{"id":822875,"date":"2026-07-25T12:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T12:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/822875\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T12:00:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T12:00:24","slug":"japanese-head-spas-explains-what-the-trendy-beauty-treatment-involves-and-the-benefits-for-your-hair-and-scalp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/822875\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese head spas explains: What the trendy beauty treatment involves and the benefits for your hair and scalp"},"content":{"rendered":"

A fresh cut or colour<\/a> always feels good, but let\u2019s be real: the moment many of us relish at the hair salon<\/a> is the post-wash scalp massage. Oh, the luxury.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever considered slipping your hairdresser<\/a> a little extra money at the basin to prolong the experience, allow us to introduce you to a beauty treatment that has your name written all over it.<\/p>\n

\"Stock<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve seen images like this and wondered what a head spa entails, we\u2019ve got answers.\u00a0iStock<\/p>\n

Japanese-style head spas have been getting plenty of buzz in the past few years, propelled in no small way by social media \u2013 chances are you\u2019ve seen videos on your feed of people lying at a basin as a fountain trickles water over their hair. <\/p>\n

You likely have some questions, so we got answers from Carly\u00a0Shamgar, General Manager at Tokyo Headspa \u2013 one of Australia\u2019s first Japanese head spas \u2013 and dermatologist Dr Shreya Andric.<\/p>\n

A long history<\/p>\n

Head spas might be a new concept to many, but scalp care as a service in Japan goes back centuries. Shamgar told nine.com.au hair washing and anma massage techniques developed alongside traditional Japanese medicine in the bathhouses of the Edo period (1603-1868).<\/p>\n

\u201cThose practices evolved through the Meiji era under Western influence, and interest in holistic wellness, head spa included, resurged in the decades after World War Two,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJapan\u2019s bathing tradition of onsen and sento means washing has never been purely functional. A \u2018hair wash\u2019 has always carried an element of care for the scalp itself, which is why head spa touches have quietly existed inside ordinary Japanese hair salons for decades, alongside dedicated studios on nearly every corner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Australia is catching on. There\u2019s been an emergence of dedicated Japanese head spa providers, while spa retreats and wellness centres are adding these treatments to their lineup.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

During a head spa, your scalp is the centre of attention.\u00a0Supplied\/Tokyo Headspa<\/p>\n

Your scalp in the spotlight<\/p>\n

In the world of personal care, Dr Andric says the scalp tends to be overlooked. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe spend so much time looking after the skin on our face, but often ignore the skin underneath our hair until something goes wrong … it needs to be healthy to function well,\u201d she told nine.com.au.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s rich in oil glands and hair follicles, so it\u2019s prone to issues like dandruff, excess oil, dryness and inflammation. A healthy scalp provides the best environment for healthy hair growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

During a Japanese head spa, the scalp gets its moment at the centre of attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe starting point is that the scalp is skin \u2013 around two-thirds of the skin surface above your face \u2013 and we treat it the way a facialist treats the face: Exfoliate, rebalance, hydrate, depending on what it needs,\u201d Shamgar says.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The treatment includes \u201cgentle exfoliation, steam to support the scalp barrier and thorough cleansing\u201d.\u00a0Supplied\/Tokyo Headspa<\/p>\n

She adds efficiency also sets the treatment apart, with clients reporting it \u201cswitches them out of \u2018thinking mode\u2019 faster\u201d than others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe scalp is dense with nerve endings, so massage there lowers cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure through the same pathways as a full-body massage, but in a much shorter session,\u201d Shamgar says.<\/p>\n

What you can expect<\/p>\n

While each provider might offer a different combination of treatment elements, a head spa generally involves scalp cleansing, a head bath and massage.<\/p>\n

At Tokyo Headspa, which is based in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Shamgar says each treatment begins with what your scalp needs, whether it\u2019s dry and flaky or oily and congested. <\/p>\n

\u201cFrom there it\u2019s a combination of gentle exfoliation, steam to support the scalp barrier and thorough cleansing,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe use a Japanese scalp mist machine vibrating 1.6 million times per second to cleanse the pores and care for the cuticle, and a Japanese head bath where the back of the head rests in warm water while water flows gently over the forehead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve seen social media posts about head spas, chances are a fountain was featured prominently.\u00a0Supplied\/Tokyo Headspa<\/p>\n

However, she says hand technique is at the core of the experience, via head, neck and shoulder massage: \u201cA technician\u2019s hands are still the best tool we have.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the water fountain tends to feature prominently in online posts about head spas \u2013 often a halo-shaped design lined with water jets \u2013 Shamgar says it has more significance than just aesthetics.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fountain looks beautiful on social media, but the results come from washing and massage technique. The equipment was never really the point,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe flowing water over the forehead creates the sensation of floating in a warm bath. It\u2019s deeply calming and connects directly to Japan\u2019s bathing culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust as importantly, an authentic head spa uses fresh, running water, never recycled \u2013 a real hygiene distinction now that many venues use portable beds without plumbing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The aim and benefits<\/p>\n

Shamgar says the immediate aim of a head spa is \u201ca properly clean, calm scalp and hair with visible bounce and shine,\u201d as build-up and dead skin are \u201cgenuinely cleared rather than rinsed over.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\u201cReal change in hair condition shows over months of consistent care, not one visit.\u201d\u00a0Supplied\/Tokyo Headspa<\/p>\n

Long term, it\u2019s thinking about scalp care as \u201ctending soil to grow a healthy plant\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cMassage stimulates circulation, which carries the oxygen and nutrients the scalp needs,\u201d she says, adding that clients \u201cregularly report better sleep that night and easing of tension headaches\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe honest caveat we always give: scalp health is cumulative, like skincare or fitness. Real change in hair condition shows over months of consistent care, not one visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Andric echoes that a head spa can leave the scalp feeling cleaner, and remove oil and product build-up, \u201cwhich often makes hair look shinier and feel healthier.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat it won\u2019t do is regrow hair,\u201d she adds. \u201cThere\u2019s no strong evidence that these treatments alone stimulate meaningful hair growth. If someone has true hair loss<\/a>, they need evidence-based medical treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re now pondering what you can do at home to care for your scalp, Andric suggests washing it as often as it needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust as you should be double cleansing your face at the end of the night, I always recommend doing a double shampoo whenever you wash your hair,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t ignore dandruff or persistent itching, avoid product build-up, and protect your scalp from the sun. If you\u2019re noticing excessive hair shedding or ongoing scalp problems, see a dermatologist early.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A fresh cut or colour always feels good, but let\u2019s be real: the moment many of us relish…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":822876,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[64,63,134],"class_list":["post-822875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-entertainment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=822875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/822876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=822875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=822875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=822875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}