What Is Dry Brushing? Your Answer To Smooth, Softer Skin.

If you’re trying to decide on the best method to exfoliate and renew your skin, dry brushing is a technique that has many distinct advantages. It simply takes five minutes of this exfoliation process to have smooth, radiant skin.

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? But it's important to understand how to do it properly and which areas to avoid before grabbing a brush and starting to go to town on your skin. Keep reading to learn more.

What is dry brushing?

Dry brushing is basically what it sounds like. Using a body brush, you gently massage your whole body with long, firm strokes. The ancient technique, which is a mix of thorough exfoliation and massage, is said to lift and buff away dead skin cells, help the lymph nodes drain, and increase circulation. As the name suggests, you should use a dry brush on dry skin.

Is body brushing and dry brushing the same thing?

Yes, dry brushing and body brushing are the same thing. The only difference is the actual brush is called a body brush, whereas the act is called dry brushing, though some people refer to it as body brushing.

Benefits of dry brushing

Dry brushing is loved by many, and we can see why. There are many benefits of dry brushing, some with scientific evidence to back up, and others with anecdotal evidence. The possible benefits of dry brushing include:

Exfoliation

Dry brushing uses physical exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, much like body scrubs do, but without the potentially skin-damaging additives and chemicals.

Using the brush's bristles, you can physically remove dry and dead skin cells from your skin. You will notice a difference in the texture and softness of your skin after a few sessions of exfoliation with a dry brush.

Cellulite Reduction

Despite the fact that dry body brushing will not entirely remove cellulite from your legs, it can help to mobilise and distribute fat deposits under the skin.

As many as 90% of women are affected by cellulite. Studies have found cellulite can be reduced with massage, and dry brushing is said to have similar effects on the body as massage. This theory currently has no scientific backing though, but many people have found it helps lessen the appearance of cellulite.

Energising

Most people report feeling energised and revitalised after using a dry brush. This may be because of the improved circulation or simply because they spent a few additional minutes engaging in a self-care ritual.

To top it all off, there's no doubting the fact that dry brushing feels great on the skin.

Lymphatic drainage

In addition to making your skin look healthy, dry brushing can help move lymph through your body. Lymph fluid is in all the blood, and the lymph nodes filter it. Dry brushing speeds up the heartbeat, which helps move lymph through the body and get rid of toxins and pathogens faster, though there is no official research for these claims, at the moment.

Gentler on the skin

Hot water can irritate your skin and even remove the oils, lipids, and proteins that make your skin healthy, causing redness and itching. By brushing your skin while it's dry, you can exfoliate and increase blood flow without removing moisture from it like hot water in the shower can.

How to dry brush

Ideally, dry brushing should be done right before taking a shower. After that, you can wash off any flaky skin and dead skin cells. Afterwards, rehydrate your skin by applying moisturiser.

Because of its energising and stimulating properties, some people prefer to dry brush in the morning rather than at night, while others choose to use it as a kind of relaxation tool. Do whatever is most convenient for you.

1. Start by stripping to your bare skin. Some advise standing in an unfilled bathtub or shower, but you can do it anywhere you feel comfortable and won't slip.
2. Brush up toward the body, beginning from the feet. Dry brush each leg from the ankles up to the upper thighs.
3. Continue by massaging your back and bum (if you can reach them; if not, feel free to skip these areas).
4. Next, focus on the arms, working your way up to the shoulders from the back sides of the hands.
5. Lighten your touch when you reach your body because the stomach and chest are more delicate than the arms and legs. If upward strokes are more comfortable for you, keep going; otherwise, try circular motions. Avoid touching the nipples or breasts.
6. After dry brushing, take a shower or a bath and then put on some moisturiser, body oil, or body balm.

Dry brushing may leave your skin feeling soft and smooth and be both a calming and stimulating treat. Even while it could be tempting to scrub your skin vigorously, especially if you have some very dry places, more pressure won't produce better results.

Be honest with yourself about the outcomes you want, and pay attention to your skin. And make sure to visit a dermatologist if your skin problems continue.

Never brush on skin that is broken, including sunburns, scrapes and cuts.

What should I look for in a body brush?

The good thing about dry brushing is that all you really need to start is a brush. The majority of dry brush specialists advise using a natural bristle brush. These are created from plant materials, such as sisal fibres. We prefer to use a brush that fits into the palm of our hand as it's easier to control the pressure of the strokes.

The Wild & Stone body brush is made from FSC® certified beechwood with sisal bristles and a cotton canvas strap. The sisal fibre is incredibly environmentally friendly as weeding is done by hand and it is grown sustainably. It is also well known for its exceptional durability, meaning that the body brush lasts for years.

Taking care of your body brush

Maintaining a clean dry brush will help to lower the chance of infection. Avoid sharing your brush with others, and clean it regularly.

The bristles can be cleaned with a mild soap, thoroughly rinsed, and then let air dry. (And make sure your brush has a chance to dry out after usage; don't leave it in wet or damp environments.)

Another method is to apply rubbing alcohol to a cloth that has been dampened, or you can simply apply a small bit to the bristles and allow them to dry.

-

Wild & Stone's mission is to create stylish, easy to adopt and usable alternatives to common plastic products around the home. We source all our products sustainably, from raw material to final delivery. Shop our wide range today.

Share your plastic-free swaps with us at hello@wildandstone.com or tag us on Instagram #wildandstone.