By Diana Vallette
I was really close to shutting this column down. It felt like I was running out of ideas. Enter: head spa. Now, if you’re anything like me you’ve stumbled across those YouTube videos. You know the ones: dark room, halo of water shooting at some stranger’s head, ASMR. It looks relaxing. Heavenly. Heck, even watching it through a screen is relaxing. I’m here to tell you: it is absolutely divine.
Before completely shutting down this column I took to Facebook requesting experience ideas. One piqued my interest more than the others, and that’s how I ended up at Alevan, a local salon, spa and sanctuary. And, thank God I did because I am forever changed.
Typically, during my experiences I’m taking notes so I don’t forget anything, but I was committed to fully experiencing the head spa treatment, so I didn’t take any notes at all.
Here’s how it went down: I showed up and was greeted by the kindest staff. They offered me water and a snack and had me fill out a sheet of paper stating my water and massage pressure preferences. The form I filled out asked me if I dealt with any scalp issues like dandruff or psoriasis. I don’t.
After the intake form, I was introduced to cosmetologist — and head spa god — Marcus Wilkins. My new best friend pointed a camera at my scalp which magnified the area. I was shocked to learn that my white hair (and yours, if you’re as unlucky as me) is actually translucent.
I’m about 60 percent gray. (Yes, at the ripe age of 38. Thanks, mom and dad.) I dye my hair black using a box dye every four weeks, but at the scalp level my roots were selling me out. It was crazy to see my gray hair up close. Marcus pointed out a few areas of buildup and assured me after his service my scalp would not only feel different, but it would look different under the magnification as well.
Then we walked through the maze that is Alevan. If you’ve never been, you’ll likely find yourself echoing my sentiments. “Woah, I didn’t even know this place existed.” There’s a koi pond, a manicure/pedicure room, an area for massage and facials. It’s a big building with several different nooks and crannies. The entire property was like a hidden gem.
I changed into a robe and slippers and laid face-up on a massage table in a darkened, relaxing room. There was an interesting contraption at the head of the table. Marcus brushed out my hair — gently, thankfully. (I’m tender headed.) Then he massaged essential oil into my scalp. It was a heavenly experience that gave me goosebumps and felt refreshing on my scalp. He went on to exfoliate, shampoo a few times, steam my scalp with conditioner, pour herbal hair tea over my scalp — my favorite part — and let the water run. It was an extremely soothing and relaxing one-hour process, and I fell asleep for a few minutes.
Alevan opened in October 2022. They service everyone and anyone, from the “straightest hair to the kinkiest hair,” said owner Charlita Delafose. “I want everyone to feel welcome, relaxed and happy. We are very, very customer service focused.”
After the service Marcus brought me back to the magnifying camera and, as promised, my scalp looked clean and healthy. It even felt different than it typically does after I wash on my own.
I had the Scalp Revival (there are other head spa offerings) which lasts for a total of 1.5 hours, comes with a blowout and is $165. You’re able to book online through Alevan’s Facebook page.
In my experience, Alevan’s head spa is one of the most relaxing, unique services I’ve ever had. You should definitely try it!
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