Hair loss is never easy to deal with. One day, you may look in the mirror and notice that your hairline is receding or that your scalp is wider than it ever has been. It happens for a range of reasons, from hormonal changes to the simple ageing process. When it does, many people understandably turn to hair loss treatments.
One hair loss treatment that has gained attention over the years is scalp massage. Not only does this treatment induce feelings of deep relaxation, but there’s also some evidence that it can help you regrow your locks.
Can Scalp Massages Reverse Hair Loss?
To understand whether a scalp massage for hair growth is worthwhile, it’s worth looking at some studies.
One study between 2016 and 2017 [1] assessed the effectiveness of standardized scalp massages. The results indicated some improvement in participants, indicating that scalp massages can be effective when used to increase hair growth. Another study on Japanese men [2] also used standardized scalp massages over 24 weeks, with results showing that the massage did, in fact, increase hair thickness.
While more research into the effectiveness of regular scalp massages needs to be done, these studies show that there is some truth to the benefits of scalp massages for hair growth.
Scalp Massage Hair Loss: Why Does it Work?
So, why does a scalp massage for hair loss produce positive results? The science behind it is that scalp massages strengthen the hair follicles by increasing blood flow. When this occurs, hair follicles have a better chance of growing healthy hair. Do this regularly, and you can see a definite improvement in hair thickness.
Can a Scalp Massage Prevent Hair Loss?
As scalp massages can promote hair growth, it’s also safe to assume that they can also help as a hair loss treatment. If you haven’t yet experienced hair loss but are worried about it happening in the future, whether that’s because of genetics or how common androgenetic alopecia is, regular scalp massages may help prevent it. There is certainly no harm in adding a scalp massage to your usual hair care routine.
How to Perform a Scalp Massage for Hair Loss on Yourself
One of the best things about scalp massages for hair loss is that you can perform them yourself – you don’t need anyone else’s help! Even if you don’t have anything else to hand, you can do a scalp massage at any time of the day.
Start by applying light to medium pressure to your scalp using your fingertips. Use small, circular motions, working your way across the entire scalp, focusing more on the areas where you’re experiencing hair loss. For example, if you have a lot of hair loss on your head’s crown, spend a little more time on that area. Do this for five minutes (or longer if you wish), enjoying the process. For best results, do this every day.
There are some other ways to perform a scalp massage. You can do the same motions with hair oil, shampoo, or conditioner to make it part of your hair care routine. Doing it in the shower is a simple yet effective way of ensuring you don’t forget to perform your daily scalp massage!
Products to Use with a Scalp Massage
While you can perform a scalp massage for hair loss on yourself without any products to assist you, you may experience better results when using certain items.
A Scalp Massaging Device
One popular method for massaging the scalp at home involves using massage tools. These come in all sorts of shapes and sizes; some are electrical, whereas others are simple scalp massaging tools with large bristles to help get into the scalp. Some have additional features, too – you can find at-home scalp massages with red light therapy, which can boost hair growth even further, with one study showing promising results from 650 mn of red light stimulation on hair follicles. [3]
Hair-boosting Oils
If you want to potentially boost hair growth even further, use a hair oil while massaging your scalp. There are plenty of hair-boosting hair oils you can get your hands on, from rosemary oil to pumpkin seed oil. Mixing these hair growth oils with a carrier oil like jojoba, argan, or coconut oil is typically best, as this will reduce the chances of irritation.
You might also want to use something like a hair track app when performing regular scalp massages. That way, you can keep track of just how effective the massages are.
Getting a Professional Scalp Massage
Of course, you don’t have to do the scalp massage by yourself. Professional masseuses offer a variety of scalp massage techniques to help boost hair growth and relaxation. This is perfect for those with mobility issues or people who simply want to leave the process of the scalp massage to the professionals.
What Are the Benefits of a Professional Scalp Massage?
As we’ve gone over in this article, scalp massages can have a positive effect on hair growth, and you can reap those benefits from the comfort of your own home. In some cases, however, it’s worth spending a bit of extra money (and time) to see a professional, as it offers a range of additional benefits, including:
A Relaxing Experience
Everyone deserves a relaxing experience from time to time. If you have an hour in an afternoon free, a scalp massage can provide an endlessly relaxing experience that you wouldn’t be able to achieve by doing it yourself. Sink into the calm feelings and let the professional perform their magic.
Professional Hands
While scalp massages aren’t the most complicated type of massage to perform on yourself, the professionals always know best. They know the exact motions to use to stimulate hair growth in the most effective way, so you may enjoy better results when going to a clinic.
High-quality Products
When getting a professional scalp massage, you get to take advantage of the high-quality products they will use. They might use a high-quality scalp massaging device or premium hair oils that would otherwise cost a lot of money to purchase.
Time to Yourself
Time to yourself is crucial. Doing a scalp massage at home can lead to distraction, especially if you live in a busy household. On the other hand, getting a professional scalp massage means an uninterrupted time of bliss. You can even include different types of massages in your scalp massage appointment to reap even more benefits. When you also consider that high-stress levels can lead to telogen effluvium, [4] you may be more inclined to treat yourself more often, and a scalp massage is the perfect way.
While professional hands aren’t essential for reaping the benefits of a scalp massage, these benefits certainly make it worthwhile! You can always do a standard scalp massage on yourself daily and then treat yourself to a professional scalp massage on occasion to make the most of both worlds.
What Are Some Other Ways to Boost Hair Growth?
Scalp massages are just one way to boost hair growth – you can try plenty more techniques and treatments. If you have androgenetic alopecia, you may prefer to
Medications
Certain medications, including finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil, can stimulate hair growth. Minoxidil is a topical hair restoration treatment that men and women can use, whereas finasteride and dutasteride are DHT-blocking medications only prescribed to men. All three have proven results regarding hair growth.
Low-Level Light Therapy
Low-level light therapy helps stimulate hair growth and boost blood flow (a lot like a scalp massage). As mentioned, you can get scalp massaging devices incorporating red light therapy, which may work exceptionally well when used regularly. You can also get low-level light therapy at clinics, saving you from purchasing a home-use device.
A Hair Transplant
A scalp massage likely won’t have the same effect as a hair transplant. If your hair loss is quite significant, a follicular unit extract hair transplant is a minimally invasive procedure that extracts individual follicles from the scalp and then transplant them into the area experiencing hair loss. The process can be completed in as little as a day, and results are often incredible – just look at our patients gallery.
So, you don’t have to rely only on scalp massages to regrow your hair. Whether experiencing slight thinning or extensive hair loss, there are other treatments that can help. If you want to discuss your hair restoration options, contact the Harley Street Hair Clinic today for a no-obligation consultation.
Scalp Massage for Hair Loss: Promising Results
As we’ve established, scalp massages show promising results regarding hair growth, with several studies showing their effectiveness. If you want to make the most of scalp massages, consider adding in extra hair-boosting oils like rosemary oil and use a scalp device to ensure your scalp receives the best possible treatment. A professional scalp massage service is also worthwhile if you want to go the extra mile.
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