Crown Chakra Healing: What It Is And How To Do It - Byrdie

If you think about it, your hair– no matter how long or short– has been with you through some stuff (obviously the longer it is, the more you've been through together). As many joyous occasions have passed– whether those were weddings, promotions, milestone birthdays, or other special moments– there were likely just as many difficult times, which brings us to the question: does hair hold trauma?

To put it simply, yes. “Each strand is a tiny chronicle of every emotional, hormonal, and nutritional experience,” says Andi Scarbrough, co-owner of Framed Salon in Santa Monica, and creator of the CrownWorks treatment. But, it's about more than just the physical hair; there may be a spiritual component to it, too.

Your crown chakra might be your roadmap to healing. According to experts, when your crown chakra is blocked, you might be experiencing a sense of disconnect from yourself, confusion about your next steps, and trouble getting rid of bad habits. But can healing your crown chakra be as simple as a haircut? And while we're on the topic...what even is a crown chakra? We spoke with three healing experts who gave us all of the details on what it is, how you can heal yours, and why your hair is so important to the process. Read on and be enlightened.

Meet the Experts

• Angelica Neri is an intuitive healer and has practiced for over a decade as a Certified Reiki Master, Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, as well as a 500 E-RYT kundalini and meditation instructor. She is also the founder of The Divine Healer's Membership.
• Dr. Elizabeth Trattner A.P., DOM. ACM is a Florida State licensed acupuncturist, an Integrative and Chinese Medicine expert, and the owner of Helia House.
• Andi Scarbrough is the co-owner of Framed salon in Santa Monica and creator of the CrownWorks treatment.

What are Chakras?

"Chakra means “wheel” and we have seven main ones," explains Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a beauty and wellness expert in Integrative and Chinese Medicine. She adds that there are additional smaller chakras, too, that are called “Nadis,” which can be found on the palms and feet.

The seven main chakras are aligned along the column of our spine, adds Angelica Neri, intuitive healer and Certified Reiki Master. The chakra system originated from India and can be found in the Vedic texts containing transformational sciences like Yoga and Ayurveda, she says. "A chakra is likened to a spinning wheel of energy that identifies the unique connection between our mind, body and spirit."

What Is the Crown Chakra?

"The crown chakra is the seventh main energy center in the chakra system, residing 5 inches or so above our head," explains Neri. Dr. Trattner points out that the crown chakra is the highest chakra. She says, "In Traditional Chinese medicine, it is the acupuncture point Du 20, a very powerful point that lifts energy of the body. In Sanskrit this is called Sahasrara."

Both Neri and Dr. Trattner tell us that your crown chakra is connected to spirituality, interconnectedness, and enlightenment—it's all about your growth and well being. Neri says to think of it as "those synchronistic, miracle moments in life like a song coming on the radio that happens to be exactly what you needed to hear, the perfect job opportunity effortlessly falling into your lap after losing another one or meeting a new friend that just so happens to be related to your best friend."

“The crown chakra connects us to our higher self, spirit, universal truth, god, source—whatever you feel comfortable calling it,” Scarborough, adds. “When there is a blockage or interference here, one might feel confused, isolated or disconnected. Someone with a blockage in the crown may find themselves running in circles with chronic indecision, lack of focus, or questioning their own judgment.”

You might think of regular trips to the salon as trend-chasing or vanity, but that’s not always the case, says Scarborough. Often our hairdressers become our closest confidantes. “For many people, a hair appointment is a really rare and special time of sitting still and sometimes even being touched. In this space, issues frequently come up. It’s one of the only small semi-mandatory self-care experiences in which most of us indulge. Most people don’t have energy healers on standby or even a therapist or coach they see regularly. So as a regular and long-standing point of contact in many of my clients’ lives, I have a unique perspective and, I believe, a responsibility to honor that intimate access and connection they have granted me,” she says.

Why Is Hair Important to your Crown Chakra?

Hair is so much more than just protein and melanin. “Most people with shoulder-length hair are carrying with them the last three to six years of every sickness, setback, or traumatic incident," says Scarborough.

Culturally, hair is significant too. Think about it—how many people do you know who cut their hair after getting married or going through a breakup; maybe you can even speak from experience. “Hair is ceremoniously cut in various rituals from birth to death in many cultures,” Scarborough adds. “The shaving of one’s head is traditionally done in mourning—a sacrifice signifying humility and relative impermanence of such a loss.

