From reducing product buildup and removing dead skin cells to helping stimulate hair growth by promoting blood circulation, a regular scalp massage routine boosts your hair's natural beauty by supporting the health of your scalp and hair. Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know about scalp massage for hair growth and generally promoting healthy hair. Plus, you'll find out why scalp massages are so beneficial to your overall health. Optimal scalp care is at your fingertips (or try a silicone scalp brush to level up your scalp game)! You can use it on its own or work in hair or scalp serums. Here are three huge benefits of head massages:
1. Promotes a Calm and Uplifted Mood
We all know that massages are connected to the idea of relaxation. Whether you're getting a tension-busting deep tissue massage or a shoulder rub from a loved one, massage has a host of benefits for your general health and wellness, including increased feelings of emotional wellness and relaxation. And scalp massage is no exception! Studies show that a massage that specifically targets your head and scalp is particularly helpful for increasing mental health and well-being. Receiving a scalp massage helps you feel relaxed and reduces stress.Scalp massages are said to release serotonin, a hormone that plays a role in improving your mood. Using a scalp massager rather than just your fingertips can increase the benefits of scalp massage. This is because scalp massagers will allow you to direct pressure and target the most sensitive parts of the scalp, increasing the impact of your massage. Any time you can decrease tension is a good thing for your entire body (and hair!), so add scalp massages to your anti-stress arsenal stat.
2. Promotes Hair Growth
There have long been anecdotal reports of scalp massages promoting hair growth. People claim that scalp massage has caused visible improvement in their hair length and health by increasing scalp wellness and removing some of the impediments to healthy, natural hair growth.Now there’s the science to back up these claims. In a 2016 study, regular scalp massages were confirmed to result in the growth of thicker hair. Participants massaged their scalps for about four minutes per day over a 24-week period, resulting in the growth of visibly thicker, stronger hair. A 2019 study with 340 participants supported those original findings by reproducing similar results. The participants each massaged twice per day to improve hair loss, using similar scalp massage techniques. Approximately 69% of participants said the massages improved their alopecia, reducing hair loss and encouraging the growth of new hair.
3. Reduces muscle tension
Applying slight pressure to the head and temples using circular motions can help soothe muscle tension and migraines.You may not think it, but the scalp can hold a lot of tightness! Whether from stress or bad posture, we tend to hold tension across the hairline and behind the ears and neck.Scalp massage applied by a massage therapist or using a scalp massager at home will soften and relax these tension areas and improve blood flow, helping to eradicate pain from headaches – a much healthier alternative to aspirin!