I’ll admit, I dread washing my hair. It’s on the drier side so masking is a must, which means it’s a lot of faff and isn’t a quick process. I even have to set aside specific days to do it, otherwise it would never get done. A routine is key. So when my social media feed began inundating me with videos of people washing their hair, I was confused. Wash day was a drag, surely – not an indulgent ASMR-worthy treatment. But this wasn’t any old hair-washing routine; these people were visiting a head spa.

I love a spa as much as the next person but I’d rather treat my body to a massage or my skin to a facial than waste precious time on my scalp. The videos suggested this scalp neglect was the reason my hair was underperforming and looking frazzled, which is where a head spa comes in.

The destinations designed to give your scalp an MOT became popular in Japan and have gradually gone global and viral as a result. TikTok has 349.2 million posts on the topic. As someone who’s keen to try anything to make their hair look sleek and glossy, I decided to see if a head spa could really deliver Disney princess-worthy hair.  

I checked myself into Cloud Twelve, a day spa located in the heart of Notting Hill. Its head spa experience promises to harness the science of scalp care with the holistic calmness of a spa and aims to tackle everything from dandruff to hair thinning.

An analysis of my scalp was done first. A diagnostic gadget was used to have a closer look at my hair follicles, which determined I was suffering from a bit of greasiness. I’ve had similar tests done before, and while this wasn’t as in-depth, it was enough to assess which products would suit my hair best. I suffer from dandruff from time to time but it doesn’t bother me too much. However, I had been struggling with itchiness at the back of my head which I was keen to resolve. 

I also took a quiz and selected my hair’s typical traits and what I’d like to improve (more hydration and shine, please). All of this helped my therapist select the best shampoo and booster for my hair experience.

First, my scalp was treated to a clay mask to help detox and draw out impurities. This was massaged in with a mix of gadgets and gizmos to make your scalp tingle and then my hair was double cleansed. During the 90 minutes, I was treated to a neck and shoulder massage as well as a gua sha facial while my hair soaked in the booster and was given a steam. Next up was a scalp massage and a detangle with an LED hair brush to help reduce inflammation. It’s safe to say, it was definitely more than just a hair wash.

I wasn’t going to let my freshly washed hair be ridden with germs from the Tube, so I went to the salon downstairs for a blow-dry, which is an add-on. Overall, my hair was noticeably shinier (tick), but it always is when I use heat to dry it instead of my usual air-drying routine. However, the real results could be seen when it came to the next wash day scheduled in my calendar and my roots weren’t remotely greasy. A massive feat.

If you are suffering from hair loss or severe seborrheic dermatitis, I would always visit a trichologist – a head spa isn’t going to cut it. But if you’re simply looking for a guaranteed good hair day, a deep cleanse for a refresh and a relaxing 90 minutes, this is the way to go. Plus, those kinks in your neck and shoulders will benefit too. It’s an elite upgrade on a traditional wash and blowdry.

Head spa treatment at Cloud Twelve from £190

Images: Adobe; Charlotte Bitmead; Cloud Twelve