Benefits Of Massaging Scalp For Healthy Hair

The internet community seems to stand divided on the idea of a scalp massage and its ‘alleged’ benefits. A quick Google search ought to fill you in on this unceasing debate – on one hand, people endorse scalp massages, as a way to promote healthy hair growth. But many others have deemed this ritual counterproductive to all efforts directed towards your mane. Since most of my fondest childhood memories revolve around the Sunday scalp oiling sesh, courtesy of the mothership – I decided to take the matter into my own hands.

I reached out to Dr Sharmila Nayak, Founder Of The Skin 1st Clinic to help me decode a scalp massage. The leading dermatologist addresses all the FAQs – from the benefits of scalp oiling, the regularity with which you should observe these massages and the best ingredients for a scalp massage.

But before we get into the benefits of scalp massage and the ingredients for a successful and satisfying scalp massage, let’s see what causes hair fall and how a scalp massage can promote hair growth. If leading dermatologists and trichologists recommend massaging our scalps, there has to be a reason for their recommendation. So, without further ado, let’s get into the advantages of massaging your scalp for hair growth.

What Causes Hairfall?

Hair fall can occur due to a variety of reasons, here are a few listed below:

Diet & Lifestyle: If you are living away from home, chances are your diet and lifestyle has been drastically affected. This change can also harm your hair growth and eventually cause hair fall. Your hair needs proper nutrition to grow well and sustain a healthy head of hair.

Age: With age, our body starts deteriorating, our eyesight weakens, our joints hurt, and of course, among other things, our hair starts falling too. If you don’t supplement your hair growth journey with the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your hair fall can get worse.

Hormones: Puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause are all times when our hormones go berzerk, at times like these, our hair gets affected causing them to fall more than usual.

Stress: Stress is a huge contributor to hair fall, stress creates an imbalance in our hormonal and blood levels causing an increase in hair fall.

Genetics & Diseases: Last, but not least, our genetics and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, psoriasis and alopecia can all lead to premature hair fall.

How Does Scalp Massage Promote Hair Growth?

There are several benefits of scalp massage. A scalp massage requires us to apply pressure on the scalp, which leads to stimulating the hair follicles, improving blood circulation, stretching the hair cuticles, and dilating the blood vessels. All these aggregators promote the growth of new hair strands and improve the density and thickness of the existing hair strands.

The stimulation also reduces the chances of hair damage and breakage can reverse signs of premature balding, and even helps in the curative journey of autoimmune diseases such as alopecia and psoriasis. Since the benefits of massaging the head are numerous and the process is so simple yet effective, let’s see how you can give yourself a scalp massage at home.

What Is A Scalp Massage?

The process of cascading oil onto the scalp and gently rubbing it in with your fingertips is called scalp oiling. Dr Sharmila adds, “Scalp care is integral to beautiful and healthy hair. Scalp oiling is a form of a head massage that helps relieve stress and improve blood circulation.”

How To Do A Scalp Massage?

Dr Sharmila suggests taking a few drops of lukewarm oil for your scalp massage. She further adds. “The technique is of paramount importance to administering a good scalp massage. Remember to be gentle – massaging the scalp vigorously can often lead to hair breakage. I will recommend not keeping the oil overnight unless your scalp is exceedingly parched.If you want to reap the optimal benefits of a scalp massage, wrap a warm towel on your mane once done. After one hour, wash and condition as per your regular regimen.”

Since the ingredients are safe and the process is easy, you can also massage your head twice a day if you have the time. Always remember to use your fingertips and not your nails since your nails can damage the scalp and cause wear and tear. Don’t over-massage your head, somewhere between a 5–20 massage should be more than enough. You can use products such as a soothing oil for relaxation, a nourishing oil for growth, or a strengthening oil for damage control. Other than oils you can also use massaging devices to stimulate your scalp and hair follicles for equal amounts of pressure. Lastly, make sure you are in a comfortable position, maybe light some scented candles, play some soft instrumentals, and dim the lights to create a zen environment.

What Are The Benefits Of Scalp Oiling?

Our expert on board, Dr Sharmila, says. “A good scalp massage goes a long way. It has multiple benefits. It increases blood circulation, improves scalp health, removes dead cell build-up and strengthens the hair roots thereby improving hair growth.

Let’s look at these benefits of massaging the scalp in detail:

1. Improves Blood Circulation: Massaging your scalp stimulates the blood vessels underneath allowing blood to better reach all the hair follicles. Our blood carries all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that reach the roots of our hair and provide nutrition to the rest of the strands.

2. Reduces Stress: The benefits of massaging the head go beyond physical advantages, it offers a calming experience that soothes the mind and soul. It helps the nervous system unwind and relieves some of the tension that contributes to hair fall.

