You’ve probably heard of dry brushing before, even if you haven’t tried it. Dating back to ancient Egypt and India and rooted in Ayurvedic rituals — the dry brushing technique goes back thousands of years. But, what exactly is it?

Dry brushing consists of using a dry, stiff-bristled brush to gently massage your body in upward motions. When done properly, dry brushing can help increase circulation, detoxify and get rid of dry skin (among other benefits). Not only is dry brushing your body great for rejuvenated skin, but dry brushing your face (this requires a slightly different, softer brush (blog post coming soon)), is one of the best ways to de-puff, boost circulation, slough off dead skin and increase lymphatic drainage — ultimately leaving you with plumper, smoother, healthier looking skin. 

What are the benefits of dry brushing? 

Detoxifies and exfoliates dead skin. Dry brushing is great for exfoliating dry skin. Getting rid of dirt and oil, it works to unclog pores in the process. Clearing out dead skin cells and pollutants allows for the skin to absorb the products you’re using on your body as well. Resulting in increased cell turnover and radiant, smooth skin. 

Boosts circulation and aids with lymphatic drainage. After brushing, you’ll notice your skin looks red, this is just a little inflammation and is the result of increased circulation — pushing more blood flow to those areas. Aside from boosting circulation and leaving you with glowing skin — dry brushing encourages lymphatic drainage. One of the immediate effects of dry brushing is smooth skin, but it can also help improve digestion, kidney function, eliminate toxins and more. 

Plumps skin and stimulates collagen production. The increased blood circulation works to plump skin and stimulate collagen production. Helping to thicken the skin and increase elasticity. 

 

Dry brushing steps:

Make sure when dry brushing that you’re not just randomly scrubbing all over your body. If you’re new to dry brushing, or not sure if you’re doing it right, here are some tips:

Step 1: Make sure your skin is completely dry. You can dry brush any time of day, but we recommend doing it right before you take a shower or bath. 

Step 2: Using a natural bristled brush and start from your feet/ankles. Working your way upwards on you legs in long motions. Make sure that you go in the direction of your heart. Apply gentle, firm pressure, but not enough that you’re causing any pain. 

Step 3: Once you’ve finished your legs, move to your arms and repeat the same motion.

Step 4: For your back and chest move the brush in circular, clockwise motions. Go over each area on your body a few times, but make sure you don’t go over each spot too many times, to avoid irritation. 

Step 5: When you get to your stomach, you want to change direction and sweep the brush in downwards motions. 

Aftercare: 

Once you’re finished, have a nice warm shower or bath. For your final step, apply a body oil or lotion to seal in all that moisture and nourishment. Pro tip: drink a glass of water and lemon right after. If you’re going out after brushing, make sure to apply sunscreen as dry brushing can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. 

How often should you dry brush?

It depends how sensitive your skin is, since dry brushing can leave your skin a little red and exfoliated. We recommend only doing it once or twice a week at most. If you have super sensitive skin, try dry brushing once every two weeks. Once you build up more tolerance, then you can transition to once or twice a week. If you have eczema or any serious skin conditions, it's best to avoid dry brushing.