Natural Hair Regrowth 2019 Update

Some of the more popular posts on this site are those that discuss how I regrew a lot of my hair by massaging my scalp for two twenty minute sessions a day, twice a day, for eight months. I started the experiment in June 2014, over five years ago, and first wrote about it in April of 2015. For me, daily scalp massage was an effective natural hair regrowth method.

I learned about the scalp massage program from Rob English, who runs the site Perfect Hair Health. (Recently Rob offered me an affiliate deal, which I accepted, so I receive a commission from subscriptions via links on my site.)

People still write to me asking about the experiment. Here’s what I tell them:

1. Yes, I still have all (or nearly all — it’s hard to tell) of the hair I regrew.
2. I still do the scalp massage, but only for a few minutes each day.
3. I never managed to fully regrow all of my lost hair, I still have a “receding” hairline (though it has stopped receding and thinning, as far as I can tell).

2014 “Before” Picture

Here’s a picture I took in 2014, right before starting the hair regrowth experiment:

2019 Hair Pictures

Here are pictures of my hair from a couple months ago:

When I’ve slacked off on the scalp massage, I notice that after a few months my hair looks a little thinner. But if I’m consistent about the massage it thickens up again after a couple months. Here are some pictures from yesterday, right after a haircut:

I’d estimate that the “minimum effective dose” for scalp massage, for myself, is pretty small: 3-5 minutes a day, ~5 days a week. I doubt I would have made much progress if I’d started with that little scalp massage, but it appears to be enough to maintain scalp looseness and prevent recalcification and sebum buildup.

During the initial experiment, I massaged my scalp for twenty minutes a day, each morning and each evening. I didn’t really know what I was doing when I started, and it took a long time (five months) to see significant results.

Scalp Massage Method

I use a combination of three techniques:

1. With one hand, pinch and release a small section of my scalp with a “claw” grip, using the nails (which I keep short) to get a good grip. I’m not scratching my scalp; my scalp is moving with the motion of my hand (which is true for all the techniques).
2. Using my palms, press and squeeze my scalp in circular motions, using a fair amount of pressure.
3. With both hands, with a more open “claw” grip, stretch, pull, and compress my scalp in various directions.

After a few minutes I can feel the blood flow increase, and overall the effect is relaxing and revitalizing. At this point I might even do the scalp massage if it didn’t help my hair;  it’s therapeutic.

I focus mostly on the top and front of my head (the areas where I have the most hair loss).

I use a fair amount of force, really digging my fingers deep into my scalp, and manipulating the deepest layers of tissue. But I don’t scratch or abrade my skin, and it doesn’t hurt.

Why Does It Work?

The idea is that daily, deep scalp massage breaks up and loosens calcified scalp tissue, releases trapped sebum, improves blood flow, and nourishes hair follicles. It takes a long time to work, but nearly all of Rob’s clients who were willing to put in the time saw significant hair regrowth.

Experimental Evidence

Rob English originally learned about the scalp massage technique from this paper published by Henry Choy. After years of working with his own clients, Rob is now pretty skeptical of Choy’s astounding results. Rob has begun to publish some of his own work in peer-reviewed scientific journals. You can read both of his papers, in full, here.

While Rob goes into an incredible amount of detail on his own site, some of his top level findings include:

1. Consistent scalp massage helps regrow at least some hair for most people, but it takes at least several months to see results.
2. Increased initial “shedding” within a few weeks of starting the intense scalp massage program is fairly common.
3. Longer daily scalp massage and longer overall duration of scalp massage (number of weeks/months) is associated with greater hair regrowth.
4. The scalp massage is effective for both men and women with hair loss (though Rob has more male clients).
5. Nutrition can make a difference, but generally only if there are nutritional deficiencies in the diet. Rob has several clients who responded well to greater daily protein intake and/or improved iron intake/absorption (the easiest way to increase iron absorption is to have vitamin C with every meal). In people with adequate diets, typical “hair regrowth” vitamins (such as additional vitamin A or biotin) make no difference.

What About DHT?

It’s well established that the accumulation of the male hormone DHT is responsible for miniaturization of the hair follicle, and resulting hair loss. Drugs like finasteride that block DHT can prevent male hair loss and in some cases help regrow hair. But finasteride can come with sexual and psychological side effects, some of which may not resolve even after stopping the drug.

According to Rob, the scalp massage program improves blood flow, and prevents the accumulation of DHT in and around the hair follicle. Obviously this is much safer than a drug regimen, and it appears to be just as effective.

Rob goes into much more detail into the relationship between DHT and hair regrowth in this paper. He also explores some interesting ideas and research in regards to skull shape and hair loss (hair regrowth potential is probably more limited in men with thicker, bonier skulls). Personally I’ve noticed that the parts of my scalp that refuse to regrow hair correspond with the thickest parts of my skull (upper forehead).

Is Perfect Hair Health Legit? Is Rob English Legit?

Yes. I know Rob personally, and at this point consider him a friend. I’ve met up with him a number of times, and we exchange feedback on fiction and screen writing projects. Rob has put an enormous amount of work into his site, and has already helped hundreds of people with hair loss (myself included). He’s not peddling snake oil or trying to make a quick buck. Rob is a kind, thoughtful, intelligent guy running a legitimate business that provides enormous value. He’s not running a charity; he does charge for his program and support (he has to make a living — running the site takes up a great deal of his time).

Comments and Questions

I’ll leave comments open on this post for at least a couple weeks, and try to answer any questions. But do me a favor and read my initial post, as well as the comments, before you ask a question, as I may have already answered it. Also, I did the experiment five years ago, so my answers from back then are probably more accurate than what I remember now.

In general, I think scalp massage is a safe, inexpensive alternative to drugs, expensive scalp oils, hair transplants, and other options for men who want more hair on their heads. You can just follow the instructions in this post for free, or you can subscribe to Rob’s site. He’ll be able to offer guidance throughout the process, which I definitely cannot.

Good luck, and good health to you!