RECENTLY, I fell victim to a bad photo angle and spent half the night wondering if I was going bald, how long has this been happening, and why has no one told me that I was starting to resemble a coconut.
My internet searches followed up with natural fixes for combatting hair loss, and a barrage of home remedies flooded my search timeline.
Between hair mask recipes and diet changes, most of the responses seemed to have a long-term timeline before the results would begin to show.
After some further research, I stumbled upon scalp massage techniques.
What piqued my interest was that they could be done at any time - while washing your hair, before bed, in the morning - and it doesn’t necessarily require any additional instruments or products.
Was it too good to be true, or do scalp massages actually promote hair growth?
Verdict:
TRUE
Healthy hair starts at the root - the scalp.
When your scalp is weighed down by leftover dead skin cells and excess product build-up, it poses a hindrance to the proper growth and well-being of your hair.
A scalp massage involves applying circular pressure to various points on the head to stimulate and exfoliate the scalp.
According to a study conducted by Koyama et. al, as published by the National Library of Medicine, the crucial element is the stimulation of blood vessels, enhancing blood flow to the
scalp, which, in turn, delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the follicles.
Research suggests that just four minutes of daily massage for a few weeks can significantly boost the hair growth cycle, leading to faster and healthier hair development.
Furthermore, an improvement in hair thickness is observed in the months following the introduction of scalp massages.
Additionally, English and Barazesh published a research survey in 2019 about the link between standardised scalp massages (SSMs) and improving hair thickness in non-balding men.
Conducted with input from 340 participants who adhered to specific instructions involving twice-daily scalp massages for hair loss improvement, this study revealed that around 69% of respondents self-reported an enhancement in their alopecia.
So, what are the best ways to optimise your scalp massaging experience?
1. Repetition is key. For the best results, massage your scalp one to three times a day to see an improvement.
2. Try hair oil. Argan, coconut, and almond oils are commonly used to boost hair growth due to their richness in Vitamin E and antioxidants.
3. If you don’t like using your fingers, invest in a scalp massage brush or an automatic scalp massager. Using these tools may allow for a more even distribution of pressure or hair oil.
4. Treat your roots to a haircare buffet by incorporating a scrub or mask. Scrubs help exfoliate the scalp and hair follicles, removing unwanted dead skin cells and product remnants. Meanwhile, hair masks are packed with concentrated hydration and are used for deep conditioning, resulting in strengthened hair follicles and softer hair.
Losing hair is most definitely a rising concern for many youths these days.
Just like any other part of our body, our hair requires regular nourishment and maintenance to look and feel its best.
Between the food we consume and our lifestyle choices, it is crucial to pay more attention to what our hair is crying out for.
However, if you are concerned that you’re facing hair loss, it's always wise to consult a professional before experimenting with a new tool or technique, just to ensure it won't do more harm than good.
References
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
2. https://link.springer.com/
