Scalp Massage: Can It Really Improve Hair Health?

When considering overall hair health, it makes sense to start at the foundation—the scalp. A healthy scalp plays an essential role in supporting hair growth and keeping our hair looking its best.¹ Growing research highlights how crucial scalp health is for supporting healthy hair, including investigating the usefulness of different scalp care practices. One such form of care, scalp massage, may provide measurable benefits—not only to the health of the scalp and hair, but also for our bodies as a whole.¹

1. Direct benefits at the scalp: Physical pressure or gentle “stretching” of the scalp tissue stimulates circulation and activity in the hair follicles.²

2. Systemic stress reduction: Massage helps shift the body into a lower state of stress, which is a known root cause of hair thinning and shedding.^3,4

At the scalp, massage promotes healthy circulation and blood flow to the hair follicles, ensuring a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients to the hair.⁵ The physical pressure of scalp massage may also support hair health by gently “stretching,” or moving around the hair follicles, stimulating the cells that reside there. In one study, authors hypothesized that the “stretch” applied to the follicles was a reason for increased hair thickness seen by participants after 4 minutes of scalp massage daily for 24 weeks.² In another year-long study, participants practicing self-scalp massage throughout the year (averaging 11–20 minutes per day) reported less shedding and more hair growth.

Scalp massage can also reduce stress levels throughout the entire body.³ Stress is a well-known root cause of hair thinning, so reducing it can have positive effects on hair. Multiple studies on scalp massage for durations of anywhere between 10–25 minutes showed a positive effect on multiple stress-related markers, including on stress hormones such as cortisol. Decreasing stress also has the additional benefit of relaxing muscles, supporting blood flow throughout the whole body––including all the way back to the scalp and hair follicles!⁴

Studies like these help demonstrate that scalp massage doesn’t just feel good, it has true physiological benefits that have positive effects on our hair, both at our scalp and throughout the body.

There are many ways to add scalp massage to your routine for hair health support, and it can be done for as little as a few minutes a day.² This can be incorporated easily into any self-care routine while shampooing or applying your Nutrafol hair serum. 

Slightly longer sessions of 10–25+ minutes may provide additional benefits by reducing stress, though they may not need to happen daily.^3,4 Incorporate longer scalp massages into days when you have time for an extended self-care routine or when you feel like you’d benefit from the extra stress support. 

As with most wellness practices, when it comes to scalp massage, consistency is key. It appears that the more consistently we adhere to a scalp massage regimen, even if it is not every day, the more likely we will see the positive benefits.⁶ 

Results may vary based on scalp health, technique, and hygiene practices.⁶ Although gentle pressure or “stretch” on the hair follicles can help stimulate hair and scalp health benefits, intense or vigorous massage leading to excessive stretching or physical stress may be counterproductive, aggravating hair shedding or irritating the scalp.⁶ This may be particularly true for those who are predisposed to hair or scalp conditions, so being gentle is key.⁷ 

Overall, scalp massage is a simple, low-cost, and generally safe addition to your hair wellness routine, along with products that address thinning from the inside, like Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals.^2,6 Not to mention, scalp massage can also be used as a great stress-relieving tool,^3,4 which can have positive downstream effects on our hair.⁸ Just keep in mind, as with any changes to your health care regimen, it may be helpful to discuss the possible benefits of scalp massage with your doctor or dermatologist, especially if you have any pre-existing health concerns.