What's the science behind head massagers?

Having just given a couple of these scalp massagers as Christmas gifts and watched the recipients use them with many ooh-s and ahh-s, I believe they work because the tips stimulate nerve endings in the scalp. (There are 7 pairs of nerves that end on the scalp.) These nerve endings are connected to larger nerves, which ultimately connect to the brain. The nerve endings pick up messages from the skin being touched and send them to the brain, and the brain interprets them as pleasure, pain, or other sensation. In Chinese medicine, several meridians cover much of the scalp. A scalp massage stimulates these meridians, which cover large portions of the body. Either using Western science or Eastern tradition, the scalp is a sensitive place, and these scalp massagers work fantastically!

Essentially it's innervation - light touch 'excites' the nerve endings which can release endorphin's. If you've heard of brushing hair 100 times a day it wasn't to improve the hair but the scalp and relaxation to the entire body. Some massage technicians will use a very light touch sweeping larger parts of the body (back, thighs, chest) to achieve the same after a deep tissue massage. It also triggers vasodilation: a widening of the blood vessels. Since we typically don't have our heads below our hearts daily, this mechanism gets blood flowing easier to the scalp as well as excite the nerves resulting in a more relaxed state of those muscles and endorphins follow suit. The same can be said for other parts of the body that are 'ticklish', those would be area's where nerves are already sensitive so any light touch fires off a higher peak of innervation resulting in an overload which is not comfortable though that does depend on the state of mind of the person being tickled (they may like it at particular moments and not at other times).

You are a social primate. Primates, especially social primates, love to groom and be groomed. Why do we love grooming? Primarily, parasite removal and secondarily, social bonding. Your scalp recognizes the sensations of the head massager as grooming, and boy does it feel good.

This is an excellent question. I wrote a near 2,000 word article explaining what is a scalp massage, how it works, its benefits, why it works, etc. I have pasted the article below along with the reference:---There are many different techniques of massage therapy. Some of these techniques are quite popular and clients ask for them the most. However, there are many others which are not as common and not too expensive to perform. Such massage techniques seldom bring in customers.This is why you have to ensure that you offer massage techniques that funnel in customers. If you offer a variety of massage therapies that are loved by customers, you could experience immense success in your massage practice.Including some of these massage techniques into your practice may not always be easy or cost effective. This is why you should look for massage therapy techniques which are economical to set up and at the same time loved by customers. Moreover, because of their ease, you may not have to spend a lot of time learning them.One such technique is the scalp massage. It can be just as relaxing as a full body massage and it is not an expensive investment, is easy to learn and funnels in a healthy amount of customers. There are many reasons for this. One reason is because certain customers may not have a lot of time on their hands and just want a quick, relaxing massage. Another is that many people still don’t enjoy traditional massage (a human being rubbing them down). Some simply find scalp massage more relaxing and pleasurable.Let’s have a look at the scalp massage technique in detail:How Does a Scalp Massage Work?When you give a body massage to a client, you stimulate certain nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Due to this the body feels more relaxed. Similarly, certain nerves and muscles are also stimulated during a scalp massage. This allows the client to relax.In most cases, scalp massage is considered less effective than a full body massage when it comes to healing muscle tissue. This is because there is a hefty amount of nerves and muscles stimulated during a body massage that are directly part of the muscle tissues (the body itself).In spite of this, the scalp massage has been popular for a long period of time. It hits its own set of nerves in the body (the head primarily). The scalp massage has also been an important part of Ayurvedic treatment for centuries.In addition to this, the scalp massage is also a vital element of the holistic medicine approach. This massage was most used to relieve stress and cure headaches. Scalp massages were also used to cure diseases that were supposedly caused by a fluid imbalance in the head. In fact, modern research has proved that, in certain cases, a scalp massage can be substituted for a full body massage.While diseases may not be cured with a scalp massage, you could be able to provide relaxation to your clients. Contrary to popular belief, the scalp massage does not include only the head. It also includes the face. In some cases, the neck and shoulders are also considered a part of the scalp massage therapy.Learning Scalp Massage TherapyIt is very important to learn scalp massage techniques from a reliable source. This is because a scalp massage requires absolute precision. In a full body massage, you can easily stimulate the muscles and veins to promote relaxation.But when it comes to the scalp massage you have to be precise for stimulating the veins and muscles because they are situated closer to each other and are harder to stimulate. Do keep in mind that if you are adding a scalp massage to a regular therapy package, you won’t have to learn much extra.However, if you are providing it as an individual option, you need specialized education and credentials. In most cases, massage schools provide training on how to give a scalp massage.Many massage schools do not offer it as a primary part of their course. There are two options you can look towards in such a case. The first option is to learn scalp massage as a separate course from the school. For this, you may need to continue studying at the school even after your other courses are done and dusted. You can also pursue learning scalp massage as part of your continuing education requirements.On the other hand, you can apply for a course in Ayurveda. Just makes sure that the program you apply for provides in depth knowledge about Ayurveda. This way, you will be able to learn about the essential elements of giving a scalp massage.Requirements of a Scalp MassageThe requirements of a scalp massage are quite different if you are providing it separately. If you are planning to include scalp massage as a separate package, you will need a massage chair. Most massage therapists begin practicing scalp massage on a table, which is incorrect practice. You may not be able to provide the same level of relaxation to the client on a table.Of course, you will require lotions and oils for massaging the neck and shoulders. However, this is only if you are including the neck and shoulders in the scalp massage package. You will need a lotion to massage the face in any case. Additionally, a scalp brush may also prove to be an effective tool in giving a good scalp massage.Precautionary Measures When Practicing Scalp MassageLike most massage types, there are certain precautions which you should take when giving a scalp massage. The first and most important thing you should avoid is giving a scalp massage on a table. A table is, without a doubt, is effective and comfortable when giving a variety of massages.However, it is not the ideal tool for a scalp massage. This is because the table restricts access to the shoulders and neck significantly. If you are not able to reach these areas, you may not be able to give a good scalp massage.In addition to this, you may also not be able to reach the face properly. The best tool for giving a scalp massage is a massage chair. This should be taken care of because it can make all the difference between a satisfied and an unsatisfied client.Another important aspect to consider is the massage oils used on the scalp. Certain essential oils can be very damaging to the scalp. This is because these oils remain in the hair for a long time, and can cause irritations or allergies.If you want to make your massage therapy practice a growing success, you should consider adding scalp massage to your existing techniques. It could definitely prove beneficial either as a standalone massage or when paired with another massage as it has for many successful massage therapists.http://www.massagetherapyschoolsinformation.com/scalp-massage/