What is Dry Brushing? What are the Benefits of Dry Brushing?

by Julie Zuleger, Ph.D., CSCS, CYT-500, LMT

Published on 10/16/2025

Ever wondered if there’s a simple, natural secret to glowing skin, reduced puffiness, and a feeling of vibrant energy that starts from within? What if we told you the answer lies in a centuries-old practice that you can do in the comfort of your home? We’re talking about dry brushing.

What Exactly is Dry Brushing, and Why is Everyone Talking About It?

Dry brushing involves using a stiff-bristle brush, typically made from natural fibers, on dry skin. Dry brushing is a holistic approach to wellness that targets the skin and fascia, helping with lymphatic massage (Tiger Tail USA, 2025).

How Does Dry Brushing Help My Skin?

Exfoliating is the most immediate and noticeable benefit of dry brushing. Your skin is constantly shedding dead cells, and sometimes these cells don’t slough off as efficiently as they should. This can lead to dull, rough, or flaky skin. Dry brushing gently removes dead skin cells, revealing fresher, brighter skin underneath. It’s a physical exfoliant that helps to:

Improve skin texture: Say goodbye to rough patches and hello to silky-smooth skin.
Enhance skin radiance: By removing the dull, outer layer, your skin instantly looks more vibrant and healthier.
Prepare skin for moisturizers: With dead skin cells removed, your lotions, oils, and creams can penetrate more effectively, resulting in better hydration (Mehta, 2021).

Can Dry Brushing Help with Cellulite?

This is a hot topic, and while dry brushing isn’t a magic cure for cellulite, many people report a temporary improvement in its appearance.

Dry brushing can diminish the appearance of cellulite in a couple of ways:

Improved Circulation: The invigorating strokes increase blood flow to the skin’s surface, which can temporarily plump the skin and make cellulite less noticeable.
Lymphatic Drainage: Dry brushing is a powerful tool for stimulating the lymphatic system. By helping to move stagnant fluid and toxins, it can reduce the puffiness and uneven texture associated with cellulite.

How Does Dry Brushing Support Your Lymphatic System?

Your lymphatic system is a vital yet often overlooked component of your immune system. It’s a network of vessels, nodes, and organs that carry lymph – a clear fluid containing white blood cells – throughout your body. Unlike your circulatory system, which has the heart to pump blood, the lymphatic system relies on muscle contractions, movement, and manual stimulation, such as dry brushing, to move lymph fluid.

When your lymphatic system becomes sluggish, it can lead to a build-up of toxins, waste products, and excess fluid, potentially causing:

Puffiness and swelling: Especially in the hands, feet, and face.
Dull skin: A build-up of waste can impact skin clarity.
Weakened immune function: A congested lymphatic system can make you more susceptible to illness.
Fatigue: When your body isn’t efficiently clearing waste, you can feel sluggish.

Can Dry Brushing Boost Your Energy and Circulation?

Many enthusiasts report feeling invigorated and energized after a dry brushing session. This is due to a couple of factors:

Increased Blood Flow: The friction from the brush stimulates blood circulation to the skin’s surface, giving you a healthy glow and a feeling of warmth. This improves circulation with dry brushing, bringing fresh oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells.
Nervous System Stimulation: The invigorating sensation on your skin can be a gentle wake-up call for your nervous system, promoting alertness and vitality. It’s a fantastic way to kickstart your day, far better than a jolt of caffeine!

What is The Best Way to Dry Brush?

Consistency is key when it comes to dry brushing. Aim to incorporate it into your routine 3-5 times a week, ideally in the morning before your shower. Here’s a detailed how-to dry brush tutorial for optimal results:

Start with dry skin and a brush. Ensure your skin and the brush are completely dry. This is crucial for effective exfoliation and lymphatic stimulation.
Begin at Your Feet: Always brush towards your heart. Start at the tops of your feet and brush upwards towards your ankles with long, sweeping strokes.
Work Up Your Legs: Move up your lower legs, using upward strokes towards your knees.
Thighs and Glutes: Continue brushing up your thighs and glutes, always moving towards your heart. For the stomach and groin area, use circular, clockwise motions.
Arms Next: Start at your hands and brush upwards towards your shoulders, again with long strokes moving towards your heart.
Back and Torso: Use the long handle to reach your back, brushing upwards towards your heart. For your chest and décolletage, use gentle, circular motions, still moving towards your heart. Be particularly gentle around sensitive areas like the breasts.
Neck and Shoulders: For the neck, brush downwards towards your collarbones. For the upper shoulders, brush inwards towards the center of your chest. Be very gentle here, as the skin is thinner.
Shower Time: After dry brushing, hop in the shower. This helps to wash away the exfoliated skin cells and any loosened toxins.
Moisturize: After showering, apply a nourishing body oil (such as jojoba, almond, or coconut oil) or a rich body lotion generously. Your skin will be perfectly primed to absorb it.

