She adds that different brushes can have a different effect on the body. Dry brushes made with boar-hair bristles are 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.
“The brisk rhythmic motion creates a sensory reset that I find both grounding and energizing,” Bolvary adds. “Helping to sharpen mental alertness and brighten my mood.” Pro tip: Sprinkle an essential-oil blend (like something with citrus) to your dry brush to further wake up your senses.
My Experience With Dry Body Brushing
I’ve used a dry body brush during episodic health kicks previously, but rarely consistently—but my coworker swears by it before every shower, especially when she’s taking an “Everything Shower.” What I’ve most noticed since making it (at least) a four-times-a-week thing is that my skin is infinitely looking more polished and brighter. It’s an excellent way to quickly slough off the dead skin cells that form a grey veil over what was months before a 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. This is deeply disappointing, but I continue to search for a fix.
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.
You also might feel, for lack of a better way to phrase it, like your skin is dusty. This is all the dead skin cells you just exfoliated off—which is why most people prefer to do this practice before hopping in the shower. Don’t fret, a little big of your favorite body soap will take care of it.
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-feeling legs (not yet as streamlined as Paltrow’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. A look at the dry brushes we’d recommend, below.
Best With Copper Bristles: HigherDose Supercharge Copper Body Brush
Copper Dry Brushing Body Brush
- Why We Love It: A pick from Bolvary, this body brush is made with a mix of copper and natural horsehair bristles that strike the perfect balance between an extremely effective and gentle exfoliation. After a few uses, you’ll see your skin look—and feel—so much smoother. As a bonus, the copper bristles are known to sweep your body in negative ions to stimulate your lymphatic system, and give you antibacterial and antiviral benefits.
- Editor’s Experience: “I have never really gotten into dry brushing (I’m admittedly very lazy and not too keen on adding another step into any of my routines). But I heard such great things about this specific dry brush, I decided to give it a try—and I’m a converted believer. This brush feels so luxe and gentle, I actually like rubbing it all over my skin. And after consistent use, I do notice my skin feels so much smoother and looks more radiant. This is especially important in the summer; when I’m layering so much sunscreen and bug repellent on my body, it’s nice to have something that effectively sloughs away any debris and product buildup. As for the TCM benefits, the jury is still out on that one. But I’m willing to keep trying to see.” —Audrey Noble, contributor
- Bristle Material: Copper and natural horsehair
- Handle Size: 13 x 8 x 4 cm.
