HEAD MASSAGE IN 8 STEPS

Head massages are a perfect de-stressor and we have got it done several times but how about doing it yourself?

I still remember how my grandmother used to massage my head every weekend with coconut oil. Those 20 minutes would always see a war between me and my grandmother. She wouldn’t relent and I wouldn’t give in. Oh how I so miss those mini battles now. Those were the days when I didn’t know the woes of dry and dull hair. Now that I crave for those sessions and value the value of the oils, once every fortnight I give myself a head massage. This massage involves steps that I have learnt from my grandmother and have improvised it with blends of aromatic oils. Read, try, and let us know the results!

1. As a base oil you can choose coconut, almond, olive or jojoba oil. You can warm up the oil a bit if you wish. To that add few drops of any essential oil you want. My favourite is lavender. You could even use a blend of essential oils. Here are some suggestions: (1) 4 drops of lavender, 4 drops of clary sage and 4 drops of melissa, (2) 5 drops of myrrh, 5 drops of rose and 2 drops of rosewood, (3) 3 drops of chamomile, 5 drops of lavender and 4 drops of bergamot. All these blends have calming and relaxing effects that can de-stress you.

2. Once your oil is ready brush your hair before applying the oil. Take a large cotton wool ball and dip it in the oil bowl, squeeze out extra oil so that it doesn’t drips while applying. Now part your hair and rub the oil into the scalp. Hold a section of hair with the cotton and swipe it along the entire length. Repeat this till the entire scalp and hair is oiled. Make sure the oil applied is sufficient and doesn’t drips from the hair.

3. In circular motion massage the temples with the fingertips. Cover the entire head massaging this way and the pressure applied during this should be medium such that you feel the surface of the scalp move against the hard skull.

4. Place your hands on the head with palms resting on either sides of head and fingers interlocked. Now, press the palms and lift them upwards. I have long hair so I lift the hair along with each lift. You need to cover the entire scalp like this.

5. Next, support your head with one of your hands on one side and place fingertips of other hand above the ear near the hairline, massage the head with the pad of fingertips. Move the fingers in backward and forward motion vigorously and cover half of the scalp like this. Do the same for other side as well. This shouldn’t take more than 2-3 minutes for both sides.

6. Rest heels of both your hands on the temple points, now start lightly pressing them and make circular movement, first clockwise and then anti-clockwise. Repeat this step three times in each direction.

7. Hold your head from front and with other hand, rub with the heels of the palm on the scalp in a zigzag motion. Do this motion for about one minute. Repeat same on other side of the head as well. Rub entire back of the head like this. This step focuses on the back of the head.

8. Keep the fingertips of both your hands on the scalp, and just the fingertips not entire hand. Now start tapping and lifting your fingertips in a smooth rhythm. Keep the touch soft and cover the entire scalp while doing the step. Repeat it thrice atleast.

Comb the hair and keep it overnight to wash next morning. Though I prefer keeping it overnight, if you do not want to, then cover the hair for 30 minutes and rinse off with shampoo.