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If you think the best part of a hair appointment is the scalp massage, you’re not alone. There’s nothing quite like relaxing in the shampoo chair and closing my eyes as the stylist cleanses my hair, nearly lulling me to sleep. But it’s not nearly as relaxing when your fingers are doing all the work. Scalp massagers, however, make at-home scalp care a breeze, and they’re worth the investment; not only do they provide some gentle exfoliation, but they can also promote hair growth and make hair grow faster.
According to Dr. Candace Thornton Spann, a board-certified dermatologist in Las Vegas and the co-owner of Couture Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, massages stimulate blood flow in the scalp “and therefore improve nourishment to the follicles,” she says. Dr. Spann also reports that scalp massages are clinically proven to reduce both blood pressure and stress—and stress is one of the major culprits behind hair loss.
Our top picks for the best scalp massagers for hair growth of 2024
Once you grab one of these tools, you can treat yourself to a scalp massage any time you want. I spoke to a dermatologist, tested some on my scalp, and pored over customer reviews to locate the top options on the market. Below, find silicone massagers, combs, a boar bristle brush, and more in our round-up of the nine best scalp massagers that encourage hair growth.
1
Best Boar Bristle Brush
Altesse Studio Beaute Classic Repair & Shine Brush
Pros
Brush designed to last for a lifetime
Cons
- Can take extra effort to get it close to the scalp
Altesse has been creating brushes for nearly 150 years, but its luxurious tools have only recently touched down in the States. The 100 percent boar bristles gently massage the scalp, promoting blood circulation and hair growth, and the fibers carry the scalp’s natural oils through to strands to hydrate and nourish (all without causing frizz or static).
Materials: Olive wood, boar bristles, recycled plastic case
How to use: Dry or towel-dry hair before use. Work brush around entire head, brushing from scalp to ends
Altesse rating: 4.9/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I’ll be honest—I rarely brush my hair unless I’ve straightened it. When I let it dry wavy, I don’t want to risk killing my waves or inciting more frizz, so I let my hair do its own thing. But this brush feels so good against my scalp that I may have to incorporate a few minutes of hair brushing into my nightly routine. My scalp and strands feel better after a session with this brush; my roots are less oily, and my hair is more moisturized. The bristles are also stiff and long enough to actually reach all the way to my scalp, which isn’t always the case with boar bristle brushes. I’m excited to see what frequent brushing with this beauty from Altesse will do for my hair growth journey.” —Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer
Pros
- Gentle on scalp
- Waterproof
Cons
- Must be handled with care
Because this scalp massager helps stimulate blood circulation, more nutrients are able to get to your follicles, decreasing the chances of breakage and hair fall. Additionally, regularly using a hair massager like this one provides frequent exfoliation, preventing dandruff.
Materials: Recyclable ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene)
How to use: Wet hair and scalp, apply shampoo and lather with fingers, massage brush onto scalp in circular motions for at least one minute, rinse
Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I love scalp massagers like these because they feel soft, yet invigorating. My scalp genuinely feels more alive after using this, which is probably due to the fact that more blood is moving around up there. I also use it to distribute my dry shampoo evenly when I’m in a rush.” —Carol Lee
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3
Best Gua Sha
Act + Acre Scalp Gua Sha
Pros
- Comes with felt case
- Lightweight
Cons
- There can be a learning curve
While facial gua sha can snatch your jawline, this gua sha comb for the scalp can aid you in your hair growth journey. When used with hair oil, the tool massages the product into the scalp, allowing the formula and its nutrients to penetrate deeper into the skin. At the same time, it encourages blood flow, and these two benefits can combine to produce a thicker-looking mane.
Material: Jade
How to use: Section hair, apply scalp oil onto scalp, comb tool across scalp, wait for 10 minutes before shampooing
Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “Love this product! It is more expensive than others I’ve seen, but definitely worth it. Such good quality, and you can notice the difference. Been using it before bed, and it’s very relaxing. Big fan of all their products, but delighted I got this.”
Pros
- Ergonomic handle
Cons
- Hair should be detangled before use
If you have a sensitive scalp, try this scalp massager. Its flexible brushes are topped with soft ball tips that very gently exfoliate the scalp, giving it a deep clean without irritation. Even if you have thick hair, the bristles are so long that they’ll be able to get all the way down to the scalp without skipping a beat.
Material: Polypropylene
How to use: Apply and massage scalp exfoliating treatment into scalp with tool before rinsing, repeat with shampoo and conditioner
Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars
An Aveda reviewer says: “I like using this product as the directions say, but I also use it to gently massage my scalp when my hair is dry. I’ve tried a scalp brush before, one that had triangle-shaped bristles with a handle that semi-wrapped around my hand, and I found that this one can really get into my fine, yet dense head of hair. It’s gentle, durable, and very comfortable to hold. I can tell that it’s not missing any areas of my scalp because of the different lengths of the bristles. It was a great purchase, in my opinion.”
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Pros
- Cordless device
- Waterproof
Cons
- Must be cleaned after each use
Red light therapy devices for hair growth actually do work, and Breo packed the follicle-stimulating powers of scalp massage and red light therapy into one handy, automatic device. The tool has three modes: Soothing to trigger thicker hair growth, Fefreshing to slough away excess sebum, dead skin cells, and product build-up, and Relaxing to help the scalp absorb oils and serums to maximize their benefits.
