Californian massage has long been the reference for getting away from everyday life. But a ritual from Japan is attracting more and more French people.
For a long time, when we really wanted to relax, we booked a massage. Today, many are looking for more targeted care, which does not just provide a pleasant time before returning to the office. They want to feel a real release and leave with the feeling that something has really changed. This is exactly what explains the success of a Japanese ritual which is becoming more and more talked about in France.
Spending the day in front of a screen, staying in the same position for hours, clenching your teeth without even realizing it… all of this ends up creating tension. And they don’t just stay in the back or shoulders. The head also takes it. However, the scalp often remains the forgotten part of well-being routines. In Japan, it’s quite the opposite. It receives almost the same attention as the skin of the face, with a very precise protocol.
In this context, Japanese hair care, also called Japanese Head Spa, is very successful. Unlike a classic Head Spa, this one follows a protocol inspired by Japanese well-being rituals, with a personalized reading of the scalp’s needs and an approach that places as much importance on health as on relaxation. Indeed, the specialist takes the time to closely observe the roots of the hair to understand their nature. This inventory allows him to adapt the care to each person. Then, it’s time for deep cleaning. The scalp benefits from a relaxing exfoliation to gently eliminate impurities. In many institutes, hot steam completes this step to prepare the skin before the massage.
Then comes the moment that everyone has been waiting for. For an hour, sometimes even an hour and a half, the practitioner alternates massages of the scalp, neck, shoulders and sometimes the face. Some establishments also add a touch of aromatherapy with essential oils. As a result, we no longer think about the emails waiting or the notifications piling up. And, frankly, managing to forget your phone for more than an hour has almost become an achievement in itself.
In terms of price, it costs around a hundred euros for a one-hour service and more and more institutes are offering it throughout France, such as Maison Koton in Paris, Moly Institut in Rennes or even Serenity Institut in Bordeaux. And, as the Italian Grazia relays, professionals are trained in “almost ceremonial precision” for this type of care. So, of course it’s a budget, but the disconnection is more than guaranteed upon exit.