3. Decreases Dandruff: Dandruff occurs when dirt, dead skin cells, and dry scalp accumulate. When you regularly massage with oil, it will exfoliate the scalp and help remove these dead cells, flakes, and dry skin, reviving them to reduce dandruff that eventually causes hair fall.

4. Improves Hair Texture: When your blood circulation improves, your scalp is nourished, dandruff is reduced, and hair follicles are stimulated, it automatically improves the hair texture and promotes thicker, denser hair.

5. Promotes Hair Growth: When your hair texture improves, blood circulation is enhanced, scalp health improves, stress is reduced, your hair health automatically improves and hair fall reduces.

Is Oiling Meant For Every Scalp Type?

“As discussed earlier, there has been a lot of back and forth on whether scalp oiling is beneficial to everyone. If you are someone with a naturally greasy scalp, it is advised to steer clear of oiling. Over-oiling can clog the pores and eventually hamper hair growth. It can also impact the scalp’s microbiome, drawing more dust and pollution to itself. Dr Sharmila says, “We need to understand that, just as we have different skin types, so do we have different scalp types and pertinent issues. A dry scalp will benefit the most from a scalp massage. Not only does it aid in increasing blood circulation and activating the oil glands but the oil massage will help nourish the scalp. It also helps alleviate a dry, itchy scalp.”

How Often Should You Do A Scalp Massage?

Dr Sharmila remarks, “As addressed earlier, an oil massage is very effective for people with normal to dry scalps. So you can opt for an elaborate scalp oiling ritual once, every week. Folks with oily scalps can go for a dry massage, i.e. gently rub your fingertips on your scalp in a circular motion. This improves blood circulation and helps you unwind.”

What Are Some Ingredients You Should Elect For A Good Scalp Massage?

Dr Sharmila strongly recommends discerning your hair and scalp type before committing to a product. Further, she adds,” Coconut oil, almond oil, argan oil and sesame oil are the most popular ingredients for a scalp massage.”

Nykaa Recommends: 10 Best Oils For A Scalp Massage

Now that we are well versed with the basics of a scalp massage, here are the 10 best oils that you can shop from Nykaa! So keep scrolling

1. Our Fave Luxe Pick

Siblings and co-founder, Nikita and Akash Mehta’s Fable & Mane is an ode to their childhood spent in India. The formulations featuring plant roots are reminiscent of ancient Ayurvedic brews used for health and healing. Ashwagandha, an adaptogen, helps relieve the scalp of stress and strain. Dashmool, in the blend also leaves a calming sensation whilst bolstering the scalp health. Promoting healthy hair growth by virtue of increasing blood circulation – castor oil in the mix shines through. 90% of consumers corroborated the claim by stating that their scalp feels more nourished after using this oil!

2. Budget Buy

From the clean beauty brand, Sunflower, this rosemary and lavender oil has a rating of 4.4 on Nykaa. Rosemary has a soothing effect on the scalp and is also known to alleviate episodes of dryness or itchiness. Olive in the blend possesses antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which ensures optimal scalp health. Over 85% of the happy customers' testimonials are proof that this oil will leave you with a happy scalp.

3. The Best Conscious Choice

Priyanka Chopra's brainchild, Anomaly has been creating massive waves in the beauty industry. The hair and scalp oil from this range has been crafted with care to heal an irritated scalp. A harmonious blend of rose hip and almond oil detoxifies, moisturises and soothes an aggravated scalp. This stellar offering is vegan, cruelty-free and sits in a recycled bottle. A nozzle on the brim helps you direct the amount of product for one massage sesh, with ease!

4. Best Rated Scalp Oil

A treat for your senses, this luxuriant oil administers a healthy scalp, promoting good hair growth. Bhringraj, imbued in this formula, does away with episodes of dandruff. It is also adept at facilitating moisture retention in the scalp, integral to hair growth. The non-greasy formula created with amla– bears vitamins and phytonutrients for increasing the blood flow in the scalp. With a knock-out 4.9 rating on Nykaa, this offering by Blue Nectar is result-oriented and infallible.

5. Editor’s Pick

Pervading every Indian household – this made of coconut oil by Parachute triggers a helluva of nostalgia for me. A humble yet flawless offering - infused with aloe extracts and coconut oil, we know the myriad of benefits it confers on the tresses. But how does it satiate the scalp? Aloe vera has an incomparable healing prowess, which comes in handy for folks with an irritated scalp. Eradicating dryness and flakiness, aloe promotes a healthy scalp! The mix also bears coconut oil, which several celebrities swear by. It casts an impenetrable barrier that fights aggressors and infections.

