Dry brushing is a practice that has become quite popular in mainstream media ever since Gwyneth Paltrow mentioned the technique on her lifestyle and wellness website, Goop. Although Goop has been the source that brought dry brushing to the attention of today’s generation, this is an age-old practice that has its roots in Ayurveda. You might have heard this while travelling in the streets of Canada. And you may wonder what exactly it is. Well, you don’t have to worry about that. You’re in the right place. We’ll discuss that below.
What Do You Need to Dry Brush?
Do you know it is also called Garshana, which is Sanskrit for friction by rubbing? Anyways, dry brushing has been used not only for exfoliation of the skin but also for facilitating easy blood flow, helping lymphatic drainage, eliminating toxins, and reducing cellulite, among other health benefits.
This is one of the most common treatments you can get at spas in Canada. However, you can easily do it in the comfort of your own home, with half the cost that a spa may charge you. There is no need to buy fancy tools for this; you only need a dry brush to get started.
- Try to go with a natural fibre bristle brush with a long handle for dry brushing your body.
- A long handle makes it easy for you to reach all the parts of your body, especially harder-to-reach areas like the back.
- Using a softer brush is advised for people with dry skin.
The facial skin is more sensitive than that of the rest of the body, so dry brushing of the face should be done with utmost care. Use a small, dry brush with soft bristles, and refrain from using a thick, coarse bristle brush on the face.
The Canada Hustle team talked to Diane Howard, the RN and Founder of Esthetic Finesse, about the importance of dry brushing for the skincare routine. Here is what she said based on her extensive experience:
“Dry brushing (sparingly) is a fantastic exfoliator that leaves skin feeling rejuvenated. The gentle yet effective nature of dry brushing can help brighten skin!
It makes a noticeable difference in the health and appearance of skin, perfect for summertime!”
Who Should Stay Away from Dry Brushing?
Like any other skincare practice, dry brushing will only work for some. We all have different skin types and skin concerns.
While dry brushing can be a boon for people with normal to oily skin, it could be a little harsh for people with dry skin. If you have dry skin and still want to try dry brushing, you can use a different brush with softer bristles and apply coconut oil to help the brush glide better. But if you have sensitive skin that gets irritated very quickly and suffers from conditions like Rosacea, Eczema, and Psoriasis, you must stay away from a dry brush at all costs.
People who have an open wound or pimple in the places where they are thinking of dry brushing should not do it until the skin heals completely from said wound or pimple. This is because a dry brush can aggravate the wound and prevent it from healing quickly.
We interviewed Staci Anderson, the Director of Marketing at Raynor Garage Doors on the role of dry brushing in skincare routine. Here is what she had to say:
“Dry brushing is a type of meditation on the skin that involves using a natural-bristle brush to exfoliate and massage the skin in the pattern you move in (starting from the feet and going up toward the heart).
It has become a staple in my skincare routine as a result of all the benefits it provides.
For one, I have seen my skin look so much better; the texture also seems to have improved greatly after dry brushing.
This provides a mild, but powerful, exfoliation that allows for gently exfoliating the skin to eliminate dead skin cells and reduce pore congestion, thus facilitating cellular regeneration.
It leads to smoother, more radiant skin with a more even tone. Regular dry brushing has also made a noticeable difference by reducing cellulite formation and ingrown hairs, providing the effect of a cleaner and smoother skin texture.
Not only has dry brushing made a visible improvement in the texture of my skin, but the benefits have been far greater too. With the movement, the practice helps the lymphatic system to drain, and this is how our body gets rid of toxins and waste.
The detoxifying effect not only translates to better skin but also aids in improving my immunity to getting sick, and I overall feel healthier.
One of my other favorite, unintended side effects of this elimination diet is the fact that I have not been experiencing much bloating and feel so light and vibrant.
Not to mention, dry brushing has become a ritual for me that I look forward to—a meditative and even energizing experience that positively affects my mental health.
Over time, the few minutes I spend with my body in those days give me more mindful minutes, to be able to come closer to myself. The bristle brush feels so invigorating on my skin and acts as a natural pick-me-up.
It reminds me of how the brush amongst my skin also assists in stimulating circulation, which wakens the body and keeps me active, always beneficial in the morning.
So, what can be amended? It is now part of my regular self-care routine and a beautiful way to practice mindfulness, reduce stress, and promote relaxation.”
How to Dry Brush Skin?
