A scalp massage is relaxing and enjoyable. But, it may end up being more than just a treat to help you feel pampered -- it could have a positive impact on your hair as well.
Scalp massagers have grown in popularity over the past few years, and many people tout their ability to slough off build-up as well as boost hair growth. Do these claims check out?
Below, we will cover what scalp massagers are and how they work, review if we have proof of improved hair growth from use, go over what scalp massagers can do, compare a scalp massage using your fingers vs one using a massaging tool, and let you know how you can join in on the scalp massage trend.
Scalp massager products come in a few different forms. There are scalp massagers that have long metal prongs that stretch around your head that are meant to be used only on dry hair, as well as the newer, normally soft plastic, scrubbers with multiple low points that may be used on wet or dry hair. Some of these products encourage use as an aid to shampooing your hair.
No matter which scalp massager you choose, they all aim for the same thing. Scalp massagers are meant to provide a gentle scalp massage to help slough off dead skin and product build-up while stimulating increased blood flow to the scalp.
There are not currently any studies confirming that scalp massagers tools can or will increase your hair growth. So, this has not been conclusively confirmed at the moment.
However, there are some studies done looking at how scalp massages done with fingers can help with your hair. One study had 9 men receive a 4-minute scalp massage every day for 24 weeks. At the end of the study, the men had a significant increase in hair thickness as compared to the beginning of the study.
While the study mentioned above is a very small one, it does hint that regular scalp massages may have some hair benefits, especially when it comes to the increased thickness of the individual strands.
It is important to note that if you are dealing with hair loss from situations like androgenetic alopecia (male pattern and female pattern hair loss), it is unlikely that you can stop or reverse the progression from scalp massages alone.
Scalp massagers may lead to general hair health increases by stimulating the scalp and increasing the scalp blood flow.
Blood flow to the scalp brings with it oxygen and nutrition for growing hair. So, if a massage helps increase the influx of these hair health elements, it is possible that you may notice improvements in the overall health of your hair if done regularly.
Studies also suggest that massaging and stretching forces on the cells in the scalp may increase the expression of genes associated with the hair growth cycle, and reduce the expression of genes related to hair loss.
Technically, your scalp probably would not be able to tell the difference between a scalp massage done with your hands and fingers vs a scalp massage done with a scalp massager tool. Of course, the massage would need to be done thoroughly, and with the correct amount of pressure applied (not too much, not too little) in order to bring about general scalp health benefits.
If you want to try out a scalp massage to see if it benefits your hair health, pick out a hair massager product that suits when you would massage your scalp (whether while your hair is dry or wet in the shower).
Practice with the massager to find a pressure that makes it feel like you are giving an adequate massage, without using too much pressure and causing pain or damaging your hair.
In the study mentioned above, they found benefits after daily 4-minute massages, but other sources may recommend up to 10 or 20 minutes of a gentle scalp massage for general scalp health benefits. Find the amount of time that works well for you.
While a good scalp massage regimen may turn out to have some benefits for scalp health and general healthy hair growth, it won’t be able to be enough to stop hair loss processes like hereditary hair loss (male and female pattern hair loss). You still may be able to include scalp massages into an overall treatment plan for genetic hair loss, but you may want to pair that with an over-the-counter or prescription hair loss medication like Minoxidil or Finasteride for the best results.
Here at Strut, we offer innovative hair loss treatment medications for men and women who want to take control of their genetic hair loss concerns. While it is not possible to completely stop or reverse patterned hair loss, it can be slowed and improved by using certain medications that pinpoint the underlying mechanisms.
We offer a variety of topical and oral medications that can be tailored to your needs and formulated with multiple active ingredients for the best possible results. If you are interested in seeing if a prescription hair loss treatment is a good fit for you, simply select a product from our website and complete a free online questionnaire and image-based telemedicine consultation in under 15 minutes.
If you are a good fit for treatment, your doctor will issue a prescription which will be put together at a U.S. compounding pharmacy and shipped to your door with our free shipping.
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