welcome to the nap zone, and other scalp centric tales
i’ve done it. i’ve dove head first into all things scalp health and care, and i’m not really mad about it. if you hadn’t gathered from my last post, the beauty industry has finally come to terms with the long term neglect of the skin above the brows. it didnt take long for the tik toks and instagram reels to lure me in with waterfall rinses, ASMR scalp scrubs, and extra indulgent scalp massages. if you’ve sat in my chair you already know i LOVE the steamed facial towel and scalp massage during the shampoo session, so fleshing this out to it’s own indulgent service felt natural. as i was embarking on my little scalp scrub journey to become a scalp facialist, i realized that it wouldnt be very empowering to have such a scalp health oriented service while still being limited in my scope of practice for providing actual diagnoses and treatment of hair loss, or ‘simple’ scalp issues, like psoriasis or dandruff. while in cosmetology school you get the bare minimum of trichology (scientific para medical study of scalp skin and hair), but yet, everything we do to our scalp directly influences how our hair thrives. 50% of humans will have experienced a form of hair loss by the age of 50, and roughly 3% of humans suffer from psoriasis. typically, if a client expressed concerns about their scalp the best i could do with the scope of my cosmetology license is say “i think this looks like ___ , you can see/use/try ___.” which never feels like you’re doing enough. if on the rare occasion i found patches of hair loss, i would gently probe the client as to its origin before a dermatology referral.
as i researched, i stumbled upon trichologist hairdressers on social media and realized i had another option. as i mentioned above, trichology is the scientific study of human hair, including its structure, function, and diseases. It also involves diagnosing and treating disorders and diseases of the scalp and hair follicles. The word trichology comes from the Greek words tricos, meaning "hair", and ology, meaning "the study of". pretty simple, yeah? dermatology deals specifically in skin disorders, and your scalp IS skin, but dermatology is broad focused, whereas trichology is narrow focused. after researching various online programs, i enrolled in the certified hairloss practitioners course through USTI- with my education i’ll be able to help clients holistically navigate the majority of hairloss issues, and simple scalp disorders. i’ve found the materials wholly fascinating, and really love the idea that i can provide a more well rounded experience- even if youre not seeking a scalp facial. i’ll be taking my certification test in august, and am looking forward to adding hair loss consults and therapies to my service menu before the fall.
before and after a scalp facial, up close and personal
building my scalp facial menu and protocol has been a super fun and immersive project, and i’m hoping to launch the menu after my vacation this month. scalp facials or ‘head spa’ services originated in Japan and east Asia, and have crept into the US in the last decade. just as a traditional facial cleanses and rebalances the face, head spa/scalp facial services rebalance the scalp, ecpouraging the ultimate environment for hair growth. my variation will consist of microscope analysis of the scalp and hair, detoxifying with deep exfoliation of the follicles, soothing mask, and extended length massage. my goal is for the service to feel impactful on the health of your scalp and hair, while also feeling indulgent and deeply restorative to your entire self. i deck out the shampoo bowl with supportive bolsters, wrap you in light blankets, and place a light blocking mask over your eyes. we listed to pre-recorded sound baths, nature scapes, or lo-fi music, and micro mist steam and aromatherapy fill the air. after the consultation i barely speak (its true! i can be quiet!) unless checking in on heat or pressure. you get to unplug completely for over an hour, and wake up only enough to safely travel home.
the shampoo bowl becomes a little cocoon
I’m pretty stoked to expand this area of practice, and can’t wait for yall to experience it, too. the scalp spa will be available on Mondays only so that we can have privacy, and the ability to hog the bowl for ourselves. the price will vary based on hair length + time needed, much like a color service, with options to fit multiple price points. keep your eyes on your email to know when you can be the first to book!