Quick answer
Use TheraFace on a clean, dry face with light pressure and short passes. Start at the jaw hinge, move along the jawline and masseter, then work upward over the cheeks and temples. Keep each area to 30–60 seconds, use a dedicated attachment for the face, and stop if you feel sharp pain or numbness.
Set up before you start
Wash your face and remove makeup, sunscreen, or heavy creams so the device glides without pulling. If you have a beard, keep the skin underneath dry and free of oil. Tie back long hair and remove earrings or facial piercings that could catch on the attachment. Choose a quiet spot where you can sit upright with your shoulders relaxed; lying flat can make it harder to keep light, even pressure along the jaw.
Choose the right attachment for jaw and face
TheraFace attachments are designed for different surface areas. For jaw tension and the masseter, a small, rounded tip lets you target the muscle without spreading vibration into the teeth. For broader facial massage, a flatter attachment covers the cheeks and temples more comfortably. If you are using TheraFace for TMJ-related tightness, stay on the muscle belly at the jaw hinge and along the jawline; do not press directly into the joint itself. When in doubt, start with the gentlest attachment you have and switch only if you need more focused contact.
Set speed and pressure
Begin on the lowest speed and let the device do the work. Rest the attachment on the skin with almost no downward force; the percussive motion, not your hand, creates the relief. If you have to grip the device tightly or your jaw clenches, you are pressing too hard. Work up one speed only if the area feels comfortable and you can keep your face relaxed. A common mistake is chasing a deeper sensation by pushing harder, which can leave the jaw and cheeks more tense the next day.
Work the jawline and masseter
Place the attachment at the jaw hinge just in front of the ear. Make slow, small passes down toward the chin, pausing for a few seconds on any spot that feels tight. Then move to the masseter, the muscle that bulges when you clench, and glide along the lower jaw with light pressure. Keep your mouth slightly open and your teeth apart so the muscle is not already contracted. Spend no more than a minute per side on your first few sessions.
Move to cheeks, temples, and brow
After the jaw, move upward. Use gentle outward strokes from the center of the cheeks toward the ears, then small circles at the temples. For the brow, use very light pressure and short passes above the eyebrow, avoiding the eyelid and the eye itself. This order keeps you from dragging product or oil from the lower face into the eye area. If you wear contact lenses, keep the device away from the eye socket entirely.
Build a facial massage routine
A simple TheraFace facial massage routine fits into five to ten minutes. Use it after cleansing and before heavier creams, or after a warm shower when muscles are already relaxed. For daily maintenance, one short pass over the jaw, cheeks, and temples is enough. On days when jaw tension is high, repeat the jawline section once, but give the skin a break between passes. If you use TheraFace as part of a TheraFace skincare routine, apply a light serum or moisturizer after the massage so you are not pulling dry skin.
When to stop and what to avoid
Stop immediately if you feel sharp pain, a shooting sensation, numbness, or dizziness. Do not use TheraFace over active breakouts, cold sores, recent fillers or Botox, fresh cuts, or sunburned skin. If you have a diagnosed TMJ disorder, a dental issue, or recent facial surgery, ask your clinician before using percussive therapy on your face. TheraFace is a self-care tool, not a treatment for a medical condition, so persistent jaw pain, clicking, or locking needs a professional evaluation.
Your step-by-step TheraFace routine
- Cleanse and prep: Wash your face, remove makeup, and tie back hair. Sit upright with relaxed shoulders. Checkpoint: skin should be dry and free of heavy product before you start.
- Attach and set the lowest speed: Choose a small, rounded attachment for the jaw and a flatter one for cheeks and temples. Start on the lowest speed. Mistake to avoid: jumping to a high speed before your face is used to the vibration.
- Massage the jaw hinge and masseter: Make slow passes from the jaw hinge toward the chin, then along the lower jaw. Keep teeth apart and mouth slightly open. Checkpoint: 30–60 seconds per side is enough for your first sessions.
- Work the cheeks, temples, and brow: Use outward strokes on the cheeks, small circles at the temples, and very light passes above the brow. Mistake to avoid: pressing into the eye area or dragging oil upward.
- Finish with skincare: Apply a light serum or moisturizer after the massage. Use the routine after cleansing or a warm shower. Checkpoint: stop if you feel sharp pain, numbness, or dizziness.
Products that pair well with this routine
- Theragun Relief Refurbished: Theragun Relief Refurbished is a lightweight, comfortable massage gun designed to relieve aches and pains, helping you stay active and enjoy the hobbies you love. If your jaw tension comes with neck and shoulder tightness, this gives you a body-focused option to use after the facial routine.
Theragun Relief Refurbished
- Relief & Relaxation Bundle: Theragun Relief delivers comfortable percussive therapy designed to relax tight muscles, ease soreness and improve mobility, and SmartGoggles uses heat, vibration and compression massage to promote deep relaxation and help reduce stress, relieve headaches and improve sleep quality. A useful bundle if you want both a body massage tool and a relaxation device for stress-related jaw clenching.
- Relief & Relaxation Bundle: The Relief & Relaxation Bundle brings together tools designed to help you unwind and soothe sore muscles after activity or a long day, conveniently packaged as a single bundle and easy to integrate into daily self-care routines. A practical option if you prefer one purchase that covers both post-workout recovery and daily wind-down routines.
