How to Massage Your Own Scalp

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Soothe your nerves and promote thicker hair with these simple techniques

Co-authored by Marty Morales and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: June 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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Doing a Basic Massage

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Massaging with Essential Oils

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Benefits

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Scalp massages are a quick, easy, and cheap way to ease tension in your head, unwind after a long day, or even relieve headaches. They’re also shown to promote hair thickness by stimulating the blood vessels in your scalp.^{[1]
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Go to source} We’ll show you how to give yourself an easy, blissful scalp massage, as well as how to add oils to your routine for maximum relaxation and hair care. We’ll also give you an overview of all the benefits of regular scalp massages, so that you can bask in the knowledge that you’re treating yourself right.

Section 1 of 3:

Doing a Basic Massage

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Run your fingers through your hair from front to back. Gently but firmly press the tips of your finger to your forehead, then run them steadily through your hair. Apply moderate downward pressure, paying careful attention to all the little bumps and indents in your scalp, but don’t push so hard that you feel pain or discomfort.^{[2]
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Research source} Repeat this 10 times, and aim to make each stroke last about 10 seconds.
- Make sure your hair isn’t pulled back into a ponytail or bun before you begin. Give it a quick brush beforehand to avoid snagging your fingers on tangles.
- Also, find a relaxing place to sit, like a comfortable chair with a solid back that can support your weight. For added relaxation, dim the lights and put on some soft music.
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Marty Morales
Certified Massage Therapist
Marty Morales is a Professional Massage Therapist and the Founder and Owner of the Morales Method, a manual therapy and body conditioning business based in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Los Angeles, California. Marty has over 16 years of massage therapist experience and over 13 years of experience educating others on the best practices for massage therapy. Marty has over 10,000 hours of private practice logged and is a Certified Advanced Rolfer and Rolf Movement Practitioner, CMT. He has an MBA in Finance from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles.

Marty Morales
Certified Massage Therapist

Prop yourself up with pillows and lean back so that your arms and shoulders are doing less work. Giving yourself a head massage means that your arms are raised the whole time, which puts stress on the shoulder muscles.
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Rub your fingers in circles from the back of your scalp to the front. Use your thumbs to apply soft pressure to the base of your skull for 1 minute, moving them in small circles.^{[3]
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Go to source} Then, use the rest of your fingers to make small circles higher on your scalp, slowly working your way to your forehead. Once you reach your forehead, work your way back to the base of your neck. Make these small circles all along the top and back of your scalp for 4-5 minutes.
- If you like, use a scalp massage tool in place of your fingers. Scalp massagers help apply more even pressure without tiring your hands.
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Rub circles along the sides of your scalp. Use your fingertips to make small circles near your temples.^{[4]
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Go to source} Work your way over your ears and to the base of your neck. Then, simply run your finger through the hair on the sides of your head. Alternate rubbing circles and running your fingers through your hair for about 3-4 minutes.
- Perform your massage in the shower if you’re pressed for time. A scalp massage in the shower has the added benefit of soothing water and relaxing, soapy suds.
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Tug your hair gently by grasping or rubbing it with your palms. Run your fingers through the hair on the side of your head, then gently grip your hair, tugging it away from your scalp. Hold still for 15-30 seconds, then do the same action for a different patch of hair, continuing for 3-4 minutes.^{[5]
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Research source} If your hair isn’t long enough to grasp, simply rub your scalp firmly with flat palms all over. Or, take a small section of hair in your hands, twist it gently, and tug.
- Don’t use so much pressure that it’s painful; just enough to shift your scalp and feel it moving forward and backward a bit when you grasp your hair.
- This technique aids with myofascial release, which soothes and loosens the muscles in your face and scalp.^{[6]
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- If you can, gather your hair into a ponytail then tug on it very gently to stimulate much of your scalp at once.
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Finish by rubbing behind your ears with your thumbs. Use your thumbs and the tips of your fingers to make gentle circles behind your ears, moving gradually down toward your neck. Rub behind your ears for 1-2 minutes. This is a nice, relaxing way to conclude your scalp massage, and helps to drain the lymph nodes in your scalp, promoting blood flow.^{[7]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Go to source}
- Repeat this routine 3-4 times a week, or even up to twice a day if you need some TLC.
- For hair growth, perform the routine consistently for 3-4 months before expecting results.

