How to use Gua Sha?

Do you have your own Gua Sha stone at home and are you looking forward to all those amazing benefits everyone is talking about? Great! But before you start gliding the stone back and forth across your face, pause for a moment. With Gua Sha, the rule “the more, the better” does not apply. In this article, we’ll show you the exact step-by-step method on how to enjoy a professional massage from the comfort of your own home.

Step 1: Preparation is key

Remember the most important rule of Gua Sha: Never use the stone on dry skin.

The stone must glide smoothly over the skin (also known as “slip”). If you massage dry skin, you will unnecessarily pull and irritate it, and you may even cause new wrinkles to form.

What should you use as a base?

A high-quality facial oil is ideal. Just warm 3–5 drops in your palms and gently press them into cleansed skin of the face, neck, and décolleté.

• For dry skin: Argan oil, almond oil, or rosehip oil.
• For oilier skin: Jojoba oil, squalane, or hemp oil (they don’t clog pores).

Step 2: Three golden rules of the technique

Before placing the stone on your face, master these three principles. They are key to safety and effectiveness.

1. The correct angle

This is the most common beginner’s mistake. Never hold the stone perpendicular to your face (as if you were cutting butter). Hold it almost flat. The angle between the stone and your skin should be small, roughly 15 to 45 degrees. The larger the surface of the stone touching the skin, the better.

2. Gentle pressure

When it comes to facial Gua Sha, forget about force. The goal is to stimulate the lymph, which lies just beneath the surface of the skin. Pressure should be gentle to medium. Imagine sliding a coin across a table without wanting to scratch it.

• Exception: On the neck and in the area of the chewing muscles (near the ears), you can slightly increase pressure if you feel tension. The eye area, on the other hand, requires feather-light pressure.

3. Direction of strokes

With one exception (the neck), all strokes are guided from the center of the face outward and slightly upward, i.e., against gravity.

Step 3: The massage itself

Repeat each stroke 3× to 5×. Move slowly and mindfully. The entire massage should take you 5–10 minutes.

Neck: Opening the lymphatic pathways

We always start with the neck to clear the “drainage routes” for lymph.

• Back of the neck: Using the flat side of the stone, massage from the hairline downward toward the shoulders. This releases tension in the neck.
• Sides of the neck: Guide strokes from the ear downward toward the collarbone. This supports lymphatic drainage.
• Center of the neck (optional): Very gently glide upward from the base of the neck to the chin (avoid the thyroid gland if you have issues with it).

Jaw and chin: Defining the contours

Use the notched edge (often in a heart shape). Place the notch at the center of the chin so it hugs the jawbone. Guide the stroke along the bone toward the earlobe. At the end of the stroke, gently “vibrate” the stone to release tension in the jaw.

Cheeks: Lifting and “de-puffing”

Use the longest flat side of the stone. Place it next to the nose and guide a long, smooth stroke across the entire cheek toward the temples (the upper part of the ear).

For a better effect, you can gently hold the skin near the nose with your other hand.

Eye area

Be extremely gentle here. Use the smaller rounded tip of the stone.

• Under the eyes: Guide the stroke from the inner corner of the eye outward toward the temples. Pressure must be minimal; the skin should not bunch up!
• Eyebrows: Using the flat side or the notch, glide along the brow bone from the center outward.

Forehead

Use the flat side of the stone. Start between the eyebrows (the “frown line” area) and guide strokes upward toward the hairline. Then massage the entire forehead with horizontal strokes from the center toward the temples.

Step 4: Post-massage care (Aftercare)

Done! Your skin should now be well-circulated, slightly flushed, and radiant.

1. Clean the stone: After each use, wash the stone with warm water and mild soap. Dry it with a towel. Never store it wet. It’s a breeding ground for bacteria.

2. What about your skin? If the oil hasn’t absorbed, you can gently blot the excess with a paper tissue. Now is the perfect time to apply your favorite moisturizer, which will absorb better thanks to the massage.

3. Drink a glass of water: This helps flush out toxins that were stimulated during the massage.

Summary: How often should you use Gua Sha?

For visible and lasting results, consistency is ideal. Treat yourself to this ritual 3–5× per week, preferably in the evening after cleansing, as a relaxing finishing touch to your day.