RELEASEAn Inner Beauty Pathway
Gua Sha Guide
How to use gua sha for the face, body and scalp, and why it works.
Gua sha is a hands-on practice for releasing tension held in muscle and fascia. This guide covers where it comes from, what it does in the body, and how to make it part of your care at home, one tool and a few minutes at a time.
What is gua sha?
Gua sha is a traditional practice from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). "Gua" means to scrape or press. "Sha" has two meanings: the stagnation held in the tissue, and the small red marks that rise to the surface as that stagnation is released. Scraping practices are thought to be far older, but gua sha was being written about in Chinese medical texts by the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644). Related folk practices exist across Asia, such as cạo gió in Vietnam.
Traditionally, gua sha was done on the body, often the back, neck and shoulders, with everyday tools like a porcelain soup spoon, a coin, water buffalo horn or polished jade. Practitioners stroked the same area repeatedly until sha appeared, and it was read as a sign that stagnation was moving.
Facial gua sha is a gentler, modern adaptation. The pressure is lighter, the strokes are slower, and the aim is to ease tension and bring blood flow to the face, not to raise sha.
Read more about its history in The Origin of Gua Sha.
How gua sha works
Muscle and fascia. Fascia is the connective tissue that wraps and links every muscle in the face and body. When you hold tension, in the jaw, brow, neck or shoulders, muscle and fascia can feel tight and restricted. Slow, steady strokes may help that tension soften and release.
Blood flow. Gua sha brings blood flow to the area you're working on. That pinkness you see during and after a session is blood flow. Research is still limited, but a small 2007 study measured a sharp rise in blood flow near the surface of the skin in the minutes after treatment.
Fluid movement. As tension releases, gua sha supports the movement of lymph and blood through the tissues. It isn't a lymphatic drainage technique on its own (more on that below).
Qi and blood. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, health depends on qi (energy) and blood moving freely. When they slow or stagnate near the surface, TCM describes this as sha, often felt as tension, stiffness or discomfort that stays in one place or keeps returning. Gua sha is used to move qi and blood and release that stagnation. These are traditional teachings, offered as context rather than scientific proof.
Results vary from person to person. Many people notice a refreshed look, a sense of lightness through the face and shoulders, and a few calm minutes in their day.
Gua sha vs lymphatic drainage
They're often confused, but they work in different ways.
Gua sha
- Works on: muscle and fascia
- Touch: light to firm, with an oil
- What you may notice: released tension, warmth, pinkness
- Tool: a gua sha stone
- Pathway: RELEASE
Lymphatic drainage
- Works on: the lymphatic vessels just under the skin
- Touch: very light and rhythmic, moving the skin, not the muscle
- What you may notice: less puffiness, a lighter, more sculpted look
- Tool: The Lymphatic Brush by Cecily Braden
- Pathway: FLOW
Gua sha works on muscle and fascia, and as tension releases it supports the movement of lymph and blood. For dedicated lymphatic drainage, Inner Beauty Shop recommends The Lymphatic Brush. Many people use both.
Pressure, angle and oil
Always use an oil. Oil lets the stone glide instead of dragging the skin. A few drops for the face, more for the body. Try N°1 Squalane Oil, a lightweight single-ingredient oil for all skin types, or N°8 Flow Oil for face, body and scalp.
Hold it low. Keep the tool almost flat to the skin for a broad, gliding touch. Use an edge or corner for deeper, more focused pressure.
Start light. Begin with a gentle touch to warm the tissue, then build pressure slowly. Firm is fine where it feels good. Pain is not.
Go slowly, and stay as long as you like. Slow strokes give muscle and fascia time to respond. There's no set number. You might use a handful of strokes on an area or repeat the same stroke up to 30 times where you feel tension. A session can be a two-minute reset or ten easy minutes working your shoulders while you watch TV. Both count.
About sha (petechiae)
In traditional and professional gua sha, raising sha was an expected, positive outcome. Sha appears as small red or purple dots called petechiae, which rise where blood has collected just under the skin. In TCM, sha shows that stagnation is being released, and its colour is read for clues about what was held there.
Sha is different from a bruise. It doesn't come from injury, the skin isn't broken, and it usually fades within two to four days.
For at-home care, sha isn't the goal. On the face, keep your touch light enough that it doesn't appear. On the body, with firmer or longer work, some sha may show up, and that's normal. Let it fade before working that area firmly again. If you'd like a traditional, sha-focused treatment, see a trained practitioner such as a registered acupuncturist or TCM practitioner.
