A head massage is a technique involving movement and pressure applied to the scalp, often used to promote relaxation and improve scalp health. It can be self-administered or performed by a professional. While formal research on scalp massage is limited, anecdotal evidence and some studies suggest several potential benefits. This article explores these benefits, provides guidance on performing a head massage, and discusses considerations for incorporating it into your wellness routine.
Is Scalp Massage Worth Trying?
If you're seeking a natural method to relax and boost scalp health, scalp massage might be worth exploring. It can offer immediate relaxation. The primary benefit of a scalp massage is the feeling of relaxation it provides.
Potential Benefits of Head Massage
Head massages offer a variety of potential benefits, including:
Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Head massage is a relaxing and soothing experience that can help release stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can improve mood and reduce anxiety. Massage is a great way to combat stress because it helps release serotonin, a hormone that helps improve your mood and lower your stress levels. The extra attention to muscles in your head, face, neck, and shoulders help decrease stress built up over the day, reducing cortisol (stress hormone) levels and allowing the body to heal correctly. Researchers have studied and documented the positive benefits of massage therapy on biochemistry, including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. Massage therapy is linked to increased “vagal activity.” Vagal activity refers to the level of activity in the vagus nerve, which is a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for functions like slowing the heart rate, promoting digestion, and facilitating a rest and digest state.
Headache Relief: Many people turn to head, neck, and shoulder massages as a natural remedy for alleviating headaches and migraine episodes. Techniques like deep tissue massage, trigger point massage, self-massage, and acupressure can help relieve tension headaches by relaxing strained muscles and alleviating pain. Massage therapy, especially at certain points in the upper neck and back of the head, could reduce headache frequency and intensity. Massage therapy targeting neck and shoulder muscles reduced headache frequency, but it didn’t significantly affect headache intensity. It helps ease the pain and tension in the head, neck, behind the eyes, and shoulders. The Indian Head Massage Upgrade focuses on the temples, scalp, behind the neck, and ears to help melt tension and stress, which will help reduce headaches.
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Improved Blood Circulation: A scalp massage involves movement and pressure to promote blood flow to your scalp. Head massage spa include increased blood flow, lower blood pressure, and reduced heart rate. It helps increase blood flow and circulation, which helps balance your central nervous system, reducing the presence and release of the stress hormone cortisol.
Hair Growth Promotion: Scalp massages can help stimulate new hair growth and keep your hair healthy and strong. Scalp massage stimulates circulation and blood flow to the scalp, which helps increase hair thickness and activates dormant hair follicles, encouraging hair growth. Researchers have found that head massage therapy also increased hair thickness by inducing stretching forces to dermal papilla cells in subcutaneous tissue. Standardized scalp massage resulted in increased hair thickness 24 weeks after initiation of massage. Finite element method demonstrated that scalp massage resulted in horizontal movement of skin surface and z-direction displacement of the subcutaneous tissue. Stretching forces result in changes in gene expression in human dermal papilla cells. Standardized scalp massage is a way to transmit mechanical stress to human dermal papilla cells in subcutaneous tissue.
Balances the Nervous System: Scalp massage helps increase blood flow and circulation, which helps balance your central nervous system, reducing the presence and release of the stress hormone cortisol. The Indian Head Massage Upgrade will help support the nervous system by promoting healthy blood flow and circulation, helping your body balance and harmonize.
Improved Scalp Health: Head massage therapy helps remove dead skin cells, strip away the clogging buildup hair products leave behind, stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles and provide essential nutrients and oxygen for hair growth. Scalp cleaning effectively unclogs follicles.
Potential Reduction in Blood Pressure and Stress Hormones: Scalp massage may lower blood pressure and stress hormones.
