Summary. Some people may experience headaches after a massage. It can result from dehydration, sensitivity to scents or environmental factors, muscle tension, or blood pressure changes. This headache usually presents as a dull, achy pain with possible muscle tenderness in the shoulders, neck, or scalp.
Pressure should not be too firm as this interrupts the rhythmical flow and can cause tender areas on the scalp after the massage. Working over the entire scalp in a set pattern, so that no area of the head is massaged more than others, is crucial for a good scalp massage.
When your massage therapist works out those knots and tension in your muscles, especially in your neck and shoulders, it can cause a temporary increase in blood flow to your head, and this sudden change can trigger a headache in some people.
Regular head massages improve blood circulation to the brain, enhance cognitive functions like memory and concentration, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote both hair health and brain relaxation. Techniques include using warm oil and massaging the temples, scalp, and neck for 10-15 minutes weekly.
Another potential issue with excessive scalp massage is that it can lead to hair loss. Too much scalp massage can damage the hair follicles, which can cause the hair to fall out. This is particularly likely to happen if you use excessive force when massaging your scalp or if you use harsh or abrasive products.
Head massage does have a few disadvantages. For starters, it's time-consuming — you'll need to make a daily commitment for several months to see any changes. There's also the risk of improper technique or overly aggressive scalp massage, which could cause scalp irritation or possibly even hair loss.
One study conducted by The National Library of Medicine in 2016 found that after conducting daily scalp massages for six months, 68% of participants experienced thicker hair growth.
“When muscles are connected to the face, neck and scalp, they can cause a tightening of the tissues, which can cause pain and discomfort, leading to headaches,” says Chamness. “By massaging the muscles around the temples, jaw and neck we can relax them and prevent pulling and tugging.”
Try to massage your scalp using your fingertips for at least 5 minutes at a time, several times a day. Massaging your scalp every day will enhance blood circulation and can even strengthen your follicles. However, make sure you do it gently and not rub vigorously. This can cause your hair to break.
The pressure and movements during a massage can break apart spasms or micro-scars in the muscle fibers. This can lead to soreness similar to what you might experience after exercising.
Hydrating and resting can help alleviate these symptoms. After a massage, mild detox symptoms can occur as the body eliminates toxins. Common symptoms include fatigue, muscle soreness, and headaches due to the release of lactic acid and other waste products.
Scalp pain can stem from a range of different causes, including skin conditions, infections, hair styling habits, headaches, sunburn, and more. Treatment to reduce scalp discomfort will depend on the underlying cause, and can vary from self-massage, medicated shampoos, or topical or oral prescription medications.
Scalp tenderness in one spot can be caused by a range of issues, including trauma, friction from headgear, sunburn, or scalp conditions like psoriasis. Preventing tenderness involves gentle scalp care, avoiding tight hairstyles, using UV protection, and keeping the scalp clean and moisturised.
The bottom line. A soothing scalp massage may do more than just make you relaxed — it may also help stimulate hair growth or thickness. So far, limited research shows that scalp massages may promote blood flow to the scalp and encourage longer, thicker strands.
Dry head massage before bedtime is one of the most effective ways to refresh your body and mind after a hard day at work. Stress and anxiety can also be alleviated by massaging.
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a specialized massage technique that stimulates the lymphatic system to improve lymphatic drainage for migraines and other types of pain. It involves using gentle, rhythmic movements performed by a trained therapist.
There are many possible reasons why a persons scalp feels sore and tender to touch, including skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Other potential causes of a sore and tender scalp include occipital neuralgia , a type of headache, and alopecia areata .
Pressure point LI-4 is also called Hegu (her-goo). It is found on the back of your hand. It is between the base of your thumb and index (pointer) finger (see Figure 1). Doing acupressure on this point can help with pain and headaches.
If you notice your hair falling more during a gentle oil massage session, then fret not, it's not because of the oil. When you massage your scalp, the hair already in telogen (shedding) phase tends to fall as they're just sitting there and resting🍂
Taking the time to massage your scalp increases blood flow whilst reducing tension. You're literally massaging the pain away! 4) Improves mood and promotes calmness: we all need a little calm every now and again and a scalp massage provides us with just that.
If your therapist has used oils it can be helpful to let them settle overnight, so wherever possible avoid having a bath or shower after your treatment. If you really can't bear it have a warm shower or bath and apply shampoo to your hair whilst it is still dry for maximum effect.