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“Gua sha” on social media and “gua sha” in my clinic are two different things that happen to use the same name. This guide covers both, because the tools and the goals are different.
Two very different practices
Facial gua sha uses a smooth stone with very light pressure and plenty of oil to move lymph, ease jaw and temple tension, and reduce morning puffiness. Done right, it leaves no marks at all. It is gentle, pleasant and a lovely five-minute ritual.
Body gua sha is a firm, repeated scraping over a muscle group. It is what I use on stubborn neck and shoulder tension, tight forearms, and the calves of runners. It produces “sha”, the red speckling that gives the technique its name. It is effective, and it is not gentle.
Both are worth doing. Do not confuse the instructions for one with the other.
What the tool needs to be
For the face, you want a stone with at least one long, gently curved edge and one notched edge for the jawline. Jade and rose quartz are traditional. Any dense, smooth, cool stone works; the material is aesthetic, not medicinal. Stainless steel is also excellent and easier to keep clean.
For the body, what matters is the edge. You want a firm tool with a slightly rounded, well-finished edge that will not catch the skin. Traditional tools are buffalo horn or a smooth ceramic soup spoon (genuinely). Modern stainless steel body tools are my favorite because they have several edge profiles and can be sanitized.
My picks
Stainless steel facial gua sha toolBest for the face
Cool, heavy, hygienic and impossible to chip. The classic 'wing' shape gives you the long edge for the cheeks and the notch for the jaw.
- Will not crack if dropped, unlike stone
- Stays cold longer than jade
- Wipes clean with alcohol
Jade gua sha stone (natural, not resin)Traditional option
If you want the traditional feel, get real nephrite jade. Check the edge as described above. Wash it with soap; it is porous enough to hold oil.
- Pleasant weight and temperature
- Widely available
- Nice to hold, which means you will actually use it
Stainless steel muscle scraping tool (IASTM-style)Best for the body
A multi-edge steel tool for the neck, shoulders, forearms and calves. This is body gua sha as it is actually practiced, and it is far more effective than a facial stone for muscle work.
- Several edge radii for different body parts
- Firm enough to work into a tight trapezius
- Easy to sanitize between uses
Facial oil or a plain body oilYou will also need
Gua sha always needs slip. Squalane or a simple facial oil for the face; the same unscented massage oil you use for cupping for the body.
- Prevents the tool from dragging skin
- Squalane is non-comedogenic and light
- A little goes a long way
Facial gua sha in five minutes
- Clean face, five or six drops of oil.
- Hold the tool nearly flat against the skin, at about fifteen degrees, not upright.
- Neck first. Light strokes down the sides of the neck toward the collarbone. This opens the drainage pathway.
- Jaw. The notched edge from the chin along the jawline to just below the ear, five strokes each side.
- Cheeks. Long edge from beside the nose out toward the ear, five strokes.
- Under the eyes and brows. The lightest pressure you can manage. Two or three strokes.
- Finish at the neck again. Sweep everything down.
Pressure should be light enough that the skin barely pinks. If you are getting red lines, you are pressing too hard.
Body gua sha on the neck and shoulders
Oil the area. Hold the tool at about thirty degrees and scrape in one direction, six to ten inches at a time, over the top of the shoulder and down the sides of the neck. Twenty to thirty strokes over an area is typical. The skin will turn red and may show speckling. That is expected. Stop when it does, keep the area warm, and do not repeat until the marks have faded.
The honest summary
Face: a steel or real-stone tool, lots of oil, almost no pressure. Body: a steel scraping tool, oil, firm strokes, and respect for the marks. The tool is cheap. Technique is everything.
Content on this site is educational and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with your own healthcare provider before starting any new therapy, especially if you are pregnant, have a medical condition or take medication.