I Dry Body Brush Every Day–Here Are All The Benefits | Vogue

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are different ways of doing it, though: “We always recommend starting at the hands and feet, then stroking upwards with small, circular motions towards the lymph nodes,” explains Berlingeri. “When you do your stomach, brush down towards your groin.”

Bolvary explains that our lymph system has main “port” areas in our bodies where fluid is drained through urine and sweat. In the lower part of our bodies, the lymph port is the groin, which is why you start from the feet and work upwards towards it. For the upper body, you’ll want to start at the palms of your hands and then sweep up the arms into the armpits because those are the lymph ports of the upper body.

You can also consider dry brushing over your breast and décolleté, as she says it can support breast health and optimize lymphatic function. And be sure to start with lighter pressure, as a new dry brush will be quite firm and will need time to break in.

Dry brushing done by a professional will give you a more in-depth treatment. “The practitioner takes care of the work, and reaches all the hard-to-reach areas, while you simply enjoy the awakening sensations,” says Bolvary. “Also, the practitioner can demonstrate proper technique and pressure for your skin and body type.”

But that doesn’t mean doing it at home won’t have its own benefits. She says it’s helpful to look at a lymphatic glow map (“A very easy Google search,” she says, “which can outline the general flow of lymph and how to sweep into the main lymph ports of the body”). After a few tries on your own, she says you get used to it.

Garshick says that dry brushing can be done one to two times a week if you have sensitive skin, as frequent brushing might cause irritation. But if your skin can tolerate it, Bolvary says that it can be a daily practice. She recommends doing it at the start of your day, right before hopping in the shower. “Some people find it more stimulating and energizing than a cup of coffee,” she says.

Like I said, I’ve used a dry body brush during episodic health kicks previously, but rarely consistently. What I’ve most noticed since making it (at least) a four-times-a-week thing is that my skin is infinitely less lackluster. It’s an excellent way to quickly slough off the dead skin cells that form a grey veil over what was previously an okay summer tan, and it’s certainly a good way to wake yourself up in the morning.

I have found that combining it with a “contrast” shower–i.e. turning the temperature hot, then cold, then hot, then cold–makes me feel extremely energized, particularly after a vigorous workout. You also don’t really need to commit to doing five minutes to reap the benefits–give it three minutes and you’ll feel fantastic as you start your day. It’s worth noting that–as hard as I willed it–dry brushing won’t stimulate lymphatic drainage enough to cure a hangover. Which is deeply sad.

Newbies to the practice should know that once you’ve dry brushed, you’ll likely experience an itchy, tingling sensation, along with some possible redness, which soon settles. This feeling quickly becomes less prominent with regular use, but it’s actually a sign that your circulation is revved up and blood is en route to the surface of the skin.

Bolvary says that because dry brushes are usually made with natural materials, it’s best to use natural, non-chemical cleaning solutions to clean your brushes. “I like to get a bowl of warm water with several drops of tea tree oil and place the brush bristles down to let it soak for about 30 minutes. Then set it aside to dry.”

But keep in mind that your brush will soften over time and that it will eventually shed a little with regular washing. “These tools are not meant to last forever,” she says. “So if your brush has become too soft and the bristles are falling out with every use, it may be time for a new one.”

Try to wash your brush once every two weeks and spritz it with something like tea tree mist after every use. Bolvary also recommends leaving it in a window to air dry rather than your shower ledge where it can easily get dirty.

Bolvary says that the best dry body brushes are ones that are made with natural bristles such as cactus or agave plant. But ones with boar hair or fine ionic copper bristles make for great options as well. Her picks include the Prana Sisal Body Brush for a natural option and the Living Libations Energy Dry Brush if you’re looking for an ionic copper brush. Garshick like the TATCHA Hinoki Polishing Body Brush, which is made from Japanese cypress and is gentle on the skin (and super luxe as an added bonus) or the Hydrea London Professional Body Brush because it has a long handle for hard-to-reach areas.

Dry body brushing is a really easy–and affordable–ritual to commit to, which is why it gets a yes from me. You can’t always see the many benefits it has on the body, but you can often feel them. I have personally noticed a more even skin tone, slightly lighter legs (not yet as streamlined as Gwyneth’s unfortunately) and more morning vitality. I also firmly believe that taking a few intentional minutes to do something positive for your well-being each day is underrated. Next up… time to crack body moisturizing.

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Listen to Vogue Beauty editors talk about dry brushing and more beauty and wellness routines on this episode of The Run-Through here.