Exfoliating brushes, mitts and gloves: how to use them
How to use exfoliating brushes, mitts, hammam gloves and loofahs: dry vs wet use, how often, keeping them clean and when to replace them.
Written by the Glowpedia team · not yet reviewed by our dermatologist
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Quick answer Use body brushes, mitts and gloves 1–3 times a week with light pressure: dry brushes on dry skin before a shower, mitts and gloves on wet skin with a cleanser. Rinse and hang them to dry outside the shower, clean them weekly and replace them when they wear out or smell.
Brushes, mitts and gloves are simple tools for body exfoliation. Used gently and kept clean, they can smooth rough skin. Used too hard, too often or left damp in the shower, they can irritate skin and collect bacteria.
The main types
| Tool | How to use it | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry body brush | On dry skin, before a shower | Firm | Rough legs and arms |
| Exfoliating mitt or glove | On wet skin, with cleanser | Medium to firm | Arms, legs, elbows |
| Hammam mitt (kessa) | On wet skin after steam or a warm soak | Firm | An occasional deeper body scrub |
| Loofah or plastic pouf | On wet skin, with cleanser | Medium | Body only |
| Silicone scrubber | On wet skin | Gentle | Sensitive skin; easy to clean |
| Washcloth | On wet skin | Gentle | Face and body |
Body tools are too rough for your face. For facial exfoliation, a soft washcloth or a mild chemical exfoliant is a better choice.
Dry vs wet use
- Dry use creates more friction, so it exfoliates more. Only dry brushes are designed for this. Use them on dry skin before you shower, with light strokes. See dry brushing.
- Wet use is gentler. Water softens the top layer of skin, and a cleanser helps the tool glide. Mitts, gloves, loofahs and silicone scrubbers are made for wet use.
- Hammam-style scrubbing: after 10–15 minutes of steam or warm water, the softened top layer rolls off easily. Those gray rolls are mostly dead skin cells, not a sign your skin was dirty. There's no need to scrub until your skin is red or raw, and once a week or less is plenty for most people.
How to use them without irritation
- Wet your skin, or keep it dry if you're using a dry brush.
- Use light pressure and short strokes. A few passes per area is enough.
- Rinse, pat dry and apply moisturizer right away.
- How often: 1–3 times a week for the body. Dry or sensitive skin usually does best with once a week.
- When to skip it: on freshly shaved skin (wait a few days), sunburn, cuts, rashes and eczema flares. With body acne, dermatologists advise avoiding loofahs, back brushes and other scrubbing tools; a medicated body wash is a better choice. See how to shower without breakouts.
- Don't stack exfoliants: on days you use a mitt or brush, skip scrubs and acid body washes. See how often to exfoliate.
- Darker skin that marks easily: keep pressure light, because friction can leave dark patches.
Keep them clean
Damp tools with lots of nooks trap dead skin and can grow bacteria and fungi.
- After each use: rinse well, squeeze or shake out the water and hang the tool to dry in an airy spot outside the shower.
- Once a week: wash mitts, gloves and washcloths in the washing machine on a hot cycle if the label allows. Soak loofahs in a diluted bleach solution for 5 minutes and rinse well, or run them through the dishwasher. Wash brushes with mild soap and dry them bristles down.
- Don't share exfoliating tools.
When to replace them
| Tool | Replace |
|---|---|
| Natural loofah | Every 3–4 weeks |
| Plastic pouf | About every 2 months |
| Mitts and gloves | When the fabric thins or stays smelly after washing, often every 2–3 months |
| Body brush | When the bristles bend, shed or smell musty |
| Silicone scrubber | When it tears or stays discolored |
Throw any tool away right away if you see mold or notice a musty smell. Your towels need a schedule too: see how often to wash towels.
What you need for this
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See a dermatologist if scrubbing leaves raw patches, a rash or dark marks, or if rough bumps such as keratosis pilaris or body acne don't improve after 6–8 weeks of gentle care.
Questions people ask
Can I use an exfoliating glove on my face?
No. Body mitts and gloves are too rough for facial skin. Use a soft washcloth or a mild chemical exfoliant on your face.
Are the gray rolls during a hammam scrub dirt?
Mostly not. They're softened dead skin cells mixed with soap. Seeing them doesn't mean your skin was dirty, and scrubbing until your skin turns red isn't needed.
Which tool is the gentlest?
A soft washcloth or a silicone scrubber. Both are also easier to clean and dry than loofahs.
How do I keep a loofah from growing bacteria?
Rinse it, hang it to dry outside the shower and clean it weekly. Replace natural loofahs every 3–4 weeks and plastic ones about every 2 months.