma roller. Now, the term might be unfamiliar to you, and that’s perfectly understandable for you to ask, “What is a derma roller and how will it help my beard?” Well, allow us to tell you all about the what’s what when it comes to this nifty little tool that could possible help you get that fuzz going!

What in the world is a derma roller?

Derma rollers are these little tools you use on your skin in order to microneedle it. Sure, just the word “needle” alone may seem intimidating for some (hey, there ain’t no shame in being adverse to little pricks, right?), but believe us when we say it’s worlds apart from, say, getting that tetanus shot from the clinic.

Originally, derma rollers were marketed as female skin care products to help rejuvenate the epidermis and improve blood flow on the skin, but like the innovators they are, beardsmen have found a whole new use for it: to promote beard growth.

So, how does it help your beard?

Like we mentioned, derma rollers perform the task of microneedling, which involves poking really tiny, shallow holes on the skin in order to increase the amount of blood that’s being transported to that given area. The reasoning behind this is that the increased blood flow will stimulate beard growth. But how so?

Beards and blood

Simply put, that good ol’ red juice flowing through your body is responsible for delivering the necessary vitamins, minerals, and most importantly, hormones to where it’s needed. So, due to these little holes you made using your derma roller, your body automatically responds by sending more blood toward that area in order to promote the healing process. Of course, along with all the white blood cells and collagen, testosterone (the hormones we just mentioned) and vitamins and minerals are also transported there. As such, you’re boosting the amount of these things you receive with a derma roller than when you do otherwise.

But how will it help your beard?

Aside from what we just mentioned, there are other benefits to using a derma roller, which all ultimately help prepare your skin become the perfect seedbed for your eventual face forest.

For one, it helps stave off those wrinkles, thus making your skin supple; it reduces the amount of scar tissues on your face, which helps make way for your follicles to set themselves and get to growing that facial hair; and, the derma roller doubles as a sort of massager for your follicles in order to stimulate and de-clog them.

Now that you know the benefits of using this handy little dermatological tool, it’s time you learn how to use it.

The prep

Assuming you have a trusty derma roller with you now, preparing to apply it on your face is pretty simple. Just remember that since we’re dealing with microneedles here – meaning they’re barely half a millimeter in length each – you’ll have to let it touch your skin unobstructed by your beard (that is, if you already have one). We recommend cropping it or giving it a trim; anything longer than a couple of inches and it’ll obstruct the derma roller’s microneedles.

Of course, if you don’t have a beard – and we’re guessing that’s what you’re here for anyway – go ahead and rinse your face with some water and a little face wash, and you’re good to go.

Rolling it!

Now, we can’t stress this enough: whether you’re using a brand new derma roller or not, be sure to disinfect it before use. After all, you’re pricking your face here, which means all sorts of dirt and bacteria could enter through the microneedles and into your skin if you don’t make sure your roller’s clean. To do that, simply dip your derma roller in a glass of alcohol solution for about three minutes before getting into it.

Now, onto the whole process itself. To use your derma roller, just remember that a single pass on any part of your face (or body, for that matter) will do. Think of it like shaving where each slide runs in just a single direction. We mean, come on! Your face isn’t made of cheese, so there’s no need to grate it. There’s no recommended duration to how you should apply the roller. However, we highly suggest you go with about 10 passes on each chosen area of your face to make sure you’re being thorough with it.

Once you’re done with that, the next step you should take is applying a quality beard oil, like Norse grooming Growth Oil. This highly potent formula is the perfect mix of beard growth and moisturizing there is.

Lastly, when it comes to how often you should use a derma roller, it’s best to keep it in moderation. Once a week is enough, and when that glorious stubble starts to come in, you should just do it once every couple of weeks. Hey, it’s true that sometimes less is more. Trust us.

Choosing the right roller

Here are a few tips to help you find a quality derma roller that ensures you get the most out of it and, of course, that you remain clean and safe:

Choose one that’s either made of stainless steel or plastic. Rust is always trouble when it comes to dermatological tools
Never go beyond anything that has a 0.5 mm. needle length.
It doesn’t have to be expensive, but always make sure you go for one that’s approved by dermatological professionals.

And with that, we hope all your questions have been answered! Beard on, brothers!