Spa / Japanese head spa

Japanese head spa in Ubud

Sun, sweat, sunscreen, pool water, a helmet you didn't choose. Your scalp has had a harder holiday than you have. This is seventy-five minutes of putting that right, the slow Japanese way.

Seraya Head Spa Ritual75 minIDR 810K

Express Head Spa45 minIDR 495K

Head spa vs hair spa

Woman with closed eyes during a head spa hair wash at a basin

Woman with a towel wrap receiving a gentle head massage

Bright bathroom with tropical plants and a wooden vanity

Iced matcha latte with a bamboo whisk and matcha powder

The Seraya Head Spa Ritual

What happens in seventy-five minutes

Nothing is rushed, and nobody tries to sell you a shampoo at the end. The express version keeps the cleanse and shortens the massage to fit a lunch break.

5 min
Scalp check
You tell us how it feels: tight, oily, dry, itchy, or just tired. We look at the scalp under a lamp and choose the cleanser and oil with you.
20 min
Double cleanse
You lie back on a heated head spa bed. Warm water runs over the scalp, not just the lengths, while steam opens everything up. Twice, slowly.
35 min
The massage
Scalp, neck and shoulders, using Japanese pressure points along the hairline and the base of the skull. This is where most people fall asleep.
15 min
Mask and finish
A conditioning mask under steam, a rinse, a gentle towel dry, then a matcha or jamu while your hair settles.

Japanese head spa, hair spa or creambath?

Three names you'll see on menus around Ubud. They overlap, but they aren't the same treatment.

Treatment	From	Focus	What happens	Usually
Japanese head spa	Japan	The scalp	Cleansing under running water and steam, then a long, structured scalp, neck and shoulder massage	45–90 min
Hair spa	Salons across Asia	The hair	A nourishing mask on the lengths, steam, a shorter massage. The name is used loosely, so ask what is included	45–75 min
Creambath	Indonesia	Hair and shoulders	A cream massaged into hair and scalp, steam, then head, neck and shoulder massage. The everyday Indonesian salon classic	45–60 min

Short version: if your hair feels dry, a hair spa or creambath is enough. If your head feels heavy, book the head spa.

Who it's for, honestly

You'll love it if

You've been swimming and sweating for a week and your scalp feels it.
You carry your stress in your jaw, neck and shoulders.
Long flights or long laptop days give you that tight band around the head.
You want to look after your hair without a full salon appointment.

Choose something else if

You need your hair styled for an event straight after. Book the blow-dry, or a massage instead.
You have a scalp condition being treated by a doctor. Check with them first and tell us when you book.
You want firm work on your back and legs. That's a Balinese massage.

First visit

Matcha & Mind

Your first visit. The short version of everything we do. Seraya Head Spa Ritual, 75 min, Ceremonial Matcha, whisked at your table. IDR 860K.

All packages

Head spa questions

What is a Japanese head spa?

A scalp treatment that started in Japanese hair salons. Instead of washing your hair, it cleans the scalp itself under warm running water and steam, then follows with a long massage of the scalp, neck and shoulders. It is half beauty treatment, half deep rest.

Is a hair spa the same as a head spa?

Not quite. Hair spa usually means a mask for the lengths of your hair with steam and a short massage. A Japanese head spa focuses on the scalp and spends most of its time on cleansing and massage. Many salons in Bali use the names interchangeably, so always ask what is included.

What is a creambath in Bali?

An Indonesian salon treatment: a rich cream is worked into hair and scalp, you sit under steam, and it ends with a head, neck and shoulder massage. It is cheaper and shorter than a Japanese head spa, and very relaxing in its own way.

Should I wash my hair before a head spa?

No. Come as you are. If you swam in the morning, even better, because we will get the chlorine and sunscreen out of the scalp.

Can I have a head spa with coloured hair or extensions?

Coloured hair, yes. Tell us when you book so we choose a gentle cleanser. Extensions and fresh keratin treatments: message us first, because some bonds do not like long, warm water.

Will my hair be styled afterwards?

We dry it gently and leave it natural. If you have dinner plans, tell us and we will blow-dry it.