If you want to attain the soft and smooth skin, then one inexpensive way to do it is to dry brush your skin. To know about techniques for dry skin brushing, go through this post.
Dry skin brushing is one of the best ways to attain a smooth and glowing skin. Dry skin brushing is not new and it has been used by Scandinavians and Russians to promote healthy skin. Skin brushing or body brushing helps in eliminating toxins from the body, stimulating blood circulation and lymphatic circulation. With regular body brushing, you will notice improvement in the appearance of cellulite.
Dry skin brushing also helps in tightening the skin, toning the body and exfoliating dead skin cells that gives it a dull and lifeless look. This type of skin brushing is very common if you go to a high-end spa. Most of the skin polishing and massaging procedures are started with some form of dry body brushing. If you are looking to invigorate your body without spending megabucks in a spa, then you should certainly take up dry skin brushing.
How to Do Dry Skin Brushing
You don't need any fancy equipment for dry skin brushing. All you need is a natural bristle brush which is ergonomically designed and has a sufficiently long handle. It is best to start with a brush that has soft bristles as coarse and hard bristles will injure and irritate the skin.
A body brush that comes with a detachable head is perfect. Given here are step by step instructions on dry skin brushing.
First find a well ventilated spot where you can undress and do body brushing. The room should be warm with a comfortable chair to sit on and there should not be any cold draft inside the room.
Once you are comfortable and undressed, brush the sole of your left foot with the body brush in gentle upward motion.
Use gentle pressure and start brushing the top of the foot and the sides of the foot, encompassing the ankle.
Next brush from the top of the ankles to the knee in long upward strokes. You can use a bit more pressure while brushing this area.
Place your left leg on a stool, and brush the sides of your thighs, with upward motion.
Brush the top of the thighs as well as the inner thigh with the body brush. Take care not to apply too much pressure while brushing the inner thigh.
Brush the buttock area up to the waist.
Repeat all the steps given above with the right leg.
Next brush your back, starting from the lower back to the upper back, up to the shoulders. Brush several times to improve circulation.
Brush your left arm, by holding the brush in the right hand. Begin from the palm of your hands and then stroke the brush to the elbows and the upper arm.
Make sure that you cover both the back and front of your hands with the brush.
Repeat the steps on the right arm.
Next brush your abdomen and chest in gentle circular motion several times. Keep the pressure very light, as the skin in your abdomen and chest is very thin and sensitive.
Next glide the brush gently on the underside of your chin; beginning from under the ears to the chin.
Once you are done dry brushing your skin, have a shower and apply a moisturizer.
Tips for Dry Skin Brushing
Given below are some dry skin brushing tips and tricks, that will give you the maximum benefit from your skin brushing routine.
Always use light pressure while brushing sensitive areas of your skin like your chest and abdomen. Use more firm pressure on tougher areas like the elbows, soles of your feet and upper buttocks.
Make it a point to dry brush your body before you take a shower in the morning. In this way you can wash off all the impurities by having a shower.
Clean the body brush periodically with hot soapy water and dry it in out in the sunlight. If the bristles of the brush looks a little ragged, then you should replace it with a new one.
Once you have showered after dry body brushing, apply a light moisturizer or body butter while the skin is still damp. This will give your skin that extra glow and keep it hydrated.
Following the techniques of dry skin brushing detailed above will help you to improve your skin texture and appearance. Initially, you might find dry skin brushing a little weird, but when you see the results, you will be very impressed.