Now, we’re not talking about brushing your hair or your teeth - the benefits of both of these are well known and we hope you’re doing both of them regularly already. What we’re talking about today is body brushing otherwise known as dry brushing.
Dry brushing has been around for a very long time. In Indian Ayurveda they call dry body brushing Gharsana and traditional Chinese body brushing used a loofah rather than a brush. Dry brushing has also been used by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Turks, Japanese and Scandinavians.
What is dry brushing skin?
Dry brushing has many benefits, the most obvious of which is exfoliation. It’s great for removing dead and dry skin cells, revealing healthy, glowing skin. It will make your skin feel softer and smoother and is a great way to prevent ingrown hairs. This is especially important as you get older, as your skin becomes less efficient at shedding dead skin cells with age. Brushing also leaves your skin prepped for moisturizing, meaning that the creams, lotions, and oils you use will be absorbed better and so will be more effective.
You may already be using a body scrub to exfoliate but many scrub products contain microbeads which are very bad for the environment. Using a body brush is a more economical and environmentally friendly way of exfoliating as you don’t need to keep buying or making new scrubs.
One effect you’ll notice almost immediately is how invigorating dry brushing can be. This is why we recommend you do it in the morning, rather than at night, as you’ll feel so energized and awake after brushing that you won’t be able to sleep.
While experts remain divided on this benefit, it’s likely that dry brushing can stimulate your lymphatic system, which, as you probably already know, is great for reducing the appearance of cellulite. Your lymphatic system is responsible for removing toxins from your body, which are a major cause of cellulite.
How should I brush?
Make sure you have a brush with natural bristles. The Glo910 Body Brush is a great option with natural bristles, and it makes body brushing much faster and more effective than doing it by hand.
We recommend you brush first thing in the morning, giving yourself a boost of energy for the day. Make sure your body is dry before brushing and shower afterward, to rinse off any dead skin cells. We suggest you moisturize after brushing and showering as your skin will really appreciate the extra boost of moisture.
How often you brush is entirely up to you - some people like to do it every day while others find two or three times a week is enough for them.
To brush you should move upwards towards your heart, as this will help with circulation and stimulating your lymphatic system. A good way to start is to work upwards from your ankles, up your legs, arms, chest, back, and stomach. Use long strokes in most areas and clockwise movements on your stomach and chest. Some people find their chest is too sensitive to brush, so make sure you are extra gentle in this area.
What should I be aware of?
Avoid going over one area too many times as you don’t want to damage or irritate your skin and make sure not to brush too firmly - you want to remove dead skin cells, not new ones!
Make sure to avoid brushing broken or irritated skin as it will only make things worse. This includes burns, sores, scrapes, cuts, and sunburn and never brush infected areas.
If brushing is painful either reduce the pressure of brushing, buy a softer brush, or avoid brushing that area. Dry brushing should invigorate not irritate!
Check out our video on dry brushing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLt_rxr7b-Y
You can also purchase the Glo910+ complete massage system on our store here.
