Scalp massage for hair growth is a free DIY treatment that’s often touted as a hair loss solution. But does it really work?
Studies show that scalp massage can boost hair growth [1-2]. Massaging your scalp every day can improve hair thickness and stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles, feeding them with the nutrients they need to produce healthy hair.
Here, you’ll find out everything you need to know about scalp massage for hair growth, including:
Scalp massage is a type of head massage that can relieve stress, promote relaxation, and stimulate blood flow to the scalp.
Regular scalp massage has been shown to increase hair thickness in non-balding men and even reduce the symptoms of male pattern baldness [1-2]. Scalp massage may also work for female pattern hair loss, but there’s currently limited evidence to confirm this.
In addition to the benefits for your hair, studies have shown that scalp massage can have a positive impact on stress hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate [3]. Stress can lead to hair loss if left untreated, so scalp massage may help you regain hair loss after a stressful period.
Evidence suggests that massaging your scalp really can help boost hair growth. But it’s not a one-and-done activity — you’ll need to massage your scalp every day to see an improvement [4]. That’s because you need to wait for your hair growth cycle to catch up with your new routine.
The hair shedding phase lasts around three to five months, so you’ll need to wait for any hairs in the shedding phase to move into the growth phase. It can take several months for results to become visible, so take before and after photos to track your progress and help you stay motivated.
Scalp massage for hair loss works by increasing blood flow to your follicles. This is also how minoxidil works, which is one of just two treatments approved by regulators for androgenetic alopecia. Massaging your scalp can also stretch the cells of the hair follicles, which stimulates them to produce thicker, stronger hair.
One study found that those who massaged their scalp for at least 50 hours over several months saw hair improvements along the frontal hairline and crown [1].
Using a five-point scale to measure hair loss/growth (from -2 to +2, where 0 refers to hair loss stabilisation), results showed improvements in the following areas:
Average self-perceived hair change after 152 hours of scalp massage
Participants who committed to more than 152 hours of scalp massage for hair loss saw at least double the hair changes, suggesting the more you massage the scalp, the more effective it can be.
When it comes to scalp massage for hair growth, consistency is key. There’s not a huge amount of research on how often you should massage your scalp for hair growth, but current evidence suggests that little and often is the way to go.
The more often you massage your scalp, the more it’s likely to help your hair grow. According to research, you’ll need to massage your scalp for 11-20 minutes a day over five months before you see results. 69% of participants who followed this advice saw their hair loss stabilise or regrow [1].
One study found that hair loss stabilised after an average of 36.3 hours of scalp massage [1]. That’s roughly equivalent to a 15-minute scalp massage every day for 143 days, or almost five months.
So if you’re planning to use head massage for hair growth, you need to commit to the process. Set aside 10-20 minutes every day to give yourself a relaxing scalp massage.
There are no known specific pressure points on your scalp that make your hair grow. Instead, it’s best to focus on your balding or thinning areas, as this is where the follicles can benefit from additional blood flow.
For most people, hair loss occurs in three distinct areas:
Focus your scalp massage on the areas that are affected by hair loss, or where you’d like to see increased hair growth.
So now you know why scalp massage for hair growth works — and how often you need to do it — how do you massage your scalp for hair growth?
Researchers who carried out the study recommended twice daily 20-minute hand scalp massages to take place 12 hours apart [1]:
If you have diffuse thinning, this video can help you learn to massage your entire scalp, rather than specific areas. Note that the doctor recommends using essential oils. Some essential oils may help with hair growth, such as rosemary oil for hair growth but they aren’t a must for scalp massage.
In general, scalp massage is considered a natural, low-risk treatment with minimal side effects. However, there are some things to be aware of.
While some studies show positive effects of scalp massage for hair growth, none of them have published before and after photos. However, several YouTubers have used themselves as a case study and shared their results online.
One YouTuber used a massage tool to massage his scalp for 5 minutes daily, for 24 weeks. He wanted to see whether daily massage helped with hair growth.
While the creator of the video acknowledges that his experiment wasn’t perfect and the lighting may have been slightly different between photos, he felt there was a slight improvement in his hair density after 24 weeks.
However, he also documented the bald spot on his crown and his receding hairline from the side. He felt that there was no improvement in his crown hair density or the shape of his hairline.
It’s possible that he may have seen more significant improvements if he’d massaged his scalp for 11-20 minutes per day, as recommended by research [1].
Scalp massage is just one way to grow your hair quickly. You can also try minoxidil, PRP hair treatment, and low-level laser therapy. Here are some other ways to improve growth if you’re struggling with hair loss:
Ultimately, you need to know what’s causing your hair loss before you can treat it. That’s why it’s a good idea to consult with a trichologist. This is especially true for women with hair loss, as diagnosing female hair loss can be challenging.
Our specialist hair doctors are experts at identifying the reason your hair is falling out. They use diagnostic trichology tests, such as blood tests for hair loss, to provide you with a fast and accurate diagnosis.
Once diagnosed, your trichologist will present you with a range of treatment options and suggest the best way forward. To access a tailored treatment plan for hair loss, book a consultation at one of our clinic locations.
You can massage your scalp when it is wet or dry, but you should be more gentle when massaging if your hair is wet. Wet hair is more fragile and prone to hair breakage. The study that provided a standardised protocol for scalp massage [1] did not specify whether participants had wet or dry hair.
Head massage does have a few disadvantages. For starters, it’s time-consuming — you’ll need to make a daily commitment for several months to see any changes. There’s also the risk of improper technique or overly aggressive scalp massage, which could cause scalp irritation or possibly even hair loss.
Daily scalp massage is just one of the possible ways to increase hair growth. Other methods include hair loss medication, PRP hair treatment, low-level laser therapy, essential oils, and hair transplantation. Many of these can be combined for maximum results.
Hair tapping is an alternative method of scalp massage. It involves gently tapping your scalp with your fingertips or a massage tool. It may increase hair growth and promote relaxation, however, there is less research behind it than the scalp pressing, pinching and stretching method that has been used in studies [1].
You may experience a temporary increase in hair shedding when you start daily scalp massages. Scalp massage might stimulate follicles, leading to the shedding of hairs that were already in the telogen phase (which makes way for new hair growth). This is the same effect that is observed when patients start minoxidil or finasteride. The effect is temporary, and once the telogen hair sheds, new hair will start to grow.
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