Life can be busy, stressful, and chaotic, and it is only natural to find yourself feeling tense and uncomfortable. For many of us, tension tends to be held in the face, and the forehead is a common culprit for holding high levels of stress, resulting in fine lines, discomfort, and, in some cases, pain.
Learning how to relax your forehead muscles is an important skill, and one which can be achieved without resorting to expensive treatments or surgery – instead, we have an alternative that is much kinder to your body, wellbeing, and wallet.
What Can Help You To Relax Forehead Muscles?
There are five main elements to consider when you are relaxing your forehead muscles, and these are:
Facial Exercises
Just as you work out and move your body to keep it toned, firm, and relaxed, you also need to apply this mindset to the muscles of your face. In total, there are 57 muscles in your face, and these are all too often neglected – regular exercise is required to keep them lifted and strong, but this is not a natural activity for many of us.
When you work out your arms, legs, back, core and glutes on a regular basis, you will notice the muscles becoming stronger and more toned, with the attached skin also lifting and tightening.
When you exercise your face, the same principles apply; you need to be working those 57 muscles in order to lift them, tone and firm them, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
The key issue is the size of the muscles; those in the face tend to be much smaller, and so it will take longer to tone and strengthen them to see a result.
Studies suggest that the effort is worth it, however; according to experts, daily facial exercises – also known by some as “face yoga” can take up to three years off your face – and all with no surgical intervention!
This is great for relaxing the muscles of the forehead – the more regularly they are exercised, the stronger they will be.
Facial Massage
As well as exercising and working the muscles of the face, you should also take time to ensure that you are regularly massaging the whole area. Regular massages help to increase the levels of elastin and collagen in the skin – these are both natural plumping agents, which work to help make your skin appear firmer and healthier.
A daily massage will also help to improve poor skin tone and can alleviate dark circles and puffy eyes – all of which work together to give you a more lifted, youthful glow.
Facial massage can help to reduce forehead tension by redirecting blood back into the skin, soothing tired muscles, and boosting the levels of natural plumping agents.
Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient technique that increases the flow of energy – or prana – to the face by pressing on certain, specific points, each of which are designed to help different spots on the face – including the forehead. Acupressure is great for increasing and improving your circulation, reducing tension, and adding a healthier glow.
Relaxation
Forehead tension is often the result of holding excess levels of stress, tension, and anxiety in the face, and this can result in deep lines and wrinkles, as well as discomfort that arises as a result of constantly holding tension. By learning how to relax the muscles of the face, you can enjoy a calmer, more comfortable forehead.
Stress in your daily life also tends to show up on your face, and so it is important to invest plenty of time in general relaxation and wellbeing. The calmer and happier you feel, the more radiant and energized you will look – and this will show itself in reduced levels of tension in the forehead.
Are There Any Exercises That Can Help To Relax Forehead Muscles?
In addition to the techniques we have discussed above, there are also a number of exercises that you can try which are designed to help reduce the amount of tension in the forehead, resulting in a more relaxed and comfortable look and feel.
Smooth Your Frown Lines
For this exercise, start by making your fingers into hooks, and then use your knuckles to stroke up the face, along with the muscle between your eyebrows – known as the procerus muscle.
Beginning at the top of the nose, take your stroke up to the hairline, and right to the top of the forehead. Repeat this upwards motion over and over for a minute to encourage this muscle to relax. The pressure here should be hard enough that you feel an energizing sensation, but not so hard that you feel pain, or start dragging at your skin.
This is ideal for reducing lines in the area, smoothing any lines that have already appeared, and brightening the skin by encouraging oxygen and fresh blood to the area.
The Palm Stroke
For this exercise, you need to totally relax your face, and take care not to lift your eyebrows – this can be trickier than it sounds. Before you start, take a moment to realize how it feels when the muscles of your forehead are totally relaxed. Memorize this sensation, and take time to check in throughout the day to ensure that you are maintaining this level of relaxation.
Close your eyes, and place the palm of your hand in the center of your forehead. Slide your palm across your forehead, and then lift your hand, switch to the other hand, and slide the second hand in the opposite direction. Continue this for a minute, alternating the hand that you use on each stroke, and taking care not to place too much pressure and drag the skin.
This is an exercise that massages the frontalis muscle in your forehead, helping to reduce tension and alleviate the risk of tension headaches. This can also be great for reducing expression lines, improving circulation, and brightening your overall complexion.
Walk The Forehead
For this technique, you will need to start by placing your index, ring, and middle finger on both hands onto your eyebrows. Take a deep breath in as you press down, and carefully inhale and exhale in through the nose, and out through the nose.
Slowly make your way up to your forehead, moving around 1cm each time, and stop at each stage to take a deep breath for 10 seconds as you press down. Once you have reached your hairline, return to the starting point and repeat the exercise a second time. Take care not to press too hard, or you may see excess redness as you boost the blood flow to the skin.
This is a great exercise for making the most of your acupressure points and can help to alleviate insomnia, reduce stress and decrease the chances of tension headaches. In addition, this exercise can be great for relaxing the muscles and balancing the mind.
Final Thoughts
Reducing tension in your forehead does more than reduce your chances of developing fine lines and wrinkles – though this is undeniably a bonus. Regular practice and exercises can also help to reduce the risk of tension headaches, leaving you feeling calmer and more relaxed on a daily basis.
