After noticing a handful of ultra-sensorial movies on my TikTok For You web page that showcased Japanese head spa remedies (as of this writing, #headspa has 168 million views on the app), I used to be tempted to provide my scalp somewhat TLC of its personal. So—for the sake of analysis and the sorry state of my strands (and since there isn’t presently a head spa in my residence metropolis of San Francisco)—I flew to Los Angeles for an appointment with Sayuri Tchushitani at Head Spa EN searching for higher hair days.
What’s a Japanese Head Spa?
Although head spas have solely not too long ago change into in style within the West, they’ve lengthy been widespread throughout Asia, and supply therapeutic massages that promote a wholesome scalp, robust hair, higher sleep, stress reduction, and extra.
The therapy itself focuses on the scalp and hair. “It entails deep clear, detox, therapeutic massage to nourish the scalp and hair,” says Keiko Uehara, co-founder and CEO of Blow Me Away Organic Salon and Head Spa in Los Angeles. “It incorporates Japanese therapeutic massage approach with natural merchandise to stimulate blood stream and promote wholesome hair development.”
Associated Tales
The time period ‘head spa’ is used interchangeably to explain each the salon and the therapy itself, and its origins may be traced again to Ayurvedic medication in India, which has lengthy relied on herbs and oils for hair development and to nourish the scalp.
“In Japan, hair is taken into account an necessary side of magnificence and grooming, and taking good care of the scalp is seen as an integral a part of sustaining wholesome and delightful hair,” explains Uehara, “It’s a custom in Japan to obtain a head therapeutic massage whereas doing different hair remedies and that contributed to the event of head spa in that space.”
Rising up in Japan, Tchushitani realized firsthand about the advantages of those remedies. However when she turned a hairstylist within the West (specifically in New York, London, and Los Angeles), she observed a bent to cowl up scalp points with over-the-counter lotions and ache relievers as a substitute of coping with the foundation trigger. “Many remedies put band-aids on the problem fairly than treating the issue on the supply,” she says.
So she determined to open a head spa of her personal that might supply a extra holistic strategy to hair care than what we’ve historically seen within the US. “Stress causes extra issues than we give it credit score for, and the pinnacle spa is a small sanctuary from all of that,” she says.
The advantages of Japanese head spas
Your purpose for visiting a head spa may vary from treating cussed dandruff to enjoyable your thoughts after a protracted day. No matter why you have an interest, we break down the entire advantages under.
Beauty advantages
Scalp points are a serious draw for head spas. Irritation, dryness, extreme oiliness, and dandruff are points that Tchushitani sees on a regular basis. She views the pinnacle spa therapy as a reset button to your scalp. A wholesome scalp helps facilitate wholesome hair, so customers typically discover a rise in shine and luster after their therapy.
Past that, head spas are stated to encourage hair development. Although there’s restricted analysis on the subject, Kari Williams, MD, a board-certified trichologist, licensed cosmetologist, and pure hair specialist, sees the connection. “Sustaining wholesome hair development is supported by means of the usage of merchandise that may hold the scalp and hair follicles freed from buildup and preserve wholesome blood circulation in the scalp,” she says. “So in that means, these specific scalp care practices do assist and promote wholesome hair development.”
That being stated, Tiffany Libby, MD, a board-certified dermatologist primarily based in Rhode Island, cautions in opposition to utilizing this as a therapy for a medical situation. “It sounds pretty, and seems to be a self-care apply that may be a ‘nice-to-have’ not a ‘must-have,’” she says.
Holistic advantages
For Tchushitani, the advantages of Head Spa lengthen past cosmetics. Sure, shiny strands and a fuller mane are nothing to sneeze at, however she is far more within the stress reduction and sleep assist unwanted effects.
In her residence nation of Japan, insomnia charges are among the highest in the world. When she received to the US, she realized the state of affairs was not significantly better. “Individuals don’t notice how negatively stress impacts their lives,” she says, “It’s so necessary to seek out small methods to mitigate stress in your every day routines.”
That’s the place the pinnacle spa is available in. Her purchasers vary from youngsters searching for out anxiousness reduction to middle-aged males combating insomnia. No matter why they search out the therapy, most of Tchushitani’s purchasers go to sleep throughout the first 10 minutes. Uehara additionally notes how the apply may help relieve rigidity and stress within the head and neck.
What occurred after I tried it
At Tchushitani’s salon, my head spa expertise started with a session. Utilizing a microscope, she combed by means of my half and confirmed me close-up photos of my scalp. Pink patches round my crown meant irritation, whereas oily clumps round my hairline meant build-up. Fortunately, Tchushitani assured me that this was nothing somewhat cleaning couldn’t deal with.
As a substitute of leaping instantly into shampooing, Tchushitani adopted the session with a neck and shoulder therapeutic massage that included scorching stones, a soothing sound machine, and a dimly lit room. She talked about that lots of her purchasers go to sleep throughout the therapy, which I may definitely relate to as my very own eyelids began to get heavy (however for the sake of this story, I stayed awake).
Subsequent, it was time for the wash. Not like at salons, the place water typically drips down your brow and suds make their means into your eyes, Tchushitani was meticulous. Her nimble fingers ran throughout my hairline with precision, making a small moat for extra water, and rapidly returned to the again of my head, her knuckles lifting, urgent, and shaking till the suds absolutely retreated.
Then got here the steaming step, which is what sometimes will get TikTok voyeurs commenting, “I would like this in my life!” Tchushitani hooked up an extra-large steaming bonnet to my head to open the pores on my scalp to permit for a deeper clear. From there, she gave me a deeper and extra concerned therapeutic massage, which was nothing in need of wonderful (significantly—the shampoo-step therapeutic massage doesn’t even evaluate to this prolonged model). As soon as once more, I struggled to maintain my eyes open whereas she rubbed and tapped at uncared for areas of my scalp.
I ultimately got here out of my haze when she completed with one more neck and shoulder therapeutic massage which was fantastic regardless that it signaled the top of my dream state.
Tchushitani was gracious sufficient to complete my therapy with a blowout, which is on the market for an additional cost. To cap issues off, she ended the appointment by revisiting my scalp underneath the microscope, which revealed that my pink spots had returned to their regular shade of peach and the oily blobs had vanished. As an added bonus, my blowout appeared bouncy and full.
Price
The fee for the therapy varies, however at Head Spa EN, Tchushitani provides two choices. The 40-minute prices $110 and the 60-minute prices $150 with a further $60 cost for a blowout.
Scalp pleasant merchandise
If this therapy seems like what you want however you may’t discover a salon close to you, don’t fret. These merchandise promote a wholesome scalp setting, and somewhat DIY-scalp massage may help you replicate the enjoyable setting of a head spa in your individual rest room.
Watch a (fairly disgusting, but oddly satisfying) scalp facial:
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