And Neri explains, "Hair is a part of our identity. We as humans are constantly evolving and shedding old identities in order to step into the new. If you have gone through a trauma, you may feel intuitively called to let go of your past and shift into a new version of yourself. The act of cutting your hair can not only help you release the past, but also, open you up to reaching higher states of consciousness and stepping into a new era."

“In modern Western culture, while we may not have the conscious understanding of the spiritual impact of why we choose to cut our hair after big life changes like a graduation or divorce, but we still feel compelled to do so. In shamanic practice, there is a ceremony called a cutting of cords, a release of old energies, patterns, beliefs, and connections," Scarbrough adds.

How Do Haircuts Factor In?

“By re-ritualizing the haircut, stylists have the beautiful opportunity to stand in an unbiased space and witness whatever clients may be experiencing (maybe it’s a breakup, a conflict at work, or being confronted with a fear of aging). We offer a safe space for them to be heard and an audience with whom to test-drive ideas; a person who won’t judge them or hold them accountable to action and therefore provide a place for a raw honesty that’s hard to come by. In a world of super connectivity, real human interaction has become quite a commodity. It’s our job to make clients feel like the world sees them as the stunning creatures they are, and I personally want that feeling to last longer than the blow-dry," explains Scarbrough.

Scarbrough grew up in a Southern Christian household, but her general curiosity for the world lead her to explore many other faiths and practices, including pagan and shamanic rituals and ceremonies which have come to make up her CrownWorks treatment. “In my personal exploration, I discovered some common threads around the idea of energetic exchange, stuck energy, and what some would call transcendence,” she explains. “I realized a haircut was not at all dissimilar from a shamanic cutting-of-cords ceremony.”

We don’t need to wait for a special moment to turn our attention to our crown chakra. “The truth is any moment we are breathing can be an opportunity to seep in intention,” Scarborough says. “Life is a series of little moments that will, without fail, go on regardless of how much attention and presence we give them. The only cure for the mundane is to celebrate it. And in the end, all we have to show for this life are a string of memories of what we cared enough about to make special.”

And Neri adds, "Your hair is an extension of your crown chakra. When you cut your hair, there is a surge of energy that goes to your crown chakra, which can accelerate spiritual growth. Yogis use this practice to reach higher states of consciousness and have a specific practice around it. However, cutting your hair also keeps this energy center open and receptive to picking upother energies. This is why some yogis continuously grow out their hair or wear turbans, they are protecting their crown chakra."

How Does Crown Chakra Healing Work?

Every CrownWorks treatment with Scarbrough is different depending on what her clients need: “I noticed that all spiritual practices use what I would refer to as a point of entry.” Whether it’s a Tibetan singing bowl, a rosary, or a crystal, tools can be very helpful in anchoring focus and intention in any practice.

“For some clients, there’s a guided meditation before a haircut to symbolically release old experiences and beliefs that are no longer of service. For others, it is a gentle shoulder massage (with a little Reiki energy infusion) while they discuss the motivation for their big change. Some people want to have a third eye–opening essential oil infusion present during their deep conditioning treatment, and others just want an extra relaxing aromatherapy oil added to their steam towel. Some clients know those oils are clearing, like clary sage or palo santo; others just enjoy the fragrance. Sometimes we work with sound healing instruments like singing bowls or tuning forks."

“The truth is that in healing work, like in yoga, overstretching someone into a place [of] discomfort is counterproductive. I’m not here to blast anyone with something that feels too far out or in contradiction to their belief systems. Every time a client sits in my chair, I state my intention (sometimes silently, sometimes aloud) to provide for them whatever space they may need. My hope for them is to experience an increased and lasting feeling of beauty and well-being, for the greatest good of all concerned. People come to hairdressers to feel better," says Scarbrough.

Dr. Trattner also likes to use crystals to heal your crown chakra, "When I work with all patients I have a clear quartz crystal under their pillows in my office. Quartz, specifically clear quartz is associated with the crown chakra. I use a natural pointed crystal to direct the crown chakra energy. Natural points on any crystal are essential for healing as the energy flows out of the tip of the apex. In my biophilic office, the Helia House, there are over 200 natural clear quartz crystals are embedded in the building to assist with the flow of energy along with a total of 1000."

