Our tester found it to work well on wet and dry hair, and it stood up just fine against thin, tangle-prone strands. ”I also frequently get headaches, and this felt soothing and relaxing to use when I was experiencing pain,” she added. If you’re looking for a risk-free base model to test for the first time, this is a good go-to. If your goal is self-care and simple relaxation or you have extra-sensitive skin, you’ll want to look for soft, silicone bristles. You can also find scalp massagers with fine-tooth bristles (such as the Tangle Teezer The Scalp Exfoliator & Massager and the Kitsch Pro Scalp Exfoliator) that can feel more gentle. If you’re hoping to target stubborn buildup or dry, flaky skin, you should aim for a scalp massager with firmer, larger bristles. Additional Products You can give yourself a scalp massage using your fingertips or you can use a scalp massaging tool. You can also get a scalp massage from a trained massage therapist. Ask your doctor about prescription medications for hair loss. These include finasteride (Propecia) for men and spironolactone for women. Our testers used the scalp massagers at least twice a week for four weeks following the manufacturer’s provided instructions. They were used on wet and dry hair, and in tandem with hair products to test their ability to aid penetration and distribution compared to an unmassaged scalp.

Scalp massage (or head massage) is simply the manual stimulation of the scalp. You can do it with your bare hands or special devices. These range from simple plastic aids to complex electrical devices. AGA is a multifactorial problem. In other words, different causes combine to cause the problem ( 3, 4). A key problem, however, is poor blood flow to the scalp. Using your fingertips, gently massage your shampoo or conditioner into your hair for 5 minutes. Then rinse your hair as usual. 3. Brushes and massage toolsA truly relaxing experience, as jade is touted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)for its ability to draw out negative energy. Although, you might want to save it for out-of-shower use: It's especially lovely after applying an oil treatment or hair mask—once your strands are coated, comb your roots in light, circular motions. The handle effortlessly cradles the top of the hand making it easy to hold and adjust pressure, and our tester found it to help product absorb more effectively into the roots and scalp. “It really helped me get the shampoo rubbed into my head without having to do a lot of work,” she said. Eventually, the follicles become so small that the hair can no longer push through the scalp. If not treated in time, the hair loss can be permanent.

Though our tester didn’t notice much of a difference when it came to overall hair health, she did enjoy the product for its relaxing effect. For example: "For curly, tightly coiled hair types, it's best to use a scalp brush as a pre-shampoo treatment step performed weekly, biweekly, or monthly," says Hill (or whenever you plan to have a wash day). She recommends sectioning the hair into quadrants and applying your scalp treatment section by section, gently massaging each region lightly with your fingertips until each is generously coated.Unless you have sensitive skin, open sores, or a chronic skin condition that affects the scalp, massagers are pretty harmless. Dr. Marcus adds that they can be beneficial by stimulating blood flow to the scalp, which can help support hair follicles and health turnover of skin cells. They can also offer a welcome release of stress and tension. Incorporating scalp brushes and massagers helps relax the scalp and increase suppleness," Hill says, noting that the tools help reduce muscle tension. "We know stress tightens the scalp and impedes circulation and hair growth, so depending on hair-care regimens and scalp conditions, weekly scalp massages with massagers are excellent for overall health and wellbeing." Hold your tool of choice in the palm of your hand and use circular motions to sweep away debris. Be especially gentle, of course, on particularly sensitive scalps and thinning hair. English RS, et al. (2019). Self-assessments of standardized scalp massages for androgenic alopecia: Survey results. DOI: The most important consideration when deciding to try any scalp tool is that medically diagnosed scalp conditions should only incorporate scalp brushes under the guidance and supervision of a certified trichologist, MD, or dermatologist specializing in scalp and hair,” explains Hill. Otherwise, for non-medical scalp conditions or just standard self-care, scalp massagers can easily be incorporated into your weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly routine.