Humans are hard wired to crave the touch of other humans. The scalp has thousands of nerve points that connect to the amygdala which is that part of the brain that is our pleasure center. The touching of the hair is rapidly transferred to this pleasure center making you “feel good”.
The brain releases reward hormones, such as dopamine. This links hair pulling with the reward. It causes a hair-pulling habit to form. Each time the person pulls hair, the brain releases a small burst of reward hormone.
Some refer to it as a “brain orgasm.” Have you ever felt a static-like or tingling sensation on the top of your head when someone brushes your hair or whispers to you? The feeling may travel down your arms and your spine, and it likely makes you feel very relaxed.
Autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, causes a tingling sensation in your head and neck after triggers like repetitive movements or whispering. Most people describe the tingling as very relaxing, even pleasurable. Scientists have only recently started studying ASMR, and there's a lot they don't know about it.
Some studies have found having your scalp rubbed can increase serotonin — the feel-good hormone — which can ease pain and boost your mood.
Some men are possessive about their hair, so they don't enjoy a random person touching it. However, if he likes you, he might feel relaxed when you run your fingers through his hair. They feel special and pampered by your touch. You can enhance their experience by lightly massaging their scalp.
The small muscles around your head are receptive to touch, with an extensive network of nerve endings and touch receptors. In fact, the head has more touch receptors than the back, which means that this area can really benefit from massage.
Human contact causes the body to react by reducing cortisol levels, which “can lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate, all of which reduce stress and have beneficial impacts on our overall well-being and mood,” says Williams.
The areas of the brain ASMR activates are associated with hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, all of which can promote these feelings.
She's Flirting
One of the signs a woman finds a man attractive is that she plays with her hair. It's a subconscious gesture that says, “I'm trying to get your attention.” One study found that after a woman's face, hair is the most attractive female body part.
Originally Answered: What does it mean when a girl starts running her fingers through your hair and playing with it? If you haven't kissed by this point she's telling you to go ahead. This does not necessarily mean she wants to have sex just then, but she's definitely interested in you.
Women often employ hair twirling as a way to flirt. Of course, twirling the hair also feels good, so we do it at times when we are preoccupied as a means of relaxing. If you are a twirler, you will notice you tend to twirl your hair at similar times.
In 2002, Dr. Fred Penzel suggested that there was a link between the body's sensory regulation system and trichotillomania. His Stimulus Regulation Model of Trichotillomania theorized that that people pull their hair in response to some sensory need that the pulling satisfies.
Many people use the hair pulling behavior as a coping mechanism for negative feelings like anxiety. They have an exceedingly tough time coping with difficult emotions such as these without performing the self-soothing behavior.
In seeking sensory stimulation, people tend to go to the sites where there are many nerve endings. Hands, feet, mouth and the scalp are common places. It would thus stand to reason that hair pulling, skin picking, nail biting, cheek biting, nose picking, be targets for sensory seeking behaviors.
People who have ADHD tend to be quite treatment resistant, because it's hard to find something that helps. So for people who have overactive brains, or think all the time, or can't stop being anxious, chaotic ASMR is one of the only things that works.
There are several theories as to why people become addicted to ASMR: Stress relief: Many people find that ASMR helps them relax and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. The calming effect of ASMR triggers the release of dopamine and endorphins, which can create a sense of well-being and pleasure.
Other terms for ASMR are "brain tingles" and "head orgasm." This sensation is described as a pleasant, even euphoric, tingling warmth and/or feeling of relaxation that comes in waves across the head, neck, and spine. This phenomenon is often triggered by soothing auditory and/or visual experiences.
The constant pulling can cause strands of your hair to break or fall out. In time, the continuous pulling can damage your hair follicles. If you damage your hair follicles, your hair cannot grow back, so you develop permanent hair loss.
"Some people touch their hair, play with their fingernails, or rub their arms, as a way to psychologically and physiologically calm themselves when they're feeling anxious, uncomfortable,or stressed," Blanca Cobb, body language expert and author of Method of the Masters, told GoodHousekeeping.com.
When it comes to romance, nothing is more tender and loving than the simple effort of gentle attention to your mate. One of the most sensual, and appreciated actions, is taking the time to wash someone's hair for them. One bath, one shampoo, and one simple way to show deep affection.
Massaging your scalp everyday will enhance blood circulation and can even strengthen your follicles. However, make sure you do it gently and don't rub vigorously. This can cause your hair to break. In case you have used an oil while massaging your scalp, make sure you rinse it off within an hour.
As you can see, the part of the brain that processes touch etc. is much more active for your hands than it is for other areas of the body. This is why your leg feels more sensitive when somebody else touches it versus when you're touching your own leg.
Your Brain Releases Feel-Good Chemicals and Pain Diminishes
The therapist's touch causes an immediate reaction in your brain. As soon as your skin's nerve cells feel pressure, they signal the brain to release feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which boost your mood and give you a natural high.