Good massages are exquisite. They almost make you forget about everything else that’s going on in your surroundings. Massages are a wonderful way to de-stress yourself. And the wonderful thing about them is that they have health benefits too.
They don’t only provide relaxation, but whenever you think of massages, you imagine someone squeezing the tiredness out of your body. Only scalp massages are also quite popular. That’s where a lot of the tensions reside anyway. But the biggest question here is, does a scalp massage help with hair growth?
The key to taking good care of your hair isn’t just washing and conditioning it while putting on a hair mask once in a while. Good hair needs regular, proper attention and care. You can include scalp massages in your hair care routine for that. In this guide, we’ll dive deeper into the benefits of scalp massages for your hair.
Do Scalp Massages Help Hair Growth?
Yes, massage for hair growth actually works. But the jury is still out there on what’s the best way to get scalp massages. Some recommend the use of a scalp massager, while others say that your finger pads work just fine. Anyway, the point is to get the scalp massage. That’s because it can have the following benefits:
Dislodges Gunk
If you have a scalp that is full of gunk, sebum build-up, and dandruff, scalp massages can help move things around. Your hair follicles can’t get adequate oxygen if there’s a big ball of dandruff or dirt plug sticking tightly to it. Scalp massages can help dislodge these, allowing your scalp to breathe. This will also have an impact on the growth of your hair.
Increases Hair Thickness
In one study 9 healthy Japanese men received 4 minutes of scalp massages every day for 24 weeks using a scalp massage device. The study concluded that the massaging action affected the gene expression of the skin cells. The hair growth and thickness of the participants had increased.
Therefore, the mere act of massage can help you increase hair thickness. However, the evidence on this benefit of scalp massage isn’t enough. The study mentioned above is also quite small.
Improves Blood Circulation to the Scalp
To boost the volume of your hair, you should definitely consider doing or getting scalp massages. They stimulate the nerve endings and muscles on your scalp and even improve blood circulation. The increased blood flow to the scalp help transport more nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles, which, of course, helps them grow.
Helps Reduce Stress
Another thing about scalp massages is that they’re a wonderful way to destress yourself. With scalp massages, you can clear your head, have moments of clarity and think of different ways to get yourself out of a problem. There are many people who lose their hair as a result of stress. So, by keeping your stress levels down, scalp massages can also help protect you from hair fall.
Other Benefits
In one study, face and scalp massages were done on menopausal women. The research found that it had a positive effect on the mental health of the participants. It also helped improve their quality of life and perception of body image. Scalp massages are great for uplifting the mood and making you feel good. It’s a great thing to do when you’re having some good ol’ me-time.
Haven’t you seen in movies that whenever the story comes to vacation time, the montage always includes a very relaxing massage? Massages have almost become synonymous with happiness and vacation, something that you do. So, next time, whenever you feel a little too stressed, just get your fingers on your scalp.
Another thing about getting massages from a family member, friend or loved one is that it’s a great way to bond with them. Of course, if you give massages like Monica from Friends, chances are more people will run away from your touch than gravitate towards you! Anyway, we digress.
The point is that you might’ve seen many couples get scalp massages together as they share stories with each other and spend some quality time. When the person’s mind is relaxed, they feel more comfortable talking and sharing things. Thus, scalp massages also offer a great way to bond with the people you love.
One big benefit of scalp massages is the relieving of muscle tension. Stress can cause a constriction of the blood vessels and decrease blood flow to the hair follicles. However, you also feel a lot of stress in the neck, back and the region behind the ears. Massages help ease the taut muscles from the strain. So, a great thing about scalp massages is that they will calm you down and make you feel good.
How To Perform a Scalp Massage?
There are more than a few ways to get a scalp massage.
Use Your Hands
If you want to do things quickly, easily, and without paying money for them, you can use your hands. It’s simple enough. You don’t have to apply too much pressure, but you have to apply enough to really get in there and stimulate the nerve endings and muscles.
You might be well familiar with the sensation of absolute pleasure that a good massage evokes. For that, you should do the following:
- Do gentle strokes in a circular pattern around the whole scalp.
- Move fingers from the front and back of the scalp.
- Make sure to get all the areas (the area above the ears, top-sides of the head)
- Gather your hair and gently tug it back
- Finish up with a neck rub extending to the back of the ears.
A good scalp massage doesn’t even have to last for hours and hours. You can get it done in 4-6 minutes to improve the thickness of your hair. In the study mentioned above, the participants only received a massage of 4 minutes/day, but for 24 weeks.
So, you don’t have to go massaging your scalp for hours so that you can see the results in one day. It is a gradual process as your hair will take some time to grow.
One way to get a good scalp massage is to use oils. You can use almond, coconut, or argan oil to massage your scalp. It is even more relaxing and, of course, nourishing. Many famous celebs oil their hair so they can make it healthy, stronger, longer, and shinier.
If you don’t want to bother with getting your hands and scalp oily, you don’t have to worry about using anything else. Just do a plain and simple massage. You can even do it while shampooing your hair.
Handheld Devices
You don’t always have to end up at expensive salons and spas to get a scalp massage or tire your arms out with manual massages. Of course, there are handheld devices available these days, which you can move around on your head for the same effect.
Some of these massagers have long, steel tentacles with rubber beads at the end, while others have large rubber cones attached to a circular base. There are also electrical devices that have tiny massagers attached to them.
There have been concerns about inflammation with these devices, so make sure they’re clean before you use them. Otherwise, in this case, a scalp massage can cause hair loss.
Can You Reverse Hair Loss with Scalp Massages?
That depends on the kind of hair loss that you’re experiencing. If you’re genetically predisposed to balding, scalp massages won’t help you grow your hair. You will eventually lose your hair, and in this case, only medications or surgical intervention can help with regrowth as the hair roots shrink and die.
However, if you’re only experiencing stress because of seasonal changes or stress, then scalp massages can help with hair growth. It’ll help you regrow hair more quickly, which is why it’s definitely a good idea to get them daily.
After Hair Transplantation, Does Scalp Massage Promote Hair Growth?
We recommend scalp massages to patients after a hair transplant. It ensures the best recovery and good results after the surgery. It’ll help remove the scabs from the scalp and quicken the recovery process.
Other than that, it will also increase blood flow to the newly transplanted roots, increasing their chances of survival. This is best done daily or as advised by the surgeon because it will ensure a greater hair density in the end.
The blood circulation is slow in the crown region of the head, so your hair will grow slowly there. By massaging, the blood flow will increase. Therefore, your hair will grow quicker and thicker. Our surgeons suggest our patients massage their heads after surgery for faster and better results.
In A Nutshell
Research has shown that scalp massages can increase the thickness of your hair. It can make your hair stronger, and healthier and even promote the growth of new hair.
But you can’t completely rely on scalp massages to reverse your hair loss as it depends on the type of hair loss you have. For pattern baldness, a hair transplant is the best possible treatment. You can book your treatment with us today.
Reviewed and Approved by Trichologist Yaprak Yazan