Dry brushing is not a scientific practice, so there is no rule book that you need to follow while brushing the skin. The process is customizable from person to person. You can add or remove certain steps according to your preference. There is surely a process to dry brushing that you should be aware of so you can do it right. Here is how to dry brush skin properly.
- Dry Brush Before Shower: The skin needs to be completely dry before you start brushing it. Dry brushing removes a lot of dead skin cells. They can be washed down the drain or in the shower. Using a dry brush on wet skin will have a different effect. That is why people prefer to use their dry brush before showering.
- Body Oils with Dry Brushing: Originally, there was no mention of using oils before dry brushing, but for those who have dry and sensitive skin like me, I like to have a buffer between the brush and their skin, which the oil provides. So, it is completely up to you whether you want to use body oils with your dry brush. Do what suits your skin type.
- Brush Towards the Lymph Nodes: There are a bunch of lymph nodes under the collarbones, the armpits, the naval area, and the undersides of our thighs. So, you should brush toward these lymph nodes to facilitate the flow of lymph fluid and facilitate lymphatic drainage. You should start from the toes and brush upward to the insides of the thighs when brushing your legs. Brushing away from the nodes is different from how to dry brush skin.
- Use Circular Motions Around Sensitive Areas: While dry brushing on areas like the armpits, stomach, and undersides of the thighs, use gentle, circular motions in the clockwise direction. On the rest of the areas of the body, use light strokes and work upward in the direction of the lymphatic system. This improves blood circulation. While doing this, some mild redness is expected because blood comes to the surface, facilitating collagen production and faster cell turnover.
- Pay Extra Attention to Elbows and Knees: Dry brushing removes dead skin cells, which makes your skin softer and less dry over time. Some areas, like the elbows, knees, and the heels of the feet, are generally drier than the rest of the body. While dry brushing, you must pay extra attention to these areas by gliding the brush across them a couple more times.
- Be Gentle with The Brush: While dry brushing, one thing to keep in mind is that we are not scrubbing the skin with the brush; we are merely brushing it in gentle strokes. So, remember to brush gently and not aggressively since your dead skin cells should peel off easily. Being too aggressive with the brush will harm the skin more than good. Being harsh or going over the same area too often can cause irritated skin, cuts, and bristle burns.
- Dry Brush in The Morning: Many people prefer skin brushing in the morning because dry brushing has energizing qualities on top of other superb qualities like exfoliation, regulating the lymphatic system, promoting new cell formation, and taking care of cellulite.
Some claim that increased circulation and lymph node massages eliminate toxins, and dry brushing wakes up the body. After the whole process, you can take a nice hot shower to rinse away all the dead skin that may have shed during dry brushing. After the wash, you can put on body lotion and pay extra attention to the legs and arms because they get dry easily. After lotion, if you want to seal in the hydration, you can go in with body oil and massage the body.
That being said, dry brushing is a great self-care technique that takes only a little time out of your busy day. You want your skin to glow when you travel, don’t you? Dry brushing can exfoliate, promote elasticity, and have a whole host of other benefits. Now that you know how to dry brush skin from the step-by-step guide that we gave you, we hope you will try it out and let us know how you like it.
Sunaree Komolchomalee, Head of Human Resources at Cupid PR, shared her views on using dry brush. Here is an excerpt from the interview:
“The results of starting dry-brushing in my daily routine have been striking. My skin looks and feels visibly softer and more toned because it’s regularly exfoliated. The lymphatic stimulation has had a detoxifying effect, too. I feel like my body is able to purge toxins much more easily.
Not only has my skin improved both in terms of appearance and how it feels, but there’s also a very definite boost to a feeling of general well-being and immune function to boot.
The rhythmic pattern stimulates blood circulation throughout the body, giving me a boost of energy that puts me in the frame of mind to take on the day.
The ritualistic function also helps to calm me. There’s something soothing and reassuring about this process. I find it a great way to start the day. The results are out there: it works on all fronts.”
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on August 13, 2024 by Saket
This skin guide is so helpful and incredibly relatable for me as I, too, have dry skin. The steps to take care of dry skin have been given here, which are very beneficial. Here, every body part of hair has been taken care of and given appropriate tips to brush them.
This is my absolute favorite, Dry brushing refreshes the whole body like no other massage. The skin feels great too afterwards, in addition to reducing cellulite and draining lymph nodes. I like how the article also mentions about no use of oil and the caution for people with skin conditions.