The Ritual

Five minutes, in the shower you already take.

You have five minutes and a shower you were going to take anyway. That is the whole commitment. Here is how to make those five minutes count, and what to expect the first time.

Before you start

Have them in the shower with you rather than fetching them halfway through. Warm water helps, the silicone softens slightly and the rollerballs glide better.
You do not need anything else. Shower gel or a little body oil is fine if you already use it, but nothing is required.

The three steps

  1. Unblock

    Start at the collarbone, not the legs. Light circles with the flat of the glove, about ten on each side. It feels like nothing much. Do it anyway, it is the part everyone skips.

  2. Move

    Long slow sweeps along the limbs, always towards the heart. Up the calves, then the thighs. Up the forearms, then the upper arms. Slow enough that one sweep takes a couple of seconds. Firm enough to feel it, light enough that it never hurts.

  3. Flush

    Warm water off at the end. Then a big glass of water while you dry off.

Which way the hand travels.

Which side, when

The spiky side

For waking the skin up. Short, brisk, on dry or wet skin.

The rollerball side

For the long slow sweeps. Better with a little water or oil so it glides.

Most people use spiky first, rollers second. There is no wrong order.

Where the five minutes goes

  • 30 seconds

    Collarbone. Light circles, both sides.

  • 90 seconds

    Legs. Calves first, then thighs, one leg at a time.

  • 90 seconds

    Arms. Forearms, then upper arms.

  • 60 seconds

    Anywhere that felt like it wanted more.

  • 30 seconds

    Warm water off, and out.

Nobody times it. It is here so you know roughly how long each part should feel.

Getting it right

  • Lighter than you think.

    This is not a deep tissue massage. If you are leaving red marks you are pressing far too hard.

  • Always towards the heart.

    Up the limb, lift off, start again at the bottom. Not back and forth.

  • Most evenings beats once a week.

    Five minutes regularly does more than twenty minutes now and then.

  • Give it a fortnight before you decide.

    Anything you do to your body once is just a nice five minutes.

What it actually feels like

Warm, and a bit tingly afterwards. The spiky side is sharper than it looks, especially the first time and especially on the shins. The rollerballs are cold for the first few seconds.
That is the whole of it. It is a pleasant five minutes, not an event.

When to leave them in the cupboard

  • Anywhere the skin is broken, sore or sunburnt.
  • Over a mole, a rash, or anything you are keeping an eye on.
  • Straight after waxing or shaving, when skin is already sensitive.
  • Hard enough to leave a mark. If you have, you have gone too far.
  • Your face. These are built for limbs and body.

If you are pregnant, recovering from surgery, or being treated for anything at all, ask your doctor before you start. We would rather you checked than guessed.

Making it stick

The people who keep going are the ones who stopped deciding about it. Leave them hanging in the shower where you cannot miss them, and attach it to something you already do without thinking, like the two minutes your conditioner is in.
If you skip three days, start again on the fourth. Nothing is lost and there is nothing to catch up on.

Looking after them

Rinse under warm water after use and hang them to dry. Do not put them in the dishwasher or leave them sitting in water. The silicone will outlast the elastic, so if anything goes it will be the strap.

Questions

How often?

Most evenings. Five minutes.

Wet or dry?

Either. The rollerball side glides better with a bit of water or oil.

Does it hurt?

It should not. The spiky side is sharp the first couple of times and then you stop noticing.

Can I use it on my face?

No. These are made for limbs and body.

When can I use it after a shower?

Any time. Evening suits most people because it fits into a shower they already take.

What if it is not for me?

Give it five minutes a day for 60 days. If you do not feel the difference, send them back and we will refund you. No photographs required.

Can I use it with body oil or cream?

Yes. The rollerball side glides better with a little of either. The spiky side works fine on dry skin. Rinse them afterwards either way.

Do I need to press hard?

No, and pressing hard is the most common mistake. Firm enough to feel it, light enough that it never hurts.

Can someone else use mine?

We would not. They are a personal item and they live in a wet room. One pair each.

Can I take them travelling?

Yes. Rinse and dry them before they go in a bag, or they will still be damp when you arrive.

How long will they last?

The silicone will outlast the elastic strap, so the strap is what usually goes first. Rinsing and hanging them makes a real difference.