Japanese head spas are everywhere right now! I have seen them all over social media, and I’ve also had readers ask me whether they are actually beneficial or if they are simply another relaxing spa treatment.
As a chemist, one of my favorite things to do is actually test treatments and products myself, then look at the science behind them. It gives me the chance to experience what everyone is talking about while also giving you the information you need to decide if something is worth your time and money.
So, I recently visited The Wellness Bar in Stephenville, Texas, where I had a Japanese head spa treatment with Olivia Coster, who specializes in Japanese head spas.
I expected it to be relaxing.
What I didn’t expect was to see how much my scalp actually needed it!
The entire treatment was about 50 minutes, and afterward my hair was incredibly clean, shiny and bouncy. But the most interesting part for me was seeing the close-up images of my scalp before and after.
I really didn’t realize how much buildup and dead skin was there!
What Is a Japanese Head Spa?
A Japanese head spa is a scalp-focused treatment that typically combines deep cleansing, massage, water therapy and hair/scalp treatments.
The exact process varies depending on where you go, but the goal is generally to thoroughly cleanse and care for the scalp while creating a very relaxing experience.
And that distinction is important.
A head spa isn’t just about your hair. It focuses on the skin underneath your hair…your scalp.
Your scalp produces sebum, sheds dead skin cells and comes into contact with shampoo, conditioner, styling products, dry shampoo, sweat and environmental debris.
Regular shampooing removes much of this, of course. But depending on your hair, scalp and products, residue, dead skin, and oil can still accumulate.
This was something I could actually see on my own before photos.
My Scalp Before the Head Spa
Before we started, Olivia used a scalp camera to get a close-up look at my scalp.
This might have been the most eye-opening part of the entire experience (see before and after photos below).
Chemist Note: Oil and water don’t naturally mix well. Sebum is largely lipid-based, which is one reason shampoos contain surfactants. Surfactants have portions that interact with oily substances and portions that interact with water, helping oils and debris disperse into the rinse water.
Styling products can add another layer to the equation. Depending on the formulation, repeated use of conditioning agents, polymers, silicones, oils and dry shampoo can change how the scalp and hair feel between washes.
That doesn’t mean these ingredients are “bad.” Many of them are extremely useful! It simply means effective cleansing matters.
What Happened During My Japanese Head Spa
My appointment started with a cleansing facial. This immediately made the treatment feel more like a complete spa.
After the facial cleansing portion, she put a hydrating mask on my face, then moved on to my hair.
She washed my hair using good-quality cleansing products featuring tea tree oil and thoroughly worked the shampoo through my scalp.
Why Thorough Cleansing Matters
From a chemistry standpoint, this is one of the most straightforward benefits of the treatment.
Shampoo isn’t simply making bubbles.
The surfactant system is doing the important work of helping lift and suspend sebum, dirt and product residue so they can be rinsed away with water.
Tea tree oil is also commonly incorporated into scalp-care products. It has been studied for antimicrobial properties, although the amount and formulation matter tremendously.
Next Came the Scalp Massage
After cleansing, Olivia spent time massaging my scalp using her hands and several of the specialized massage tools commonly used during Japanese head spa treatments.
This was probably the most relaxing portion of the appointment.
Scalp massage provides a mechanical component that shampoo alone doesn’t. The physical manipulation can help loosen material at the scalp surface while also simply feeling incredibly relaxing.
Then Came My Favorite Part: The Waterfall Rinse
If you’ve watched Japanese head spa videos online, you’ve probably seen this part.
A curved water system moves over the head, allowing streams of water to continuously flow over the scalp and hair. It creates that beautiful waterfall effect you see in head spa videos.
It was incredibly relaxing!! But water isn’t there just for the spa atmosphere.
After cleansing products have loosened and suspended oils and debris, rinsing is an essential part of actually carrying those materials away.
The combination of cleansing, mechanical massage and thorough rinsing is one reason your scalp can feel noticeably different afterward.
And there is something about that continuous flow of water that is incredibly soothing.
The Final Rinse and Blowout
After the scalp treatment and waterfall portion were complete, Olivia gave my hair a final rinse.
Lastly, she blow-dried my hair so we could see and feel the finished result.
My first thought was how light my hair felt! It was incredibly clean, shiny and bouncy without feeling stripped. Removing excess residue can leave the hair feeling lighter and looking shinier!
Then We Looked at My Scalp Again
After my hair was dry, Olivia examined my scalp again so we could compare it with what we saw before the treatment. The difference was very noticeable!
Seeing the before-and-after images made the experience much more interesting to me because I wasn’t relying only on how my hair felt. I didn’t realized how much my scalp needed a good cleansing treatment until I saw those images!
My buildup wasn’t as bad as some people, but you can definitely see the dead skin on my before photos. I needed a good exfoliation!
So, What Are the Real Benefits of a Japanese Head Spa?
From my experience and from a chemistry perspective, the biggest benefits are:
- Thorough removal of excess scalp oils, dead skin, and product residue
- A more focused scalp cleanse than you may normally do at home
- Massage and scalp stimulation
- A very relaxing, stress-relieving experience
- Hair that can feel lighter, cleaner and bouncier afterward
- Improved appearance and shine when excess residue is removed
How Often Should You Get a Japanese Head Spa?
This was another question I had for Olivia. She said for relaxation and stress relief, as soon as 3-4 weeks apart.
For an oily scalp or excessive buildup, you can do it every 2–3 weeks.
For a dry or itchy scalp, also every 3–4 weeks.
But, you can also schedule a head spa whenever you feel like your scalp needs a thorough cleansing or some extra care.
I personally like that approach because everyone’s scalp is different. How frequently you need deeper cleansing can depend on your oil production, hair type, styling products, washing schedule, activity level and even things like how often you use dry shampoo.
You can experience the benefits anytime you do it!
Is a Japanese Head Spa Worth It?
After experiencing one myself, I understand why these treatments have become so popular!
Yes, the relaxation is wonderful. For about 50 minutes, I could simply lie there while someone cleansed and massaged my scalp and continuously rinsed my hair with warm water. As a busy mom, that alone felt pretty fantastic!
But I don’t think relaxation is the only reason to try one.
What impressed me most was the combination of the spa experience with the scalp-focused cleansing along with actually being able to see my scalp before and afterward.
My hair felt so clean, shiny and bouncy!
As a chemist, I always enjoy trying trending treatments for myself because it allows me to separate what is simply good marketing from what makes sense scientifically.
If you’ve been curious about Japanese head spas, I hope you found this helpful!
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