What Is a Head Spa? Plus a Dry Alternative Near Nashville

Head spas are everywhere on social media right now, and Nashville has several. If you've seen the videos and wondered what actually happens in one, here's the short version, plus a dry alternative that skips the water entirely.

What is a head spa?

A head spa is a scalp-focused treatment, often called a Japanese head spa. A typical session includes some combination of a scalp check, cleansing and shampooing, scalp massage, steam or warm water, conditioning treatments and a blow-dry. It sits somewhere between a salon visit and a spa treatment, and most people book it to relax as much as for their hair.

What does a head spa cost?

It depends on length and what's included. In the Nashville area, as of October 2026, a premium 90-minute head spa treatment runs about $200 at some studios, and some studios sell monthly memberships in the $80 to $179 range. Shorter express sessions cost less. Check each studio's menu for current prices.

Are head spas worth it?

For many people, the draw is the feeling more than the hair: an hour where someone pays complete attention to your scalp while you do nothing. If that's what you're after, there's more than one way to get it.

The dry alternative: a sensory touch session

At Tingles & Chills by Sensory Touch Studio in Hendersonville, the focus is entirely on that feeling. There's no water, no shampoo, no oils, no pressure and no blow-dry. Your Sensory Tech works slowly across your scalp and face (and arms and back, depending on the session) with fingertips, metal head scratchers, face-tracing brushes, fan brushes and feathers.

What most people feel is the ASMR response: tingles and chills, then a deep, total-body calm. You leave with your hair exactly as it was, so it fits easily into a lunch break or before dinner.

Head spa vs. sensory touch at a glance

• Head spa: water, shampoo, products, scalp massage and styling. Great if you also want your scalp and hair treated.

• Sensory touch: dry, light scratching and soft brushwork. Built for relaxation and the ASMR tingle. No cleanup, no redo of your hair.

Our sessions

• First Touch: 60 minutes, made for first-timers

• Targeted Touch: pick one area, like scalp or face. 30 minutes $85, 60 minutes $130, 90 minutes $180

• Sensory Reset: scalp, face, arms and back. 60 minutes $130, 90 minutes $185

• Couples Reset: side by side for two. 60 minutes $260, 90 minutes $370. Planning a night out? See our date night guide.

Prices current as of October 2026. Latest prices and times are on our booking page.

Common questions

Is a head spa the same as a scalp massage?

Not quite. A head spa usually includes cleansing, water and products along with scalp massage. A sensory touch session is dry and uses light touch rather than pressure.

Will my hair get wet or messy?

Not with us. No water, no oils, no products. Your hair stays as it was.

Is a sensory touch session a massage?

No. There's no pressure, no kneading and no muscle work. It's light, slow touch on the surface of the skin.

Try it in Hendersonville

Book online at vagaro.com/sensorytouchstudio, or call (615) 609-1423. We're in Suite A151 inside Salon Boutique, 300 Indian Lake Blvd, Hendersonville, TN 37075, about 25 minutes north of downtown Nashville. Free parking.