What Are Some Important Tips for Dry Brushing?

Pressure: The pressure should be firm but comfortable. It should feel invigorating, not painful or scratchy. Your skin might be slightly pink afterward, but it shouldn’t be red or irritated.
Stroke Direction: Always brush towards your heart. This is vital for encouraging lymphatic flow back to the central drainage points.
Overlap Strokes: Ensure you overlap your strokes to cover all areas of your body.
Avoid Irritated Areas: Do not dry brush over broken skin, rashes, sunburns, varicose veins, or any areas with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
Listen to Your Body: If you experience any discomfort, adjust your pressure or stop.

When Should You Avoid Dry Brushing?

Broken Skin or Wounds: Never dry brush over cuts, scrapes, open wounds, rashes, or infections.
Sunburn or Irritated Skin: Wait until your skin has fully healed and is no longer sensitive.
Active Skin Conditions: Avoid dry brushing over eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, or other inflammatory skin conditions, as it can worsen irritation.
Severe Varicose Veins: Be very gentle or avoid areas with severe varicose veins, as vigorous brushing could potentially damage fragile vessels.
Sensitive Skin: If you have extremely sensitive skin, start with very light pressure or try a patch test first. Some individuals may find it too abrasive.
Pregnancy: While some sources say it’s fine, it’s always best to consult your doctor before starting any new body treatment during pregnancy.
Certain Medical Conditions: If you have severe health conditions, especially those affecting the circulatory or lymphatic system (e.g., congestive heart failure, kidney disease, lymphedema from a medical condition), consult your doctor or a certified lymphatic drainage therapist before attempting these practices. Dry brushing for lymphedema should only be done under the guidance of a professional.

If you have any underlying health conditions or concerns, it’s always best to consult with your doctor or a certified lymphatic drainage therapist before incorporating these techniques into your routine. A qualified professional can assess your specific needs and guide you safely.

Key Takeaways

Dry brushing is a powerful physical exfoliant for smoother, more radiant skin. This practice gently removes dead skin cells, revealing fresher, brighter skin and improving overall skin texture.

Dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system and boosts circulation. By stimulating the lymphatic system, dry brushing can help reduce puffiness and swelling caused by sluggish fluid and toxin buildup. The friction also increases blood flow, brings in oxygen and nutrients, and provides an invigorating, energizing effect.

The technique must always move toward the heart. For optimal lymphatic and circulatory benefit, the brushing motion must be in long, sweeping strokes directed toward the heart.

Conclusion

The quest for radiant skin, reduced puffiness, and a sense of internal vitality doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With the time-honored practices of dry brushing, you hold the power to unlock incredible benefits for your body, right in the comfort of your own home.

Don’t wait to experience the transformative effects. Arm yourself with a Tiger Tail Dry Brush Therapeutic Lymphatic Massager and set aside a few minutes each morning, and commit to this self-care ritual.

References

Mehta, M. (2025, May 8). The benefits of dry brushing for skin and circulation. Medanta Institute of Dermatology. https://www.medanta.org/patient-education-blog/the-benefits-of-dry-brushing-for-skin-and-circulation

Tiger Tail USA. (2025). Therapeutic Dry Brush. https://tigertailusa.com/product/therapeutic-dry-brush/

For more information on our awesome tools and programming:

Website: www.tigertailusa.com

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program.

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About the Author: Dr. Julie Zuleger

Dr. Julie Zuleger has over 20 years of experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Corrective Exercise Specialist, CYT-500 Yoga Instructor, and Human Movement Specialist. Julie promotes self-care using massage tools and stretching-based programs and teaches continuing education courses for yoga teachers, massage therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning, fitness, and wellness professionals. Julie holds a PhD in Education and is the Director of Kinesiology and Education at Tiger Tail USA.