A Japanese Head Spa gift voucher: the Christmas gift that isn't a candle

Every December I watch the same thing happen. People who are exceptionally good at looking after everyone else are handed another candle, another set of bath salts, another thing for the shelf. What they would actually like is an hour in which nothing is asked of them.

A Japanese Head Spa gift voucher is built for exactly that. It gives someone a long, unhurried scalp ritual at our Norwich clinic, on a day of their choosing, and it asks nothing of them except that they turn up. If you are choosing a gift for a partner, a parent, a friend or a colleague who never stops, it is one of the more considered things you can give.

What is a Japanese Head Spa gift voucher?

A Japanese Head Spa gift voucher is a prepaid gift for a Japanese Head Spa at REGEN Clinic in Norwich, given as an amount to spend, a course of three rituals, or a membership, and redeemed on a day the recipient chooses.

The ritual itself is not a basic hair wash. The 45-minute treatment includes a deep scalp cleanse and exfoliation, a head and scalp massage, the water halo, an oil scalp massage and a mini blow-dry or simple plait. The 60-minute ritual adds a facial cleanse and exfoliation with a face sheet mask. At 90 minutes there is deep scalp conditioning, a hair mask with steaming, and facial massage with Gua Sha. The full 120 minutes adds neck, shoulder and arm massage, a bespoke jelly mask and ice globe therapy. You can read the detail on our Japanese Head Spa page, and I have written about what the 90-minute ritual feels like in the Japanese Head Spa, Norwich.

Three ways to give it

The simplest option is an amount to spend. It holds a value rather than a named treatment, so the recipient can put it towards a Head Spa, one of our massages, a facial, or a consultation with me. If you are not sure what suits them, this is the safe choice, and it is the one most people give.

The second is a course of three Japanese Head Spa rituals, chosen at the length you prefer. A course suits the person who would love the experience but would never book it for themselves, and three visits is enough for them to find out whether it becomes part of their routine.

The third is a membership: one Head Spa a month for six or twelve months, set up on the recipient's account by the clinic. It is the most generous of the three, and it turns a single gift into a rhythm. I explain how membership works in what a REGEN membership actually gives you. The full options, and how to buy each one, are on our gift cards page.

Why a scalp ritual makes a good gift

Most of what we give each other at Christmas is another object. A Head Spa is an experience that the recipient does not have to organise, tidy away or feel obliged to use well.

There is also a practical point. The people most worth giving this to are usually the ones carrying the most. The treatment is calm, warm and quiet, and the combination of scalp massage, warm water and an hour away from a screen is, in my experience, what people describe afterwards as the first time they properly switched off in weeks. Research on scalp massage and stress is modest rather than dramatic, and I have been plain about that in what the evidence actually shows. What I can say from the treatment room is that the relaxation is real, and it is the reason people return.

In the REGEN Method this sits in the Nurture pillar: looking after the person, not only the skin or hair, over the long term. A voucher is a gentle way to introduce someone to that.

Helping the voucher get used

The best gifts are the ones that get redeemed, so here is how I would give it.

Buy it online and choose the date it arrives by email, so it lands on the morning of a birthday or on Christmas Eve rather than sitting in a drawer. Add a line saying which ritual you had in mind, or leave the choice open.

Encourage the recipient to book a weekday if they can. Weekday appointments are usually easier to find, and our Saturdays fill well ahead, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. A weekday also tends to be the calmer visit, which suits a treatment designed for slowing down.

Vouchers are valid for twelve months, so there is no pressure to use one over the festive period. January, when everything goes quiet, is a lovely time to book. Gift vouchers are non-refundable, as is usual, but the recipient can choose what the value goes towards, and our team will happily help them use it well.

Common questions

Can I buy a Japanese Head Spa gift voucher online?

Yes, you can buy a gift voucher online through our gift cards page and choose the date it is emailed to the recipient. If you would like to give a membership, we arrange that directly with you, because it is set up on the recipient's account.

How long is a REGEN gift voucher valid for?

A REGEN gift voucher is valid for twelve months from purchase. That gives the recipient plenty of time to choose a day that suits them rather than feeling they must use it before Christmas.

Can the recipient choose a different treatment?

Yes, an amount-to-spend gift card can be used towards any treatment on our menu, not only a Head Spa. A course of three rituals is for Japanese Head Spa, and a membership is for the Head Spa ritual, so those are best when you are sure they would enjoy it.

Which length of Head Spa should I choose?

For a first visit, the 60-minute ritual is a good starting point because it adds a facial cleanse and mask to the scalp treatment. The 90 and 120-minute rituals add conditioning, steaming and massage, and suit someone who would love to be properly looked after for the afternoon.

Are gift vouchers refundable?

Gift vouchers are non-refundable. If the recipient is unsure how to use theirs, our team can help them choose an eligible treatment, and an amount-to-spend card can be put towards anything on the menu.

If you would like help choosing, we are happy to talk it through. Our massage and wellness treatments are another option for an amount-to-spend gift, and you can find us at our Norwich clinic on King Street. When you are ready, choose a gift voucher.

Dr Chris Founder and Medical Director, REGEN Clinic

This article is general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you have a scalp condition, skin concern or health condition, please seek advice before booking a treatment.