I used silicone scalp massager for a month, and my hair growth went supersonic

To be honest, the only time you get a good massage during a hair wash is when you shell out bucks from your pocket at a salon. Well, that ain’t a problem now since we have plenty of amazing DIY scalp massagers in the market to pick from. Though there are a variety of them in shapes and materials used, silicone ones offer a better grip and are sensitive on your scalp.

What is a scalp massager brush?

If the concept of a hair massager has left you scratching your head, let’s decode it. They say that great hair starts with a healthy and clean scalp. That’s where these come into play. So, these brushes are like a paddle with a handle on top to put your hand through. They have tiny but soft silicone bristles under them that help clean your scalp.

Dr Geetika Srivastava, dermatologist, hair transplant surgeon and Founder of Influennz, spoke to HealthShots about the growing popularity of these scalp massager brushes.

“The benefits of a silicone scalp massager are similar to a good head massage. It can be used both for dry scalp as a head massager or under the shower on the wet scalp as an exfoliator.” says Dr Srivastava.

How do you use a scalp massager brush?

These scalp brushes can be used in sync with your needs for hair health. I used it for conventional hair washing with shampoo and water. Here’s the procedure I followed:

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1. Wet your hair thoroughly with water.
2. Pour out a dime-sized amount of shampoo on your scalp massager brush.
3. Massage it into your scalp until it lathers.
4. Using gentle pressure try to massage your scalp in round motions.
5. Massage it well to calm sore patches of your scalp.
6. After 5 minutes of massaging, rinse your scalp and hair with lukewarm water.
7. Pat dry with a microfibre towel.
8. Quick tip: Use an old cotton tee to dry your hair if you don’t have a microfibre towel.
9. As advised, air dry your hair.
10. If running late, blow dry your hair on a minimal heat setting.

Well if you think of it as a scalp cleaning tool, here are some ‘out of the box’ ways to use it:

1. You can use a scalp brush to massage your favorite hair oil into it.
2. It can be used to detangle your hair after a hair wash. Dr Srivastava says, “Silicone scalp massager is like a soft comb, but an actual comb would work better in detangling your hair than a scalp massager. However, if you have curly hair and you normally don’t brush your hair, a scalp massager is a better alternative to combing.”
3. You can use this scalp massager to plop your hair for a curly girl method.
4. This scalp massager can also be used to spread your conditioner or after-wash hair mask evenly throughout your hair strands.

Benefits of using a scalp massager:

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1. Removes dead skin

   Your body regenerates new cells on your skin and so it does on your scalp. When your scalp sheds its skin cells, they get accumulated on your scalp and may become a breeding ground for fungal infections. This scalp massager brush works extremely well for exfoliating dead skin cells.

2. Improves blood circulation

This scalp massager promotes blood circulation in your scalp stimulating the blood capillaries. This helps draw much blood to your scalp keeping hair fall at bay. “It does not directly improve hair health or cause hair growth. However since it increases micro-circulation of the scalp, those suffering from hair fall due to poor circulation can benefit from these scalp massagers.” says Dr Srivastava. Ain’t that a win-win?

3. Take off product build up

With time, your hair and scalp gets coated with sulfates and parabens present in your shampoo and other hair care products. This scalp massager removes the product build up from your scalp.

4. DIY champi tool

While, we have been isolating due to Covid-19 protocols, getting a champi from somebody is a luxury. These silicone scalp massagers are the Gen-z version of your grandma’s ‘champi tel maalish’. And if you have ever undergone a hot oil head massage, you would exactly know what we are talking about.

5. Gets rid of dandruff

This little tool can be your best friend in removing the dandruff from your scalp. When used on the wet scalp, it has the additional advantage of removing dead, dry, white adherent flaky scales from your scalp, especially if you have dandruff. “I often recommend all my patients with dandruff to use this silicone massager along with anti-dandruff shampoos to get rid of dandruff,” says Dr Srivastava

6. Relieves stress

Well, stress is a killer. And, this hair massager can be a stress-buster during your long showers. It relaxes your scalp muscles, stimulates numerous nerve endings on your scalp, destresses you, by increasing blood circulation. The benefits of a silicone scalp massager are similar to a good head massage.

There are a whole bunch of reasons you should bring a scalp brush into your hair care routine. There are some don’ts that are attached to using them.

What are the don’ts of using a scalp massager?

Consider a scalp massager to be synonymous with a ‘loofah’ for your body. It works both as an exfoliator as well as a massager.

According to Dr Srivastava, “Care must be taken not to over-exfoliate your scalp as it can really irritate your scalp and even cause abrasions. A medium pressure application is enough to remove scales of dandruff or excess build-up from the scalp. The exact frequency of usage depends from person to person but 3 times a week is more than enough in most instances.”

“When used on the wet scalp, do not exfoliate more than 2 to 3 minutes as wet hair is more prone to damage.” adds Dr Srivastava.

The takeaway

Well, to me it was a perfect addition to my haircare regime.These scalp massagers are not only cost-effective but they actually work! My hair growth went crazy once I started using it. It also made my dandruff issue subside after a regular use. If you’re a lazy girl and you wish to combine hair care with self care, it is a perfect tool for you.