I’m sure you’ve noticed the latest fad in get-skinny-quick land… the body wrap. They claim to remove inches from your body in as little as 30 minutes, while detoxifying and purifying your whole system. If you’re anything but a complete optimist, I’m sure you’re thinking it’s WAY too good to be true, right?

Actually… wrong

Body Wraps are not a new product. Estheticians and Massage Therapists have been offering body wrap services in spas for years. Body wraps are marketed in any number of ways: to soften and beautify skin, to expel toxins from the body, to firm and tighten skin, and most recently as a magical body shrinker. Honestly, a good body wrap will do any and all of the above.

What is a Body Wrap?

The body wrap itself, is basically exactly what is sounds like. Wraps are made of elastic material that is snuggly wrapped around the torso, legs and/or arms. The wraps are usually left on for 30 – 90 minutes. Wraps are usually pre-soaked in a solution that may contain any or all of the following natural ingredients: herbs, vitamins, minerals, mud, seaweed, and oils. If you receive your wrap in a spa, the technician may apply the solution to your skin with a brush or their hands before wrapping you in un-soaked fabric. This is mainly to maximize the use of their materials, as well as to make the service more enjoyable.

Why Does it Work?

This process is effective for a number of reasons. The main purpose of the wrap is to draw toxins from the body, and remove interstitial fluid (fluid that settles between small spaces in body tissues). Wrapping the body so tightly in fabric that does not allow much air circulation creates a “Thermal Blanket” which will promote sweating. As your body sweats it is expelling toxins, salt and excess fluid. The Wrap Solution acts as a catalyst for this process as toxins are drawn to the herbs, seaweed, and or mud in the solution. Think of this like metal scraps or shavings being drawn to a magnet. The fabric of the wrap then absorbs the toxins and excess body fluid. Depending on the intended purpose of the wrap, there may also be oils, vitamins, and minerals included to nourish the skin in the process.

It’s not magic, it’s simply science.

The solution is responsible for the removal of toxins and the nourishment of the skin, but the simple act of wrapping and sweating is what promotes the loss of inches. Think of your skin as a peeled orange. When you look at an orange slice, you see many small fluid filled sections separated by tiny vein-like walls(under a microscope, your skin cells look almost identical to this). If you were to take that orange slice and wrap it as tightly as possible in elastic fabric, the liquid would be expelled from those cells, and when unwrapped, it would be much smaller. This is basically what a body wrap does to your skin cells. Over time, those cells will refill with liquid. This means that these wraps are by no means a permanent fix, and they do not cause weight loss. They merely squeeze out the excess for a while, much like ringing out a dishrag. Repeated treatments are required in order to maintain results. However, it’s still pretty awesome that you could quickly loose a few inches off your waist before your high school reunion, firm up your arms before wearing that strapless bridesmaid dress, or even tighten your thighs before a trip to the beach!

How do I get one?

There are a few options for body wraps. You can go to a spa for a treatment. These treatments usually last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and cost anywhere from $75-$300. Often, a body wrap service will be combined with a body polish or scrub, where the technician will use a salt or sugar scrub to exfoliate the skin prior to the wrap. This allows the skin nourishing ingredients to penetrate the skin more easily. It is also common for a body wrap to include a massage for relaxation purposes, mainly because it’s easier to lay in a cocoon for an hour if you’re comfortable and relaxed.

Another option, if you would like to try a body wrap at home, is to purchase one from an independent sales rep or order one online. These at-home wraps are less expensive, usually around $40-$75 each. Doing your own wrap has its benefits and its drawbacks. Obviously the cost is a definite benefit. Privacy is another, as you should not wear any (or least not much) clothing in order reap the full benefits. The main drawback in my eyes is that if you’re doing your own wrap, you do risk the possibility of doing it incorrectly.

Interested in trying an at-home wrap?

Order online from Vanessa, a “Slim Sexy You” independent sales representative at slimsexyyou.itworks.net or visit her Facebook Fan Page at  www.facebook.com/slimsexyyou.

I think body wraps would make a fun at-home girls night activity. Ask everyone to bring their bathing suits (if they’re not comfortable in their underwear or less), and perform the body wraps on each other. You could mix up some sugar scrubs, facial masks, and break out the nail polish. It could be a whole spa themed party… FUN!

Send your beauty questions to [email protected] and I'll answer them in my next blog.

Thanks for reading,

Bethany