Looking for fast hair growth? Then using raw coconut or castor oil before shampoo is not the only way. Hair growth with regular scalp massages feels unreal! But I’ve been doing it since 2017 so here is everything you need to know about scalp massages.
Disclaimer: I’m only here to share my experiences. These products have helped me; I hope they help you too. If you decide to try anything, I encourage you to do your own research, and check with your doctor before incorporating any oils or supplements especially if you are pregnant/lactating.
Scalp Massage Benefits
Experts say scalp massages promote circulation to hair follicles. Blood flow to hair cells means healthier hair growing out of your scalp. There are other factors to consider for using oils on the scalp because all oils are not created equal. When using essential oils [EOs], you must use a carrier oil. And to do them at night is just a matter of preference, scalp massages can be done any time of the day. I prefer using a ready oil blend with essential oils.
The greatest benefits of scalp massages include:
- Increased blood flow,
- A conditioned scalp,
- Reduced stress,
- Speedy hair growth,
- Decreased hair loss!
If you already use coconut oil for your prepoo or scalp massages, that’s a fantastic start! BUT BUT BUT adding essential oils to coconut oil makes it EXTRA. There is an overwhelming amount of information about how essential oils benefit your hair, mind, and body. Essential Oils are God-given resources to deal with all kinds of physical issues, naturally. So I wondered which ones can I use for scalp massages and my hair?
Wondering which oils are good for you? Picking the right essential oils can be confusing or overwhelming. When I first looked into essentials oils for hair, I was overwhelmed and living in broke city to purchase high-quality individual essential oils. That’s when I came across ready oil blends. BINGO!
Why do scalp massages at all?
When I asked Verna, she told me “We place focus on our hair while neglecting our scalp and in reality, our scalp is vital to having healthy hair. Curly hair specially benefits from using oils because the natural sebum produced on our scalp makes it hard to move down our hair strands. Not only that, we have to battle the environment and that can affect our scalp, sometimes leading to dryness depending on the climate & where you live. Sebum is our natural oil & its job is to protect our hair from the environment. So if one doesn’t have enough sebum, that’s where oils come to play.”
How I started scalp massages
Firstly, I don’t even like oils in my hair. However, after my second c-section I noticed postpartum hair loss. I was so desperate and wanted fast hair growth that I was willing to try just about anything – even oils! I first looked for hair growth oils and found Curly Penny’s video on hair growth with Jamaican black castor oil (JBCO) really helpful. She talked about how she massages her scalp with JBCO 20 minutes before hair wash, so I did the same. I first scalp massaged with Sunny Isles JBCO and saw the benefits! My hair was moisturized, it was growing faster than normal… I was happy but this JBCO left my hair heavy, greasy, and needed washing immediately – with a strong clarifying shampoo too! With two children and working from home, I did not want to wash my hair everyday. I needed lighter oils that I could leave in my hair. I still do not see the point of using heavy oils only to shampoo it out within a few hours? Both activities just seem to cancel each other out, therefore so pointless!
How to Scalp Massage
- WASH YOUR HANDS!
- Take a few drops on your finger tips.
- Rub your finger tips together (it warms it up!)
- TAKE A WHIFF of the lovely oil blend for some sensory pleasure.
- Now scalp massage in round and round in gentle circular motion
An Ode to Sensory Adaptation
Did you know? Smells have a biochemical effect on the brain. [Source] There is a gradual decrease over time in the responsiveness of the sensory system to a constant stimulus. This basically applies to anything in life! So using just one oil for longer period may not be a good idea. When I use multiple oils, it is an enjoyable experience for my hair, scalp, and senses – much better than when I was using only one oil. Again, it is a matter of preference and accessibility of how many oils you want to use. I alternate with these hair oils for the pure sensory pleasure. If I use them back to back I don’t get the scent; my body adapts to it. So to mix it up I use different oils based on my mood and how I want to feel that day. Here are my tried and tested options:
- Hair of Nature Sheamango scalp butter smells like sweet mangoes!
- The Innate Life Rose Elixir smells like sweet roses.
- Flora Curl Superfruit Oil has a fresh citrus scent.
- Jessicurl Oil has a strong peppermint scent.
SCALP MASSAGE FAQs
Why I prefer ready oil blends (not DIY)
Think about it, if a ready oil blend comes with several different essential oils already blended in, why would I break my head (and bank) to buy individual oils to DIY mix them? Finding high-quality products in India was so hard in 2017 and they are still so expensive! Besides, I am not even an expert blender. If we don’t get the ratios right, EOs may cause problems. Applying undiluted essential oil to your scalp may make your problems worse! I can’t ruin my scalp with a DIY and that’s when I decided to focus on ready oil blends. My postpartum (third baby) scalp was very sensitive to oils. I found scalp massaging with DIY Hibiscus Gel soothing and calming.
Can I use multiple oils?
Yes you can! I do! Until 2018 I was using one oil for most of the year, the Righteous Roots Hair Rx. My hair grew, even the overall health of my hair improved tremendously. By the end of 2018 though, I found new oils that showed speedy hair growth so I decided to focus on them to see if they really work or not. Lo and behold, they do! The below post was after a big-choppy haircut in December and it all grew back in under three months! Using multiple oils has given me a lot benefits. I believe each oil blend has something unique to offer and my scalp and hair loves variety! Not just that, there is something known as sensory adaptation.
Do I have to scalp massage every day? Will it cause Acne?
You can. It’s relaxing and delicious and you deserve it. You don’t need to use oil every day. Especially with sensitive skin, scalp massaging without oil gives your face a break. I scalp massaged everyday with a coconut-oil-based blend form 2017-2018 and I noticed more breakouts and painful acne 🙁 In 2019, I decided to focus on my skin and I stopped leaving hair oils blended with coconut-oil on my hair. Scalp massaging only the night before wash day helped my skin – and hair too!I realised, your scalp also needs some space to do its own thannng. Scalp massaging daily with oils, although beneficial for some, was doing more harm than good for me.
Will scalp massages make my hair greasy?
If you have a greasy or oily scalp, it could be that your scalp is hyper irritated with an unsafe products. Daily washing dries our scalp too. Scalp massages with the right oil blend helps calm scalp issues. You need a few drops and the massaging action helps the oils penetrate straight into your skin. If you scalp massage at night, you wake up to a cleansed scalp, totally nourished and ready for some hair growth action! It’s a quick way to refresh unwashed hair too! So no, scalp massaging with the right oils will not make scalp greasy. Try and see what works for you.
Are tools needed to scalp massage?
This is really a personal preference. In my experience, using a tool is not only effective but you can scalp massage for longer time! Sometimes using fingers can be exhausting, and after a tiring day, using a tool like this would be ideal.
