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The Japanese head spa has officially taken over your For You page – and now it’s taking over US salon waiting lists too. The 90-minute treatment that went viral for its ASMR-coded scalp massage clips, gushing water and super-satisfying foam lather is no longer a joy to watch. People are really booking it, and spots are filling up fast. Here’s everything you need to know before you do.
What is a Japanese Head Spa?
It is a 60 to 90 minute skin and hair treatment that usually combines a scalp examination, deep cleansing, exfoliation, steam and an extended head, face and neck massage. Essential oils, facials, aromatherapy, dimmed lights and soft music are standard.
The ritual began in Japanese salons in the 1990s before spreading across Asia and the U.S. The global skin care market is expected to grow significantly over the next decade, driven by hair loss, stress, pollution and ageing, according to Forbes. The viral social media era of 2022, with its low light, gurgling water, foam leather and rhythmic scalp massage, hit just as ASMR content exploded.
What happens at a Japanese headbutt session?
Each session opens with a silent consultation, followed by a microscopic analysis of the scalp that examines hair thickness, follicle production, blood flow and signs of dandruff, clogged pores or product build-up.
What happens next depends on what the analysis finds. “If your skin is dry, we use oil, heat and steam to provide intensive skin care. Nina Baxmanna Japanese spa owner in Germany, to MindFood. Heat and steam open the cuticles so products can absorb deeper, and sebum plugs or product residue are worked out with scalp exfoliation using fine sea salt crystals. Traditional ingredients include camellia oil (tsubaki) and rice water. Trichologist Penny James told Byrdie the techniques “target and lift the scalp muscles to stimulate blood flow to the scalp.”
What are the benefits of a Japanese Head Spa?
Head spas cleanse the scalp, stimulate blood flow, strengthen hair follicles and reduce stress and anxiety. An increase in blood flow can also help with hair regrowth.
The real attraction for many clients is exactly where the massage lies. “Usually, when you go to get a massage, the focus is always your back, and I always wish there was more on my head, on my face especially, on my neck. When I saw that they provide 90 minutes of head, face and shoulder massage, I felt that it is a good way to focus on my favorite areas,” Kong becausea customer at Nen Head Spa in San Francisco, told AP News.
Can a Japanese Head Spa Help with Hair Loss?
A head spa can complement, but not replace, medical care for hair loss. Treatments aimed at thinning hair rely on products and massage designed to stimulate circulation at the roots.
Anyone who continues to lose hair should see a specialist. “It’s important to know and differentiate something done for health or relaxation from seeing a medical specialist, a dermatologist, if you’re losing hair,” Zakia Rahmanprofessor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, to AP News. Rahman said that head spas are usually fine as an adjunct to serious medical treatments and for people who are just enjoying themselves.
How Often Should You Get a Japanese Head Spa?
In Japan, spa visits are not one-and-done. Experts recommend going around once a month and treating the appointment as a reinforcement of daily use rather than a quick fix.
Shoji Sugimotofounder of Yolu Beauty Salon, told Who What Wear that a weekend is more important than consistency at home. “One could think of it as a facial. In Japan, the journey is only the beginning. Lasting results come from persistence. More than 81% of people in Japan wash their hair every night, so skin care is already a daily reset before sleep.
