It’s unanimously agreed that the best part of going to the hair salon is the head massage you receive at the basin, right? Well, prepare for Japanese head spas to become your new obsession.
With over 350 million videos on TikTok, it’s no wonder that Japanese head spas are becoming increasingly popular in Australia. If you haven’t come across the trend just yet, you can think of head spas as a facial or massage for your head and scalp.
The treatment has deep cultural roots, evolving from traditions that prioritise holistic wellness. Head spas are equally therapeutic and indulgent, with a focus on both scalp health and stabilising hormones through massage techniques. These treatments generate great results and unparalleled levels of relaxation, so get ready to book this as a part of your next self-care day.
What does a head spa treatment involve?
Every head spa salon that you go to will have a slightly different offering. As a starting point, you can expect a Japanese head spa to include scalp care, shampoo and conditioner, as well as a luxurious head and neck massage.
Some more intensive treatments offer a scalp analysis, a steam or mist to assist in product absorption, or a waterfall head bath. The waterfall head bath allows a very gentle flow of water to trickle onto your forehead from a waterfall-like machine, creating ultimate tranquillity.
During a treatment, the scalp gets a professional detox. Nozomi Oshima, founder of Tokyo Headspa says that head spas offer “deep cleansing of the scalp with exfoliators and masks to eliminate excess oil or sebum, which we don’t normally do at home.”
What are the benefits of Japanese head spas?
Head spa treatments offer a range of benefits, from increased hair thickness to decreased stress and anxiety. There are also claims that head massage may decrease headaches.
The detox process that happens during treatment is likely to improve overall hair health.
“When you remove excess sebum or build up, the scalp gets healthy,” Nozomi explains. “A healthy scalp accelerates growing healthy hair”.
Not only will you see an improvement in hair and scalp health, you may also experience a positive result on your stress hormones.
Can anyone book in for a head spa?
While head spas are considered safe, Nozomi says “there is no previous study for pregnant women”, so it isn’t recommended to visit a head spa if you are pregnant, and also advised against if you are undergoing cancer treatment.
However, if you have colour treated hair or keratin treatments, head spas are fine to book. Most salons will use a general hair care shampoo and conditioner which will not affect your hair colour or treatment.
If you are unsure about the products used, it is best to discuss with the salon prior to treatment.
How often should you get a Japanese head spa treatment?
A head spa can be treated like any regular massage, so book as frequently as you like. Nozomi recommends continuing to massage your scalp at home daily in between appointments.
“Even at home, you can do a three-minute massage before you sleep“, she says. “But when you come to a professional massage therapist, we do a more technical approach to the massage”.
While the professional treatment will offer the best results, continuing the practice at home will assist in long term benefits.