6. Best Seller From Nykaa

Key Ingredients: Mustard Oil, Sweet Almond OilThe non-sticky formula seeps into the scalp and puts a lock on the moisture content, preventing dryness. Mustard oil is competent at easing cases of scalp inflammation and irritation. The Bajaj Almond Oil is also powered with the goodness of almonds, keeps dandruff at bay and combats instances of possible bacterial infections. A well-known name in many Indian households, this potent oil has a consumer rating of 4.4!

7. Nykaa Army Loves

The argan oil, by OGX, is a powerful antioxidant which has a myriad of beneficial effects on the scalp. It guards the scalp cells from oxidative damage, caused due to external aggressors. As discussed earlier, remedying the scalp is of utmost importance to healthy hair— argan oil works from the root up to lay the foundation for your gloriously soft, nourished mane!

8. Best Ayurvedic Inspired Offering

This 100% organic, cold-pressed offering from Brillare is ideal for a lukewarm, ayurvedic head massage. Brewed with sesame oil (containing fatty acids) percolates deep into the scalp to treat inflammation around the follicles, which may be slackening hair growth. Owing to its antifungal/antibacterial quality, sesame oil also expels dandruff from the head. From our Conscious at Nykaa range, this brilliant offering is a must-have for your summer care arsenal.

9. Best For Scalp Nourishment

Rosemary, thusly and Brahmi – the terrific trifecta associated with healing are at the forefront of this potent oil by Dr Batra. Bottling the immense power of tulsi, which fights 4 varieties of dandruff-triggering fungus, administers blood circulation and bolsters the hair follicles — the evergreen product is always in high demand. The whisper of ginger keeps any infection stemming from the scalp at an arm’s distance and with rosemary abates all signs of strain.

10. Best For Scalp Relief

A harmony of good-for-you ingredients like tea tree, amla, and onion juice, the Auravedic oil combats multiple scalp-related concerns. The blend of Phytonutrient-rich amla for increasing blood circulation, onion juice for balancing the pH, and tea tree for a soothing effect, makes this concoction a surefire solution for a spectrum of prevalent problems. Just take a few drops of the oil, start massing from the nape of your neck and move upwards to the crown. This little exercise is bound to take your stress away and leave you feeling refreshed!

What Are The Other Ways to Promote Hair Growth?

Other than massaging the scalp for hair growth here are a few ways you can reduce hair fall and promote hair growth.

1. Preventative Measures: This is one of the easiest ways to reduce hair loss when you grow old. The phrase prevention over cure holds true for so many reasons. When you maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, regularly wash, condition, treat, and nourish your hair, frequently exfoliate and massage your scalp, and consume all your supplements on time you can prevent premature greying, balding, and hair damage in the long run. You can also avoid damaging activities such as bleaching or dyeing your hair often as a preventative measure.
   • Over-The-Counter Medication: OTC medications such as OTC Minoxidil help stimulate new hair growth, Redensyl helps increase blood circulation, and Zinc, Iron, and Biotin supplements which induce hair growth are some of the medications that are available without a prescription for people who experience baldness. These formulations supplement our scalp and hair follicles with the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that our body finds difficult to produce due to a variety of reasons.
2. Prescription Medication: Prescription medications such as Minoxidil, Finasteride (for male pattern baldness), and Spironolactone (for hair fall in women) are some of the commonly prescribed medications by dermatologists for hair growth and reduced hair fall.

Parting Thoughts

There are several benefits of massaging the scalp including improving your blood circulation, reducing dandruff, diminishing stress, calming the nervous system, exfoliating the scalp, strengthening hair roots, stimulating the hair follicles, and overall improving hair and scalp health to reduce hair fall and promote hair growth.

FAQs

1. How frequently should I massage my scalp?

   You can massage your scalp twice a day for 5–20 minutes. Make sure not to massage your scalp with your fingertips and nails with a slight pressure.

2. What are the benefits of scalp massage?

   These are the benefits of massaging the head:

   • Improving blood circulation
   • Stimulation of the hair follicles
   • Strengthening of the roots
   • Nourishing of the hair cuticles
   • Reducing dandruff
   • Reducing stress
   • Reducing hair fall
   • Promoting hair growth

3. Can I use a massage scalper to massage the scalp for hair growth?

   Yes, you can use either a manual or electric hair massager to stimulate your scalp. It will offer equal pressure on your scalp and will not hurt your fingertips.

4. Can I massage wet hair?

   Yes, you can massage your wet hair or even when you are in the shower. Some people prefer to massage their scalp when it’s dry and take a nice warm shower.

5. What are the benefits of massaging the head?

   When you massage the head it relieves stress, improves heart rate, and promotes better hair growth, texture, and health.