Head spa services are making waves in the beauty industry—and for good reason. As clients increasingly struggle with persistent scalp issues and hair loss, the demand for holistic, results-driven treatments continues to grow. These luxury services not only deliver relaxation but also address the root causes of hair and scalp concerns, offering a new level of care in the salon experience.
To guide stylists in mastering this art, we sat down with Kai Fujimoto, a Japanese Head Spa Educator and owner of Aqua Lucca Head Spa in California. With over 18 years of experience in the head spa world, Kai brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights. His mission? To empower stylists with the techniques, language, and confidence they need to offer transformative scalp care services that keep clients coming back.
What are the key signs during a consultation that let you know a client might be dealing with an underlying scalp health issue?
“I rely on both visual analysis and what the client shares about their daily experience. Using a scalp magnifier, I look for things like redness, buildup, blocked follicles, thinning areas, or inflammation. I also ask about their shedding, itchiness, soreness, or how their scalp feels in general. Sometimes the root issue is surface-level and can be improved with regular scalp care. Other times, it may be connected to internal imbalances like gut inflammation or autoimmune responses, especially with psoriasis. Seborrheic dermatitis can be genetically triggered. I always take the time to look, listen, and guide them toward which head spa treatment and add-on they should book with me, lifestyle changes, or some specific supplements I have knowledge about that might be helpful to their conditions. I may even let them know to check in with a dermatologist or doctor if more medical attention is needed.”
How do you balance sensitivity and honesty when discussing visible hair loss or scalp conditions with clients?
“When someone is going through hair loss, they’re often feeling vulnerable. I don’t focus on diagnosing or labeling. Instead, I offer helpful knowledge. If I’ve had personal experience, I share that honestly. For example, I use the Intelligent Nutrients Pure Plenty line at home for prevention. It contains red clover extract that helps reduce DHT, which is one of the causes of thinning. I use their shampoo, conditioner, and Nourishing Scalp Serum myself.
If I haven’t gone through it personally, I’ll share the results I’ve seen in my clients. Even saying something like, ‘One of my clients saw visible improvement after using this consistently for two months,’ can help someone feel more confident. When you offer real tools and insights instead of just giving instructions, it helps them feel more supported and empowered.
Clients are often seeking guidance and information. You’re not there to fix everything on the spot. You’re there to give them the best product knowledge and helpful information you have. Sharing stories, whether from your own life or from other clients’ results, helps create that trust. The more you learn and experience, the more you’ll be able to offer the right options to the right people.”
How do you introduce clients to scalp-focused services or products without overwhelming them?
“I always aim to be informative, not pushy. If someone is interested in head spa services or relaxation, I often share my other clients’ experiences and how their conditions improved through scalp treatments or by combining relaxation with deeper care. Many people dealing with stress are surprised how much relief they feel from just starting with a calming, restorative service. It can be the perfect entry point into long-term scalp wellness.
For example, using the
Micro-Exfoliating Scalp Treatment Masque from ARETÉ is a great way to introduce scalp services. It smells amazing and gently exfoliates and decongests the scalp. The results are significant. People feel clean yet moisturized after the treatment. Once they experience that, it usually leads to strong retention because they want to feel that again. This treatment is the most versatile and works for almost every scalp type. Whether the client has an oily scalp, dryness, flakiness, or is experiencing hair loss, it fits in easily. Using the scalp magnifier before and after shows a visible difference even in one session. Many clients are searching for better products and services. You may be the first one to introduce them to these solutions.
Having product knowledge and being able to clearly explain what each treatment or product can do is essential. Sharing what I personally use and love at home is one of the most helpful ways to connect. When clients hear real experiences, it makes them curious, not overwhelmed.
When my scalp feels sensitive, I reach for the ARETÉ
Calm & Soothe Cleansing Milk. Once a week, I use the O&M
Detox Shampoo for a clean, refreshed feeling. That kind of real-life customization is what clients want to hear. It’s not about selling. It’s about sharing what works and why.
