Dry brushing is a method of gently exfoliating your skin using a special firm-bristled brush. Some people use it as part of their skin routine to try to restore firmness, get rid of dry skin flaking, and encourage blood flow to certain areas of the body. Dry brushing has roots in healing practices of ancient cultures.
“A scrub is normally recommended once a week—twice at the most—because it can damage new skin, which can lead to dryness and abrasions,” says Behets. “But, you can dry brush every day without causing skin damage.”
Dry-Brushing Steps
Use firm, small strokes upward, or work in a circular motion. For the stomach, work in a clockwise direction. Harsh exfoliation is never the point; be sure not to press too hard or use a brush that's too stiff.
As a general rule of thumb, though, Downie recommends dry brushing no more than one to two times per week. And don't forget to wash your brush with baby shampoo at least twice a month to get rid of all of that dead skin buildup. If you have ultra-sensitive skin, try dry brushing once every couple of weeks.
A body scrub treatment in a spa is also delightful as it allows you to enjoy the benefits sans the cleanup. An aesthetician might begin a body exfoliation treatment with dry brushing to get blood and lymph flowing, then gently polish the skin as you relax and enjoy the aromatic experience.
If you use a scrub or chemical exfoliator, apply the product gently using small, circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds, and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water. If you use a brush or sponge, use short light strokes. Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned.
Vargas claims you should start seeing results, including improvement in overall skin quality and firmness, in as little as two days. “And two weeks straight of dry brushing will give you the bottom you have always wanted,” she says.
Dry skin brushing helps with muscle tone and more even distribution of fatty deposits. Dry skin brushing tightens and tones your skin by increasing the flow of blood to your skin's outer layers. This increased circulation can also help lessen the appearance of cellulite.
Do I have to shower after dry body brushing? No, you don't have to shower after dry body brushing unless you'd like to, so you can do it any time of day. That said, it's likely easiest to incorporate into your routine before a shower or bath, or when you're changing in the morning or evening.
Dry brushing is not recommended for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and excessive dry skin, as it can aggravate the condition—and also cause often painful irritation.
While it doesn't reduce cellulite or redistribute fat cells more evenly, dry brushing can help: exfoliate your skin, removing dry and dead skin cells. stimulate circulation. make you feel more relaxed or invigorated.
Dermatologists and Ayurvedists alike agree that when performed correctly, regular dry brushing (two to three times per week) can help improve circulation, lymphatic drainage, and visibly reduce the appearance of cellulite.
According to dermatologists, you should exfoliate first, then wash your hair, and then wash your body. This will ensure that each shower product you use has time to work. If you have concerns about your skin, you should follow this order as closely as you can. This will help prevent acne, razor burn, or dry hair.
Here's a recommended dry-brushing technique from Natural Health Techniques: Hold the brush in your left armpit with your right hand and rotate it counter clockwise seven times, then clockwise seven times. Repeat on your right armpit with your left hand.
Use a loofah or bath mitt and give your body an overall scrub before you get in your next shower or bath. This is called “Dry Skin Brushing” and will certainly wake you up in the morning, maybe better than coffee!
Benefits of dry brushing
“Dry brushing unclogs pores in the exfoliation process. It also helps detoxify your skin by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph flow/drainage,” says Dr. Khetarpal. Also, by unclogging pores, it's easier for the body to sweat and eliminate toxins in your system.
Dry brush the side of the abdominal area, moving toward the pelvic area from the oblique in a downward motion. When working on the abdomen itself, you want to work in a clockwise circular motion, encouraging the flow of digestion.
Purported benefits
Skin flakes that result from dry skin can clog your pores and cause itching. Dry brushing gets rid of skin flakes and dead skin cells that could otherwise cause clogged pores. For this reason, dry brushing your face may work to prevent acne breakouts.
Dr. Engelman suggests dry brushing every day to see results. She recommends dry brushing to her patients, but cautions that it's possible to over-exfoliate if you're using extreme pressure on sensitive skin.
Dry Brush
Dry brushing boosts circulation and helps shed dead cells that dulls your skin's appearance. It also stimulates the lymphatic system, which flushes the toxins from your system. If you dry brush on a daily basis with one of our Sisal louffas, your skin will appear more lifted, tightened and glowing.
After dry brushing, take a cool shower to help remove the dry skin. After your shower, dry off and then consider adding natural plant oil, such as olive or coconut oil, to moisturize your skin.
It's also possible that the practice of dry brushing could cause you to feel lightheaded and nauseas. This is due to the activation of the lymphatic system which helps detox our body. If there are a lot of toxins built up in the body, this may happen for a few times until you get the toxins released. Keep it up!
Spend around 5-10 minutes to dry brush the whole body and make sure you're applying only light pressure. This will ensure you're not damaging the skin but are encouraging gentle exfoliation.
During ovulation and the first half of the luteal phase, she keeps it simple, using gentle toners, plus dry brushing to help the lymph offset the estrogen spike. Finally, during menstruation, she'll focus on hydration with masks and anti-inflammatory ingredients.