What is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is a technique that involves a long handled bristle brush aided in sloughing off dead skin cells. By brushing the skin in circular and stimulating motions, you achieve many health benefits.
History of Dry Brushing
While doing research on dry brushing there seems to be an extensive amount of historic evidence linking all different cultures and people practicing dry brushing. I would have to conclude that dry brushing is found in a collective variety of communities all around the world, dating back centuries and even longer. The point is, dry brushing or skin brushing has been a valued practice by many in history for good reason.
Benefits of Dry Brushing
Dry brushing has been around a long time, giving us ample evidence and understanding of what it does, how it is beneficial and if its worth doing. I personally love this practice, and feel it is a worthwhile program to get into. Not only is it extremely simple, it is extremely beneficial. Lets have a look at the benefits.
- Sustains or reestablishes skins functional integrity and youthful glow
- Sloughs off dry dead skin cells
- Aides in waste removal
- Helps slow skins aging process
- Stimulates cell turnover and blood flow
- Stimulates lymph drainage
- Reduces the appearance of cellulite
- Unclogs pores and toxins trapped in the skin
Cellulite
Dry brushing has been shown to improve the appearance of cellulite, and stimulate drainage of fluids in tissue that cause dimpling of the skin. Dry or wet brushing can trigger blood flow, vasodialation and toxic release, all needed to improve cellulite. You can learn how to treat cellulite in my article The Best Cellulite Regime.
How Do I Dry Brush?
Dry brushing is super simple. It is basically as you would imagine. You will want to take a long handled brush with natural fibers. Stand in the shower or tub. You will be shedding skin so its nice to wash it away easily.
Start at your feet and brush upwards. Your goal is to stimulate the lymphatic system so you will want to brush towards your heart. Brush in circular motions in all directions. Get as much of your skin as possible.
Move up your body and keep brushing towards your heart. Don’t forget your knees!
Keep in mind that your skin may feel sensitive. The skin will get less sensitive over time as your body gets use to it. Don’t forget your elbows!
When brushing the upper body, you will want to brush starting at the fingers and working toward the heart again.
Once you get to your neck you will want to finish there. I don’t recommend using your brush on your face. The skin on your face is much more sensitive. You do not want to transfer what is left on your brush onto your face. Get a new cloth and exfoliate with that.
Now have a nice hot shower. Bring your brush in and clean it while you wash. Leave it to completely dry.
After you have a nice hot shower,(hot will increase more lymphatic flow) you will want to use a delicious organic oil or body moisturizer. Yum Yum!
You will love how your skin feels. You can do this daily, and I suggest you do. After a full thirty days of brushing, you will see a dramatic change in the condition of your skin. Your skin function will also improve.
There you have it, simple and sweet. Dry brushing is worth it. it doesn’t take long, but will have long lasting effect. I believe it is one of the best ways to prevent or treat aging skin. Stimulating the skin this way will increase all systems that you want to combat aging skin. Cell turn over is greatly achieved with dry brushing. So take the time to do it. it is absolutely safe and effective.
I want to know if you have tried dry brushing. Leave a comment sharing your story:)
To a bright and beautiful you,
Maria.
Hey Maria – My name is Kelley – I am a 36 year old mother of two from San Diego, CA… Since I self tan on a pretty regular basis – I also exfoliate on a pretty regular basis as well…. I wish I knew about ‘dry brushing’ a long time ago, I’ve never even heard of that term until now, but it sounds brilliant!!
I’ve always exfoliated in the bath and shower – using sugar / salt scrubs, coarse loofas – and pumice stones…. I bet the dry brushing method is far more effective than the wet scrubbing method. (lol)
Thank you for everything you do! I’m so excited that I have found your site – you are a wealth of information, and are very generous for sharing it!
Cheers!
~Kelley
Hi Kelly!
Thanks so much for the kind words 🙂 Yes Dry brushing works so well. Its great that you are exfoliating the whole body, your skin will love you for it! Including Dry brushing will really help with blood flow and improve the texture of the skin. Let us know how it works out for you! We are so glad you have enjoyed our site. All the best from Alberta Canada, to San Diego!