Does Head Massage Cause Hair Loss?
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The answer is both โYesโ and โNoโ
But before we delve further, lets look at the hair growth cycle.
Growing Phase (2 to 7 years) โย Resting Phase (6 months)ย โย Hair Falls Outย โ A New Hair Grows In Its Place
Scalp hair grows for about 2 to 7 years, then it goes into resting phase and falls out, and is replaced by a new hair. At any given time about 80 to 90% of our hair are in a growing phase and the remaining 10ย to 20% are in the resting phase, waiting to fall out. Therefore, itโs normal to lose about 100 strands every day as part of hair growth cycle.
Does Head Massage Cause Hair Loss?ย
I have received few emails, mostly from women, saying that head massage is causing more hair to fall out. They were very distressed about this and unsure whether to continue with head massage or not.
Has anybody else experienced this?
Well, I have. I was indecisive whether to continue the biweekly head massage and I am glad I did. In retrospection this was a wise decision that yielded visible benefits in a few months.
As I mentioned above at any given time 10% of your hair are in resting phase. These hair are just hanging there, and any slightest pressure will cause them to fall out. When you head massage you exert some pressure on these hair, and the result will be excess hair fall.
The Real Culprit
Under normal circumstances, the hair that falls out will be replaced by a new hair. But if you have any nutritional deficiency, illness, stress, or use harsh chemicals on your head, there will be a time lag of few months before the new hair grows. Also, these factors can cause more than 10% of hair to go into resting phase. And the result โ excess hair loss with no sign of new growth.
And if you head massage you will obviously notice lot of hair falling out. But these hair are dead. And they are not worth saving. They will fall out eventual. What you need to do is treat the root cause and healthy new hair will grow back.
In fact head and neck massage can play a significant role in restoring your hair loss. Massaging increases scalp circulation and more blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients are supplied to the hair follicles. It alsoย drain away any toxins that gather in your scalp. Plus, you may even stimulate the dormant hair follicles and get your hair growing back.
After few months of regular head massage (twice a week) my hair fall almost halved. I think all the resting phase hair fell off and new hair began to grow in its place. (Along with hair massage I was also doing yoga and eating healthy. So these thing may have helped too.)
During the process I have learnt few things that may help you improvise on your massage technique.
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Massaging the right way
1. To oil or not to oil:ย You can head massage with or without oil, itโs up to you. Although, oiling does provide extra nourishment and conditioning.ย You can even use a wide tooth wood comb and comb several times all over the scalp. This will have similar effect as massaging. (You may like: Why use a Wooden Comb? Top 6 Hair Benefits.)
2.Massage: Work the oil into your scalp using the finger tips, Apply slow, deliberate movements all over the scalp.ย Finish by stroking along the length of your hair. Note:ย Donโt be rough in handling your hair, as it may cause trauma to your hair roots.
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3. Donโt forget the back of the skull (the occiput) & neck area:ย If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer or are under stress, the muscles around the back of your head and neck tend to get stiffer and tender. This not just affect your neck posture, it also restricts the blood flow around the scalp. Work on this area using your finger pads or base of your palm. As you work, the stiffness will ease and feel better.
4. Choice of oil: If youย have extremely thin hair choose oils such as jojoba, coconut, ghee, evening primrose or sunflower. If you have dry, coarse hair then chose richer oils such as olive, sesame or avocado. You can also use aloe vera gel, flax seed gel, or herbal infusions. Listen to your hairโs needs.
5. Positive Affirmations: Be in the present and do one task at a time. When massaging, massage. When eating, eat. When writing, write. When talking, talk. Donโt head massage and at the same time plan your work. It just spoils the fun. Focus on the task at hand, and enjoy the process. Reciting positive affirmations do help. Itโs to do with cell intelligence โ every cell of your body listens to your talk and hereโs the scientifically proof.
Happy massaging!!
Do you head massage? Would love to know your style of practice, please share in the comments below.
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