THE BENEFITS OF DRY SKIN BRUSHING

Dry body brushing has been around for centuries in many variations and in many different cultures because of the extensive health benefits. The Ancient Greek athletes would use a specialised spoon-like scraper called a Stringile to remove the grime as a result of physical activity and to encourage circulation. Where as the Japanese would regularly apply vigerous skin brushing with a loofah sponge before their traditional hot baths, to help cleanse and improve their health.

Today our bodies are exposed to much higher levels of toxins, internally and externally and the benefits of dry body brushing are even more impotant. When performed correctly, dry body brushing can improve venous blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, release toxins, exfoliate dead skin, reduce ingrown hairs along with many other health benefits. As a result the skin will feel and look much healthier and will allow better penetration of follow up body products and treatments. People can often feel the energising benefits of dry body brushing just days after starting the process.

Some general points to remember:

• use a natural bristle skin brush, for best results it is advisable to use a plant bristle.
• Perform on dry skin only.
• Generally stroke upwards in one movement, towards lymphatic nodes.
• Repeat light strokes 7 times.
• Pressure can be adjusted to your comfort level.
• It is best to follow the dry brushing process with some type of hydrotherapy i.e. shower or bath.
• Don't brush more than you need to. More is not better.
• Work from left to right side of the body.

Dry body brushing is a perfect treatment for in-salon use, often as a lead in to another treatment, or for a take home self help tool for people to use before their daily shower or bath. Dry brushing should be gentle and rhythmical and not irritating or uncomfortable. The process may leave a slight erythema or reddening of the skin due to a vascular response, but be careful not to over-stimulate. When done alone as a massage treatment the process can be done in more detail taking as long as 30 minutes for the whole body. When Dry body brushing is used as a pre treatment, the whole process should take approximately 10 minutes. It is highly effective when used before certain spot treatments such as cellulite treatments. Some aromatherapists include dry body brushing prior to an aromatherapy massage as it enhances the penetration of the essential oils and nutritive oils into the skin.

The basic method when working on a client:

1. The client is face up and the process starts from the their left foot, stroking from toes to heel, then on the top of the foot from toes to ankle and ending at achillies tendon behind ankle (use a brush from the "firm" Bodecare brush range).Each brush stroke is followed by a soothing sweep of the other hand.
2. The client is slightly turned to continue upwards to brush the leg, moving from ankle to calf and shin and up to hamstrings and quadriceps, covering the whole leg with the strokes moving towards the lymph nodes in the groin. (Use a brush from the "soft-medium" Bodecare brush range).
3. Strokes then start at the top of the buttocks and move down towards the gluteal fold (where buttocks join the legs) and sweep back again to the top. Then from base of buttocks, sweep out and up towards the outside of hips.
4. From the lower back, start brush strokes from the spine and sweep brush strokes up and out to side of torso all the way up to the shoulder blades and finishing from spine to over the shoulder.
5. The back of the neck and the decolletage is brushed gently downwards and towards the armpits following the lymphatic flow. The bust area is not dry brushed. (Use a brush from the "Natural Face Brush" Bodecare brush range).
6. Begin with the lower abdominal area by brushing from the navel down to the lymph groin area moving towards the outer hips. For the upper abdominal area, brush upwards and outwards from the navel towards the outer torso below the breast line. complete the abdominal area by brushing in a clockwise direction following the large intestines. Start in small circles and increase the size of the circle.
7. Repeat the process on the right side.
8. Brush from wrists to fingertips. Turn hand over and brush from fingertips to wrist and continue up the arm to the shoulder, working from inner to mid and to outer arm. Finish brush strokes over the armpit. with light strokes in small circular, clockwise direction.
9. When brushing the face, use small circular strokes ending the stroke going down towards the lymph nodes. Avoid the eye area. Start at the chin, above lips, side of nose, cheeks, temples and forehead.
10. Change to a firm bristle body brush or hairbrush with maple wood pins to do the scalp. Place brush behind ear and brush upwards to the temple. Place brush at base of neck and brush upwards to top of head, covering entire head. Place brush behind top of ear and brush down to side of neck.

The Benefits of dry skin brushing include:

• It perks up skin colour and clarity
• Unclogs the follicles and pores
• Allows the skin to breathe better
• Assists in the elimination of toxins and wastes
• Improves the skins texture through cell renewal
• Improves skin hydration and reduces the appearance of cellulite
• Stimulates the skins overall function and increases blood and lymphatic circulation
• Allows the better penetration of products

Check out our range of Bodecare brushes which can be easily ordered online. Bodecare has the largest range of pure plant bristle dry body bruhes. Bodecare's reputation for traditionally crafted workmanship and outstanding quality has lead to its popularity in 5 star Day Spa's throughout Australia and Asia.