How to dry brush: a simple body brushing routine

To dry brush, use a natural bristle brush on dry skin before a bath or shower, working in long, light strokes up from your feet, over your legs, body and arms, for three to five minutes. Press gently, skip any broken, sore or irritated skin, then shower and moisturise. Dry body brushing is a simple exfoliating routine that many people enjoy as a few quiet minutes before the day starts, and this guide covers how to do it well and how to choose and care for the brush.

What dry brushing is

Dry brushing means sweeping a dry, natural bristle brush over dry skin before you wash. It is a form of manual exfoliation: the bristles lift away the dry, flaky surface skin that builds up, especially in winter when central heating dries the air, so that your skin feels smoother afterwards.

You will find much bigger claims made for it online. We stick to what you can feel for yourself: smoother skin, a brisk and pleasant routine, and a reason to take five minutes before the shower rather than rushing straight in.

What you need

All you need is a brush with natural bristles that feels firm without scratching, and a long handle if you want to reach your back. Brush in a warm room, standing in the bath or shower tray so the loose skin is easy to rinse away, and keep a towel and a moisturiser nearby.

How to dry brush, step by step

Make sure both your skin and the brush are completely dry. Dry bristles grip the surface of the skin in a way wet bristles do not.

Start at your feet. Brush the soles and the tops of the feet, then work up the lower legs in long, overlapping strokes, going over each area a few times before moving on.

Carry on up over the knees, thighs and hips, front and back. Use the same long strokes, and keep the pressure light on the inner thighs, where skin is thinner.

On the stomach, switch to slow, gentle circles with lighter pressure. Then move to the arms, starting at the hands and brushing up towards the shoulders.

Use the long handle for your back, brushing up from the lower back and out across the shoulders. Go lightly over the chest, and leave out the face and any area where the skin is delicate.

Finish with a warm shower or bath to rinse away the loosened skin, pat yourself dry and apply a moisturiser or body oil while your skin is still slightly damp. The whole routine takes three to five minutes.

Which direction to brush

The traditional way is to brush upwards from the feet, and from the hands up the arms, working towards the chest. There is no need to be strict about it. What matters more is using long, sweeping, overlapping strokes rather than scrubbing back and forth, which can leave skin red and sore.

Following the same order each time does help. It turns the routine into a habit, and it makes sure you cover every area without thinking about it.

How hard to press

Lightly. Your skin may look a little pink afterwards, but it should never be red, scratched, stinging or sore. If it is, you are pressing too hard, brushing too often or using bristles that are too firm for you.

Start with gentle pressure for the first few weeks and increase it only if your skin is comfortable. Skin on the legs and back is generally tougher than on the stomach, chest and arms, so adjust as you go.

How often to dry brush

Start with once or twice a week. If your skin is happy with that, you can build up to every other day, and some people brush most mornings with a softer brush. If your skin starts to feel tight, itchy or sensitive, brush less often or switch to softer bristles.

Mornings suit most people, because the routine fits naturally before the shower and the brisk brushing makes a good start to the day. Evenings work just as well before a bath.

When not to dry brush

Do not brush over broken, sunburnt, irritated or inflamed skin, rashes, cuts, grazes, spots or moles, and avoid skin you have just shaved or waxed. If you have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, or very sensitive skin, ask a pharmacist or your GP before you start.

Bristle or horsehair?

The bristles decide how firm the brush feels. Natural pig bristle is the classic dry brushing material and the firmest of the natural options. Horsehair is softer and finer, a good choice for sensitive skin, for beginners and for brushing more often. Plant fibres such as sisal and cactus are often firmer again.

The Arima bamboo bath brush lets you choose. It has a smooth bamboo handle that widens into a round head, with natural pig bristle as the firmest option, black horsehair as a softer one and white horsehair as soft. It is 40 cm long with a 10.5 cm head, which gives you the reach for your back, and the handle comes plain or with a rope wrapped grip near the end. A cord loop at the end lets it hang from a hook between uses.

The Arima also works as a bath brush for washing your back in the shower or bath. If you use one brush for both, let it dry completely before you next dry brush, or keep a second brush just for dry use.

Caring for the brush

After each use, tap the brush firmly against the side of the bath to shake out loose skin. Hang it up by its loop somewhere well ventilated, away from the spray of the shower, so the bristles stay dry.

Every week or two, give it a wash. Swirl the bristles in warm water with a little mild soap or shampoo, keeping the head facing downwards and the handle out of the water as much as you can. Rinse, shake out the water, then leave it to dry with the bristles facing down or hanging from its loop. Avoid soaking it, and keep it away from direct heat such as a radiator, which can dry out both the bamboo and the bristles.

A body brush is personal, so keep one each. When the bristles start to splay or lose their spring, it is time for a new one.

Make it part of the bathroom

A good brush is nice enough to leave out, hanging from a hook beside the bath or shower with a towel ready. Our guide to choosing bath towels covers which towels dry best in a small bathroom, and Japandi bathroom ideas has more on making the room feel calm. You will find the brush and more in our bathroom collection.

Questions

Should you dry brush before or after a shower?

Before. Dry brushing is done on dry skin with a dry brush, and the shower afterwards rinses away the loosened skin.

How often should you dry brush?

Start with once or twice a week and see how your skin feels. Some people build up to most days with a soft brush, but cut back if your skin becomes sore, tight or itchy.

Which way should you dry brush?

Traditionally upwards, from the feet and hands towards the chest, in long, overlapping strokes. Keeping to the same order each time matters more than the exact direction.

Can you dry brush your face?

Not with a body brush, which is too firm for the delicate skin on the face. Leave the face out of your dry brushing routine altogether.