Guide to Gua Sha

What is a Gua Sha?

Gua sha is a centuries-old traditional Chinese healing technique that uses a scraping tool to stimulate blood circulation, lymphatic flow, and remove stagnation from the body. The scraping tool, called gua sha can be made of various materials like rose quartz, obsidian stone, or jade. Gentle to medium pressure is applied to the skin, fascia and lymphatic system by gliding the Gua Sha tool in sweeping, upward and strokes.

Why Use a Gua Sha?

Adding a Gua Sha tool to your daily skincare routine offers numerous benefits. This traditional massage technique promotes healthy blood circulation and lymphatic flow while releasing tension held from habitual expressions. Using a Gua Sha can help to release tight facial muscles, reduce puffiness, and sculpt the jawline and cheekbones. With regular use, this ancient practice can help improve your skin health and rejuvenate your complexion

Regular Gua Sha massage massage can:

soften the appearance fine lines and wrinkles
reduce puffiness and detoxify the skin by stimulating lymphatic drainage
sculpt cheekbones and lift the jawline
relieve tension and jaw pain associated with teeth grinding and TMJ disorder
increase collagen production by stimulating blood flow
release tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, and legs
improve the appearance of cellulite by promoting blood circulation and releasing bound fascia.

Which Skin Types Can Benefit from Gua Sha?

Gua sha is a holistic approach that promotes healthy skin by improving circulation, reducing tension, and enhances the absorption of skincare products, making it suitable and beneficial for all skin types.

Gua Sha is an effective skincare tool for all skin types and concerns, including acne-prone, sensitive, and reactive skin. However, it is important to never perform gua sha massage on broken skin, active acne or newly formed scar tissue.

For oily or acne-prone skin, gua sha promotes lymphatic drainage, inturn, reducing congestion and inflammation while enhancing circulation to aid in the detoxification process. Dry and sensitive skin types can also benefit from the gentle gua sha massage, which can boosts blood flow to nourish and hydrate the skin, improving elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Normal skin types can maintain their balance and radiance, as massage encourages nutrient delivery to skin cells and supports the natural renewal process.

How to Use your Gua Sha tool

Our guidelines can be used for all of our Gua Sha Tools and Rollers. Before you begin, we will take you through some simple steps to ensure you can get the most out of your Gua Sha tool and Facial Roller.

Cleanse and Prep Your Skin

Start your gua sha facial massage by applying facial oil or moisturiser to cleansed skin. Before you begin, it's important to avoid performing gua sha massage on problem areas such as active breakouts, open wounds or irritated skin.

Choose the Right Pressure Level

When using a gua sha tool, it's important to apply the proper techniques to get the best results. One of the most crucial elements is determining the right pressure level. Applying too much pressure whilst performing Gua Sha on the face can cause bruising or damage to the upper layers of the skin and lymphatic system.

Facial Gua Sha Technique

Facial Gua Sha massage requires a much gentler approach in comparison to body Gua. The strokes are light and controlled, focusing on promoting lymphatic drainage, reducing puffiness, and enhancing circulation to improve skin tone and elasticity. It is important not to drag, dig or pull at facial skin, particularly around the delicate eye area.

If you are using our Gua Sha Pro or Gua Sha Pro Max you will notice pointed ends at either side of the tool. These ends can be used to release areas of tension on the face such as the strong, overworked masseter muscles of the jaw. We always recommend doing this by using the point to make small circular motions for no more than 30 seconds on each area.

Body Gua Sha Technique

On the other hand, body gua sha involves a more vigorous and deeper scraping technique applied to larger areas of the body, such as the back, legs, arms, and torso. The pressure applied during body gua sha can be stronger than facial gua sha, aiming to release fascia and muscle tension, improve blood circulation, and alleviate pain or stiffness.

Repeat Each Movement Five Times Per Area

To obtain the best results from your Gua Sha massage, we recommend repeating each movement five to ten times on each area of the face. Your skin should feel and appear slightly flushed from the bringing new blood to the skin and muscles.

Whether you are using a gua sha tool made of stainless steel, rose quartz, or obsidian stone, it is important to hold the tool at 45-degree angle and gently glide across your skin in upward or outward strokes.

Let's Begin!

Back of neck: Start by finding a curve to fit the base of your neck. Firmly glide the tool upwards towards your hairline 5 to 10 times.

Front of neck and Chest: Using the large flat edge, glide the tool under the collarbones in outward strokes towards your shoulder. Repeat this step on the other side. From there, move onto the front of the neck by gently gliding the tool in an upwards motion along the throat and finish under the chin. Be mindful not to place pressure on the thyroid.

Jawline: Starting at the centre of the chin, and using medium pressure, glide the tool outward towards the ear. You may want to spend a bit of time working on points of tension along the jawline, particulary on the masseter muscles. These muscles are very strong so they can handle firmer pressure. You might want to try using the pointed end of the Gua Sha Pro to make small circular motions to release tension caused by clenching and grinding.

Cheeks: Using gentle pressure, start at the side of the nose and glide the tool outwards along the cheeks and cheekbones toward the ears. Adjust the placement of the tool and repeat the action to ensure the entire area has been covered.

Eyes: Starting in the inner corner of the eye, gently glide the tool outwards to the temple. Remember to use feather-like strokes on this delicate area.

Forehead: Using the large flat side of your tool, Gently glide the gua shal in upward and outward strokes towards your hair line.

Conclude your gua sha massage by gently gliding the tool down the sides on the neck. This will help to move toxins and excess fluids out of the system.

Finish with Lymphatic Drainage Massage Strokes

Finish your facial treatment with lymphatic drainage massage strokes using a gua sha tool. Start at the chin and gently sweep the tool along the jawline, moving up towards the ear. Then move behind the earlobe and sweep down the neck, repeating the process five to ten times. This technique promotes lymphatic drainage, reducing puffiness and potential fluid build-up while detoxifying and relaxing the face.

Types of Gua Sha Tools

At Gua Sha Shop, we offer several types of gua sha toolsthat you can be used for body treatment or facial therapy. From stainless steel gua shas to rose quartz and obsidian stone, each type of tool offers unique beauty benefits and healing properties.

Stainless Steel

A stainless steel gua sha tool is a great addition to your skincare routine. Unlike other gua sha tools, stainless steel is non-porous, making it easy to clean and maintain proper hygiene. Warming up the tool before use can help promote blood flow and Qi movement, leading to depuffing of the skin and refining of pores. Additionally, stainless steel's cooling properties can aid in reducing inflammation and redness. Give your skin the benefits of a stainless steel gua sha tool and improve your skincare routine.

Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz is a popular crystal used in gua sha because of its numerous benefits. It supports heart energy and helps generate skin cell renewal. Its properties help improve dull skin complexion Compared to other crystals commonly used for gua sha, Rose Quartz is believed to have a stronger effect on Qi, blood circulation, and lymphatic drainage.

FAQs

Learn more about our Gua Sha Tools and Facial Rollers.

Our FAQ's page can answer questions about benefits, application methods & use as part of your daily skincare ritual.

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