A Step-By-Step to Giving Yourself a Heavenly Scalp Massage (2025)

There are few things that feel better in life than having someone rub your head—and that's a hill we're willing to die on. So, the big caveat here is that giving yourself a scalp massage isn't going to be quite as blissful as the one you get when someone shampoos your hair at the salon. But hey, it's better than nothing. And here's the thing: A daily scalp massage doesn't only feel good, it can also work wonders for the health of your scalp, even improving hair growth.

Here, experts explain why it's definitely worth giving yourself a scalp massage whenever you can, plus share a simple step-by-step for how to do so. Let the relaxation began.

Benefits of a Scalp Massage

First and foremost, it's a great way to tackle tension. "Massage provides relief to a tense or tight area of the body, and this includes the scalp. Your head can hold a lot of tension, and massaging the area helps alleviate this," explains Nikki Miller, spa director at Kohler Waters Spa. Similarly, massage is hugely relaxing (yes, even if you're DIY-ing it) and anything you can do to reduce stress is always a good thing.

But aside from just feeling nice, there are a litany of benefits for your scalp (and subsequently your hair), too. A tight scalp can be a real problem for hair growth, putting pressure on the tiny muscles and tissue surrounding your hair follicles, making it harder for them to do their job, says Kerry Yates, trichologist and founder of Colour Collective. "Over time, this tension can restrict hair growth, potentially leading to thinning or increased shedding. A good scalp massage helps loosen things up, relieving that tightness and giving your follicles the space they need to grow hair without interference,"

It's also an effective way to get rid of excess product residue, dead skin, and oils. "Scalp massage helpsloosen up and remove this buildup, ensuring that your follicles have the clear space they need to thrive. Think of it as detoxing your scalp—just like you wouldn’t want clogged pores on your face, you don’t want them around your follicles either," says Yates.

Finally, massage is an excellent way to boost circulation and, you guessed it, this too can have positive ramifications for hair growth. Poor circulation means hair follicles don't get the essential nutrients and oxygen from the blood; this can lead to weaker strands, slower growth, and even excess shedding. Massaging the scalp gets the blood flowing, ensuring the hair follicles get what they need and keeps hair strong, vibrant, and resilient, Yates explains.

How to Give Yourself a Scalp Massage

1. Choose whether you want to go wet or dry. You can totally give yourself an effective scalp massage with just your hands, and your hands alone, working without any tools or product. However, if you want to up the ante, esthetician Margo Copeland suggests applying a small amount of oil (she likes sesame, almond, or a mix of both) to the scalp. These contain nourishing ingredients that will further boost the health of your scalp, she says. (FYI, your hair will look greasy after, so this is best if you're planning on washing your hair post massage.)
2. Decide if you want to use a tool. Yates strongly advises using some type of scalp tool or brush; it helps ensure that you don't inadvertently end up scratching the delicate skin with your nails, she points out. If you do go the tool route, she recommends working the brush in a single direction from the front of your head to the back and using very gentle pressure.
3. Massage gently using just your fingertips. "Massage the scalp in small, circular, clockwise motions and applying light pressure. There's no need to go as deep as you would for other types of massages," notes Miller. There's also no specific place you need to start or end on your head; focus on areas of tension and work intuitively, advises Copeland.

How Long Should a Scalp Massage Last?

Again, there's really no hard or fast rule here, although Yates says aiming for at least four minutes daily is ideal. Copeland echos the sentiment and suggests aiming for around five to 15 minutes, tailoring it based on how much time you have. You can easily fit in a quickie, dry scalp massage while you're binging your latest Netflix fave at night. Plan on a longer session, perhaps incorporating some oils or a scalp treatment in the mix, once a week or during your everything shower. Either way, your scalp and hair (and stress levels) will thank you.