Japanese scalp treatment arrives in city
Soothing, restorative head spa offers `a deep-cleaning' massage therapy
Your scalp ages faster than the skin on the rest of your body, making it deserving of extra care beyond your usual shampoo routine. Asian cultures have incorporated scalp massaging techniques into their roster of wellness therapies for centuries. Thanks to Tiktok, head spa, a Japanese scalp massage technique, has made its way to Canada.
The treatment combines cleansing, exfoliation and conditioning with pressure point manipulation to stimulate the scalp and release stress.
“It's like a deep-cleaning facial, but for your scalp,” explains Tina Zhang, owner of My Haven Laser & Spa.
While the treatment may be touted as a solution for medical conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis, no studies support these claims. Better to think of Japanese scalp massage as a way to support the healthy function of hair follicles by increasing blood flow and nutrient delivery to the scalp (several studies support an increase in hair thickness and growth with increased blood circulation on the scalp).
Getting rid of gunky buildup on the scalp gives room for new hair follicle growth, and so the treatment can (depending on the person) promote hair growth and relieve dry, itchy scalps. However, it's often simply sought as another way to unwind.
“It's a different way to relax,” notes Zhang. “Lots of my clients fall asleep during the treatment and tell me it's good for their soul.”
I went into my first head spa experience hoping that the treatment might ease my tension headache in a less violent way than my chiropractor does. I also hoped I wouldn't look like a drowned rat afterwards.
Head spa sessions begin with a scalp analysis using a scanner so your practitioner can better view the condition of your scalp and hair follicles. Once your practitioner knows what they're dealing with, they can curate a treatment plan based on individual needs.
While some might find the scan process fascinating, I was slightly creeped out. My scalp scan revealed some dubious-looking yellow spots, white flakes, and spidery red lines. Apparently, white flakes don't always signify dandruff but can, in my case, indicate an extremely dry scalp. The yellow splodges? They're a telltale sign of product buildup.
Once the appropriate course of treatment has been determined for clients at Calgary's Japanese Scalp Massage, essential oils are precisely applied with a cotton swab and lightly scrubbed into the scalp. Like facial oils, scalp oils are used for cleansing and moisturizing.
Then, you'll lie on a padded shampoo bed fitted with a golden ring shower to receive a dry scalp massage with a handheld device composed of small rotating heads.
At My Haven Laser & Spa, guests can combine their head spa experience with a facial and have a sheet mask applied. At Japanese Scalp Massage, red light therapy (proven to induce hair growth) is incorporated into the treatment.
No matter which clinic you go to, you can expect some pressure point work on the scalp from your practitioner's fingers, specialized tools or a fine-tooth comb. The pressure increases blood circulation, which can stimulate hair growth and thickness.
At this point, you'll want to mention to your practitioner if you suffer from tension headaches,
This treatment brings hair back to its natural state — the way it was before layering on products and hair dye.
as they can apply extra pressure and pay more attention to the area around your temples.
Then, it's a heavenly soak under the shower ring, with its tiny jets gently raining upon your head. At Japanese Scalp Massage, an amino acid pre-shampoo that helps retain moisture in the hair shaft is administered before following up with a medical-grade shampoo applied with a dropper, section by section into the scalp.
After a conditioning treatment, you can expect more scalp stimulation and perhaps a bit of shoulder and neck massage before having your hair blowdried. Finally, there's one last scan to compare the before and after. In my case, the redness was still there, but the yellowish buildup along my follicles and those worrisome white flakes were gone.
After treatment, expect your scalp to feel very clean – like a fresh haircut with more shine and volume than you're usually blessed with.
“This treatment brings hair back to its natural state – the way it was before layering on products and hair dye. You'll likely notice your hair styles better afterwards, too,” affirms Figgy Gashi, a certified trichologist and owner of Calgary's Japanese Scalp Massage.
If you colour your hair, Gashi advises getting a head spa treatment one or two weeks after colouring so the products don't bleed. It's best to arrive with unwashed hair, as your practitioner will be cleaning everything up anyway.
While not everyone is guaranteed new hair growth from head spa, it is a soothing therapy that should leave you feeling restored and refreshed. Your tension headache just might disappear, too.