An Expert's 5-Minute Scalp Massage To Ease Tension Anywhere & Anytime

Need a moment of relaxation this Thanksgiving? I'd wager you probably do, no matter what you are up to, be it staying home with your immediate household or safely seeing a small group of friends or family. Holidays can be stressful, regardless, and now couple that with the added anxiety of this stressful time? It can feel overwhelming. At times like this, taking a moment to tend to yourself, ground yourself, and relieve tension is of the utmost importance. 

Often when people talk about "self-care" in beauty, it involves making some sort of purchase—a mask, a lipstick, a bright new nail varnish—but self-care doesn't need to come at a cost. We've talked about this plenty: Self-care is something you do, not something you buy. However, with many beauty and self-care rituals, you genuinely need the right objects on hand to do them. (You need a stone to gua sha, you need products for a night of masking, for example.)

Celebrity colorist and founder of his namesake brand Christophe Robin recommends that everyone do a scalp massage regularly, noting that it can ease scalp tension, promote hair growth, and boost your mood (learn more about the benefits of scalp massage, here—believe us, there's plenty to love about this ritual).

According to Robin, you can start by lightly wetting the pads of your fingers with an oil—but if you don't want to dampen your roots or simply don't have one on hand, no worries: This is totally possible sans oil or product. If you do choose to use an oil, you can absolutely find options right in your kitchen; he recommends jojoba or sweet almond oil.