This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.
I had the best night’s sleep the last couple of nights and I attribute that to starting a daily regimen of dry brushing! I used to do dry brushing once a day, but stopped several months ago. At the time, I didn’t really like the brush I was using and it was awkward to hold. But I ordered a new brush and after starting up again, the benefits are so evident!
Our skin is the body’s largest organ; it absorbs anything you put on and also plays a critical role in eliminating toxins.
It is estimated that the skin eliminates over a pound of waste every day!
Many people spend extra time exfoliating their face to remove dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores; however, this should also be done for the rest of the body, as well. This can easily be done by dry brushing just a few minutes each day.
Dry brushing has many health benefits, from improving your immune system to reducing cellulite.
Not only are there great health benefits, but it is also very soothing. I love to do my dry brushing just before bed. At night time, my house is always nice and quiet so it is an extra peaceful time. I do it right before bed with the lights out and it is very relaxing, it even seems to have helped me fall sleep easier these past few nights. I’m not sure if it is due to the soothing nature of dry brushing or the increased circulation, but my sleep has greatly improved. I was surprised when I couldn’t find too much information on the connection of dry brushing and improved sleep.
What is Dry Brushing?
I could go on and on about how much I love dry brushing, but for those of you new to dry brushing:
Dry brushing involves using a brush to lightly brush your skin without any water; you don’t want your skin or brush to be wet.
It is very easy to do and only takes a few minutes!
Benefits of Dry Brushing
Dry brushing provides numerous health benefits. Many say that after spending a few minutes dry brushing, they feel rejuvenated and energized. It is a very soothing way to massage your skin.
1. Increased Circulation– Helps improve circulation throughout your body and blood flow.
2. Stimulates Your Lymphatic System – The process of dry brushing stimulates your lymphatic system which aids in the body’s ability to eliminate toxins.
3. Increases Your Immune System– The increase in circulation and elimination of toxins aids in boosting the body’s immune system.
4. Eliminates Toxins-Aids in detoxifying the body as circulation is increased and the lymphatic system is stimulated.
5. Removes Dead Skin & Improves Skin Appearance– Helps remove dead skin cells clogging pores and allows your skin to breathe and toxins to be expired.
6. Reduces Cellulite– It helps increase stimulation and circulation of your skin which helps minimize the appearance of cellulite.
7. Prevents Spider Veins and Varicose Veins– Targeting areas, such as your legs, helps increase circulation and blood flow, from moving the brush in a direction towards the heart.
Additional Benefits
In addition to the benefits of dry brushing listed above, I have noticed several other benefits from doing it myself, including:
- Improved Sleep– Ever since I started doing my dry brushing right before bed, I have noticed that I’ve been able to get to sleep quicker and not have trouble waking up during the night. I have been getting the best sleep which I believe is due to the dry brushing! When I was doing the dry brushing only in the morning, I don’t believe it had the same effect. So now, I do my dry brushing in the morning and at night.
- Decreased Cortisol– Dry brushing is very soothing and relaxing. The relaxing nature of dry brushing and the increase in circulation has helped me decrease my levels of stress.
- Improved Acne– It has helped my acne immensely. I noticed a change in just a few days. I believe this is due to the increased circulation and my body’s ability to better eliminate toxins.
How to Do it:
1. Make sure your skin is dry and you don’t have any products or lotions on.
2. Take your dry brush and start gently brushing your skin making long sweeping motions starting at your feet, brushing in the direction towards your heart. Some people prefer to do circular motions.
3. Start brushing from your feet, making your way up both legs.
4. Brush from your belly button down to your lower abdomen, then from your belly button up towards your heart.
5. Next, work from your hands to your chest, do one arm at a time. Then brush downward form the bottom of your neck towards the collar bone. Also work from your lower back upwards.
You should dry brush your entire body. Some use a similar method and gently brush their face as well. However, I haven’t tried it on my face yet.
The main idea is that for dry brushing, it is important to start at your feet and make your way up the body, this allows the lymph in your body to drain optimally, such as near your collar bone.
