Learn how to dry brush your body with By Katia. Discover its benefits, techniques, tools, and timing for a glow-enhancing self-care ritual.
Dry brushing is more than a beauty trend; it’s a mindful ritual rooted in ancient self-care. If you’re wondering how to dry brush your body correctly and when to do it, this guide shares everything you need to know to begin or refine your routine. At By Katia, we embrace this practice not just for its physical benefits but for its ability to bring us back to ourselves, one brushstroke at a time.
What is Dry Brushing and Why Should You Try It?
Dry brushing is a centuries-old practice that involves sweeping a dry, natural-bristle brush across the skin in a rhythmic motion. Beyond its rejuvenating effects on the skin, this ritual awakens the senses, stimulates the lymphatic system, and brings us into the present moment. When we brush with intention, we’re not only exfoliating, we’re honouring our bodies, promoting inner balance, and encouraging self-awareness.
It’s a form of active meditation, an opportunity to check in, breathe deeply, and gently guide stagnant energy to move freely again.
How Often Should You Dry Brush?
Begin slowly, brushing two to three times a week. As your skin adapts, you may build up to daily sessions, especially if your skin is more resilient or you live in a humid environment. Always listen to your body. Skin that feels sore or inflamed needs rest. Dry brushing should feel invigorating, not abrasive. It’s about connecting, not perfecting.
What Do You Need to Dry Brush?
The ritual is simple, yet profound. You’ll need:
- A quality brush with natural, gentle bristles.
- A quiet space with a few uninterrupted minutes
- Optional: calming music or a candle to set the tone
We recommend By Katia’s Dry Body Brush, crafted with a sleek metal handle and firm yet gentle bristles, ideal for daily use. Complete your ritual with our Body Cleansing Oil, infused with botanical oils that soften and soothe after brushing. Together, they create a sensorial experience that celebrates simplicity and self-love.
How to Dry Brush Your Body: A Step-by-Step Technique
Dry brushing is intuitive, but the ritual deepens with care and intention. This is not just about movement, it’s about mindfulness, breath, and the rhythm of reconnection. It’s often best practised in the morning, as it’s naturally energising. If done at night, keep it gentle, ideally an hour or two before bed.
Step 1: Awaken Your Lymphatic Pathways
Before beginning, gently awaken your body’s natural drainage points. Using soft taps or light circular motions, stimulate areas under the arms, at the groin, and just above the collarbones. This subtle activation encourages lymphatic flow, signalling your body to receive and release with grace.
Step 2: Begin at the Upper Part of the Limb
Start with the upper sections of your arms and legs. Brush with slow, sweeping strokes toward the nearest lymph node, your underarms or groin. Let each stroke be intentional, honouring the form and rhythm of your skin.
Step 3: Sweep Upward from Hands and Feet
Next, move to your hands and feet. Begin at your palms, brushing upward toward the shoulders. On the lower limbs, brush from the tops of your feet, moving slowly up your calves toward the thighs. Each stroke should complete the journey toward your heart, supporting the body’s natural circulation.
Step 4: Embrace the Joints with Care
At your wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles, use soft circular motions. These areas often hold tension; approach them gently, allowing the brush to follow the body’s contours like water flowing over stone
Step 5: Circle the Stomach, Glide the Back
Support digestion and inner calm by brushing your abdomen in gentle, clockwise circles. For the back, long sweeping motions work best. Invite a loved one to assist if needed; this moment can become a quiet exchange of care and connection.
Step 6: Honour the Chest, Neck & Delicate Areas
The chest, breasts, and neck ask for tenderness. Use shorter, feather-light strokes and reduce pressure. Let intuition guide your hands. These are sacred spaces, move with reverence and listen to what your body needs.
Step 7: Rinse and complete with nourishment
To turn your daily cleanse into a moment of ceremony, follow this intentional ritual:
- Begin with dry brushing to gently awaken the skin
- Apply By Katia’s Body Cleansing Oil to dry skin and allow it to settle for a few quiet minutes
- Step into a warm shower to rinse and reset, letting the day melt away
- Alternatively, massage the oil into damp skin while in the shower as the steam rises
- Let the warmth draw the nourishment in
- End the ritual with intention. Take a breath. Pause. Offer a soft thank you to your body
- Let the act become a pause in your day. A breath. A gentle return to yourself.
How to Clean Your Dry Brush
Just like any ritual tool, your By Katia Dry Brush deserves thoughtful care. Since it’s made from recycled hard plastic instead of wood, you don’t need to worry about mould forming when it touches water.
To clean your brush:
- Fill your bathroom basin with warm water.
- Add a small amount of unscented, gentle wash while the water is running. You only need a shallow amount.
- Place your brush into the basin and let it sit for a few minutes. Swish it around and gently use your fingers to loosen any buildup from the bristles.
- Rinse the brush under warm water to remove any remaining residue.
To dry, lay your brush on its side on a clean towel or in the sun. The By Katia metal base helps water drain easily, keeping your brush fresh and ready for your next ritual.
With regular care, your brush will remain clean, effective, and a pleasure to use.
When Shouldn’t You Dry Brush?
While dry brushing is deeply nurturing, there are moments to step back:
- Avoid brushing over eczema, psoriasis, sunburn, or active breakouts.
- Never brush over open wounds or inflamed skin.
- Be cautious near varicose veins or highly sensitive areas.
Your skin speaks. Let it guide your rhythm.
At By Katia, dry brushing is more than skin deep. It’s a conscious act of care, a return to slow beauty, to presence, to heritage. We invite you to begin your own ritual. Feel the warmth of the brush in your hand. Trace the map of your body with grace. And discover, once again, the quiet power of touch.
Explore our Dry Body Brush and Body Cleansing Oil to begin your practice, the By Katia way.
FAQs
How long does it take to see results from dry brushing?
You might feel smoother skin instantly, but the deeper benefits, enhanced tone, glow, and lymphatic flow, often appear after a few weeks of consistent, mindful practice.
Do I dry brush before or after showering?
Always before. Brushing first allows dead skin to be lifted and washed away in the shower, making room for your skin to drink in moisture.
Is it better to dry brush in the morning or at night?
Both are beautiful. Morning brushing is invigorating, aligning energy for the day. Evening sessions are grounding, perfect before a bath or winding down with oil and intention.
