Banishing Bad Hair Days since 1997!™

How Massage Affects Your Hair & Scalp

Introduction - Advantage Of Scalp Massage

I am the poster child for regular massage. In fact, I would give up grocery shopping before I'd give up my bi-monthly massages! One of the best antidotes for stress is massage, and since it took me years to build up this much stress, I'm due.

However, your scalp can also greatly benefit from regular massage. It stimulates blood flow, which in turn helps feed the hair follicles. Often it helps to prevent and fight avoidable hair loss, and reestablish the natural development of healthy hair. In addition to all this, it is extremely relaxing, calming, and helps relieve headaches and migraines.

Healthy Hair and Scalp Tips

The following tips have been gleaned from various sources. They can help stop hair loss as well as keeping the hair you have healthy.

Massage your scalp (see the next section to give you step-by-step instructions) with your fingertips (not your nails) daily to stimulate and promote circulation to your scalp.

  • When using blow dryers, always keep the heat a good distance from your scalp and hair. Avoid heating the scalp and hair excessively.
  • Avoid getting hair creams, lotions, styling gels and sprays directly on the scalp as this can clog your hair follicles.
  • After swimming in a pool, shampoo your hair as soon as possible to remove any chlorine residue. Chlorine is extremely damaging to the hair and scalp.
  • Avoid over-exposing your hair and scalp to the wind and sun.
  • Avoid tight hats and caps as they contribute to poor circulation, depriving the hair of proper nutrition. Sweat, dirt, and grime around the rim inhibit follicle health and contribute to build-up.

  • Always consult your health care provider for extreme fallout and thinning.
  • A medical condition or medication could be causing hair loss side effects.
  • Strive for balance and harmony in both your personal and professional lifestyle. High stress factors can cause our body to react by fluctuating hormone levels. This in turn causes excessive oil secretion (sebum) which results in hair loss.
  • Pregnancy, nursing, menopause even birth control medication cause constant changing factors on your nutritional needs and hormonal levels which contribute to hair loss and fallout.
  • Avoid "crash and fad" diets. Proper nutritious meals along with vitamin and mineral supplements is a key factor for healthy hair and skin.

Give Yourself a Hair/Scalp Massage

Massaging the scalp helps keep your hair healthy and can also promote hair growth. Nourishment is sent to the capillary vessels in hair papillae to activate the hair cells. Many hair stylists, while shampooing hair, will give scalp massages.

Massage your scalp in this way:

1. Start from the forehead hairline along the arteries in the front, side, and back of the head, making small circles with your fingertips.

2. Work your way toward the top of the head as if drawing a circle.

3. Massage your hair/scalp for just ten minutes a day: once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Do not give up after a few days. Make it a habit! You can also massage your scalp when shampooing your hair.

Additional Massage Help From Your Brush

Many hair stylists say that the only role that brushing plays is to arrange and style your hair. Excessive brushing can damage your hair because it can scrape away your hair cuticles.

Forget the old saying about brushing 100 strokes a day! Brushing too much or too roughly can strip away your hair's cuticle, or even cause it to hair breakage.

Additionally, It can also make oily hair more oily and dry hair more brittle.

The type of bristles on your brush can make a difference in your overall hair health. Choose a brush that works best for your type of hair.

Generally speaking, wooden brushes with natural or Boar's Head bristles are a lot easier on the hair. The natural bristles can also provide gentle massage for the scalp and give the hair shaft a smooth finish.

Soft plastic brushes are usually best for medium to fine hair. The ones with knobs at the bristle ends are generally easier on the scalp but may NOT be good for your hair.

Karen Marie Shelton & Her Hair Brushes

HairBoutique.com's Karen Shelton is extremely picky about what type ofbrush3.jpg (6942 bytes) brushes she will use on her hair.

As she explains it, it took her over 10 years to grow her gorgeous hair to her waist. The last thing she wants to do is to use an "unfriendly hair brush" that will harm her silken tresses.

She takes a small magnifying glass to beauty supply stores and looks at the ends of each brush. She will not buy a brush that is rough to the touch or has little knobs on the ends of each bristle.

Karen currently has over 100 hair brushes but her favorites are Conair, Mason Pearson and Kent brushes. She has a small purse sized version of the Mason Pearson. Karen is also picky about the picks and combs she uses.

Note: The Mason Pearson brushes shown above are from The HairBoutique.com Marketplace.

Other Brushes To Consider

Rubber base brushes with durable and dense bristles give all the hair types a strong workout. The rubber base flexes so there is much less pulling at the roots.

Round brushes are the best for hair styling. However, be careful using them as they can snag hair very easily. Try the largest size appropriate for your particular style.

Try not to push down too hard or use excessive force when brushing your hair. If your hair is longer, don't comb straight from the root to the tip.

If there are tangles in your hair, you will force them on top of each other. Comb the bottom third of your hair first using a "hair friendly" large toothed pick.

When this part is free of tangles, comb the hair from root to tip. Use this method whether the hair is wet, dry or during conditioner application. Remember, NEVER brush your hair when it is wet.

Hair is very fragile in that condition and will be more prone to breaking.

Be Good To Yourself!

Start at the top with a good hair and scalp massage. They don't take long, they make you feel good, and who knows? You might become addicted to massage in general as I have.

Hey--it's cheaper than Godiva's chocolates and a lot better for you!

If you have comments or questions on this article you can post your comments on Hair Boutique.com's Hair Talk board.

If you want to talk more about this or other hair care articles on HairBoutique.com or anywhere else, please post a message on HairBoutique.com's Hair Talk Forums.

Social Media Network Information

Please follow us on Twitter at: https://Twitter.com/HairBoutique. I look forward to meeting new people from all walks of Twitter and learning from their Tweets.

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