Scalp Massaging and Hair Thickness

As we age, our scalp ages with us. This in turn results in a decrease in the total number and thickness of hair both in males and females. So, can massaging your scalp lead to hair thickness? The answer is yes! Let's chat about why.

Scalp massage, in addition to having a relaxing effect, results in increased blood flow and skin softening.

According to a study published on The National Library of Medicine, hair thickness was shown to increase with standardized scalp massage. Nine healthy men received 4 minutes of standardized scalp massage per day for 24 weeks using a scalp massage device.

Scientists in this study contributed increase in hair thickness to 2 possible factors:

1. Improvement in blood flow;

2. Direct stimulation of mechanical force (via scalp massager) to dermal papilla cells (aka cells really important for hair formation, growth, and cycling!) (Koyama, 2019).

So what about increase in number of hairs? This was no shock to me when I read the results... Hair number decreased in the massage area at 12 weeks after initiation of standardized scalp massage. Don't be alarmed! This is a GOOD sign for you. Here's why.

Some telogen hair in the massage area might have fallen by scalp massage and decrease in the number of hair occurred temporarily (Koyama, 2019). What does this mean?

The hair growth cycle has 3 stages:

1. Anagen: active phase! This is when new hair has formed, pushing old hair out. If you have difficulty growing your hair beyond a certain length, it's because you have a short active phase of growth.

2. Catagen: transitional stage! Growth stops and the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches to the root of the hair.

3. Telogen: resting phase! The follicle is completely at rest and about 100 telogen hairs are shed normally each day. (WebMD, 2010).

Scalp massaging removes telogen hairs faster. YAY! Higher number of follicles are entering the anagen phase ready for THICKER hair growth and strength! Exciting!

Now that you know a scalp massager is a must for your shower routine, you may be interested in learning a bit more about how you can increase your overall thickness while reducing hair fall. Let's add a shampoo, conditioner, and scalp serum that, again, is backed by science!

MONAT'S Intense Repair (IR) Clinical Line is a 3 step system that is clinically shown to reduce hair fall by 92%:

1. Shampoo: increases hair fiber thickness, reduces hair fall by 84%, strengthens hair, & preserves hair color for up to 20 washes.

2. Conditioner: fortifies weakened hair to reveal stronger hair, reduces hair fall by 91%, formula thickens hair upon repeated use, and detangles and moisturizes tresses for radiant, fuller hair.

3. Thickening Scalp Serum: Lightweight, non-greasy serum immediately reduces breakage and has shown noticeable results of thicker, fuller-looking hair in 60 days.

If you're looking to really up your thickness and want to snag this line, please contact me via email, Facebook, or Instagram personally and I can send you my discounted link (35% off!).

Contact Me!

Go grab your scalp massager now! After reading reviews, this one by HEETA on Amazon was noted to be one of the best. Soft bristles and it fits easily in your palm so that it’s simple to hold and maneuver, while the waterproof design means you can store it on a shelf or a hanging basket directly in the shower for easy access each time you wash.

Resources:

Koyama T, Kobayashi K, Hama T, Murakami K, Ogawa R. Standardized Scalp Massage Results in Increased Hair Thickness by Inducing Stretching Forces to Dermal Papilla Cells in the Subcutaneous Tissue. Eplasty. 2016 Jan 25;16:e8. PMID: 26904154; PMCID: PMC4740347.

WebMD. (2010, March 1). Science of hair: Hair growth cycle & how hair works. WebMD. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/science-hair#:~:text=Telogen%20is%20the%20resting%20phase,club%20hair%20is%20completely%20formed.