Massaging the head and scalp has many benefits, from easing tension headaches to improving scalp condition and hair growth. Here, we look at techniques for easing scalp tension.

Releasing Scalp Tension

Run your hands over your scalp and you could be forgiven for thinking that it is just skin and bone. But unknown to most of us, the head is actually covered with a thin layer of muscle. After a stressful day this can be just as tense as the shoulder and neck muscles. The muscles in the scalp start where the neck muscles finish at the base of the skull and stretch over the head. Any tension in the shoulders and neck can spread upwards and into our head muscles. By the end of the day it’s no wonder that some of us feel we are carrying a ton weight strapped around our forehead.

One of the best ways of removing this weight is to have a soothing head and scalp massage. Scalp massage aims to reach beneath the scalp itself to ease the underlying muscles. As all the tension of the day is eased away, the rest of the body responds by relaxing too.

When massaging the scalp, your fingertips will feel tighter areas of tension where the muscles hardly move, which are also likely to feel slightly tender. Be gentle at first, and give these extra tense areas more attention. Make your movements slow, rhythmic and repetitive. You may feel that you are being boring, but the person receiving the massage is unlikely to mind or even notice how often your strokes are repeated. Tight scalp muscles usually surrender their tension quickly, so you should feel the difference in minutes.

Try to move the skin over the scalp without letting your fingers slip through the hair. To do this you may have to use a little more pressure. Use very little oil or none at all, as the scalp derives its own natural oils from a substance called sebum, which is secreted via the hair follicles.

Around The Ears

If you have time, include some work around the ears too. There are many acupressure points on and around the ears but there is no need to know exactly where these are to benefit from a massage of the area. Use your first and second fingers and make slow, circular movements around the ear margin.

According to oriental medicine, the ear represents a map of the body in a curled position like a baby in the womb – with the ear lobe representing the head. While massaging around the ear, gently squeeze the flesh between the thumb and forefinger, working from the ear lobe up to the top of the ear.

Refreshing Bergamot

Bergamot is excellent for a head and scalp massage as its antiseptic properties benefit the skin. It also stimulates the circulation and improves hair health. Use 5 ml diluted bergamot oil. Pour it into a small dish and use the smallest amount on the fingertips. Its uplifting properties will help lessen any feelings of gloominess, anxiety and depression, too.

Safety First

• Remove all rings, watches or other jewellery that could catch in the hair.
• If your partner wears contact lenses, they should remove them before the massage begins.
• Do not use bergamot if going out in sunlight afterwards.

Before You Begin

• Place a pillow under your partner’s knees to help take any strain off the back muscles and to relax the abdominal muscles. If they feel their head needs support, use a small pillow or flat folded towel.
• Dim the lights, especially if your partner has a headache, or has spent the day in front of a computer, working under fluorescent lighting, or in bright sunlight.
• Head and scalp massage is a very focused massage where the person doing the massage stays in one place, so your comfort is vital.
• Check if your partner minds getting oil in their hair or would prefer a dry massage.

Head And Scalp Massage – Step By Step

Step 1 – Palming The Face

If using oil, rub a very small amount onto your hands, and gently cup them over your partner’s face.

Lightly rest the heel of your hands on the forehead and the fingers on the chin. Allow your hands to rest here for a few seconds before drawing them out sideways and down to the massage surface. Take your hands back to the starting position and repeat several times. This gives a wonderful sensation of drawing out stress from the face.

Step 2 – Stroking The Forehead

Place your thumbs at the center of the forehead just below the hairline and slowly but firmly draw them outwards across the forehead to the temples. Stop here for a second and give the temples a gentle squeeze with your thumbs before taking them back to the starting position.

Repeat the stroke, but this time, start a little further down the forehead. Continue with this stroke until you have worked over the entire forehead, down to the eyebrows.

Step 3 – Circular Pressures

Repeat step 2 once more and this time rest your fingers lightly on the temples.

Gently press your partner’s temples and release. Then make very slow, small, circular pressures over this area with your fingers.

Finish this stroke by holding your fingers still over the temples for a few seconds. Put a little more oil on your hands, ready for steps 4 and 5.

Step 4 – Neck Strokes

Let your hands slide to the side of the head so your fingers are behind the ears and your thumbs are in front.

Slowly rotate the head over to the left side, so your left hand is supporting and holding the head while your right hand is free to massage. Scoop your right hand under the neck and stroke up the neck and towards the right ear.

Repeat this several times.

Step 5 – Relaxing The Neck

Now work round the base of the skull, making circular pressures with your fingertips.

Work up from the base of the neck to the bone at the hairline. This area can be extremely tender, so go gently at first, gradually increasing the pressure.

Bring the head back to the center and to the other side. After that, repeat steps 4 and 5.

Step 6 – Fingertip Massage

With the head straight, massage the scalp with your fingertips – as though shampooing the hair.

Aim to move the scalp (not just the hair) by using firm, circular movements.

You should start to feel the skin loosening under your fingers.

Work all over the scalp, slowly and thoroughly.

Step 7 – Combing The Hair

Step 6 is stimulating, so now calm the scalp by combing the hair with your fingers.

Starting at the hairline, work towards the crown of the head using your fingers as if they were a comb.

Let your fingers work through the length of the hair and very slowly glide off the ends. Work the whole head several times.

Step 8 – Final Strokes

To finish, turn your fingers towards each other and cup your hands side by side under your partner’s neck.

Slowly draw your hands up towards the base of the skull and rotate them so your fingers are pointing down to the shoulders. Let your hands slide up under the head and, as they reach the crown, gently let the head rest down again on the pillow.

Repeat twice more.

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