A head spa centres on the scalp: cleansing, massage and products chosen for scalp health. Below: what the format is, how each option on our menu differs, who it suits, when a dermatologist is the better booking, and how to book.
What a head spa is
Japan Travel describes the Japanese head spa as "a Japan-born practice that includes a thorough cleanse of the scalp, a scalp massage to promote blood flow, and the use of additional products to improve scalp health." A typical session there starts with a consultation (many salons look at the scalp under a microscope), then exfoliation and massage on pressure points, steam, and a deep cleanse. Sessions usually run one to two hours. Spa operators also credit Korean and Chinese scalp-care traditions, which is why you'll see the same service sold as a Korean head spa.
Is J.H Beauty a Japanese head spa? Partly, and it's worth being precise. The Japanese part of our menu is the hydrogen water treatment, which the menu lists as Japanese hydrogen healthy-scalp care (日本水素). If you searched for a Japanese head spa in Sunnyvale, that is the treatment to look at. Our menu doesn't describe the full routine above, such as a microscope scalp check or steam, so ask when you book what your session includes.
The idea is simple: your scalp is skin. It gets oily, flaky and congested like the skin on your face, and shampoo only washes it. A head spa treats it the way a facial treats your face, with a longer appointment, products chosen for your scalp, and time to actually relax. Our scalp treatments are customized, with soothing exfoliation and nutrient-rich hair care.
Scalp treatments and prices at J.H Beauty
| Treatment (as named on our menu) | Length | Price | Built around |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Relax & Balance] Nano Water + Essential Oil | 60 min | $168 | Relaxation and stress relief |
| CO2 Spring Water + Organic Essential Oil Purifying Scalp Treatment | 75 min | $218 | Purifying cleanse with organic oils |
| [Purifying Care] CO2 Spring Water: Deep Cleansing, Hair Vitality, Purifying | Ask when booking | $218 | Deep cleanse and rebalancing |
| [Oway Botanical Balance] CO2 Spring Botanical | 75 min | $218 | Oily scalp, dandruff, oil control |
| [Healthy Scalp] Hydrogen Water Fusion (Hydroimpact) | 75 min | $258 | Dandruff and seborrheic-dermatitis-type scalps |
| [Hair Growth] Premium Customized Botanical | 90 min | $298 | Customized care for clients worried about thinning or density |
CO2 spring water vs hydrogen water vs nano water
CO2 carbonated spring water
Four of our six treatments use carbonated (CO2) spring water. The [Purifying Care] version is described on the menu as using CO2 spring water and organic essential oils to "deeply purify and rebalance the scalp, nourish the hair and restore healthy vitality." The Oway Botanical Balance option pairs the CO2 water with Italian herbal and mineral products from Oway, and the menu lists it for oily scalps, dandruff and oil control. Oway is an Italian professional salon brand founded in 1948 in Bologna, which grows and distills its own plants on a biodynamic farm in the hills outside the city.
Why carbonated water? In a 2016 study in Physiological Reports, 12 healthy young men put their lower legs in 38°C water. Skin blood flow rose far more in CO2-rich water (1,000 ppm) than in plain tap water at the same temperature. That was a leg bath, not a scalp treatment, and no study we found shows a CO2 scalp rinse grows hair. What it does tell you is that carbonated water acts on skin differently from ordinary water.
Hydrogen water (Hydroimpact)
The [Healthy Scalp] Hydrogen Water Fusion treatment is the Japanese hydrogen scalp care on our menu (日本水素), using a hydrogen-water treatment the menu calls Hydroimpact. The menu lists it for dandruff and seborrheic-dermatitis-type scalps. The science behind hydrogen is early: a 2007 paper in Nature Medicine found that hydrogen selectively neutralized the most damaging type of oxygen radical in cultured cells and in rats. That is lab research, not proof that a scalp treatment changes a skin condition, so treat this as a calming spa option, not a replacement for anything your dermatologist has prescribed. Our guide to hydrogen scalp treatment for thinning hair goes through what the research does and doesn't show.
Nano water + essential oil
The [Relax & Balance] treatment is the shortest and lightest. The menu describes it as combining nanotechnology with "the soothing benefits of essential oils," and the service is built around relaxation and stress relief rather than a deep purifying cleanse. Book it if the main goal is to unwind.
Premium Customized
The 90-minute [Hair Growth] Premium Customized Botanical treatment uses CO2 spring water with products chosen for your scalp. The menu lists it under hair loss and hair density, but we don't promise regrowth. A small study on scalp massage followed nine men who used a massage device for four minutes a day for 24 weeks. Their hairs got slightly thicker (0.085 mm to 0.092 mm). That's a small study of daily massage, not evidence for a monthly spa visit.
Who a head spa suits
- People whose scalp feels oily or heavy by the second day, or who use a lot of dry shampoo and styling product. The CO2 options are built for this.
- People with a flaky, dandruff-prone scalp who want spa care alongside their usual routine. Look at the hydrogen option, or Oway Botanical Balance if the scalp is also oily.
- Anyone who wants a long, quiet appointment where the focus is the head and scalp: Relax & Balance.
- People noticing more hair in the brush who want scalp care while they get it checked (see below). The Premium Customized treatment is designed for this.
When to see a dermatologist instead
A spa treatment can't tell you why your hair is falling out, and it can't treat a skin disease. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD):
- Hair loss: Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. If you're shedding more, or losing hair, the AAD says effective treatment "begins with finding the cause," which can mean a scalp exam, blood tests or a biopsy. "The earlier you start, the more likely you are to see regrowth," so don't put off a dermatologist visit for a spa series.
- Seborrheic dermatitis: A scaly, sometimes itchy rash on oily areas like the scalp. There's no cure, but treatment can calm it. If you think you have it, the AAD recommends a board-certified dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.
- Dandruff that won't quit: If dandruff doesn't clear with a dandruff shampoo (zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole and similar ingredients) or gets severe, see a dermatologist. It may be seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis or a fungal infection.
If you already have a scalp diagnosis, check with your treating clinician and contact the studio before booking to ask whether a treatment is suitable. Keep using your prescribed treatment.
Before and after your visit
- Mention allergies. Several of our treatments use essential oils. Nearly 80 essential oils have been reported to cause contact allergy (de Groot & Schmidt, Dermatitis, 2016), and tea tree oil has caused the most published reactions. If you react to fragrances or plant oils, say so when you book.
- Keep your usual routine. If a dermatologist has you on a medicated shampoo, keep using it as directed. The AAD notes that some dandruff shampoos work best left on the scalp for up to 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing.
- Watch your scalp afterward. If itching, redness or a rash appears, stop any new product and check with a doctor.
- Plan the next one. We find every four to eight weeks suits most people, or closer to monthly if you use styling product every day.
Pairing it with a facial? Our hydrogen and Korean-style facials are on the Korean facial page. For more on the carbonated-water options, read CO2 scalp treatment: benefits, process and results; for the hydrogen option, read hydrogen hair treatment for thinning hair.
How to book a head spa in Sunnyvale
J.H Beauty is at 525 W Remington Dr, Suite 102, Sunnyvale, CA 94087. We're open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:45 AM to 8 PM, and closed Mondays. Book any of the six treatments on our menu, or call +1-650-784-6076. Not sure which one fits? Book "Choose Service in Store" ($50, 90 minutes) and pick your treatment at the studio. Our owner and lead esthetician is Ruby.