Dry Brushing

Dry Brushing

We don’t hear a lot about dry brushing anymore. Some people may never have even heard of dry brushing, and yet it is a great, inexpensive, relaxing, stimulating, quick treatment that can be done in the privacy of your own home.

The benefits of dry brushing are endless; it is stimulating, helping make your skin glow as it removes dead layers of skin and encourages new skin to regenerate. Dry brushing also plays a vital role in ridding the body of toxins and impurities. Dry brushing is one of the best techniques to open up the pores of the skin and to stimulate and detoxify the lymphatic system. Have you ever looked at your arms and legs, after lying out in the sun, spending time in the wind or harsh weather conditions? Our skin dries out, leaving it looking dull, dry and old looking. Body brushing helps to remove dead dry skin, bring back a glow to your skin and helps moisture penetrate into your skin helping it to look and feel healthier.

When the brush is used lightly over your skin, it is not only relaxing on the skin; the brushing of bristles will also have a beneficial effect on areas of cellulite. Body brushing is an effective treatment for helping eliminating toxins from the body. Brushing helps increase blood supply to the area bringing with it nourishment and oxygen.

It is a very relaxing treatment, the stimulating effect on your body, helping rejuvenate your skin, making your skin feel refreshed. Dry brushing was popular years ago; Salons would charge high prices to offer this treatment. I went away with my husband to a retreat, where we both had a package which included body brushing. I had forgotten how good you feel afterwards, your body tingles after your treatment, with the brush run gently, slowly over your body. I enjoyed the treatment and decided, it was time to buy my own brush, so l could have this treatment once a week in the privacy of my own home. It took a few trials to find the right brush, that wasn’t going to cost a fortune, easy to handle, with the right bristles.

What to look for:

1. Natural bristles. This is important as we want to use a brush that is not going to scratch the skin, a gentle brush.
2. Hand held brush; many brushes have handles that are too long. A brush should be comfortable to hold in your hand, without feeling as if it would slip.
3. They do sell brushes that have massage balls in the centre. Some clients find these are a good one to use. I prefer the brush without the massage balls, though both are good.
4. It is good if you find a brush that has a strap. It is easy to use and have a good grip making it less likely to slip.
5. A long handle brush can reach those hard to reach areas, so many people prefer to use a long handle brush. Whatever suits you and is easy to use.
6. Costs of brushes differ. l paid $9.95 for mine so just look around for one you are happy with, you don’t have to spend a fortune.

How to dry brush

The body should be dry and the brush should pass once over every part of your body. The best time to do skin brushing is before showering or bathing, at least once a day. If you try body brushing on wet skin it will not have the same effect because this stretches the skin. The skin should not become red. If it does, you are probably brushing too hard.

Do not brush back and forth. The brushing should generally be done towards the abdomen.

1. Start at the soles of your feet, because the nerve endings there affect your whole body.
2. Then your hands and up your arms to the armpits.
3. Then brush upwards on your buttocks.
4. Brush down the neck, chest and trunk.
5. Brush your abdomen towards the centre.
6. Brush the breasts very lightly, avoiding the nipples
7. Always brush towards the heart.
8. Do not brush the face.
9. Do not be too hard with your brushing. Remember to be gentle when you first start and more vigorous when you are more confident in using your brush. Less is best when you first start.
10. Now it is time to shower or bath with warm water followed by a cool rinse to invigorate blood circulation and stimulate.

Benefits of dry brushing:

1. Helps digestion
2. Stimulates circulation
3. Strengthens the immune system
4. Increase cell renewal
5. Cleans toxins from the lymphatic system
6. Stimulates the lymphatic system
7. Improves the look of your skin giving it a healthier look
8. Relaxes
9. Because toxins are eliminated from your body you feel healthier
10. Tightens the skin
11. Removes cellulite
12. Improves exchange between cells