Go With the Flow

Thus far, I've read a lot on beauty, not on color or brow shape but on the process of "beautifying". And upon this cross-study, I've found that a lot of beautifying has to do with circulation. From dry brushes to Vitamin-E oil to doing headstands on the daily, suggestions as to how to stimulate circulation abound. Recently, I bought a comb worth 40 USD (face plant) to help redistribute the oil from my scalp, across my ultra-dry tresses but this money (obviously) was not completely necessary. As I've always thought, our own bodies often work fine in completing the tasks otherwise left to products and/or technology. So before I bought said comb, I debated about weather to buy a manufactured product or simply use my own hands to make my tresses more glossy. In the end, I bought the comb to prevent me from purchasing a more expensive moisturizer but waiting on the decision further reinforced the idea that we can simply use basic ingredients, or even better, our own appendages to "beautify" our appearance (if we ever want to). This notion is especially relevant in the area of circulation.

Compliments of Into the Gloss

In terms of blood flow, a place where blood flows to is the head, what with its concentration of nerve endings. I recall in eleventh-grade science, our teacher telling us that if we ever got cut on our head, we were gonna bleed badly. But the head offers a place where, if we're not cut, we can stimulate circulation in our bodies. In terms of Vitamin-E, I read last week that using the nutrient in oil form can help stimulate circulation when applied to the scalp (see HuffPost article: Vitamin E Oil: Why You Should Use On Your Body With Caution). But, like many products, our hands do the same task just fine. So with this in mind, I've been putting scalp massages on the schedule, not necessarily with other people but on my own time. Shampooing the hair or simply brushing it out with our fingers provides a great opportunity to get the blood flowing in our northernmost region. Referring back to the HuffPost article an, '[increase in] blood flow to the area could help to enhance the health and strength of the hair follicle,' according to a Dr. Broumand. And as stated in Masseuse on the Loose, giving ourselves or our loved ones a massage is somewhat intuitive.

According to Livestrong.com, scalp massages help you to relax. De-stressing is good for all of us. It can boost our longevity, fight of illness and lead to a better quality of life. But in the short-term, scalp massages can help rid a flaky scalp of dandruff (particularly when a moisturizing oil is used) or even lead to better sleep (again, according to Livestrong.com). But what of the effects of increased circulation? Besides the superficial benefits of brightening our complexion (see above photo), increasing circulation carries nutrients throughout the body. In the case of the scalp, such a process can lead to better hair growth and/or healthier hair once the follicle is nourished. In my case, it can also help redistribute oil throughout my head of hair. And, as I have found, massaging your scalp when your hair is dry is a bit easier than in the shower when your hair is wet and matted to your person. Each day when I get home from work (or even at work when I'm stressed), I simply take a few moments to rub my scalp with my fingers using circular motions. And while I'd likely fork over big bucks to have this done at a salon, you're extra lucky if you come home to a loved one who will do this for you for free. And if they need a little assistance in the process, the video below should be a help. Enjoy!