How to use a gua sha. Always do your gua sha massage on cleansed skin. Start with one side of the face, apply 3-5 strokes per area before moving to the other side of your face. The tool should be used at a flat angle - approximately one finger width between the Gua Sha and your skin - and with a light pressure.
To enjoy the best results, Gua Sha once per day. However, you can still experience the benefits of this ancient East Asian healing technique if you do it two to three times every week.
A lot of people end up overdoing the gua sha massage session in a hurry to reap the results, and that is a common mistake to be strictly avoided. A 10-minute massage once or twice a day is all that you need. You don't have to keep using the tool on your face multiple times a day for the best results.
Now you can begin your actual gua sha practice. Holding the tool at a 30 to 45-degree angle, very gently pull/scrape it across your skin. As a rule, all movements should be upward and follow lymphatic flow. Repeat each movement three to five times before moving onto the next area of your skin.
Chiu adds that slow strokes with medium pressure is the most effective way to see results. Too hard and fast can result in "sha," or red marks. As for how often you do this treatment, Lam recommends at least a few times a week for best results. Chiu says practicing gua sha daily is the best way to maintain.
Immediately after starting body gua sha, you may notice relief from pain or muscle tension (it's the best for headaches and sore muscles!), an even-toned look, and firmer skin thanks to a boost in circulation.
For best results, perform your gua sha facial massage daily or at least three to four times a week. But no matter how often you do it, you're likely to see and feel results more quickly than you might expect. Done properly, you will notice results immediately!
Infections may occur when the Gua Sha stone is used to massage too vigorously. You shouldn't be scraping so hard with the Gua Sha that it causes skin lesions, but if this should happen, there is of course a risk of bacterial infection – hence why it is so important to clean and disinfect your Gua Sha between uses.
Recovery after Gua Sha Treatment
If you can't take it easy for most of the day following the treatment, you may want to avoid strenuous activities that would promote even more blood flow as well as hot baths or showers that could increase bruising.
'To achieve the best results, using a gua sha tool once or twice a day is recommended,' says Ooi. 'Regular use is best for maintaining the benefits long term within the face as stagnated fluid will be removed regularly and the build up over time will be minimal. '
Can you use gua sha without oil? You can use gua sha with a serum or even a moisturizer, but you need to use it with something. If you don't pair it with a product, it will pull at your skin, which is exactly what you don't want to be doing.
One of the biggest misconceptions (often dispersed online) is that gua sha can help you lose fat or excess weight. Ooi explains why this isn't true: “Because gua sha can unknot muscle tension and promote drainage of unwanted stagnated fluids, it helps to reduce swelling and can make you feel lighter in your body.”
Tools allow you to work more evenly on the entire face than you would be able to with just your hands alone. As a result, the tool is able to work on the very surface level of the skin to target the lymph system and fascia that would not be as easy to evenly work through with your hands.
Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese therapeutic practice that involves gentle scraping or stroking motions on the skin's surface to promote circulation, release tension, and restore balance. When applied to the jawline, these techniques can help tone and contour the area, providing a more sculpted appearance.
Choose a good gua sha tool and use it every morning for five minutes. First, apply a face oil or serum, then gently sweep the stone up the neck working your way toward the hairline, focusing on the cheekbones and jaw; this helps drain fluid downward and promotes circulation, explains Haifa.
No, after gua sha, you do not need to wash your face. Gua sha is actually preferable to scrubbing your face because cleansing our skin removes the natural oils and causes it to become oilier.
I go for at least 2 glasses of water right after my gua sha ritual. This is essential to promote healthy lymphatic drainage which is what your gua sha facial is all about. Hydrating your body will help it flush any toxins away efficiently via your lymphatic system.
Typically, gua sha is considered safe. However, you may have some bruising or discoloration of your skin. You could also be sore and tender for a short while after you have your treatment. You shouldn't have it if you're taking medicine for blood clots.
Use the longer side of your gua sha tool. Press it to the neck in the middle and roll up, all the way to the tip of your chin. Repeat this move continuously. It helps to roll and flex the platysma muscle, a large and tender flat muscle stretching from top of your pectorals to your jawline.
“You can do gua sha on the face, body and scalp, and it's best to use with water (I do it in the shower) or with an oil, but never on bare skin,” says Brindle.
If you start to notice a little swelling after using your gua sha, it could be that the lymph might be pooling in that area. Neck work can help keep the lymph moving.
After and before each use, we recommend using a soft cloth/ towel to wipe the roller or Gua Sha tool clean. This helps in prevention of any bacteria spreading to you skin.To clean it deeply (we suggest once every 3-4 days), you can wash the Jade Gua Sha or Beauty face Roller with mild soapy water.