How to treat yourself to a relaxing head massage

Get ahead (pardon the pun) of any latent pre-Christmas anxiety with this self-care technique. Many of us are au fait with the benefits of facial massage, but there's no reason to stop at the hairline.

Head massage has its roots in many ancient practices including Ayurveda, where it’s traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments. ‘A head massage helps to release tension and stress due to the high number of nerve endings in the area,’ says Michael Lendon, creative director at Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa. ‘It also helps boost circulation and blood flow to the hair follicles, which in turn helps to promote healthy growth. It’s why all our hairdressers at Aveda are trained in a specific head massage technique rooted in the principles of Ayurveda.’

For many of us, a head massage is a fleeting moment of bliss at the hairdressers (according to Lendon, it’s one of his clients’ favourite moments). It doesn’t have to be reserved for the salon, though. As a technique that can be deployed at any time, it’s a brilliant addition to your anti-anxiety arsenal and can even be incorporated into hair washing. Minus all the warm oils, of course.

‘Most of us don’t realise how much tension we hold in our scalps,’ says Lendon. ‘A really quick way to relieve this at home is by massaging along the occipital ridge [the shelf at the base of the skull], which helps to release tension in both your head and shoulders.’ Lendon points out that scalp treatments are easy to incorporate into your routine and says adding in a little self-massage at the same time can help to boost their efficacy. ‘As well as leave-on products that are designed to be sprayed directly on to the scalp, such as Aveda Invati Scalp Revitalizer, you can use an oil-based treatment. I love the Aveda Nutri-Plenish Multi-Use Oil, which can help moisturise the scalp and can also reap haircare benefits if you wrap your head in a hot towel afterwards.’ 

‘Using aroma is a really powerful way to enhance your moment of wellness,’ says Lendon, who suggests using aromatic oils as well as home fragrance to reinforce the calming effects of the massage. ‘Check in to see how you’re feeling, then scent your space accordingly. If you’ve had a busy day and your head feels somewhat full, aromas such as the patchouli and vetiver in Aveda Chakra 1 help to ground the mind. If you need a little boost, choose something with rose notes, which can help elicit feelings of wellbeing and happiness. If you’re feeling under the weather, blends of peppermint and chamomile help to sooth, refresh and clear the sinuses.’

‘Warm your oil of choice in the microwave for a few minutes, testing the temperature on the inside of your wrist to make sure it’s not too hot, then gently rub it onto your hand,’ Lendon advises. ‘Take a deep, conscious breath and continue to focus on your breathing. Placing your hands firmly on the sides of your head, lift and rotate the palms in a forward motion three times, maintaining contact with the head and trying to ensure you move the skin.

‘Apply comfortable pressure to the count of three then release and repeat this movement two more times. Next, putting one palm on the front hairline, place the palm of the other hand below the occipital area and using firm pressure, rotate your hands in an upward motion three times. Apply comfortable pressure for the count of three then release and repeat this movement two more times.’

Lendon continues, ‘Moving to the back of the neck, use your thumb and middle fingers to massage this area using circular upward and outward movements three times. Pause and repeat the same motion two more times. Once the massage is complete, apply a deep conditioning treatment to the hair and wrap in a warm towel – pop a damp one in the microwave to heat, making sure it’s not too hot – to nourish your hair as well as your scalp.’