Most clients don’t know where to start, so I walk them through what each product does, how it fits into their routine, and why I chose it for their treatment. That way, it feels supportive, not overwhelming. When they understand the why, they feel more confident and excited to care for their scalp in a meaningful way.”
Are there certain retail conversations that help increase client follow-through with home care?
“Definitely. After every scalp treatment, I go over exactly what I used and explain why. I’ll say something like, “This is the shampoo and scalp toner I used during your treatment. Keeping up with this at home will help maintain the results we achieved today.” When clients can connect the products to what they felt in the service and what they saw under the magnifier, it becomes meaningful. That’s when they follow through.”
How do you adapt your styling or color services for clients with noticeable thinning or sensitivity?
“I only use ammonia-free color lines like ARETÉ and O&M. These are much gentler for sensitive scalps or thinning hair. I’ve transitioned all of my hair loss clients to these color lines, and they often tell me they feel more comfortable during and after the process. When clients feel safe in your chair, they’re more open to exploring long-term scalp health.”
Do you offer tiered service options for scalp care or hair regrowth journeys? How do you position those to clients?
“Yes, I offer multiple levels of service depending on where the client is in their journey. If someone is just starting, they might book our signature 60-minute head spa. For more buildup or inflammation, or for clients who want to deeply relax, we offer 75-minute and 90-minute head spas. The longer the session, the more in-depth we can go with tailored care.
We also offer premium add-ons like the juliArt
Repairing Scalp Mask and
CISPER Hair Revitalizing Ampoules, which are amazing for hair regrowth support. Every session is different. We use the scalp magnifier to check the condition, ask what products they’re using at home, and customize the treatment based on that. Life, sleep, and stress all affect the scalp. Nothing stays the same. So we stay flexible, informed, and enthusiastic so we can respond to what each client truly needs in the moment.
That ties directly into rebooking. I’ll often say, ‘Let’s do 75 or 90 minutes next time so we can go deeper,’ or ‘Let’s add this treatment next time since we saw some buildup today.’ It’s all about guiding them based on their current condition.”
What treatments or rituals have you found most effective in helping clients see visible improvements over time? What makes them stand out?
“I rely on two core rituals that consistently deliver results. For flaky scalp concerns like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis, I always use the juliArt
Repairing Scalp Mask with the
Exfoliating Liquid Shampoo. The mask calms inflammation and clears buildup, and the shampoo lifts away flakiness and purifies the scalp. We finish with either the
CISPER Oily Scalp or
Dry Scalp Restorer, depending on their needs. This is our Premium Organic Dandruff Treatment and is offered monthly or bi-weekly depending on severity.
For hair loss and regrowth, I use the juliArt
Repairing Scalp Mask followed by the
CISPER Hair Revitalizing Ampoules. This is our Premium Hair Growth Treatment. We use the scalp magnifier every session to monitor changes, and clients can actually see the improvement in hair density, thickness, and new growth. These two targeted protocols are the most effective systems I’ve found. They consistently deliver real results.”
How has offering scalp and hair loss support impacted your business or helped you stand out as a stylist?
“It has transformed everything. Since opening my head spa and focusing on scalp and hair loss solutions, I’ve tripled my income. People are actively looking for support. When you give them real results and pair that with a deeply relaxing and luxurious experience, they keep coming back. That combination of calm and care has helped me build something really special.”
What would you say to stylists who feel unsure or intimidated by working with clients who have scalp or thinning issues?
“There are so many amazing products available today and it’s exciting to learn about the best ones you can recommend to your clients, and even for yourself. Having access to top-quality scalp care is a privilege. What makes the difference is building product knowledge. Once you understand what each product is designed to do, you’ll feel more confident explaining it clearly to your clients.
You don’t have to know everything from the beginning. But the more you learn, the more naturally you’ll be able to guide each client with honesty and care. That builds trust. It builds loyalty. Clients want someone who listens, understands what they’re going through, and shares information that’s truly helpful. When you approach it that way, you’re not just offering a service. You’re creating a long-term connection with them.”