Dry Brushing Tips:
-Do the dry brushing gently, especially your first time to avoid irritation or redness.
-Only use gentle pressure, your skin should not be red or irritated afterwards. When your skin gets used to dry brushing, you can add a little more pressure.
–ALWAYS brush in the direction towards your heart, this promotes blood circulation.
What Kind Kind of Brush Should You Use?
Make sure to use a brush that is specifically designed for dry brushing or body brushing. Select a brush that has natural bristles, not synthetic bristles. Synthetic bristles can be too harsh on skin. Some brushes have a long handle others have shorter handles, either works well, it just depends on your preference. I prefer dry brushing with a brush that has a longer handle this way it is easier to reach areas. This is the best dry brush I have found so far.
Getting the right kind can really make a difference!
Most dry brushes are only $8 to $12 dollars, they are very inexpensive!
How Often Should You Dry Brush?
Dry brushing should be done daily, preferably two times per day, but even just once will be very beneficial.
Many say to do it before you get in the shower and/or before you go to bed. It is best to do it before your shower, this way your skin is dry and it’s before you apply any products or lotions to your skin.
How Long Should it Take?
Dry brushing should only take a few minutes. It is easy to add to your morning or night time routine because it only takes a very short time.
Note:
If you have any sensitive areas, bruises, rashes, wounds, cuts, or infections, avoid dry brushing near these areas.
Have you tried dry brushing? Have you noticed any health benefits?
I dry brush before bed, as well. I am sleeping better too.
Do you have to shower after every time you dry brush?
No, you don’t have to.
I usually cannot sleep without putting lotion on before bed. After dry brushing do I lotion or would it be best to not lotion?
I would apply the lotion after dry brushing that way it doesn’t get on your brush.
What are the brushes made of? Would a boar bristle brush work? I have one that I initially bought for hair, but I don’t particularly like it for that, so I was wondering if I could use it? Or should I just buy a body brush? I’m not concerned with the price, just want to know if I can re purpose my BBB.
The one I use has boar bristles. Interesting, maybe you could repurpose it. I would just wash it with some castile soap. 🙂
I came across this looking for some specific information on dry brushing. There’s some great info here. I love how you have it laid out, so clear and concise.
Thank you Martha!
I agree with you on better sleep. I started dry brushing in the spring and then for some forgettable reason, I stopped. I started again a week ago and won’t be taking another dry brush hiatus. I have noticed my sleep has become so solid. I came searching on the internet to see if others had the same result and found you.
Hi Dolores, so glad you saw an improvement from dry brushing as well!
I love dry brushing. You wrote the article well. I personally like to dry brush before I shower. If you add in oil pulling through the dry brushing and shower time it makes oil pulling that much easier and the time goes much faster.
That’s a great suggestion.
Took me a minute. Then I realized you meant the oral swishing called “oil pulling”! That *would* make the time go much faster.
It really does seem to help circulation. I usually get chilled easy this time of year but after skin brushing I feel much more comfortable.
Glad to hear it has helped. I noticed an improvement right away as well.
I like your Facebook news feeds, this one especially. I just got my Yerba Prima dry brush today and am going to brush daily. I’ve had Hep C for 30 years but I’m such a holistic health nut that I think I’ll be fine with it.
Thank you for your good work.
Thanks Joe! Glad to know you found it helpful. Let us know how the dry brushing works for you. 🙂
Thank you so much for suck a great information!
Glad you found it helpful 🙂
Hello,is it ok to share the brush with the rest of the family or everyone has to get their own?
It is best that everyone get their own brush. It’s nice that they’re pretty cheap.
I need to get myself a brush and start brushing. I don’t have any problems sleeping, but my skin is bad in certain areas, and needs better circulation. Is it possible to use a towel until I get hold of a brush?
I think any type of massaging would be beneficial to aid in increasing circulation. But, the dry brush makes it so much easier. It’s nice that they’re pretty cheap too!
