Why Dry Brush
1. It softens the skin.
I remember taking a facial class (I’m a cosmetologist), where the instructor had been an esthetician for 15 years. She told us about dry brushing and had us each come up and feel the skin on her arm. She was in her 50’s, but her skin was as soft as a babies butt! I was amazed. She gave all the credit to dry brushing daily.
2. It is a simplistic, inexpensive approach to healthier skin
I love that you can gain great results without expensive potions and treatments.
3. It stimulates the lymphatic system.
After my cancer treatment, I saw a physical therapist who did lymphatic drainage massage on me to help prevent lymphedema. I was intrigued by how gently she massaged, sweeping soft strokes across my skin, all towards the heart. This was my first experience with lymphatic massage and I was always amazed at how I needed to immediately use the restroom after lymphatic drainage massage. My therapist said that was a great indication that she had done her job, stimulating lymph fluid to be released. She suggested I dry brush at home, in the same manner, to continue to keep my lymph canals to drain properly, which is detoxifying to the body.
4. It helps with ingrown hairs.
No more razor burn bumps or ingrown hair bumps. The combination of dry brushing and shaving with a good, natural soap was the answer for me.
5. It sloughs off dead skin.
I used to struggle with small bumps on the back of my arms and on my legs. Not anymore. Dry brushing and again, using a natural soap from my local health food store did the trick. Makes me happy!
6. It feels good!
It is amazing how good it feels to dry brush skin. Especially if you have itchy, dry skin. It is great early in the morning right before my shower..it helps wake me up!
How To Dry Brush:
1. Purchase a natural bristle brush. Not synthetic. Ideally with a long handle.
2. Perform dry brushing before your shower while dry and naked (or nudie, as my girls say)
3. Work in long, upward strokes toward the heart.
4. Use whatever pressure is most comfortable for you.
5. Avoid sensitive areas and anywhere the skin is broken
6. After dry brushing your skin, rinse off in the shower.
7. Don’t forget to wash your brush using soap and water once a week. Hang to dry.
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Alexandra
December 19, 2013 at 5:15 amOne of the best thing you can do to heal dry skin is exfoliation, preferably using natural methods. Then you loss the dry skin flakes and your skin can absorb healing moisturizers better. I use a very effective ancient tool, called the Baiden Mitten.
Melissa@TheHappierHomemaker
July 6, 2012 at 10:54 pmI just got a spa treatment on a cruise and they did this-it was so invogorating! I’m definitely going to try it out at home!
Kristy
February 11, 2012 at 7:21 pmI have never heard of this! I’ve seen the brushes but never knew THIS is what they were used for! I have the same issues with my skin you’ve described and am super excited to do this! Would you mind if I shared/featured your post on my blog??
Care
November 1, 2011 at 4:56 pmSorry – Amy – I posted my note above through my son’s google account. I’m not SeaStar 🙂 I’m Carrie from Utah. tcgrubb11@msn.com
Thanks again!
SeaStar
November 1, 2011 at 4:53 pmI came upon your blog through pinterest and your 5 reasons to drink lemon with your water. I’m teaching a health class using essential oils and we stress putting lemon in drinking water. I learned so much from your list! Thank you so much. Another thing lemon does, is it “eats” petrochemicals. If you were to put a drop of lemon essential oil on a styrofoam cup it would eat a hole through it within a minute. (if it is a pure and potent essential oil) The lemon essential oil does the same inside your body. It gathers all the petrochemicals it can find and washes them out! And leaves the natural organic things alone. I love learning all these health tips and sharing them.
Thank YOU for taking the time to share with all of us! I am curious if you’ve researched essential oils in your healthy studies. They would be an added blessing for you, I know!
The Pennington Point
October 30, 2011 at 2:20 pmGreat post Amy! I did skin brusing a couple of years ago then let it slip away…why do we do that? I really liked it then I read your post and thought, “Oh yeah! Why don’t I do that any more?” I have also started your lemon water in the morning. You are good for me girl! Lisa~
Jennifer
October 29, 2011 at 11:48 pmI just happened to find your blog through a “pin” from my sister from your post on drinking lemon juice. We lost our mom a year and a half ago to breast cancer. I have spent the last two hours engulfed in your blog, comforted by your advice and reminded of many things my mom taught us about skin brushing, green smoothies, lemon juice and the importance of scripture. I am eagerly looking forward to following you here and am praying that God will bless you, Amy.
Amy Bowman
October 29, 2011 at 5:33 pmThanks for the encouraging words everyone!
As far as a specific brush, the most important thing is that it is a natural bristle brush with a long handle. I bought mine from my local health food store, knowing they would have natural bristle. The link above is a a brush that is all that and at a great price if you are an Amazon shopper!
Shari@Rain into Rainbows
October 29, 2011 at 8:10 amI’m intrigued. Thank you for sharing, Amy. Do you recommend a specific brush or brand of brushes?
Melissa
October 29, 2011 at 1:25 amI have been wanting to try this and you have given me the boost to do so, thank you.
srkindredspirits
October 29, 2011 at 12:06 amGreat Post! Our daughter’s hearbalist recomended this to help with her lymph and to help detox her body – it really does work! Also 100% natural soap also works wonders on our skin along with using all natural cleaners, laundry soap, deoderant, etc. – our skin is the bodies largest organ and it is very absorbent – people don’t realize that simple things such as switching to all natural cleaners etc. can make a hudge difference in our health!
http://srkindredspirits.blogspot.com/2011/10/itchy-skin.html
Theresa
October 28, 2011 at 8:42 pmThank you for this, I had never heard of it before either! t. xooxox
Cindy @Sidetracked Artist
October 28, 2011 at 8:04 pmI’ve never heard of this, but it sounds wonderful. My skin had been so dry since my cancer treatments.
Jessica @ This Blessed Life
October 28, 2011 at 6:38 pmso interesting! i have never in my life heard of this! thanks!
judee@ Gluten Free A-Z
October 28, 2011 at 5:02 pmWhat a great post. I bought a natural bristle brush with the intention of dry brushing, but i wasn’t sure what to do. You explained it perfectly. Thanks.