What is dry brushing?
We use hair brushes to clean our scalp and style our hair, toothbrushes to clean our teeth and freshen our mouth, but what about skin brushes?! The skin is the largest organ of the body and it deserves some TLC too. Dry brushing has gained a lot of popularity recently – and with good reason!
Dry brushing is exactly what it sounds like – brushing the skin in a specific pattern with a dry bristled brush, typically before a shower (keep reading for the technique).
The Benefits
I’ve been dry brushing for a few years now. It makes my skin feel so smooth and gives me a boost of energy each time. It is also one way I can get a little self-care into each day in less than 10 minutes 🙂
1. Lymphatic Drainage & Detoxification
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that run throughout the entire body (just below the skin), transporting lymph fluid to the lymph nodes, where it is filtered and toxins are removed. The lymph nodes are clustered in the neck, underarms, pelvis, back of the kneecaps, intestines, and arms.
Dry brushing stimulates the flow of lymph fluid towards the lymph nodes, which is thought to facilitate filtering of toxins more efficiently.
2. Exfoliation
Each day, the body sloughs off the top layer of skin cells (epidermis). In younger children, this process happens seamlessly, resulting in baby-soft skin. In adults, this process happens less efficiently.
The firm bristles on a dry brush remove the dead skin cells, resulting in a natural exfoliation and producing baby-soft skin! This is the most prominent effect you will notice during the first few days of brushing.
3. Energy Boost
Dry brushing increases circulation and gets blood pumping to your heart, which then redistributes it to the rest of your body with ease. I always feel a refreshing burst of energy and improved focus – probably thanks to extra blood to my brain too!
4. Improved Circulation
Similar to the benefit of an energy boost, dry brushing also increases blood delivery to all of your organs, nourishing them with the nutrients they need to function properly. If you work a sedentary desk job, this could be a game-changer since sitting for long periods of time makes circulation a little more sluggish.
Buying a Dry Brush
Firm bristle brushes can be found in just about any health foods store. Also, a variety of brushes are available on Amazon for $9-12. You can choose one that is just the bristle part of the brush OR one with a handle to reach your back – it’s up to you! Also, plan to replace your brush every 6-12 months since the bristles will wear out with frequent use.
Dry Brushing Technique
When you initially start dry brushing, your skin may be sensitive – it is not used to the exfoliation! Make long, gentle strokes on your skin, about 10 times per body segment. Your skin may be a bit pink at first, but this just means the old skin cells are gone and the new ones are showing!
The ideal location to dry brush is standing in the bathtub or in the shower, since you’ll be shedding some skin. The best time to dry brush is right before a shower so that you can rinse off any dead skin cells. Be sure to moisturize with lotion afterwards!
Always start at your extremities and brush towards the center of your body (where the lymph nodes and heart are located.)
- Brush the bottoms of your feet. Gradually work upwards along your ankles, calves, and thighs, with about 10 gentle strokes per body segment.
- Brush the front and back of your hands and work inwards towards your chest.
- On your stomach, do very gentle clockwise motions (the direction that your colon moves, to work with the digestive tract).
- After showering, use a natural lotion (without chemicals or artificial ingredients) to moisturize your sensitive baby-soft skin! I love the Everyday Shea brand of lotions.
If you have any questions, leave a comment or message me on Facebook, @HeatherBlakeHealthCoach .
Thank you for reading!!!
