I’ll be honest: I wasn’t expecting to start my first-ever scalp treatment lying underneath a towel in a dimly lit room while ambient music plays. I’ve never really had a troublesome scalp and my hair is pretty robust and not prone to breakage, but after watching the explosion of #ScalpCare content on social media and developing a growing awareness of overall hair health, I was intrigued. I’ve never even used a scalp massaging device, but could taking better care of my crown make my hair look even better?

Besides just feeling great, steaming your hair and scalp as part of your regular routine can help to unclog pores and encourage healthy hair growth. Think of it like a deep clean for your scalp, removing dead skin cells and product build-up. It also allows toxins from the scalp to be released and helps increase collagen production and blood flow to the scalp.

While once upon a time it used to be that targeted scalpcare was only for those with problem scalps –itchiness, flakes, too much oil or too dry – we now understand everyone can benefit from some extra attention to their scalp, and steaming is just one of the ways to get it.

In terms of revitalising the health of my scalp, it’s so far so good. The massage is followed by an exfoliating scrub that removes any residue on the roots and a thorough wash with some satisfyingly cooling shampoo.

Then comes the all-important head steam – a crucial step to open the hair cuticles that involves a hot towel draped along my parting. After just two or three minutes, a further treatment is applied to seal them back up again, leaving my hair silky smooth to the touch.

The whole experience is surprisingly relaxing, and being told I had excellent scalp health is the compliment I didn’t know I needed. Finishing off with a signature Mayfair bouncy blow-dry, I leave very happy indeed, with hair that looks ultra-glossy and feels both cleaner and lighter from root to tip. But the benefits didn’t stop there.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that all good hair care should begin from the scalp. Not only was the entire experience so relaxing that it left me in a zen-like state for the rest of the day, friends complimented me on how voluminous my hair looked for days afterwards. I was so impressed with the outcome that I even boarded a plane to my hen party three days later without so much as brushing it. Unbelievably, my blow-dry was still almost perfectly intact.

Whether it’s as a regular part of your haircare routine or a payday treat that will leave you feeling (and looking) your best, caring for your scalp has never been cooler. 

The Japanese head spa experience at Hiro Miyoshi starts from £150.

Images: Amy Beecham; Getty