Ask Georgia: Dry Brushing 101
Dry brushing is the technique incorporated into those whirlwind morning routines we see splashed across social channels, often putting us into a tailspin trying to keep up. We asked Nutritionist Georgia Forsyth to break down the benefits:
Dry brushing, if you haven’t already, get involved. This practice not only has a detoxifying effect on the body – sweeping away dead skin cells, allowing for the regeneration of new layers of skin, and boosting the lymphatic system – it also improves skin appearance and reduces cellulite. And whilst all of the above is beckoning enough, we feel the greatest perk of dry brushing is that the upward strokes toward the heart is akin to having that first sip of your coffee, a pre-coffee shot, if you will. You will feel instantly revitalised.
Dry Brushing 101.
We recommend dry brushing daily before your morning workout or shower for up to five minutes. Starting at the soles of your feet and working your way up towards your neck, always brushing in an upwards direction towards the heart. At the stomach, brush in a clockwise motion and when you reach the arms, start from the hands and work your way towards your heart. Your brush strokes don’t need to be too hard, however, you could get a little more aggressive towards the buttocks and the back of your thighs as this is where a lot of us hold some extra cheer. Increasing circulation around this area will help decrease the appearance of cellulite. If you really want to amp it up, we suggest taking a leaf out of Iceman’s diary (the famed Wim Hoff, for those of you who are less familiar) and taking a cold shower, which will also enhance blood circulation. Follow up with your fave body oil or moisturiser, perhaps some jojoba, coconut or rose hip oil and you are ready to seize the day.
There are a couple of choices in skin brushes. We recommend using a medium-strength bristle brush. There is nothing worse than a firm brush that is too stiff because it’ll feel like sandpaper on bare ass. Literally. You don’t want to damage the skin as this can lead to bruising or scratching. Whilst handheld brushes are easy to travel with and help get into the nooks, we relish a brush with a handle as it allows for more range, especially when working your way around posteriorly.
With everyday use, you should aim to clean your brush with a few drops of tea tree oil and some warm water. Not only will this keep things fresh, it will also assist with the removal of dead skin cells. It can be left in the sun to dry or if you clean it at night, wrap the brush in a clean towel and place it faced down ready for use in the morning. Happy Brushing!