How to use gua sha
There's no single routine to follow. Notice where you're holding tension, and let that guide where you go, which edge you use and how much pressure feels right.
Face
- Cleanse, then apply a few drops of oil to the face and neck.
- Start with a light, flat stroke to warm the skin.
- Work slowly across the areas where you notice tension. The jaw, brow, temples and forehead are common places to hold it.
- Use an edge or corner for smaller, more detailed work, and the flat side for broader strokes.
- Keep a very light touch on the front of the neck and around the eyes.
Body
- Apply a generous amount of oil so the stone glides.
- Use longer, broader strokes on larger areas like the shoulders, back of the neck, arms and legs.
- Build pressure slowly. The body can usually take firmer, longer work than the face.
- Repeat strokes over an area for as long as it feels good. The traps and shoulders often hold the most.
- Stay off the spine, bony areas, joints and anywhere tender or bruised.
The Tiger's Eye Gua Sha Comb and the Four-Edge White Jade Gua Sha are both made for the body. Used consistently on areas like the legs and arms, massage may help relax the fibrous septae (the bands of connective tissue under the skin) and soften the appearance of cellulite. It won't remove cellulite completely, and results depend on consistency.
Scalp
- Use the Tiger's Eye Gua Sha Comb on dry hair, or add a few drops of oil for a scalp treatment.
- Start with a light touch and small, slow strokes, letting the rounded teeth reach through to the scalp.
- Spend a little longer wherever you notice tightness, such as the base of the skull or behind the ears.
Fascia also runs in a thin layer across the scalp. Scalp massage may help the glymphatic system, the brain's own clearing system, which is why many people feel clearer and calmer afterwards.
How often to gua sha
Start with three sessions a week, as short or as long as you like. With a light touch, daily is fine, and many people like it in the evening to unwind.
After firmer body work, or if sha appears, let that area rest until it clears, usually a few days, before working it firmly again. You can still use a light touch elsewhere.
Consistency matters more than pressure. A few minutes you'll keep doing is worth more than a long session once a month.
Safety: when to skip it
Don't use gua sha over:
- Broken skin, cuts or open wounds
- Active or inflamed breakouts
- Sunburn, rashes or a flare-up of a skin condition
- Recent injections, fillers or cosmetic procedures
- Moles, varicose veins, bruises, swelling or a recent injury
Check with your healthcare provider first if you:
- Are pregnant
- Bruise easily, take blood thinners or have a bleeding or clotting condition
- Have a medical condition or are receiving medical treatment
- Have ongoing jaw or joint pain
What's normal: pinkness is blood flow. Sha (petechiae) may appear on the body with firmer work and usually fades within two to four days. Pressure can be firm, but gua sha should never hurt. Stop if you feel pain, numbness or tingling.
Warmed tools: always test the temperature on your skin before use.
Caring for your tool
- Wash with mild soap and lukewarm water after each use.
- For a deeper clean, wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol and let it air dry.
- Dry fully and store it in its pouch.
- Avoid dropping it. Natural stone can chip or crack.
- If you warm or cool your tool, avoid sudden, extreme temperature changes.
- Keep your tool for your own use.
Choose your gua sha tool
Four-Edge White Jade Gua Sha
One tool for face and body. Four edges for four kinds of touch: Deep Release, Light Release, Fascia Release (a textured, combing edge) and Focus Area for smaller, detailed work. The best place to start.
Tiger's Eye Gua Sha Comb
Hand-carved for the scalp and body. Rounded teeth reach through hair to the scalp, and the flat back and curves work across the body. Scalp massage may bring a sense of clarity and calm.
CJB Pro Nephrite Gua Sha
Cecily Braden's patented professional design in dense nephrite jade that glides like silk. Use it at room temperature, warmed or cooled. Loved for an instantly firmer, more lifted look and a brighter complexion. For practitioners and devoted at-home users.
CJB Tension Tamer Mushrooms
A warmed, mushroom-shaped stone whose rounded cap sinks into the jaw, brow, neck and shoulders. Made for jaw clenching, teeth grinding and the stress that shows up in your face. Use one, or two at once.
