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One thing you might know about me is that I am a long-haired girlie. I’m also in desperate need of a good spa day. Over the past few months, I’ve been seeing videos of head spas in and around Charlotte pop up on my Instagram and TikTok for you pages.
At this point, I think my algorithm knows me a little too well. Out of professional (and personal) curiosity, I decided to do a little research on the head spa trend to see what the hype was all about.
What is a head spa?
For the uninformed, a head spa is the latest beauty trend targeting scalp and hair health. Head spas meet at the intersection of relaxation and wellness — not only do you receive some deep detoxifying scrubbing (depending on your hair and skin type), but a restorative head massage, as well.
As Kecia Purser explains it, “A head spa is like a facial for your scalp.”
Purser is the founder and CEO of The Head Spa Sanctuary in Pineville. According to her, scalp health is an often overlooked but vital part of skincare. While many of us may regularly cleanse with shampoo and conditioner, we’re not exfoliating our hair down to the follicle.
“Washing your hair isn’t really going to do it,” Purser told CharlotteFive. “Washing your hair absolutely helps remove debris and buildup and things of that nature along the hair strand. But your scalp is no different than your face. You need to properly exfoliate your scalp.”
While it may be a current trend here in Charlotte, and in the U.S. at large, head spas originated in Japan and stem from the country’s onsen (or “hot spring”) culture. Japanese head spas are deeply rooted in the belief that wellness starts at the scalp.
“ That’s what really got me excited — the real Japanese culture and how they look at the scalp and scalp health and what that means for people to relax,” Purser said.
The Head Spa Sanctuary is a Yume certified spa, meaning Purser and her team focus on relaxation and scalp wellness using authentic techniques and equipment pioneered by the Japanese company Takara Belmont.
When you visit The Head Spa Sanctuary, you can opt for the traditional Japanese head spa, which comes complete with an in-depth scalp consultation, or a non-traditional experience. Both options are completely customizable to your needs, featuring everything from deep scalp exfoliation to micro mist therapy and a shiatsu (a type of Japanese finger acupressure) shampoo, with additional add-ons available.
“ In the head spa, we focus on the scalp, and we focus on the head,” Purser said. “But I laid there one day and thought to myself, ‘How cool would it be if you had a massage therapist giving you a really good foot massage?’ That’s now what we do. We offer four hands during any service.”
Depending on which treatment you choose, your scalp will be examined up-close-and-personal using a high-powered magnifier to determine the best course of action depending on your scalp’s needs.
“ We use a trichoscope with four different lights, and it’s 50 times zoom,” Purser said. “We look at your scalp, and we see are you oily, are you dry, are you sensitive, or do you have a lot of buildup? Then we completely customize the head spa for you. Because what might be good for someone whose super oily could be terrible for somebody who’s very dry.”
What does a head spa cost?
Head spa prices vary from location to location. Depending on what kind of experience you want to have, and how luxurious you want to feel, prices in Charlotte range from $150 to well over $300.
At The Head Spa sanctuary, prices start at $185 for a 60-minute service, with more lavish add-ons available and times available.
Who benefits from a head spa?
The head spa experience is especially beneficial for people who struggle with oily hair, dry flaky skin or hair loss.
“We have some people who come in every month,” Purser explained. “Those are gonna be people who are dealing with a condition. They might have a super dry scalp, and they struggle to really, fully moisturize. Or you could have somebody who’s very, very oily and no matter what they do, shampoo their hair, they’re just not able to really get everything out.”
If you’re one of the lucky ones blessed with a perfectly balanced head of hair, Purser recommends coming in quarterly for a detoxifying cleanse.
“ I would say for somebody who’s not dealing with any severe issues on their scalp, once a quarter is a fantastic way to treat yourself and just make sure you’re getting that really good cleanse,” Purser said.
While scalp wellness is at the forefront of the experience, another draw is total relaxation.
“ In Japan, the number one reason people go to head spas is actually for a better night’s sleep,” Purser said. “And not just that night, it’s actually for continued ongoing sleep.”
Detox for hair extensions
Salon owner Kenna Ehman of Kenna Kunjio told CharlotteFive that head spas are especially beneficial for people who solely rely on drugstore products, as these can contain ingredients that create buildup on your scalp.
The head spa process can also be helpful for people who use hair extensions.
“When they take out their extensions, underneath the extensions can be a little bit dry because you can’t get in there to shampoo,” Ehman said. “We would do a deep detox for them and kind of slough all of that off. Then do a moisturizing treatment for their scalp and their hair and put their extensions back in.”
A haircut experience at Kenna Kunjio currently comes complete with scalp care and moisturizing treatments. Ehman and her salon partner Lauren Kunjio are researching the possibility of incorporating a price-conscious head spa service at Kenna Kunjio in the future
Head spas to check out in Charlotte
Location: 20830 Torrence Chapel Rd #104, Cornelius, NC 28031
Instagram: @flowheadspanc
Price: $99-$249
Location: 10614 Providence Rd., Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
Instagram: @headspaballantyne
Price: $60-$350
Location: 136 Main St, Pineville, NC 28134
Instagram: @theheadspasanctuary
Price: $185-$275
Location: 720 Gov Morrison St Suite 170 Loft 12, Charlotte, NC 28211
Instagram: @sageheadspa
Price: $175-$250
Location: 8501 Tower Point Dr A220, Charlotte, NC 28227
Instagram: @sokeriheadspa
Price: $150-$300
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Samantha Husted
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