Have you heard of dry brushing your skin? Whether you’ve heard of it or not, I promise you’ll be hooked once you give it a try.
If you’re a dry brushing pro, then you already reap the benefits of this ancient technique. Go you, because dry brushing is very beneficial and can (and should!) be incorporated into your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth and washing your face.
So What is Dry Brushing, Anyway?
Dry brushing is a simple, holistic beauty practice that helps energize and stimulate your body, and is usually done right before bathing. Using a natural bristle brush, begin brushing your feet and move up your body towards your heart using long, sweeping motions.
You may think, “OUCH, why would I want to rub a scratchy brush over my skin?” But it’s actually quite enjoyable once you get used to it. You know that awesome, head-scratch feeling you get at the salon when they wash your hair? It’s kind of like that, only over your whole body!
The Benefits of Dry Brushing
There are many noticeable benefits of dry brushing if done daily. Think of how great your skin feels after a nice body scrub. This is a similar concept, but even more effective. It’s like a more intense body scrub with cumulative effects, helping to bring on effortlessly glowing skin.
Dry brushing can also act as a detoxification aid because “when you dry brush your skin, it increases circulation to your skin, which encourages the elimination of metabolic waste,” says Joseph Mercola, DO, an osteopathic physician, natural health expert and founder of Mercola.com.
Dry brushing is also a great exfoliant. It “will slough off dead, dry skin, improving its appearance and allowing it to hydrate more efficiently when moisturizer is applied afterward,” says Francesca Fusco, MD, a celebrity dermatologist and frequent contributor to Women’s Health Magazine.
Women who dry brush frequently say that it’s also extremely relaxing. This could be because dry brushing stimulates the nerve endings in the skin resulting in an invigorated and rejuvenated feeling. Hello, total Zen experience!
6 Tips to Dry Brush Correctly
1. Ditch the synthetic stuff and find a natural bristle brush at your local health store or online. Look for one with vegetable- or cactus-derived bristles.
2. Brush dry skin before your shower, so you can wash away dead skin cells and feel more energized.
3. Begin brushing at your feet and move upwards towards your heart. The lymphatic fluids flow through the body towards the heart so you want to go in the same direction. Use long strokes, firm yet comfortable pressure, and don’t brush over skin irritations.
4. Keep the brush free of bacteria by spritzing it after each use with a natural antiseptic such as tea tree oil or by washing it with soapy water.
5. To really amp up your at-home spa experience, alternate the water temperature from hot to cold during your shower to further invigorate the skin and tighten your pores. The shock of the cold water hitting your skin is better than any double-shot espresso or venti-extra-shot java jolt!
6. Lastly, end this therapeutic experience by applying organic, unrefined coconut oil as a moisturizer. Coconut oil is a wonderful skin moisturizer. It has antimicrobial properties, contains vitamin E, and medium chain triglycerides that deeply penetrate the skin resulting in a baby soft feel.
