Unless we’re particularly follicle-minded, it’s unlikely that we overthink looking after our hair. We find a shampoo and conditioner that works for us and, for many of us, that’s where it ends. 

Sometimes, though, it’s nice to get looked after properly by someone who knows the ins and outs of hair maintenance. But what is it that these hair experts do? And how is it so different to what we do in the shower? When you go to a hair spa in Melbourne, are you getting what you pay for, or does it just feel indulgent to have someone work their magic on you?

Today, we’re looking at the science behind haircare and how hair spas do what they do.

The Influence of Virality

Most people these days hear about things to do with self-care through social media. TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter) are all hubs of marketing for beauty and lifestyle brands. So when something like the recently viral Japanese head spa treatment takes off, it’s likely to pull a lot of interest.

But what is this head spa actually doing? And is it scientifically sound?

According to this article, the entire process begins with an under-the-microscope inspection of the customer’s scalp. This is then followed by a scalp massage with essential oils. This is then followed by a steam treatment and deep shiatsu massage. The final flourish is washing out the essential oils with a mineral-rich shampoo before a blowout, a hair styling technique using a blow dryer.

Microscope Inspection

It might not be a common procedure to have your scalp so closely examined. A typical hairdresser most likely just parts the hair to the scalp to have a good look. 

However, other sources talk about this part of the treatment as though it is typical, and this could be due to the products used during the treatment. After all, essential oils on a wound or scab on the scalp wouldn’t be too healthy or comfortable, so this close inspection serves a practical purpose. 

It’s not just about the condition of your scalp; it’s ensuring the customer’s safety, which seems like it should be standard policy for anything that applies various chemicals and heat to one of the most sensitive areas of a person’s body. So for scientific reasoning, the microscope check gets a big ol’ thumbs-up from us.

Essential Oil Massage

An essential oil is a natural oil found in various plants. However, it is also highly concentrated, resulting in the often stronger scents these oils emanate. Although used in alternative therapies for decades, some essential oils, used properly, can have very real benefits for our health.

While it is true that aromatherapy (which uses essential oils) is known for providing deep relaxation, and that for millennia before modern medicine, our ancient forbears used natural therapies and herblore as medicine, very little is known about the effectiveness and reliability of essential oils against their claims.

Despite years of anecdotal evidence, the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of essential oils to treat the body is limited, and a 2022 study actually showed a correlation between essential oil usage and cardiopulmonary health.

So while essential oils used in the massage may help in terms of lubricating the massage, it isn’t likely doing much of anything for the condition of your hair and scalp, besides making it smell nice and relaxing. Be sure to let anyone using essential oils on your skin, whether or not you’re allergic, as such a treatment can cause a dermatitis outbreak.

Steam Treatment

Steam treatment of the hair and scalp has been a common practice in hair salons for years, particularly those with predominantly African-American clientele, due to the unique properties of African hair. The practice is said to open up pores on the scalp, encourage the opening of hair cuticles, and promote hydration, as well as other effects. However, the only evidence for this is anecdotal, and there appears to be no real scientific studies on the practice of hair steaming.

However, just as there are no studies on steam treatments, there are also very few (if any) anecdotes of negative effects where the treatment has been carried out by a professional. Therefore, it appears that this is a legitimate treatment and that the claims are true. However, at this point, they are still just claims, and scientific evidence is yet to be found.

Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu is a Japanese massage therapy, involving several techniques designed to relax muscles, joints, and aches in the person receiving the massage. It differs from other forms of osteopathic massage in that shiatsu aims to target specific nerve points to promote the body’s natural healing processes, whereas other massage therapies involve manipulating and easing the specific problem areas of the patient.

Few sources go into detail on what part the shiatsu massage plays in the overall scalp treatment, however, with shiatsu’s therapeutic objectives of promoting the body’s healing and rejuvenation functions, it seems that it may be to help the scalp make full use of the treatment’s processes up to this point, as well as just generally relax the client.

Shiatsu has been studied several times, but as of 2011, evidence has been inconclusive on the technique. Although acupressure (one of shiatsu’s key methods) does seem to positively affect those with muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and sleep issues.

Mineral Shampoo

According to a Harvard article, the hair benefits from the introduction of several minerals, such as iron, selenium, and zinc. 

These minerals have been linked to hair health, and with the treatment’s previous efforts to open up the cuticles of the hair and the pores of the scalp, it seems a vitamin and mineral-dense shampoo may be the perfect solution to hair weakness and repairing damage.

End of the Treatment

The scalp and hair are both parts of the body, both vulnerable to damage, and both can cause a significant amount of distress if ill-treated. 

However, at least in the case of the viral Japanese head spa treatment, the science seems to be, for the most part, well-founded. Going for this kind of treatment will likely net you a deeply relaxing experience, consisting of several massages, pleasing scents, and deep hair cleaning, as well as basic blowout styling. 

Although much of the process demands further study, anecdotal evidence points to the benefits of this form of treatment. Just remember to tell your hair therapist of any allergies to essential oils, and if you don’t know if you have one, get an allergy test before you go for this treatment.