BY JENNIFER & JOHN BURKHART
Our day at the head spa
It’s a new year! And whether that means a new you, or just a new number you keep forgetting to write on forms and checks, it seems to be a good time to reset. How about starting with some well-deserved self-care? Ever heard of a head spa (or scalp spa)? Head spas have only been around for about five years and originated in Korea. The purpose
is to detox the scalp from products and build-up and resolve conditions like dandruff or inflammation, but also for relaxation. The massage also encourages blood flow to the scalp, which can help with hair regrowth. It sounded great to us, and we had to check it out!
She Said: I guess it was only a matter of time until spas just for heads opened up. I mean, we have them for feet, hands, full body, dogs…. Never been to that last one, but I hear the snacks are good. Anyhoo, the head spa was quite different than I expected. By the looks of those half-circle water things, I figured this would be all relaxation, massage, and luxurious hair products that smelled like coconuts. Well, kinda. Keep in mind, every spa you go to will be slightly different based on the esthetician that you get, but this one applied different oils, creams, and foam products into my hair, massaging them into the scalp and then rinsing them off. The best part was the waterfall device coupled with a little rotating massaging tool. It was very soothing, and honestly, I would have been peachy if that lasted the whole 60 minutes! Sadly, it felt like only a couple minutes long. After that, there was a steam infusion from a plastic hood haloed around my head. Probably the closest to feeling like an astronaut that I’ll ever get. I did feel a little claustrophobic, but once the neck, shoulder, arm, and hand massage began, I didn’t mind getting choked by the steam session as much. Part of this session also included a scalp analysis before the session, which took pictures of my scalp in four places.
After it was all done, I could see how things improved. Luckily, my scalp was in good condition. I really don’t use many products, so there wasn’t any buildup, but the pics did show a little bit of inflammation. That actually improved after the treatment! A word of advice: Don’t plan on going anywhere afterward, because your hair will be a floofy mess. Or, bring a hat.
He Said: I had no idea what a head spa was and, let’s be honest, He neither did you. The difference between you and me is, I didn’t know what it was when we booked the appointment. I didn’t even know what it was when I walked through the door of the salon. I started getting concerned when I walked into the massage room and saw microscopes, giant water jugs, and a massage table with a sink at one end that was full of tubes and water sprayers, and a head rest. I think my words were, “Uhhh, what exactly are we doing here today?” because it looked like I was about to get waterboarded. The therapist explained that we were about to do a Korean scalp massage. She went on to explain how most people forget that we have skin under our hair, and that skin gets build up and irritation just like our faces. Step one: She put me under the microscope, literally. I got a magnified view of my scalp that really highlighted all my poor scalp-related life choices.
Next was an exfoliating scrub that I’m pretty sure unlocked a few forgotten childhood memories. I had a cat named Jasper when I was five! She put a large plastic hood over my head which pumped hot lavender-scented steam all over my cranium for step three. Steps four through seven were all a blur of cleansing shampoos, deep conditioners, neck and shoulder rubs, and rinses. These reviews are a tough life, but somebody has to do it. I walked out feeling like a relaxed Fabio, with my luscious locks swaying in the breeze. My hair never felt softer. The therapist said I should do this about twice a year, but I might do it more often than that, just for fun.
