“My hairstylist told me my scalp is tight.”
“When I touch it myself, my scalp doesn’t seem to move much.”
Have you ever had an experience like that?
To begin with, when we talk about a head being “tight” or “supple,” we don’t mean that the skull itself differs in hardness.
Generally, when people in head massage and similar treatments describe a head as “tight,” they are referring to how easily the scalp and surrounding tissues move, or how taut they feel, when touched.
So what is the difference between people with a tight scalp and people with a supple one?
What Does a “Tight Head” Actually Mean?
The scalp isn’t fixed tightly onto the skull; it is made up of several tissues, including the skin, the subcutaneous tissue and the galea aponeurotica, and it has a certain degree of mobility.
In fact, research also uses a measure called “scalp mobility.”
However, no established medical standard exists, such as “moving X cm is normal” or “the more supple, the healthier.”
So the idea that “the more supple your scalp, the better” isn’t accurate either.
What matters is not just how tight it is, but considering how easily the scalp moves and how taut it feels, together with the condition of the surrounding areas, including the neck and shoulders.
Research Shows Scalp Massage Can Change How Easily the Scalp Moves
There is some interesting research on scalp mobility.
In a study published in 2014 by the Hair Care Laboratory of Kao Corporation, about 3 minutes of self scalp massage raised blood flow in the scalp to about 120% of its pre-massage level, and the change lasted for about 20 minutes.
In addition, when this massage was continued once a day for 7 days, an upward trend was also seen in scores for scalp “mobility” as assessed by hand.
In other words, the study suggests that “scalp mobility” is not completely fixed and may change with massage.
However, it’s important to note that this study alone does not prove that “the more supple your scalp, the healthier you are.”
Is Your Scalp Tight? A Quick Self-Check
If you’re curious, place the pads of your fingers lightly on your scalp and slowly move them forward, backward and side to side.
You may find that “it barely moves,” “it feels very taut,” or “how easily it moves varies a lot from spot to spot.”
However, this is only a simple guide for getting to know the condition of your own scalp; it is not a way to judge illness or your state of health.
And besides your scalp, we’d also like you to check your neck and shoulders.
People who spend long hours at a desk, use their smartphones a lot or clench their teeth may feel tension not only around the head but also in the neck and shoulders.
Caring for Your Neck and Shoulders, Not Just Your Head
At La HEAD, we don’t think, “the scalp is tight, so we’ll loosen up just the head.”
The head, neck and shoulders don’t work independently; they are connected through muscles, fascia and other tissues.
That’s why La HEAD offers head massage that cares for not only your head but also your neck, shoulders and arms as one connected whole.
Through a technical partnership with nationally licensed staff at an osteopathic clinic (seikotsuin), we also bring knowledge of the body’s structure and how the muscles connect into our treatments.
“I’ve been told my scalp is tight.”
“My head has been feeling heavy lately.”
“My neck and shoulders are tired, too.”
If this sounds like you, try touching your own scalp.
If you’re looking for head massage or a dry head spa in Shinjuku, we warmly invite you to visit La HEAD.
In a calm, fully private room, we provide careful care tailored to each guest’s body.