Both Dr. Trattner and Scarbrough like to use a pendulum as well. Scarsbrough explains, "I also use a pendulum to assist with opening the crown chakra. It is important o test to see if it is open first by asking the pendulum yes/no questions. You will get either a circle or back and forth. Start by asking the pendulum yes/no questions such as "My name is ...?" To see what is your yes and no. Then, you can have someone lie down and see if they are open by using the pendulum. You will either get a yes or no, then watch the way the chakra spins compared to your other chakras. This can be done effectively with a clear quartz point or a pendulum."

How to Check In With Your Crown Chakra at Home

“An at-home hair treatment is a great opportunity for a weekly crown chakra check-in! You will have to dedicate about 10 to 20 minutes to the task,” says Scarbrough. “In the salon, we always recommend starting with clarifying shampoo before treatment to remove any buildup or residue that may block the hair mask from working. In the same manner, it can be a highly therapeutic addition to practicing a five-minute free-form writing exercise before you start the treatment. Journaling serves as a brain dump to purge any mental residue (anger, judgments, frustrations) that may have built up during the week. Remember, don’t worry about it making sense or being legible, and never reread your free-form writing; always destroy the paper when you’re finished. The crown is where we receive intuitive guidance and connection to our higher self or power. Since vibrationally what you give attention to you get more of, listing out any insights you received during the week is a great way to use the time."

Scarborough recommends adding a drop or two of essential oil to your chosen hair mask. Her go-to is and she adds it to her regular hair conditioner, too. "Water has always been renowned as a highly effective spiritual conduit," she explains. "Make this at-home treatment a purposeful practice: You can ask questions or request guidance at this time." You can also incorporate meditation as you let your hair mask sit, either using an app or doing a self-guided session. "Apps like Headspace and Omvana are great tools if you prefer guidance or structure (and a timer!) on your meditative treatment. I also love the Chakra Tuner app—it tones all the way up or down (or both) the entire chakra system in seven minutes each direction," she says. "You can also set a timer on one specific chakra, such as the crown, and just listen to that. Sound is really helpful for me, personally, in quieting my mind. And when I first got into practicing meditation, chanting along with the app really helped me stay present."

Neri's method also involves the power of meditation. "You can actually check your chakras through meditation. Just by tuning into the energy 5 inches above your head, observe any images, sounds, feelings or inner knowings coming through. Is this indicating an imbalance or balanced state? However, if you haven’t established a meditation practice yet, this practice may seem difficult. A fun, little party trick is to use a pendulum or pair of mala beads to detect if a chakra is out of balance. It is easiest to do this with a friend. Have the friend lie down belly up on the floor. Hold the pendulum or mala beads firmly in your hand and hover them over your crown chakra. If the beads or pendulum swings side to side, it is out of balance. If it stops, there is a block. If it is swinging in a circle, it is balanced. You can also use this practice for any chakra," she says.

Healing Oils and Crystals

“Some of my clients hold crystals to help with both focus and intention during the treatment. I’ve listed my favorite crystals below, along with some oils that you can add to your at-home treatments or ask your hairstylist to use during a conditioning treatment at the salon," Scarsbrough says.

• Amethyst: Heightens intuitive connection, works to break addictive behaviors, and promotes overall balance.
• Selenite: Energizes. Promotes mental clarity and breaks through the fog of negative thought patterns.
• Hematite: Grounding. Brings us back into the body; protects and absorbs negative energy
• Rose Quartz: Heart-opening stone of love; facilitates forgiveness and helps release feelings of animosity.
• Blue Lotus Oil: Enhances meditation by stimulating the pineal gland (also known as the third eye).
• Melissa Oil: This is used for facilitating a lightness of being and relaxation and soothing the nervous system. It’s also antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory, making it a great choice from those dealing with chronic illnesses.
• Clary Sage: Clears and balances energy, alleviates depression and anxiety symptoms. It's also wonderful for scalp problems as it balances hormonal issues, this can be great for someone with menopausal symptoms or menstrual irregularity.
• Lavender: This oil is made for the crown! Not only does it evoke a sense of peace and tranquility, but use it with steam and breathe deeply; it’s great for the respiratory tract as well. It’s also a dream for the hair from scalp to ends. Its antiseptic properties may be great for treating mild scalp irritations.
• Palo santo: A sacred tool used to loosen, clear and disperse negative energy from the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional bodies.

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