There is no scientific evidence that massaging the scalp will help with treating hair loss.
If one searches online for an answer to this question, most websites state that massaging helps with hair growth by referring to a research article published in January 2016 in ePlasty. This is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing medical and scientific knowledge in the fields of burns, plastic and reconstructive surgery. The headline of the article stated that scalp massage increased hair thickness by causing stretching at the root hair.
Firstly, one should be cautious as the study was carried out in only 9 Japanese men who did not suffer from hair loss. I believe that the conclusion could have been inaccurate as the number of subjects investigated was very small.
As per the article, when it came to comparing the thickness of the hair, the massaged area on the scalp showed no significant change in hair thickness at the end of the 24-week study period to the control area (area that no massage took place). However, there was an increase in hair thickness at the 12 week point (half way point in the study) in the massaged area. I believe that this is the statement that most people state when advocating that scalp massage helps with hair loss.
Furthermore, when looking at the density of the hair, at the end of the 24-week study period, there was no significant difference between the density between the massaged area and the control area. In fact, hair density in the massage area showed significant decrease at 12 weeks compared with baseline. Hair density in the control area showed no significant change at any point compared with baseline.
What about the growth rate of the hair? Throughout the 24-week study period, hair growth rate showed no significant difference between the massage area and the control area. In addition, hair growth rate both in the massage area and in the control area showed no significant change at any point compared with baseline.
This illustrates that there is no scientific evidence that massaging the scalp helps to treat hair loss. In the future, more robust and focused studies (on patients with balding scalp) about scalp massaging may need to be designed and carried out in this field.
However, there is merit in scalp massaging for relaxation purposes to reduce stress levels which in turn may help with managing the balance of the stress hormone cortisol. For dry flaky condition of the scalp, moisturising with coconut oil by gentle massaging will also help.
For treating dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and dry scaly scalp, massaging the scalp in the shower using the correct shampoo will mechanically help remove the dead skin, scales and deposits from the scalp.
Before massaging the scalp, there are certain types of hair loss where one should be careful. Where there is active scarring alopecia on the scalp, there is a risk that massaging the scalp may aggravate the pain, burning, inflammation of the scarring tissue and may result in worsening of the scarring alopecia.