I have been doing this for a while now…My Grandmother is the one who first taught my sister and me to dry brush our bodies before we showered….I stopped doing it many years ago, because I had started making and using my own sugar scrun in the shower, but a couple of years ago, I found a really good natural brush that reminded me of the one my grandmother had given to my sister and me….They were Fuller brushes, and I am so glad I started back..Even though I exfoliate everyday, the dry brushing is still beneficial, it is great for your circulation and I always do it right before my shower or bath at night, and in the morning I have a small brush that I use for just my face…at 57 yrs old there is a lot of dead skin that needs to come off EVERYDAY, and another benefit, your sheets and mattress have dust mites, no matter how many times you change or buy a new mattress, they are always there, and they feed on the skin that we shed…less skin…less mites….
Great idea to keep a separate brush for using on the face.
Hi Lori, to do the face would you brush upwards? And would you need a softer brush?
I think you may need a softer brush. They make some specifically for the face. I haven’t researched much about the direction for the face, but I think most do recommend upwards.
Do you HAVE to shower after each brushing? I don’t shower everyday, and don’t like my skin absorbing more toxic city water than it needs to.
Do I wash the brush every time I use it?
I wash my dry brush about once a week with castile soap, but very gently. After each use I also shake off the dry brush.
Great post and one of my favorite ‘self-care’ routines. Once you try it it’s easy to get hooked as its so invigorating but at the same time relaxing. Skin feels softer and hs a healthier Glow. Thanks so much for the tips and info!
We have brushed our daughter for sensory issues and it works amazingly but I am a little concerned with some of the techniques you listed. I was an early intervention specialist and when we trained parents on brushing we were told never to brush the stomach or face. That you should use long sweeping motions and not lift brush. Also to always use joint compression after brushing to help set the muscle memory? I know one way is being used for detox and another for sensory integration but you have to be very careful with the skin.
What do you mean by joint compression? Just squeeze them or is there something else involved? How long for the compression?
This is what we used for my daughter. I will see if I can find you an you tube video. http://www.nationalautismresources.com/wilbarger-protocol.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9LSbINc-y0 this video is pretty much dead on how I was taught. We also used it as learning for counting and body parts.
Interesting! I follow the directions from the graphs of lymph flow. There are great images online with arrows pointing int the directions for dry brushing each section of the body.
Interesting! I follow the directions from the graphs of lymph flow. There are great images online with arrows pointing in the directions for dry brushing each section of the body.
Hi Anne,
When brushing the stomach, you should go in a clockwise motion – it follows the direction of your intestine. When brushing the face, use a softer brush.
I hope this answers your question.
I’ve been dry brushing my whole body for some time now and the benefits are amazing.
Thank you for the article Lori!
I believe dry brushing and sensory intervention are used for two different reasons. For my son, it would be too much stimulation and discomfort to brush his face when he was younger. The stomach maybe also a trigger point for other childern.
This is different from dry brushing. This is intended for body health and as the older we become, the more tough and durable our skin gets. We able to handle the bristles better on areas like our face, unlike the more delicate skin of childern.
Great post 🙂
What do you think of using those exfoliating gloves? It’s a million times easier to use them and they don’t feel too harsh to me. But there’s nothing natural about them I’m sure.
hey Debbie,
I like the idea of using the gloves, quick and easy.
Or perhaps some of the rubber nubbed gloves . . . or coarse wool gloves.
🙂
Thanks Debbie! I think the dry brush would be more effective, but I am sure the gloves still provide benefits. When I first bought my dry brush and tried it, I felt as though it scratched my skin and I wasn’t doing it right. It helped starting out doing it very gently. Did you use one with a short or long handle? I just switched to one with a long handle and it has been so much easier to do.
I like the concept , although it is the first time I have read of dry brushing.
Skin is a funny organ and I would urge diabetics and those with aged thin skin or compromised immune system (for any reason, HIV, HEP C, Cardiac Disease etc) may wish to start this technique with a softer cloth or very soft brush.
As a Meidcal Professional I love this website and the common sense yet non-mainstream reporting . . . . the effort put into your articles is considerbale!
Thanks,
Mark
Thank you Mark 🙂
Why should people with Hep C use a softer brush? I just bought a Yerba Prima brush and I plan to use it. My Immune seems quite well, with Hep c.