The Viking warriors of old had their trusty axes but modern-day Vikings have a fearful weapon of their own. Covered in wicked-sharp needles, and wielded with a steady hand, the beard roller is an effective tool in any beard enthusiast’s armoury.

Beard rollers can help stimulate hair growth and get you one step closer to achieving your beard goals. These devices are safe and offer a painless experience, allowing you to get the benefits of professional treatment in the comfort of your own home. Read on to find out more about microneedling and the benefits of using a beard roller.

What Are Derma Rollers?

Derma rollers are home-use microneedling devices that were created as an alternative to professional and expensive skin care treatments realized by dermatologists. These microneedling devices have grown in popularity because they are safe to use in the comfort of our own homes, and they don’t require any special training.

In essence, a beard derma roller is a simple and elegant device composed of a handle and a rotating cylinder covered in numerous tiny needles. These needles produce extremely small lesions in the epidermis, the superficial portion of your skin. While this might not sound like the best idea, you need to know that during the healing process, your skin actually regenerates and gets stronger. And healthy skin provides the solid foundation needed for hair growth.

Derma rollers come in different shapes and sizes and the most important detail you should pay attention to is the needle size. Needle sizes between 0.2 and 0.5 mm are great for skin rejuvenation and stimulating facial hair growth, while larger sizes of 1 to 1.5 mm are better for acne scarring treatments. A needle size of 2 mm and over is not really safe for home use.

Do Derma Rollers Work for Beard Growth?

There are numerous studies that support the benefits of using a derma roller. Microneedling can help boost collagen production, improve local blood flow and activate certain growth factors necessary for the awakening of stem cells. This technique is proven to be useful in scar reduction, skin rejuvenation, some types of alopecia (even for scalp hair), and medication delivery inside the skin.

Regular use of a derma roller can help encourage new beard growth by improving your skin’s health and stimulating the anagen or growing phase of your facial hair. Your skin can also develop new blood vessels which help bring more nutrients to the hair follicles, stimulating hair growth and making your patchy beard look fuller. Improved local circulation can stimulate your beard and encourage hair growth.

Beard rollers can be more efficient when paired with a hair growth serum. The small wounds essentially become delivery channels for the active ingredients of your serum and boost their absorption and efficiency.

Like with any type of skin or beard care treatment, derma rollers are not magical devices, and stimulating beard growth may take a few weeks or months of constant use. You’ll need to be patient and stick to your routine.

However, some users report that using a derma roller for as little as one month helped promote hair growth and led to healthier skin. Beard rollers work by activating your collagen and keratin production, so the process will differ for everyone. Keep in mind that you’re actively promoting hair growth and strengthening your blood circulation, so be patient.

How to Use a Derma Roller?

You don’t need any formal training to use a derma roller but you should be aware of a few general rules. You can use your beard roller after washing your face and before applying any beard care products. Here’s how you do it:

Don’t use the derma roller in horizontal and vertical lines at the same time. Pick a starting point and roll your beard roller in a single, vertical direction. You can pass the roller in vertical lines, 2 to 4 times depending on your skin’s tolerance.
Remember to lift the needles from your skin after every pass. This will help prevent the risk of poking your skin in the same needle holes.
When you’re done rolling in the same spot, you can move on to the next section. Do this until you’ve covered the whole beard area in a consistent pattern.
Repeat the process in a horizontal direction but avoid moving the derma roller in diagonal lines as rolling on the same spot multiple times can harm the skin surface.

One thing you want to avoid is applying too much pressure. All you need to do is make sure that your bear roller’s needles are staying in full contact with your face as you move it over your skin. As a useful tip, you can fill your cheeks with air to create a more rigid and even surface. If you see blood on the surface of your skin, then you’re probably applying too much pressure.

You should also clean your device before and after each use. You can do this by soaking it in a disinfectant solution like isopropyl alcohol for approximately 10 minutes. You can also rinse your beard roller under hot water after each use, just to help remove any dead skin cells or debris.

If you have any type of skin irritation or acne, you should consult a medical specialist before trying out microneedling. Bacteria can spread more easily through the punctures you’re creating which can lead to even more irritation. You should also consult your doctor if you suffer from blood clotting disorders or if you’re using any type of topical medication on the skin of your face.

How Often Should I Microneedle the Beard?

The frequency of use depends on the size of your derma roller’s needles. Most devices have a needle length between 0.5 and 0.25 mm and can be used up to 3 times a week. If you’re a first-time user, you can start by using it once a week and increase the frequency once your skin gets used to the microneedling.

If your device has longer needles, you will need to use it less often. Recommendations are for intervals of 10 days to 2 weeks for each use of derma rollers with 1 mm needles, and up to 4 weeks for derma rollers with 1.5 mm needles.

Are There Any Risks of Using a Beard Roller?

Microneedling is considered a safe at-home procedure for beard hair growth, but there are a few risks you might want to take into consideration.

Your skin can become red and slightly irritated after using your beard roller. This is more common during the first weeks and even more persistent if you have sensitive skin. These side effects are typically minor and should disappear after a short time.

Skin infection can be a serious risk if the derma roller isn’t properly cleaned, and can lead to facial hair loss. Any bacteria present on your beard roller’s needles will be delivered inside your skin. Remember to clean and disinfect your derma roller before and after each derma rolling session.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Best Oils to Use With a Derma Roller for Beard Growth?

You can use natural beard oils with skin-friendly, plant-based ingredients. The small puncture wounds a derma roller creates will help your skin absorb the active ingredients of your beard oil and stimulate beard growth. Try to avoid products with harsh formulations that contain alcohol or other irritants.

Do You Have to Shave Before Using Beard Roller?

Shaving before using a derma roller is not necessary. You just have to make sure that your device’s needles are reaching your skin. You can make the process easier by brushing and detangling your beard hair to ensure a smoother glide.

What is the Best Derma Roller Size for Beards?

The recommended needle size for healthy hair growth stimulation is between 0.2 and 0.5 mm. The smaller needle size is still efficient and you’ll limit the chances of causing any type of injury if you’re accidentally applying too much pressure.

How Should I Clean the Derma Roller?

Rinse your derma roller in hot water to help remove any large debris like dead skin cells or hairs, then soak it in a disinfectant solution for about 10 minutes. You can use a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution or rubbing alcohol. After cleaning, let your derma roller dry out completely before using or storing the device.