{"id":18623,"date":"2021-10-11T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prose.com\/?p=18623"},"modified":"2025-06-18T19:19:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T23:19:07","slug":"head-spa-holistic-scalp-care-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prose.com\/blog\/head-spa-holistic-scalp-care-tips","title":{"rendered":"5 Things This Beauty Editor Learned About Scalp Care at a Japanese Head Spa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Follow along as beauty editor veteran, April Walloga, visits NYC salon and head spa, Masa Kanai, for an extensive scalp assessment and treatment. <\/p>

Did you know there are spas just for your scalp? \u201cHead spas\u201d are common in Japan for their healing benefits, and they\u2019re slowly making their way stateside. I recently visited Masa Kanai<\/a>, a salon and head spa on New York\u2019s Upper West Side, to treat myself to a stress-melting reiki and shiatsu head massage, as well as a rebuilding hair treatment and microscopic assessment of my scalp health. That\u2019s right, I got a \u201cHoney I Shrunk The Follicles\u201d view of my head, and what I learned completely changed my hair and scalp routine.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\nA microscopic view of April\u2019s scalp.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My scalp healer, Ritsuko Borges, taught me her atama<\/i> (Japanese for \u201chead\u201d) method of holistic hair care and here are five tips that you need for your  scalp right now\u2014plus a guide on how to recreate the head spa experience at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The best way to apply a scalp mask<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My usual method of applying a scalp mask<\/a> is to coat my fingertips with the product and massage it all over my scalp, but Ritsuko taught me a better way. Starting at your earline, part the hair all the way down to the nape of your neck, then use your index finger to rub the product along the part using circular motions. Keep parting your hair and applying the mask until you reach your other earline. You won\u2019t miss any important spots or waste any product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Natural ingredients that will improve your scalp<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ritsuko\u2019s hair and scalp treatments are built around natural ingredients that balance and purify the scalp to promote hair growth. For scalps with excess sebum or dirt, she uses charcoal-<\/a> and clay<\/a>-based treatments to pull out impurities and toxins, and on dry or itchy scalps she uses calming chamomile and rosemary. Since I\u2019m trying to grow my hair longer, she applied a peppermint treatment to my scalp. Peppermint<\/a> is a natural pH balancer that has been clinically studied for its ability<\/a> to help to promote hair growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. A simple pre-mask ritual for self-care<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ritsuko is all about holistic hair care. Her atama<\/i> method is an acronym that stands for aromatherapy, touch therapy, alignment massage, meditation, and awakening healing power. She began my treatment with aromatherapy, tapping a drop of essential oil into my palms before asking me to rub them together, hold them to my face, and take three deep breaths. This simple practice immediately switches your mind to self-care mode and makes you feel at ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Scalp massage 101: Add some neck stretches and touch therapy<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before diving into a luxurious scalp massage, Ritsuko guided me through some neck stretches and swept her hands over my hair and scalp, a form of touch therapy that uses chakra open hand movements. For the scalp massage, she focused on three key areas that stimulate blood flow to the follicles: the hairline, behind the ears, and the nape of the neck. My favorite move was when she ran her index fingers from my earline to my crown and pressed down in the center. It\u2019s instantly grounding and relaxing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\nA steam mask was part of April\u2019s treatment.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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5. Less is more when it comes to products<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I came to Ritsuko with four-day-old gym hair and, frankly, a little anxiety about the level of dirt and buildup she\u2019d see when she put me under her microscope. Surprise: My scalp was squeaky clean with no buildup\u2014an issue I thought I had and was addressing with a weekly clarifying shampoo that a) I didn\u2019t need and b) was drying out my hair. This is why Ritsuko recommends talking with a scalp specialist or a dermatologist to develop your hair and scalp routine. For my surprisingly clean scalp, oily roots, and dry ends, Ritsuko suggested shampooing my crown and conditioning my mid-lengths and ends two to three times a week and using a scalp mask<\/a> every other week. Rather than overdoing it with dry shampoo in between washes, she prefers a plain water rinse followed by a detangling conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to do a head spa treatment at home:<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n