Choose your stone: Tiger's Eye · Dalmatian · Bloodstone
CJB Sculpting Spoon
A beveled-edge Dalmatian stone spoon to sculpt, lift and smooth. Use it warm or cold, one at a time or in pairs. Loved for a firmer, brighter-looking complexion.
Gua sha and oil sets
Everything you need to begin, in one set:
- N°1 Squalane Oil & Four-Edge White Jade Gua Sha
- N°5 Rose Oil & Four-Edge White Jade Gua Sha
- N°8 Flow Oil & Four-Edge White Jade Gua Sha
- Tiger's Eye Gua Sha Comb & N°8 Flow Oil
Inner Beauty Shop is the official Canadian distributor of Cecily Braden Spa & Wellness tools.
Tutorials and further reading
New video tutorials for each Inner Beauty Shop tool will be added here.
For the Cecily Braden tools, see Cecily's online self-care tutorials and training at Spa Wellness Academy.
Further reading
- Clive Witham, Gua Sha: A Complete Self-treatment Guide, and his other books on facial and body gua sha
- Arya Nielsen, Gua Sha: A Traditional Technique for Modern Practice
Suggested reading only. Inner Beauty Shop isn't affiliated with these authors.
Explore the Pathways
RESET
Create space to pause, reconnect and become present, before or after your practice.
FLOW
Support lymphatic movement, circulation and the body's natural fluid flow, with The Lymphatic Brush.
RELEASE
Work with tension, restriction, fascia and mobility. Every gua sha tool lives here.
NOURISH
Support the skin and body from the outside in and the inside out, including the oils that pair with your practice.
There's no set order. Begin with the Pathway that fits what you're noticing. Learn about the Inner Beauty Approach.
Gua sha FAQ
Is gua sha the same as lymphatic drainage?
No. Gua sha works on muscle and fascia, and as tension releases it supports the movement of lymph and blood. For dedicated lymphatic drainage, Inner Beauty Shop recommends The Lymphatic Brush.
How often should I gua sha?
Start with three sessions a week. With a light touch, daily is fine. If sha appears, let that area clear before working it firmly again. Consistency matters more than pressure.
How long should a gua sha session be?
As long as feels good. There's no set number of strokes. You might repeat a stroke up to 30 times over an area of tension, and a session can be two minutes on your face or ten minutes on your shoulders while you watch TV.
Do I need oil for gua sha?
Yes. Oil lets the stone glide without dragging or pulling the skin. A lightweight oil like N°1 Squalane Oil works for all skin types.
Can I gua sha with acne?
Yes, with care. Skip active or inflamed breakouts, work with a light touch on clear skin around them, use a clean tool every time and choose a lightweight oil like squalane.
Which gua sha tool should I choose?
For one tool for face and body, start with the Four-Edge White Jade Gua Sha. For the scalp, choose the Tiger's Eye Gua Sha Comb. For jaw, neck and shoulder tension, try a CJB Tension Tamer Mushroom. For a professional facial tool, choose the CJB Pro Nephrite Gua Sha or the CJB Sculpting Spoon.
Should gua sha hurt?
No. Pressure can be firm, but it should never be painful. Pinkness during and after a session is normal and shows blood flow.
What are the red marks after gua sha?
They're called sha, or petechiae: small red or purple dots where blood has collected just under the skin. In traditional and professional gua sha, sha was an expected, positive sign that stagnation was being released. It isn't a bruise and usually fades within two to four days. For at-home care it isn't the goal, especially on the face.
How long until I notice a difference?
Many people notice a refreshed look and less tension right after a session. With consistent use over a few weeks, those changes tend to feel more noticeable. Results vary.
Does gua sha permanently lift the face?
No tool can promise permanent results. Gua sha may help your face look refreshed and more lifted, and feel less tense, especially with regular use.
Can I gua sha while pregnant?
Check with your healthcare provider first. If you're cleared, keep a light touch and avoid firm body work.
Can I gua sha after Botox or fillers?
Wait until your provider says it's safe to massage the treated area, and skip that area until then.
How do I clean my gua sha tool?
Wash it with mild soap and lukewarm water after each use, dry it fully and store it in its pouch. For a deeper clean, wipe it with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Where does gua sha come from?
Gua sha comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it has been practiced for centuries to move qi (energy) and blood and release stagnation. It was written about in Chinese medical texts by the Ming dynasty. Traditional gua sha was done on the body. Facial gua sha is a gentler, modern adaptation. Read its history.