I’ve dabbled with dry brushing here and there in my time, but never really committed. But this skincare practice is not only beloved by the likes of our favorite celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Tracee Ellis Ross, but by well-qualified nutritionists and functional health doctors as well. Everyone raves about the myriad of health and skin benefits that come with dry brushing, so consider me interested in learning more.
And since “dry brushing” is trending on TikTok (with 130.5 million views and counting), I decided to conduct my own personal experiment and give it a proper try. Read on to see if I could finally buy into the hype.
What is Dry Brushing?
True to its name, dry brushing involves running a bristled brush over dry skin, most commonly on the body, rather than the face. “It is a powerful Ayurvedic practice that both exfoliates the skin and opens detox pathways to support lymphatic drainage and boost immunity,” says Lauren Berlingeri, co-founder of HigherDose.
A simple pre-shower ritual, it isn’t just used in Ayurvedic medicine to stimulate the skin and the body’s lymphatic system, but in Traditional Chinese Medicine too. It’s a practice that has stood the test of time, which is always a good sign when trying to understand whether a wellness “trend” is really worth its salt.
The Benefits of Dry Brushing
As well as stimulating lymphatic drainage, which helps in detoxifying the body, dry brushing is supposed to be great for removing dead skin cells to smooth skin, boosting blood circulation and reducing puffiness and water retention. It is also a great way to invigorate body and mind, especially at the start of the day. Some also say it’s great at reducing the appearance of cellulite, but from my personal research, this seems somewhat unfounded.
Sophie Bolvary, licensed massage therapist at Raquel New York, adds that the practice of dry brushing may boost our immune system. “The lymphatic system does not have a ‘pump’ of its own, meaning it only gets working when we start moving our body or when it is stimulated manually by dry brushing or light massage,” Bolvary explains.
She adds that different brushes can have a different effect on the body. Dry brushes made with boar hair bristles is ideal for daily use and exfoliation. Dry brushes with ionic copper bristles carry the added benefit of sweeping your body in negative ions, which is known for antiviral and antibacterial properties in traditional medicine. It also may bring us full body-mind refreshment as an added self-care benefit, she adds.
The Downsides
There are a few negative side effects that can occur if you’re not careful. Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology says that it may cause irritation or microtears in the skin if too much pressure is applied. You’ll also want to consider what skin conditions you might be dealing with and if your skin type can tolerate all this brushing. Garshick says it’s not recommended for anyone with sensitive, broken, or inflamed skin like eczema or psoriasis.
How to Dry Body Brush Effectively
I was taught to do it as follows: whip the brush lightly in upward strokes towards the heart. I always start at my feet, move my way up, then move to hands and brush inwards towards my chest.