A calming atmosphere greeted me as I walked into Solitaire, a head spa in Topeka that provides therapeutic scalp treatments. The building smelled like essential oils and soft music was playing. The waiting area had large windows that allowed plenty of natural light and used plenty of earth tones in the decor. After briefly browsing the products they had on display, I met my technician for the day, Woodlyn O’Byrne. She offered me tea, wine, and water while I waited for her to get set up.
I have been wanting to experience a head spa for months after videos kept popping up on my TikTok. Head spa treatments are gaining popularity; 79.8k videos fall under the head spa tag on TikTok. I was ecstatic when I realized one had opened nearby.
Head spas originated from traditional practices in Japan to support scalp and hair health. They were formalized in the late 20th century with treatments gaining popularity internationally in the 21st century with the rise of holistic wellness and beauty.
I wasn’t fully sure what to expect going into this appointment. TikTok videos often depict a scalp examination before massaging the scalp, neck and shoulders with various tools. The massage is often followed by using oil and various products to deep clean the scalp. However, the range of services differs across each video.
A common message across videos is the importance of head spas to maintain scalp health. This belief seems to have originated in countries such as Japan and China who use herbal infusions, acupressure and massage to maintain scalp health. However, the impact that these practices are believed to have differs by country. In Japan, it is believed that scalp heath influences the vitality and quality of the hair while in China it is believed that the scalp and hair reflect the body’s internal health. These treatments are supposed to support hair growth and blood flow while deeply cleansing the scalp.
Though there are no studies focused directly on the impact of a head spa treatment, some studies have shown that the treatments they use can be effective. A 2016 study on standardized scalp massage and a 2020 study on scalp massage for cancer patients has shown that massaging the scalp can increase hair thickness and hair regrowth. Two animal studies, one in 2014 and one in 2016, have also suggested that lavender oil and peppermint oil can promote hair growth.
Going into the appointment, I was unsure if it would have any real impact on my scalp health. I intended to use it to relax, as many do.
“It’s just like, a way to escape life,” O’Byrne said. “I mean everyone’s busy, especially now so everyone needs time to themselves and just, some pampering.”
Solitaire offers several different treatments ranging from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Each treatment includes a scalp and neck massage, scalp cleansing and a nourishing hair mask. The services offered range from a 30-minute session for $75 to a 90-minute session for $195. Unsure of where to start, I opted for the 30-minute session for a base cost of $75.
To start my session, I changed into a towel wrap, giving my technician access to my neck and shoulders. I relaxed into the custom antigravity chair – a massage chair that positions the body to reduce the effects of gravity on the spine and joints – and closed my eyes.
The treatment began with a massage where my technician worked out the tension in my neck and shoulders. As I let my mind drift, I found old memories popping up. My mom is a former massage therapist and she used to give me similar back and neck massages before bed.
In my relaxation, I lost all concept of time and soon found my technician moving to the next step. Despite a warning from my technician, the antigravity chair surprised me when it began rotating on its own. After adjusting the chair and other equipment to the correct height, my technician began cleansing my scalp.
While the cleansing itself felt very similar to one received in a hair salon, the ambiance in the spa promoted a different kind of relaxation. The menthol scrub left my scalp pleasantly tingling and the water circulation rack, a metal halo that softly sprays small streams of water, felt like lying partly under a waterfall. The treatment was finished with a hair mask and scalp massage to remove any lingering tension.
As my awareness returned, I understood why they offered an additional 15-minute naptime for $25 though I did not partake. My technician gave me time to return to the land of the living and get dressed before checking me out. Though your hair is left wet at the end of the appointment, I made use of their self-service dry bar to blow dry and style my hair. I left the spa feeling centered after a long week of school and work. I was very happy with my experience.
In the days after my treatment, I found that my hair felt slightly thicker and softer than when I went in. I am unsure whether this is a confirmation bias but I am looking forward to doing it again.