I searched my blog the other day for dry brushing and was perplexed when nothing came up. I 100% knew I had written about this before, but where had it gone? Well, thankfully we live in the internet age so I was quickly able to figure out that I had collaborated on a post over at Beauty Bets back in 2014 all about dry brushing. And while I had created the graphic, edited and published the post, and apparently gotten very into dry-brushing thanks to the assignment…I had never written about it on my own site. Fixing that!

Dry brushing is a great ritual to work into your routine, especially if you are new to wellness or self-care because it doesn’t require much time, money, or skill. If you’ve got 2 minutes, $5.00, and the tips below you’ll be all set. Here are my tips for getting started with dry brushing:

The Benefits: Dry brushing helps exfoliate skin and remove dead skin to promote cell turnover, which can improve the appearance and texture. This stimulation can also help you feel awake and more energized. On a “deeper level” dry brushing also helps stimulate our fascial system, which is a gossamer-like material (similar to saran wrap!) that we have layers of throughout our body. Stimulating it can help with circulation, hydration, and lymphatic drainage. Think of dry brushing as a quick, really deep, full-body massage that you can do yourself.

One of my favorite books about hydration, Quench, talks about dry brushing and it’s many benefits for the body and hydration. Dry brushing, “1. Stimulates all different kinds of receptors and nerve endings that are packed into our fascial tissue. It provides pinpoint compression from the bristles, not unlike a superficial acupuncture treatment. And when you drag a dry brush across drky skin, the brushing pushes fluid across the fascial network. Dry brushing is a simple 3-for-1 benefit.” (Quench, p. 90).

The Equipment: Preferably a brush with natural bristles and a sleek design that is comfortable to hold onto. I prefer one that is easily handheld with a strap. I have this $8.99 brush and really love it. It’s simple and affordable and all you need!

The Directions: With the brush completely dry, start at the tops of your feet and brush upward towards your heart using long strokes. Repeat this on all areas of your body, working your way from top to bottom and always moving the brush in the direction of your heart. This draws waste and fluid out of your cells, across your fascial system, and towards the lymph collection nodes in your groin area and armpits. Don’t forget to do your buttocks, torso and back, as well (you might find that you need a long-handled dry brush to reach some areas). Use an amount of pressure that is comfortable for you.

The Schedule: The thing about dry brushing (and so many other things) is that consistency is really key. If you do it every day you’ll likely see an improvement in skin-texture and potentially a reduction in cellulite within two weeks. My tip for this is to do it before you shower and to help with that I keep mine looped over the hook that holds my shower towel, that way I *have* to remove the brush to get the towel off, and it reminds me to spend a few minutes dry brushing before the shower.

The no-no’s: More than anything, just listen to your own skin. If you are sensitive or have any skin conditions dry brushing might not be for you, or you might need to seek out a super-soft brush, do it less often, or with less pressure. Always avoid dry brushing areas of your skin that have visible irritation.

Dry brushing seems so simple that I have to admit I was rather skeptical about it for a longgggggg time, but now, years later, I’m so thankful it’s something that became part of my regular routine. Hope it becomes part of yours, too.