Section 2 of 3:

Massaging with Essential Oils

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1
Mix your essential oil of choice with a carrier oil. Adding essential oils directly to your scalp may cause irritation, and they may not cling effectively. Instead, create an essential oil mixture by adding 8-10 drops of your preferred essential oil to about 2 tablespoons (30 ml) (28 g) of your chosen “carrier” oil, like coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil.^{[8]
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Research source} Coconut oil is great for combatting dandruff and creating a generally healthier scalp, castor oil may help thicken your hair, and jojoba oil is a light moisturizer for dry scalps. For essential oils:
- Peppermint oil has a cooling effect and may stimulate hair growth.^{[9]
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- Lavender oil is good for moisturizing dry scalps.
- Rosemary oil minimizes greasiness in hair.
- Chamomile oil is a soothing option that’s also good for itchiness.
- Tea tree oil is a natural remedy for dandruff, as is lemon oil.
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Pour 3-5 drops of oil onto the center of your crown. Part your hair down the middle as best you can, then add 3-5 drops of your oil mixture to the very top of your head, where you parted your hair.^{[10]
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Research source} Keep your head tipped forward slightly when you pour to avoid having the oil drip into your eyes.
- For easier and more precise application, use a pipette or a dropper to place the oil in your hair.
Use your fingertips to massage your scalp. Start where you poured the oil, and gradually work outward across your scalp.^{[11]
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Research source} Run your fingers through your hair from front to back, then rub them in circles all over your scalp. These motions spread the oil over the entire surface of your scalp, helping the oil absorb into your hair follicles.
4
Bend forward and pour oil on the back of your head, then massage it in. Tip your head forward until your chin touches your chest, then add another 3-5 drops of oil to the area just above the base of your neck.^{[12]
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Research source} As before, use your fingers to massage it in with circular motions, working your way outward, for about 3-5 minutes. Add 2-3 more drops of oil as needed to spread it all through your scalp.
- Also, run your finger through your hair from the roots to the tips all over for about 2-3 minutes to distribute oil along the length of your hair.
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Leave the oil in for at least 10 minutes. To get the full benefits of the oil, leave it in for at least 10 minutes, or even overnight.^{[13]
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Research source} Wrap your hair up in a towel to contain the oil as you sleep or go about your other activities. If you leave the oil in overnight, put a towel over your pillow to keep it from getting messy.
- To really get the spa effect, put your towel in the dryer for a few minutes beforehand to warm it up.
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Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Once you’re ready to remove the oil, take a shower. Cleanse your hair thoroughly with your normal hair products to wash the excess oil from your scalp.^{[14]
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Research source} Give yourself a bonus scalp massage for a few minutes while you’re doing so.
- Massage essential oils into your scalp 1-2 times a week to promote hair health.
- If you get any oil on your face, wash that right away to avoid blemishes. Be sure to also wash your hands right after you’ve finished the massage.

Section 3 of 3:

Benefits of Scalp Massages

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Encourages hair growth Some studies suggest that regular scalp massages can promote hair growth and increase the thickness of your hair. Researchers think that massaging your scalp may stimulate blood flow in the scalp and manually stimulate hair cells just below the surface of your skin.^{[15]
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Go to source}
- Also, certain essential oils, like peppermint or rosemary, may also encourage hair growth.^{[16]
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2
Promotes relaxation Research shows that a 15 to 25-minute scalp massage helps to loosen your scalp and facial muscles, as well as your blood vessels. This in turn stabilizes hormone levels, which helps you feel more relaxed and at-ease.^{[17]
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PubMed Central
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Go to source} Use a quick scalp massage to unwind after a long day, or to help you calm down during a hectic period. Self-care is essential!
3
Alleviates headaches Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and have a number of causes, like too much screen time or eye strain, poor posture, lack of sleep, or general stress. A quick self-massage of the head, scalp, and neck can help to banish or alleviate tension headaches.^{[18]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Go to source} Scalp massages loosen your muscles and relax your emotions, easing the headache in the process.

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Can scalp massage stimulate hair growth?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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A scalp massage can stimulate blood circulation, bringing more nutrients to the hair roots. This may help to stimulate hair growth when done daily over a period of time (Koyama, Kobayashi, Hama, Murakami and Ogawa, 2016). A massage for stimulating hair growth can be found here: How to Stimulate Your Hair Follicles.

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Can I massage my hair with oil every other day?

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Yes, every other day is perfectly fine. Make sure hair is damp before applying oil. Try using a light oil to avoid a greasy look.

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Should I put the oil on heat before using it on my head?

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Yes. Heat the oil before you put it on the scalp. Only warm it, though. If it's too hot it will be really uncomfortable at best and cause damage at worst. If it's too hot, wait for it to cool down until it's just warm.

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Warnings

Before using any essential oils on your skin, perform a spot test by placing a drop on the inside of your wrist and waiting for 2-3 hours to see if you have a negative reaction.

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Wash essential oils out your scalp immediately if your skin begins to feel warm or irritated.

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