| Scalp Stimulation
Massaging Your Scalp
The Best Thing You can Do for Your Hair Growth
“Circulation-stimulating” massages are a
crucial part of your hair healthy program. Massages
should be done daily to improve circulation, help nourish
the scalp and keep the skin loose, thus allowing the
blood to flow easily to the roots of the hair.
The skin at the top of the scalp is tighter than at
the sides. If the top is not kept loose, the skin can
seal up the scalp, cutting off that very important lifeline
of blood which your hair needs.
Different Types of Scalps
The characteristics of a healthy scalp are:
- a scalp with a plentiful network of blood vessels
- a loose scalp, and
- a thick scalp.
A person with a thin scalp will probably become bald
in early adulthood. Someone who has an average scalp
thickness (typical of most people), on the other hand,
can expect to produce a decent growth of hair for most
of their lives if he or she practices a conscientious
program of hair and scalp care.
Having a thick scalp, however, will not necessarily
guarantee healthy hair. Other factors must be considered.
For example, a thick scalp could also contain a high
proportion of connective tissue. If this is the case,
the surrounding blood vessels could become constricted
by the pressure of this tissue. This pressure and the
subsequent constriction reduces the efficiency of the
blood vessels and decreases the delivery of nutrients
to the hair follicles. Such a scalp may be recognized
by its unusual firmness and immobility – it feels
tight when massaged. So, for healthy hair growth you
want to have a scalp that is loose, thick and highly
vascular.
How to Do a Proper Scalp Massage
Remember the following:
Do not use your fingernails when massaging.
Do not use a plastic brush.
Do not use the whole hand.
Do not randomly move your fingers through your hair.
To begin, imagine yourself kneading a lump of dough.
Place all ten fingertips firmly on your head. Arch your
hands and make sure the palms aren’t touching
the scalp. Remember, only the pads of the fingers should
be pressing against the scalp.
Stay in this arched position and push the scalp by
drawing your fingers together. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds
and then spread the fingers apart. Think of this whole
exercise in terms of flexing and unflexing the fingers,
while the fingertips are in a resting position on the
scalp.
Proceed by systematically moving the fingers to different
positions on the scalp and repeating this technique.
You must work on the whole scalp, always massaging from
front to back, then back to front. In other words, start
with the forehead and the sides. Next, proceed over
the crown until you end up at the base of the neck.
This path follows the natural route of the blood flow
to the heart. When massaging from back to front, you
will help the flow of fresh blood carry nutrients to
each hair follicle.
After massaging, your scalp will feel tingly and refreshed.
It should feel looser than before. That’s a good
sign, since this looser scalp should reduce your chance
of hair loss. Massaging should be a relaxing, enjoyable
part of your daily routine.
Massaging is especially valuable when your scalp feels
tight, or when you find yourself under some stress.
Try to include this massaging exercise as a part of
your hair washing program as well.
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