We tried the viral head spa treatment in Greenville!

Head spas are all the rage right now and Greenville, SC thankfully has a handful of options that perform such services. We tried it out and can personally give you all the details! 

I love having my hair brushed so much that I’ll look up different hairstyles so my daughters can practice on me. Thankfully they love this as well so it all works out. When I began seeing head spas popping up in Greenville and in local Facebook groups, my interest was piqued. What in the world was a head spa and how soon could I try it out? 

Because we love trying cool things and telling our readers about them, here I am with the lowdown on it all went. 

What is a head spa?

A head spa is basically a really long hair washing and cleansing session with a thorough scalp inspection and massage. The benefits of massage are fairly well-known – eases depression and anxiety, promotes relaxation, helps aid with sleep – and those benefits all extend to a scalp massage plus some additional ones are included. These can be things like better blood circulation, prevention of dandruff, easing of itchiness, and  promotion of hair growth.

Head spas originated in Asian cultures, specifically Japan, India, and China, and exploded in popularity due to a viral TikTok video back in August of 2023 out of a head spa in Los Angeles. Ah, social media trends. 

Since then, head spas have been popping up in major cities across the country, including Greenville. There are a handful of them in town and most have very good reviews. I went to the Jewel of the Orient Spa on N. Pleasantburg Road, which at the time of this writing has only been open for four months. 

Scalp Analysis

A head spa will begin with a detailed scalp analysis where the technician will use a small camera apparatus with a light and shine all over your scalp. The camera comes up with photos on a tablet that you hold – at least that’s how it happened with me. It was a little – ok, a lot – strange. The pictures are very, very up close and you can see every little thing on your scalp. I could see a random flake and the hairs that were not the color I wanted them to be. I could see where my scalp was red from itching. It was weird. 

My technician said my scalp looked pretty healthy and not dried out. Yay for shampooing only a few times a week! She then explained what would happen during the treatment. I honestly missed a bunch of it but I can tell you what happened next. 

The Head Spa Experience 

Once we analyzed my scalp, we went to the treatment area where I laid down on a massage table with a basin at one end. It was very comfortable and way better than a hair salon washing station. 

I was started with a brief scalp massage with some heavenly scented oils and then my hair was rinsed and lathered with a coconut shampoo. It smelled so good. Then the technician really massaged my scalp and moved my head around so I faced my right side and then my left and did it again. She applied pressure to my temples and my neck and it felt really good. 

That took awhile, at least 30 minutes of the hour-long treatment. Then she put a warm cloth over my eyes and broke out what I was hoping to see – the arched water rinser thing. Actually, I couldn’t see it because I had the cloth over my eyes but I could certainly feel it and I knew what it looked like because I had seen photos beforehand (see, I did my research).

You know those splash pads that have an arch and you (or your kids) run through the water that falls down from small holes on the inside of the arch? That’s what this was like except way smaller. 

The arch water thing moved up the back of my head to my forehead and then back down again. The technician meanwhile was using a brush on my head and it was amazing. The strokes of the brush along with the moving water made some kind of magic. 

Once she rinsed out my hair, she put it up in a towel and since I got the signature package, which included a short back and shoulder massage, my masseuse came in and gave me a delightful massage. It was honestly the perfect 90 minutes. 

The After Head Spa Treatment 

After the head spa treatment and massage, we went back to the room where the initial scalp analysis was done. I was given a light blow dry and then she started administering one thing after another to my hair and scalp – there were serums and oils and other things to promote hair growth and reduce frizziness. I tried to keep track of it all, I promise, but I couldn’t. This took about 20 minutes and it was lovely.

After each application, she brushed my hair and it got softer and softer and softer. I felt better leaving the Jewel of the Orient Spa than I did when get my hair done. 

Repeat Head Spa Treatments

I was curious how often people use head spas in their hair care routines and my technician told me that for me, because I don’t have a dry scalp, once a month would be ideal. For other people who have a drier scalp or need more haircare, every two weeks is a good option. 

If you color your hair, the Jewel of the Orient Spa has products that are safe for colored hair they can use. 

Booking Your Head Spa Appointment 

You can book your head spa appointment at the Jewel of the Orient Spa via their booking link online. I chose the Signature Treatment, which was an hour and 30 minutes long and costs $150. Their Routine Scalp Care treatment is an hour long and is $120. They have several other options to choose from as well. 

Most of the other places I checked out online have similar price points. I chose the Jewel Orient Spa because not only did they have amazing reviews but they focused mainly on head spa treatments versus other spas that are more focused on nails and other beauty treatments. But even so, those places also had great reviews for their head spa treatments so it doesn’t seem like you can go wrong anywhere. 

So if you’re stressed or tired or want to take better care of your hair, maybe the viral head spa treatment is just what you need. It was truly a relaxing experience and certainly one I’d do again. 

Jewel of the Orient Spa
1036 N Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville
864.584.2067