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Need to attempt the Korean 15-step scalp therapy when you’re in Seoul? Right here’s what you want to know…
Seoul’s magnificence scene is HUGE – and getting larger. It’s additionally fairly distinctive, that includes magnificence traits like glass pores and skin, color evaluation, and 10-step magnificence regimes.
One new magnificence pattern that’s turning into more and more well-liked (partly because of going viral on TikTok) is the 15 Step Scalp Therapy or “head spa” expertise. However what precisely is it – and is it really value it?
I’ve lined all the things you want to know in regards to the therapy on this web page – together with a round-up of the finest salons in Seoul to attempt it (with costs). Hope it helps!
What’s the 15-Step Korean Scalp Therapy?
The Korean scalp therapy is a type of head spa expertise, that includes a collection of various merchandise and steps (often 15 steps) to focus on particular issues like hair loss or greasy scalp. It’s a bit like a facial – however on your head as a substitute of your face!
The 15-Step Scalp Therapy began gaining recognition after going “viral” on TikTok. Now, it’s one of the well-liked Okay-beauty experiences to attempt in South Korea.
Seoul is among the finest locations to attempt it, as there are a lot of salons providing head spas – lots of which cater to overseas guests and have English-speaking employees.
What to Count on
Remedies often begin with a prognosis, typically utilizing a microscope to examine the scalp. Let me inform you, seeing your hair follicles and clumps of oil or lifeless pores and skin up shut is fairly gross!
Good salons will then tailor the therapy to fight particular issues recognized throughout the prognosis.
The 15-Step Scalp Therapy is the most typical choice, though some salons additionally supply an 18-step model. I’ve listed all of the steps afterward on this submit. It’s an extended course of, often lasting round 1.5 hours.
Whether or not or not there’s a lot profit to the therapy (past a really clear scalp), it’s an extremely stress-free expertise – and a enjoyable perception into Seoul’s high-tech magnificence tradition.
How A lot Does it Price?
This scalp therapy isn’t low-cost! Costs vary from round ₩130,000 to ₩200,000; (£72- £110 or $89 – $137USD). I paid 180,000 at Eco Jardin by Parkjun for my therapy: there have been 15 steps and it took 1.5 hours.
Within the subsequent part, I’ve shared the therapy costs at a few of the top-rated salons in Seoul to assist in giving you a clearer image.
The place to Get the Scalp Therapy in Seoul
After lots of analysis scrawling by means of boards, watching TikTok movies, checking critiques, and talking to buddies who’ve already tried it… I compiled a shortlist of salons in Seoul that A) supply the scalp therapy and B) settle for foreigners and have English-speaking employees. This second level is vital should you don’t communicate Korean, so hopefully this shortlist will turn out to be useful.
I contacted all of them to speak by means of my choices, and ended up going to Eco Jardin as they have been closest to my resort and had been extremely really useful.
Parkjun Magnificence Lab – Cheongdam (Gangnam)
Parkjun Magnificence Lab claims to be the unique house of the 15-step Scalp Therapy. It has rave critiques and is extremely regarded. Nevertheless, it’s additionally the costliest salon on this checklist!
Value: ₩200,000 (£110 / $137)
Handle: 651 Samseong-ro
Contact: Instagram @parkjun2342
Eco Jardin – 3 places (Gongdeok, Aeogae, Myeongdong)
Eco Jardin is definitely a part of the Parkjun salon group, so you may anticipate the identical nice high quality from the merchandise and equipment used. That is additionally one of the well-liked locations to attempt the top spa (and the one most TikTok-ers appear to go to), with constantly excessive critiques and a strong status.
I headed to their Aeogae Station department for my very own therapy and I can’t fault the standard or the service. The salon itself is beautiful, too.
Value: ₩180,000 (£100 / $124)
Aeogae department deal with: 2nd Ground, 204 Mapo-daero
Gongdeok department deal with: Relocating to Gyeongbokgung Station Feb 2025 (contact them to test the deal with).
Myeongdong department deal with: third Ground, 8-10, Myeongdong 8-gil
Contact: Instagram @ecojardin_reserve OR @ecojardin.myeongdong
The Day’s Hair – Hongdae
This might be a very good choice should you’re staying within the Hongdae space. They have been fast to reply to my Instagram DM and have nice critiques on Naver and Google Maps.
Value: ₩130,000 (£72 / $89)
Handle: 2nd Ground, 20 Hongik-ro 5an-gil
Contact: Instagram @thedayshair
Moclock – Gangnam
Moclock is a fairly salon with first rate critiques, who’re each foreigner and hijab pleasant.
Value: ₩98,000 (£55 / $67) for a 60 min therapy (not 15 steps) PLUS ₩30,000 for the session & prognosis*.
Handle: 2nd Ground, 520 Gangnam-daero
Contact: @moclock_gangnam
*FYI Moclock don’t checklist their costs on-line and by no means acquired again to me with a value checklist – one latest reviewer mentioned she paid ₩150,000 for the 15-step therapy. Double test the value upfront earlier than reserving.
