Do you find yourself thinking a great deal about hair growth? If so, you’re not on your own. Many of us spend time wondering what we can do to make our hair grow faster, thicker or longer. And the spending doesn’t stop at time. We also splash out our hard-earned cash on hair products that promise to turbocharge the growth rate of our strands. Too often, we’re left disappointed when the promised improvement in growth doesn’t materialise.
Could it be that we’ve been looking for the solution in all the wrong places? Maybe, instead of scouring the shelves for miracle products, we should have been looking at something much closer to us. Something right at our fingertips, in fact. Curious? Keep scrolling to find out more!
Introducing the Scalp Massage
‘Introducing’ is probably the wrong word to use when talking about scalp massage, as its history is as old as the Ayurvedic medicine from which it springs. It’s only in recent years, however, that the role it plays in hair growth has finally been recognised by western hair experts.
Scalp massage is not a complicated procedure. You can buy a massage tool to use on your scalp or go to a licensed practitioner, but the easiest and cheapest option involves just the use of your fingertips. Using both hands, you simply apply gentle pressure to the scalp, moving your fingertips in small circles from the centre of the crown outwards, then back again.
There are no strict rules about the length of time each massage should last or how often the exercise should be repeated. A five-minute massage at the start and end of each day should suffice. It’s okay to incorporate the massage as part of your hair-washing routine by massaging your shampoo and conditioner into your scalp or, if you use natural oils on your hair, you can use these as part of the massage routine too.
How Do Scalp Massages Help?
Scalp massages promote hair growth in several ways. The first of these is due to the science of mechanotherapy. In layman’s terms, this is the use of mechanical stress to help your body heal, repair and grow stronger. In the context of hair growth, a scalp massage uses mechanical forces – that’s the pressure from your fingertips – to stretch the skin cells in your scalp.
A study carried out by Japanese researchers in 2016 showed that head massages increase hair thickness through the ‘direct stimulation of mechanical force to dermal papilla cells.’ The report concluded that ‘scalp massage as a form of mechanical stimulation of the scalp may become a natural, easy, and economical way to stimulate hair growth rates,’ although it acknowledged that more work was needed to confirm this theory.
Stress Levels
Scalp massages also work by reducing our stress levels. This is an important factor when it comes to the health of your hair. In another study published in 2016, Korean researchers concluded that ‘positive effects were observed on stress hormone, blood pressure and heart rate.’ Aside from the general health benefits achieved by lowering stress and blood pressure levels, there is also an added benefit for hair health, as stress is one of the factors that cause hair loss due to telogen effluvium.
Skin Exfoliation
Head massages are also a great way to exfoliate the skin. Sweat, dead skin cells and the natural oils produced by your scalp can all lead to the build-up of debris that blocks hair follicles and inhibits their ability to produce new hair. Scalp massages loosen this debris so that it can be removed by hair rinsing more effectively.
Better Blood Flow
The blood flow to your scalp is the means by which oxygen and essential nutrients are delivered to your hair follicles. Without these, healthy hair growth cannot take place. Regular scalp massages stimulate the blood vessels in your scalp, making the flow of blood faster. This results in the follicles receiving more of the oxygen and nutrients they need.
Conclusion
There is enough empirical evidence to demonstrate that regular scalp massages can do wonders for the growth rate and thickness of your hair, as well as being good for your overall well-being. Additionally, it’s free and it’s easy to do. What’s not to like?
If you have concerns about hair loss or hair thinning, the sooner you speak to a hair expert the better. Here at Vinci Hair Clinic, we have experts to rank with the very best. We’re one of the largest hair restoration organisations in the world with clinics in many different countries. We offer all our new clients a free, no-obligation consultation that can take place in person or using photographs on WhatsApp. Make today the day you get in touch to make your appointment!
