Japanese Way of Washing Hair
Some nights, washing your hair feels like just another task instead of a time to relax. But if you take your time and make it a small ritual, things change. You can make your hair look smoother, shinier, and even a little fuller without going to the salon and spending a lot of money. This Japanese-inspired Head Spa routine is like a spa treatment for your scalp. If you do it often, you’ll really notice the results.
How to Wash Your Hair in Japan
What a Japanese-Inspired Head Spa Really Is
Getting to Know Head Spa The main idea behind a Head Spa is simple: take care of your scalp the same way you take care of your hair. Instead of just washing and rinsing quickly, this method combines gentle massage with careful cleaning and drying. The goal goes beyond just having clean hair. It helps hair stay smooth and shiny while also calming the scalp and lowering stress. A full home routine usually includes a few simple steps. You massage your scalp before you wash your hair. If you want, you can put oil on your hair before you wash it.
The shampooing focuses more on the scalp than on the hair lengths. After that, you should gently dry your hair with a towel and then blow-dry it on a low heat setting. You could also rinse your hair with rice water every now and then. Each step may seem simple, but when you do them all together, they can change how your hair feels over time. Most people are drawn to more than just getting better results. It’s the feeling of being calm and centered that comes over you when you turn a quick shower into a short meditation.
How often you should wash your hair (one rule doesn’t work for everyone)
Before you learn how to wash your hair, you should think about how often you do it. If you wash your hair too often, it will feel dry and damaged because it loses its natural oils. If you don’t wash your hair enough, it will look flat and feel greasy. The best time to wash your hair depends on your scalp type and how you live your life. Most people find that washing their hair once to three times a week is the best amount for them.
A General Washing Schedule Based on Hair Type
People with straight or wavy hair usually only need to wash their hair once or twice a week unless they work out a lot or use a lot of styling products. People with oily scalps may need to wash their hair three times a week and should focus the shampoo on their scalps. People with dry or curly hair don’t need to wash it very often, maybe once a week or even less often. Dermatologists say that straight hair makes it easier for natural oils from the scalp to move down the hair strands.
People with curly and coily hair types don’t need to wash their hair as often because it keeps moisture closer to the scalp. Most people say that washing their hair less often, about twice a week instead of every day, makes it feel stronger and look better. Over time, their hair also makes less oil than they thought it would.
Step 1: Massage your scalp before you wash your hair.
Before adding water or shampoo, the Japanese Head Spa routine starts with a scalp massage on dry hair. You can use your fingers or a soft silicone brush to do this. Use small circles to move from the back of your neck to the top of your head. Research on daily scalp massage for approximately four minutes over several months has indicated a slight enhancement in hair thickness. This happens because the blood flows better and the scalp is gently stretched.
This massage helps you relax deeply, gets rid of buildup, and improves circulation. A lot of people say this is the best part of the routine because it makes their scalp feel lighter and more comfortable for hours after.
Step 2: Use a light oil before washing to protect.
You should put a thin layer of oil on your scalp and the ends of your hair before you wash it. You don’t need to use a lot of oil because this mask shouldn’t be too thick. The main goal is to keep your hair from getting too dry when you wash it. Studies of different hair oils have found that coconut oil is especially good at keeping protein in your hair when you use it before and after washing it. If your hair is fine, you might like lighter oils like argan oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil better because they don’t weigh your hair down. Put a few drops of oil in your hands and rub them together to warm it up. Gently rub the oil into your scalp, then use the rest of the oil to smooth out the middle and ends of your hair. Before rinsing the oil out with lukewarm water, let it sit in your hair for a few minutes. When you shampoo, pay more attention to your roots because the foam that runs down through the rest of your hair is usually enough to clean it.
Step 3: Drying Gently Makes a Big Difference
When hair is wet, it is at its most fragile. Instead of rubbing it hard with a towel, use a microfiber towel or a soft cotton T-shirt to gently press out the extra water. Instead of scrubbing, think about squeezing.
Research comparing drying methods indicates that microfiber towels are less abrasive on hair fibers than coarse cotton towels or immediate blow-drying. This small change can make a big difference in how much frizz and breakage you have over time.
Step 4: Blow-dry with low heat and smartly
When you do it right, blow-drying doesn’t hurt. When you use too much heat, keep the dryer in one place for too long, or hold it too close to your hair, things go wrong. Before you use the dryer, let your hair air dry for a while. Choose the lowest temperature that still works. Keep the dryer moving all the time and keep it about six inches away from your head. Point the air from your roots down toward the ends. This helps the outer layer of your hair feel smoother. Most people find that using less heat on their hair over time makes the ends feel softer and stops dryness from building up.
Extra Step: Rinse with rice water every now and then
You can use a rice-water rinse as a finishing touch every few weeks. This is just the cloudy water that is left over after you soak or rinse rice. After you’ve already washed and conditioned your hair, pour it through the lengths of your hair. It makes hair look shinier and feel smoother. You don’t have to do this every time you wash your hair. It gives your hair a soft shine boost when you use it every now and then. It also makes your hair care routine feel more special and planned.
How This Head Spa Ritual Can Change Over Time
If you massage your scalp with light pre-wash oil and dry it gently, along with low-heat blow-drying and rice-water rinses every now and then, you’ll get healthier hair instead of just shinier strands. This routine keeps your scalp safe and lowers friction and heat damage, which lets your hair shine naturally. Most people notice that their hair breaks less and has smoother ends over time. They also find that it is easier to style without using extra products. This method, which is based on Japanese Head Spa treatments, shows that hair responds well to being handled gently and patiently. It becomes softer and shinier, and it gives you a natural sense of confidence.
