Introduction
Hair massage is a technique that can bring numerous benefits, which apparently were known already in ancient times. It is said, in fact, that Julius Caesar, intolerant of his baldness, in addition to masking it with carryovers, loved to have his head massaged with nettle and chilli lotions, to try to counteract hair loss.
The scientific rationale for this treatment lies in the "hypothesis that baldness also recognizes an" ischemic etiology. According to this theory, hair loss would be the expression of a poor blood supply in the scalp, with poor vascularization of the "roots" (bulb and dermal papilla).
Benefits
As mentioned, hair massage could be a help to hinder baldness.
Massaging the hair, especially with the help of rubefacient lotions, in fact, helps to stimulate the blood circulation of the epicranial skin by increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to the bulbs. Hence the usefulness of massage therapy against hair loss.
Another important aspect is that the hair massage can favor and improve the penetration of active substances applied before and / or after the massage itself. Finally, the massage makes the galea capitis more elastic.
Although the ischemic etiology of baldness has long since been debunked, if not completely excluded, by scientific works, empirical experience suggests that scalp massage can be effective in slowing down hair loss even significantly. Fundamental, in this sense, is the support of lotions suitable for your type of scalp (dry, oily or forfuraceous).
In summary, the main benefits of hair massage are:
- Improve and reactivate microcirculation in the scalp.
- Promote the penetration of active and nourishing substances applied before, after or during the same massage.
- It can counteract the dryness of the scalp, as it stimulates the production of sebum (an element which, under normal conditions, exerts a "protective action on the scalp itself).
- Promote relaxation and consequently decrease accumulated stress (in fact, individuals with hectic and very stressful lifestyles seem to be more predisposed to hair loss).
Important recommendations
In case of incipient, marked, sudden baldness or in any case a source of personal discomfort, it is advisable to refer your case to a dermatologist experienced in hair care (trichology). Hoping to stop a hormonal fall or regrow hair with simple scalp massages is somewhat optimistic. In this sense, do-it-yourself remedies risk wasting only time and other hair. Today there are effective pharmacological solutions for all types of alopecia (drugs such as finasteride and minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia - HRT in menopausal women - Corticosteroids, Photodynamic and Laser Therapy in alopecia areata). Ultimately it is also possible to resort to hair transplantation.
Massage Technique
In general, the massage technique involves tapping the entire scalp with the fingertips, then massaging in a circular direction with the fingertips, performing more or less vigorous friction. Pressure, duration and rhythm of the massage must be adjusted according to the condition of the hair: if they are healthy and strong, the massage can be energetic (but not excessively), while if they are weak and easy to fall, the pressure will be lighter and vibratory.
Usually, it is recommended to massage the hair from the bottom of the head towards the top and not the other way around.
Generally, it is recommended to massage the hair two or three times a week for 5-10 minutes. Indulging in excessive enthusiasm for this technique, massaging the scalp excessively, can induce an increase in sebum production by the latter (a deleterious aspect for hair health), thus leading to counterproductive results. Therefore, in subjects with hair fat, the massage should not be too vigorous or excessively prolonged over time.
According to some, the technique of "detaching" the scalp is also important, performed by trying to detach the scalp from the underlying bone with the help of the fingertips; this practice is reinforced by the so-called facial gymnastics, through which we try to stimulate the recruitment of the fur muscles used for scalp motility.
Finally, some prefer to massage the hair not with their hands, but with the help of brushes with natural bristles. This massage is performed by placing the brush on top of the head and then moving it with gentle movements towards the forehead, temples and base of the neck.
There are also different types of electric massagers on the market, specially designed to massage the hair.
Products
What products can be used for hair massage?
The products with which it is possible to carry out the hair massage are really many. In fact, it goes from simple products, such as olive and argan oil, to real hair oils formulated with various active and nourishing substances.
Furthermore, the hair massage can also be performed with detergents or shampoos, during normal washing.
Finally, there is certainly no shortage of herbal and natural products or lotions deriving from folk medicine that will be discussed in the following chapter.
Popular Medicine
In light of what has been said so far, we can say that the scalp massage is one of the oldest treatments to give strength and vigor to the hair, delaying its fall. Equally ancient is the search for the most suitable natural remedy for this purpose, to be applied on the hair during the massage to favor its absorption.
Long before the advent of minoxidil, folk medicine selected a long list of alleged anti-hair loss remedies, also borrowed from modern trichology (which uses them mainly in the form of suitably diluted essential oils). Again the research the most suitable remedy depends on the characteristics of the patient and his hair.For example, the treatment of a subject with alopecia areata will be completely different from that suitable for a male with androgenetic alopecia or a woman during menopause.
In any case, among the natural ingredients most exploited by folk medicine to combat hair loss, nettle and maidenhair certainly stand out.
The decoction of nettle roots can be considered the natural remedy par excellence against hair loss on an androgenetic basis; modern phytotherapy has in fact confirmed that nettle roots exert an "anti-androgenic activity, blocking the" enzyme that converts testosterone into didrotestosterone (the latter heavily involved in the progressive miniaturization of hair follicles, followed by hair loss).
The other natural ingredient much exploited by folk medicine is the maidenhair, a medicinal plant often present in recipes for natural lotions against hair loss. At the same time, in the past, folk medicine provided for the use of maidenhair to revive the color. of dark hair. However, there is currently no confirmation of the alleged anti-hair loss properties ascribed to this plant.
Do-it-yourself lotions
Here are some recipes for the preparation of do-it-yourself lotions (taken from traditional medicine) which involve the use of the aforementioned nettle and maidenhair plants.
Do-it-yourself Nettle Lotion
A popular recipe suggests using 300 grams of nettle roots harvested in the fall, 15 grams of rosemary (useful against impure skin and oily hair) and 20 grams of peppers. It is boiled for about ten minutes in a solution consisting of a liter of water and 400 grams of vinegar, filtered and left to cool. With the solution obtained, wash your hair by rubbing it before bedtime and rinse with water the next day.
A variant of the previous recipe suggests using 150 g of nettle (roots), 20 grams of chilli (fruits) and 20 grams of romasrino (leaves). Slowly boil the drugs for about twenty minutes in half a liter of vinegar. After this period, leave to rest for 30 minutes and filter. With the solution wash your hair by rubbing it before bedtime and rinse with water the next day.
Do-it-yourself Lotion with Maidenhair fern
There are many lotions based on maidenhair devised and exploited by folk medicine to combat baldness.
One of these involves placing 100 grams of maidenhair fern (aerial parts) in boiling water; keep boiling for about ten minutes, then cover and leave to rest for five minutes. Filter, let cool and use for the last hair rinse with scalp massage. This remedy is indicated to eliminate dandruff and stop hair loss.
