Bet you’ve never had a shower quite like this one. The head spa service at Blend & Bright Salon in Ankeny uses a waterfall halo to rinse product and stimulate the scalp.
Writer: Hailey Evans
The art and science of massage therapy go back millennia. There’s evidence of ancient cultures in China, India and Egypt using techniques for medicinal purposes as early as 2700 BCE. You’ve probably heard about modern versions — Swedish, Shiatsu, hot stone, deep tissue — and even specializations for athletes and pregnant people. Another variation that’s popular in Japan has taken root in Des Moines and focuses … on your roots.
I’m talking about the Japanese head spa, which combines massage therapy, scalp care, relaxation and holistic benefits all into one service. Here in Central Iowa, Blend & Bright Salon in Ankeny, Neon Heart Salon in Johnston and Trixie’s Salon & Spa Uptown in Des Moines are now offering the treatment in the metro.
Blend & Bright owner Naphtali Crouse expanded her salon to offer a head spa service in 2023. She first heard about the head spa trend from a client and began extensive research on the service to bring it to her own salon, combining hair care with luxury relaxation. She initially had a hard time sourcing equipment here in the Midwest but eventually decided to jump all in and order the specialty chairs and tools direct from Japan.
Similar treatments called scalp facials are available around town, but Crouse said those are intended to treat specific scalp conditions. A head spa is more about relaxation.
It isn’t medical, she said. “It’s a full-service experience that combines scalp treatments with aromatherapy, massage and deep cleansing. It often uses essential oils and specialized Japanese-inspired techniques to improve scalp circulation, nourish hair and provide deep relaxation.”
Most head spa services start with a scalp analysis using a magnifying camera to get up close and personal with your roots. Viewing the scalp and hair follicles helps identify issues like oil buildup or dryness, irritation, follicle congestion or thinning areas, and then inform which treatments, tools and techniques will help you the most.
During my own visit to Blend & Bright, the camera identified some mild buildup from oil and product, so my service included a detoxing wash.
It felt like the shampoo portion of a typical haircut appointment, but on steroids. Depending on the spa and the amenities offered, the experience can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Your service provider may use a variety of massage techniques and incorporate tools like scalp brushes or gua sha combs to exfoliate the scalp and stimulate blood flow to the follicles. At Blend & Bright, a golden halo hose spouts a warm waterfall down the crown of your head during each rinse.
Ava Sutton, a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician at Blend & Bright, pointed out that hair follicles need nutrients to stay healthy and grow healthy hair. “Massage stimulates circulation to this area, boosting the blood flow and nutrient supply,” she said. During my treatment, she applied a scalp mask with menthol to further stimulate blood flow to my follicles. It was cooling and tingly, as if I could literally feel my hair growing.
To wash, or not to wash
While many head spas advertise benefits to hair strength or scalp health, and there’s certainly a focus on the aesthetics of those areas, the service also has holistic benefits.
“People forget there are muscles underneath [the hair] working very hard,” said Cassie Sampson, a licensed massage therapist and owner of East Village Spa.
In Japan, head spas have evolved further to differentiate “wet” and “dry” services. A wet head spa involves the cleanses and serums and waterfall rinses that places like Blend & Bright, Neon Heart and Trixie’s currently offer. A dry head spa nixes the water and shampoos and focuses solely on massage and scalp stimulation for tension relief.
While not technically considered a dry head spa, East Village Spa offers a similar treatment targeting the face, neck and scalp with focused massage techniques to boost circulation — without water, lotions or serums.
“The majority is using our hands to do trigger point work or myofascial release, but we do incorporate jade cooling stones to help bring down inflammation as well,” Sampson said.
Many typical massage services have stayed away from the face and neck until recently, when head spa services started catching on. “I realized, as massage therapists, we had been neglecting this area,” Sampson said.
Since many of us work at desks and stare at screens all day, the head, face and neck can end up holding a lot of tension. Eye strain and fatigue, tension headaches and jaw clenching are symptoms of our stressful and ever-connected lifestyles. A head spa or scalp massage service can help.
Crouse continues to expand her salon’s head spa services, offering scalp and hair loss treatments as well as Calecim stem cell treatment add-ons to head spa packages.
| Benefits | Wet Head Spa | Dry Head Spa |
|
Relieves tension around the eyes, jaw, neck, head and shoulders, reducing headaches and tightness. |
X | X |
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Provides overall relaxation. |
X | X |
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Boosts blood circulation to the muscles and scalp to lower inflammation and bring nutrients to hair follicles. |
X | X |
|
Cleanses and exfoliates the scalp and unclogs hair follicles. |
X | |
|
Conditions the hair with hydrating products. |
X | |
|
Promotes better product absorption, with treatments or serums massaged into the scalp. |
X |
