How to Use a Blackhead Extractor, Step by Step

A loop extractor looks simple, and it is, once you know three things: prep the skin, let the loop do the work, and know when to stop. Here’s exactly how we do it on camera.

Before you start

Wash your hands, cleanse your face and soften the skin with steam or a warm cloth for 5 to 10 minutes. Wipe the loop with rubbing alcohol and let it air dry. Set up good light, ideally with magnification like a Pore Tube 10X LED Mirror.

Pick the right loop

Wide, flat loops suit the cheeks and forehead. Smaller or angled loops fit the curve of the nose and the crease beside the nostril. That’s why we like a set like the Pore Tube Extractor Kit over a single tool.

The technique

1. Center the loop so the blackhead sits in the middle.
2. Press down lightly, just enough to feel the edge of the loop.
3. Slide or roll the loop across in one smooth motion.
4. If it releases, wipe the loop and move on.
5. If it doesn’t release after two gentle tries, stop. Come back another day.

How much pressure is too much?

If the skin around the loop turns white or red, ease off. Extraction should look calm, not forceful. The satisfying clips you see are about timing and prep, not muscle.

Finish properly

Pat on a gentle toner like Thayers toner, then hydrate. Clean the tool with soap and water, disinfect it, dry it and store it in its case.

When not to extract

Skip anything inflamed, painful, deep or crusted, and never use tools on broken skin. Those are for a dermatologist, not a loop.

General information, not medical advice. Our videos show one person’s skin. If something is red, painful or inflamed, leave it alone and talk to a dermatologist. Some links are affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate, Pore Tube earns from qualifying purchases.