What are the 15 Steps?
The precise 15 steps would possibly range relying on which salon you go to – however they’re largely fairly related. Right here’s what they offer you at Eco Jardin…
Half One: Prognosis and Therapy
- Microscopic Session and Prognosis – they’ll use a particular microscope digicam for a super-close-up take a look at your scalp to diagnose any points. Be warned – it’s fairly gross!
- Neck Therapeutic massage with Oil.
- Neck Muscle Leisure Suction Machine – a vacuum-like suction nozzle is used to provide you some mild cupping remedy. That is meant to reinforce blood circulation and eradicate waste.
- Scorching Towel (for my part this actually doesn’t must be a “step” they usually’ve solely listed to bulk out the 15 steps!).
- Cleansing & Exfoliating with Oil Therapeutic massage – aromatherapy oils are massaged into the scalp, meant to assist stimulate hair progress and stop hair loss.
- Galvanic Sealing Brush – this isn’t actually a brush, however a small hand-held machine that shines purple LED mild onto your scalp. It’s meant to enhance circulation and soothe open blood vessels.
- Invigorating Scrub – made with cooling mint extract.
- Therapeutic Steam Mist – like a mini-sauna on your head! Steam is directed straight onto your scalp to open up the pours (it’s additionally very stress-free).
- Shampoo – that is performed in your salon chair, earlier than making use of any water.
- Y-Stick Therapy – as soon as the shampoo is utilized, they’ll use a particular steel Y-Keep on with therapeutic massage it in. It’s meant to take away steel parts like those present in chemical therapies.
Section Two: Rinse and Outcomes
- Yume Spa Mattress Leisure – this was my favorite half! You’ll lie on a elaborate spa mattress (with built-in digital therapeutic massage) whereas a waterfall faucet runs heat water over your scalp. They’ll cowl your face with a towel and it’s tremendous stress-free – chances are you’ll go to sleep!
- Microscope – head again underneath the microscope to see “earlier than and after” photos of your scalp. You may really see the enhancements earlier than your eyes!
- Hair Progress Tonic – the oil is tailor-made to fit your wants and utilized on to the scalp.
- T-Stick Infusion – one other particular steel pole, used to therapeutic massage the hair progress tonic into the scalp. Once more, I really feel like these may each be one “step” and have solely been separated to make the checklist of steps longer!
- Styling and End – the usual value features a primary blow-dry, or you may pay additional for styling like curls or straightening.
My Verdict: Is the Korean Scalp Therapy Price It?
OK, that is the massive query. Folks RAVE in regards to the 15-Step Scalp Treament; however is it really value it? Or is that this only a very costly hair wash?!
Did it work?
Properly, I can verify that my hair felt superb afterwards – and it’s genuinely by no means felt cleaner! They present you the “earlier than and after” photographs underneath the microscope, and I genuinely noticed a distinction. The clumps of oil have been gone, and the redness had gone down.
What I can’t say for positive is how efficient it was at treating my scalp’s points. I’ve an oily scalp and my hair often begins feeling greasy about 1.5 days after washing. After my hair spa, it was fairly a couple of days earlier than my hair felt greasy or wanted washing once more.
However issues have been undoubtedly again to regular once more by the point I acquired again to the UK. So as to reap the advantages of the top spa therapy, I believe you’d have to go frequently – which might be a really costly behavior!
As a one-off therapy, although, this is usually a very nice solution to revive your hair on the finish of per week or two of journey. And it’s a enjoyable, distinctive solution to pamper your self!
Is it definitely worth the value?
I’m torn – as a result of I believe £100-odd is sort of a excessive value for a hair therapy. BUT it was a very beautiful, stress-free expertise and – as I mentioned above – it was enjoyable to attempt one thing so distinctive.
One factor I’ll say is that the “15 Steps” title seems like a little bit of a advertising ploy. The prognosis counts as one of many “steps” – and a few steps occur concurrently, in order that they don’t must be counted individually. I’d say there are extra like 12 steps of precise therapy.
That mentioned, it’s a genuinely beautiful therapy: it’s stress-free, indulgent, and left my hair feeling superb! If you happen to like facials and spa therapies, you’ll in all probability love this.
Ultimate Ideas
In abstract – I do suppose it’s value attempting the 15-Step Scalp Therapy in your journey to Seoul (so long as you don’t thoughts that £100-odd price ticket). Simply possibly don’t anticipate miracles!
It is a very indulgent and efficient pamper session that has lots of short-term advantages – however it in all probability received’t clear up your extra critical scalp-issues long-term until you’ve gotten the therapy frequently.
However – it’s enjoyable to attempt and offers a little bit of an perception into Seoul’s big, distinctive and generally weird magnificence trade.
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Have you ever tried the 15-Step Scalp Therapy in Seoul (or elsewhere)? Scroll all the way down to share your expertise within the feedback!
