What is Dry Brushing?
Take a body brush, preferably one with firm, natural bristles, and use it to gently massage your body in an upward motion. There are claims that this process brightens the skin and also makes your moisturizer more effective, because it helps remove dead skin. And as the name implies, the brush andyour skin should be dry while you do it.
How to Properly Dry Brush
- Dry brushing is best done before showering
- Make sure that your skin is completely dry before starting
- Apply slightly firm pressure
- Start at your ankle and move in long, circular motions
- Move in the direction toward your help
Benefits
While dry brushing isn’t the quintessential element for attaining perfect skin, it may have its own set of benefits, from plumping to exfoliating.
- Boosts circulation: If you’ve noticed that your skin is red after dry brushing, it’s not just a result of skin irritation, and it generally isn’t a cause for concern. The redness, which is just a bit of inflammation, is the result of increased circulation in the areas you’ve been dry brushing. Your body is simply pushing more blood to those areas.
- Assists with lymphatic drainage: Aside from leaving you with glowing skin, experts note that dry brushing can encourage lymphatic drainage. All blood carries lymph fluid, which filters through the lymph nodes. Dry brushing speeds up the rate of blood pumping, which helps get the lymph through the body, therefore removing toxins more quickly.
- Exfoliates dead skin: As with all methods of exfoliating, dry brushing gets rid of the day’s dirt and oil as well as dead skin cells. The result is increased cell turnover and more radiant, smooth skin.
- Plumps the skin: Many believe their cellulite is less noticeable after dry brushing, due to the temporary plumping effect it has on the skin. Experts note that it can even help with the appearance of sun damage.
Dry Brushing Steps
There’s a method to dry brushing and it doesn’t involve randomly scrubbing a brush all over your body. Here are the proper steps:
- To dry brush properly, first make sure your skin is completely dry
- Starting at your ankle, experts recommend moving your brush over your skin in long, circular motions that go in the direction of your heart.
- Maintain a slightly firm pressure as you dry brush.
How Often Should You Dry Brush?
Since dry brushing can leave your skin feeling a bit irritated because it is total body exfoliation. it’s up to you (and the strength of your skin) to decide how often to do it. As a general rule of thumb, though, experts recommend 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.
Are There Risks to Dry Brushing?
In general, exfoliation should be done with caution. If your skin skews extra sensitive or you’re struggling with eczema, psoriasis, or other serous skin conditions, steer clear of dry brushing as it can exacerbate your issues and cause further irritation.1 Also, brushing too hard, too often can lead to irritated skin. While you’ll notice your skin will redden after dry brushing, skin abrasions aren’t the results to expect. Lastly, if you have an open wound on your skin, avoid this area to avoid introducing bacteria and infection.
The Aftercare
Post-dry brushing, be sure to take a shower to rinse off all the dead skin cells. And if you plan on heading out for the day, experts advise using sunscreen, as the process can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
