Evidence suggests that massaging your scalp really can help boost hair growth. But it's not a one-and-done activity — you'll need to massage your scalp every day to see an improvement [4]. And it can take several months for hair growth to become visible.
Massaging your scalp everyday will enhance blood circulation and can even strengthen your follicles. However, make sure you do it gently and don't rub vigorously. This can cause your hair to break. In case you have used an oil while massaging your scalp, make sure you rinse it off within an hour.
Another two-part study (on just nine men who, weirdly, weren't even experiencing hair loss) looked at the effects of four minutes of daily scalp massage using a scalp-massage device for 24 weeks. The results showed increased hair thickness, but there was no significant change in hair growth rate.
It's totally up to you! It's always best to aim for what you feel is realistic for you and your hair care routine so you actually stick to it and reap all the benefits. We like to make a scalp massage a permanent step in our wash day routine so that we're doing it at least once a week.
Apply medium pressure—just enough to feel push against your scalp. Move your fingers in circular motions, and then work your way across the entire scalp. Make sure to move back and forth and continue doing small circles to stimulate the scalp.
In the second study, more than 300 people with hair loss did daily scalp massages for 11 to 20 minutes. After about 6 months, almost 70% of the participants reported either less hair loss or more regrowth.
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.
Argan oil is one of the best hair oils for growth. That is because it is incredibly rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the hair from free radicals and damaging environmental factors. Argan oil helps both protect our hair and also promote a healthy scalp.
A healthy scalp is crucial for hair growth, and a regular head massage can promote this by stimulating blood circulation to hair follicles. Using natural oils like coconut or argan oil, and techniques like circular motions and tapping, can strengthen hair and reduce stress.
Oils don't grow hair but they help retain length, causing the appearance of growth. Some oils like peppermint also stimulate hair follicles.
Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.
When incorporated into a healthy hair routine, scalp massages may be an effective way to improve hair growth and increase thickness. It may also help to slow down the process of hair loss for some people. If you are dealing with hair loss or other hair problems, consider talking to a board-certified dermatologist.
To perform a traditional scalp massage, use moderate pressure with the tips of the fingers against the scalp. Slowly press and move the fingers in circular motions. Move the fingers around the scalp, covering as much area as possible. Other techniques use a kneading or tapping motion across the scalp.
“If you suffer from dandruff, scalp eczema, or psoriasis, scalp massager tools can also help to relieve itch and loosen and remove flakes on the scalp,” says Dr. Han.
Foods packed with protein such as chicken breast, fish, greek yogurt and eggs, can help promote healthier hair because hair follicles are mostly made up of protein. Vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E and vitamin D can also make a difference.
On average, each hair strand grows about a half-inch each month. But hair doesn't grow like that nonstop; it grows in cycles. "Fortunately for many, hair is in the growth phase over 80 percent of the time, meaning the opportunity is there," says William Yates, MD, FACS.
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.
Lomi Lomi massage originated in the Hawaiian regions centuries back. It was originally an indigenous religious or spiritual practice that evolved. The massage has the peculiar technique of kneading the muscles, which targets body pain and tries to achieve harmony in the body.
It is best to limit your scalp massage to 5-10 minutes as overstimulation could cause issues such as irritation or cause your hair to overproduce oil. Best to start a couple of times a week and increase the frequency based on how your scalp responds.