How to Perform a Head Massage
There isn't one specific way to perform a scalp massage, but here are several options:
Self-Administered Massage: You can easily give yourself a head massage. All you need are your fingertips - massage oil is optional. Sit down in a comfortable chair. If you’re using oil, make sure to put a towel around your neck and on the chair to catch any drips. Begin by applying light to medium pressure on your head with your fingertips or massage tool. If you’re using oils, dip your fingertips in the oil, then proceed with the massage. Move around your scalp in small circular motions. Massage for a minimum of 5 minutes, making sure to cover your entire head. You can wash the oil out with shampoo. You should limit yourself to light to moderate pressure. Massage your scalp while showering.
Scalp Massager: Use a scalp massager, a handheld tool covered with soft teeth or nubs. It is used on the scalp to stimulate blood flow, loosen flaky skin, and lather shampoo. You can work the massaging tool all over your scalp in the same way you’d use your fingertips.
Essential Oils: Use essential oils. While you can use any oil of your choice, some essential oils seem to pair better with this relaxing massage. “We love to use essential oils whenever possible,” says Monreal. “Two of our favorite essential oils for a head massage are lavender oil and peppermint oil, but you can even opt for coconut oil if you prefer.” Coconut is a carrier oil good for diluting essential oils. Jojoba and sweet almond are a few others. If you want to use oil for a head massage, jojoba or sweet almond are both good choices because they won’t clog your pores. Before you begin using essential oils, and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil. Wash your forearm with mild, unscented soap, then pat dry. Apply a few drops of diluted essential oil onto a small patch of skin on your forearm. Cover the area with a bandage and keep it dry for 24 hours. If you have any signs of an allergic reaction, such as a rash, irritation, or discomfort, immediately remove the bandage and wash the area with soap and water. Discontinue use of the essential oil. If you don’t experience any irritation within 24 hours, the essential oil is likely safe for use.
Couples Massage: Perform a couples scalp massage to share the experience with your partner. Have your partner lie down or sit in a comfortable chair. If you’re using essential oils, start with just a few drops and always dilute in a carrier oil (like jojoba or almond oil). Dip your fingertips in the oil. Focus on delivering slow, gentle strokes on your partner’s head and work up to light circular motions that go across their head. Use your thumbs to gently massage their neck as well.
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Professional Massage: Visit a spa to have a scalp massage administered by a licensed massage therapist who can provide professional treatment. During your session, the massage therapist will focus on delivering light strokes to your entire skull and neck. Monreal says they may also work to gently manipulate the bones of your skull and spine to normalize the flow of your cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system. “With a more normal flow, that fluid will help enhance your body’s natural ability to heal itself,” she explains.
Considerations and Precautions
Medical Conditions: If you have a chronic health condition such as cancer or epilepsy, consult your healthcare provider before performing regular scalp massage.
Diagnosis and Treatment: Getting an accurate diagnosis for disorders such as tension headaches, hair loss, or stress is the best way to address these issues. Though you can learn to self-administer a scalp massage, a licensed massage therapist may provide a more relaxing and effective treatment. Scalp massage involves little health risk for most people. However, it should not be used to forgo the proper diagnosis and treatment of any health problem, such as scalp lumps and bumps or pain.
Indian Head Massage: Indian Head Massage is designed to relax the mind, encourage circulation, balance energies, and melt away tension by utilizing acupressure points, called marma points, on the head, face, neck, and shoulders. Your therapist will begin by applying Hayaath, a locally made hair oil infused with 21 healing herbs. This oil is designed to condition the hair and scalp, promoting growth and reducing skin irritation from psoriasis, dandruff, and eczema. The scalp massage begins by working this oil into your scalp with gentle, circular motions. As your therapist works, they will target the muscles and trigger points on your head, neck, and shoulders using deep tissue techniques and invigorating motions. Additionally, a cooling scalp oil will be massaged to your neck, shoulders, and head, leaving your skin tingling and refreshed. Long, flowing strokes will release tension, stretch away stress, and melt you into relaxation. Your jaw, face, ears, and temples will be massaged with medium-firm pressure to encourage the muscles to release any remaining tension and relax fully. The Indian Head Massage will finish with acupressure and breath-work applied to the Marma Points on your face.