We know what you’re thinking: “do I really need another step in my daily haircare routine?”. But when it comes to scalp massages, the answer is yes, definitely. Just 5 more minutes a day and you can seriously level up your (soon-to-be-magnificent) mane. Here’s why you need to stop what you’re doing and start massaging your scalp, like right now.

1. Boosts Your Mood

If you’re ever feeling a little down in the dumps, try giving yourself a head massage at home, because sometimes it’s a stay-in-bed, order takeout kinda day and you don’t feel like going to the hair salon where people ask how you are *shudders*.

Studies have shown that a scalp massage can improve your mood by releasing serotonin, the feel-good hormone, into your body. They can also make you feel more relaxed and less stressed, so by giving yourself a daily head massage, you can help maintain your good mood by keeping feelings of stress away.

2. Promotes Hair Growth

Another benefit of massaging your scalp is that it can encourage hair growth by stimulating blood flow to the area. With increased blood flow in the scalp, the hair follicles will receive more nutrients, oxygen, and all that other good stuff it needs to grow quicker. A lack of any of these things will stunt hair growth and can even cause it to fall out.

3. Thickens Hair

It’s not exactly known why this happens yet, but from what we know already, regular head massages make your hair thicker, as it’s thought that they gently stretch the cell walls of the hair follicles over time. This means they’ll have to produce thicker hairs to fill them out, which is all we need to know to start massaging our scalps.

4. Eases Scalp Tension

Have you ever sat in a salon chair and your hairdresser immediately knew you were stressed before you gave her the 411 on your week? Turns out a stiff scalp is a very real thing that gives you away.

When we’re stressed, our scalps can tense up and constrict blood vessels, limiting nutrient and oxygen supply, which is how we can lose hair from stress. Daily head massages at home can ease scalp tension and prevent it from building up.

To know whether your scalp is holding tension, place the palm of your hand on the crown of your head, and try to move your scalp around. If you’re having difficulty moving it, you probably need a spa day ASAP.

Tools and Methods to Give Yourself a Scalp Massage at Home

Scalp Massage Brush

The classic hair massage tool that gets the job done for straight or wavy hair types that can be used on wet or dry hair.

How To: Simply place the scalp massage brush on your head, apply light pressure and massage in circular motions for 5-10 minutes, moving it around the scalp until you’ve covered it all.

Curls N’ Clouds Bamboo Afro Pick - €12.00

If you thought it was only able to detangle and volumize your hair, think again. It’s also able to give scalp massages to curly/thicker hair types. Hair, especially curly hair, is most vulnerable when it’s wet, but scalp massage brushes have short silicone bristles that can’t properly reach the scalp when it’s dry. Our Bamboo Afro Pick will prevent hair breakage during a scalp massage as it has extra-long teeth to reach past your curls and/or thicker hair without being wet. What’s more, bamboo has natural anti-bacterial properties and will stop harmful bacteria from transferring to your scalp.

How To: Hold the afro pick at an angle (which helps to distribute pressure) on your head and gently press into the scalp in circular motions for 5-10 minutes, switching positions so every area of your scalp gets some lovin’.