Materials: ABS (housing), nylon (comb), aluminum alloy (handle bottom trim), PC (back cover trim piece)
How to use: Fill serum cabin with preferred serum/oil, comb slowly through hair. When combing the back or sides of head, tilt head sideways or down to ensure proper discharge of serum/oil
Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have been using this brush for about two months now. After having Covid, I suffered from massive hair loss and I needed a solution ASAP to get my hair to start growing back. For the past year, I tried so many different options, including high frequency treatment, microneedling, and hair oil. I saw some improvement, but I had heard so much positivity about red light therapy, so I wanted to give it a try. I bought this brush back when it was on sale. And I truly believe it is worth it. It not only feels good and is relaxing, but it also has a dedicated compartment to add oils, so that it can distribute them into your scalp during treatment.”
6
Best Comb
Fable & Mane Scalp Massager Comb
Pros
- Suitable for all hair types
Cons
- Some reviewers noted small size
This is more than just a pretty comb—this tool from Fable & Mane was created to detangle hair and massage the scalp simultaneously. Because it’s made of wood, it won’t create static, unlike hair brushes and combs made of other materials, like plastic.
Materials: Ebony wood
How to use: Use tool to detangle strands, apply scalp oil, glide comb across scalp in circular motions
Sephora rating: 4.9/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “I have no regrets buying this. I have super thin hair, and it really helps to stimulate the scalp without damaging my hair. It glides smoothly. The wood is very solid.”
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Pros
- Waterproof
Cons
- Sells out quickly
Those with thinning hair or flaky scalps will appreciate this scalp massager from the Latinx-founded beauty brand. As you run it through your scalp, the silicone bristles trigger increased blood flow and exfoliate away dead skin cells and any impurities that may be hiding away among the roots.
Materials: Plastic, silicone
How to use: Apply hair oil, massage across scalp in circular motions
Sephora rating: 4.9/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “After I incorporated this scalp massager into my hair wash routine, I can never go back! Aside from helping to remove buildup and promoting hair growth, this product truly gives a moment of relaxation in the shower. The soft silicone bristles are the key here.”
8
Best Automatic
Solaris Laboratories NY Cloud Nine Hair Density and Boosting-Stimulating Scalp Massager
Pros
- Can be used all over body
Cons
- Can tangle hair
Manually massaging your scalp with your fingers gets old after a while, which is where this device comes in. The silicone heads rotate on their own, replicating a salon-worthy scalp massage. The tool also emits red light that targets hair follicles, resulting in fuller-looking hair with consistent use.
Materials: Medical-grade silicone heads
How to use: Use on clean, dry hair, run massager slowly all over head to allow the tool to massage the scalp, lift tool off head often to prevent hair tangling
On clean, dry hair that has been pulled back, move the massager around frequently lifting it off the head to ensure hair doesn’t tangle. Use up to a maximum of 10 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Amazon rating: 5/5 stars
A Solaris Laboratories NY reviewer says: “Wow—this is the best purchase I’ve made on a device! It’s so soothing to use, and then you get the boost of hair growth, which is absolutely phenomenal. I’d like to use it on my shoulders as well—it’s literally like a full body massage.”
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Pros
- Suitable for all hair types
- Waterproof
Cons
- Can be hard to hold for those with larger hands
This massager doubles as a detangler. It’s also waterproof, making it perfect for in-shower use when shampooing, conditioning, or applying a mask to your hair. Reviewers rave about how good it feels on the scalp and how quickly it undoes pesky knots—no wonder it already has nearly 7,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Materials: Plastic
How to use: Gently brush through hair, from scalp to ends
Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “My rinsing/detangling routine went from five minutes to one. I used this in the shower a little to help with shampooing, but mostly to untangle my (2B) hair after conditioning. Previously, I was just using a wide-tooth comb. The first time I ran this through my hair with hardly any resistance, I was shocked! Enough to leave a review! Get this thing.”
Meet the Expert
Dr. Candace Thornton Spann is a board-certified dermatologist in Las Vegas, the co-owner of Couture Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, and the founder of ReTress.
Dr. Doris Day is an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist.
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How do you use scalp massagers?
As a general rule, any scalp massager should be gentle. “They should not result in any trauma to the scalp or pulling of the hair. It’s best to either use the fingertips or a gentle, rounded massager that will not scratch the scalp,” Dr. Spann explains.
How often should you use a scalp massager?
“A scalp massage may be performed daily on a wet or dry scalp, two to three times a week,” Dr. Spann says. Dr. Day recommends using it for at least three to five minutes during each session. “It is important to see a dermatologist or hair specialist to determine if this is healthy for your scalp, and the best practice based on your hair and scalp needs,” she adds.
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What are some other ways to encourage hair growth?
As we know, there can be a variety of culprits behind hair loss, including stress, hormone imbalances, nutrition, and aging, so it’s best to take a multi-pronged approach. “Beyond supporting hair health through effective supplements and topicals like Nutrafol’s Hair Growth Supplements, other important and proven ways to support hair health include a healthy diet, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, incorporating regular exercise into your routine, and stress management,” Dr. Day says.
Why Trust ELLE Beauty
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writer Carol Lee spoke to a dermatologist, tested products, and combed through customer reviews to find the best scalp massagers for hair growth.
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Carol Lee
Carol Lee is the Associate Beauty E-Commerce Writer at ELLE.com, where she covers all things beauty and personal care. Before joining the team, she was an editor at Food Network Magazine and HGTV Magazine and ran the beauty section at The Pioneer Woman. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from New York University and was one of the first customers to visit Glossier’s flagship store in New York’s Soho neighborhood. Over the years, she’s tested countless makeup, hair, and skin care products, and written hundreds of articles covering the beauty space, from pieces about the trendiest launches to roundups of the best products on the market. As a Korean-American, she grew up in a sea of Korean makeup and skin care products and is a bona fide expert on the ever-expanding world of K-beauty, helping lead our coverage. Additionally, she’s also always on the hunt for the perfect lipstick and watches the same few comfort sitcoms (Frasier, Cheers, Seinfeld, New Girl, etc.) over and over again.
