I went to a spa in someone's back room in Walton and came out a different person - Liverpool Echo

[Emilia Bona]

I walked out of the house after my treatment feeling like I was floating



19:30, 26 Dec 2024Updated 20:12, 26 Dec 2024

Emilia Bona reviews Growth Head Spa

I absolutely love a spa day and I don't think there's anything that can beat a relaxing couple of hours spent being pampered in total peace. Every year I book a treatment at a Liverpool spa as a birthday treat to myself and I love pulling on a fluffy robe, stepping into a pair of complementary flip flops and making the most of some me time.

This year I decided to try something a little different, having previously booked myself spa days at venues like Hope Street Hotel and The Titanic. For months now, my social media feeds have been filled with photos and videos of Japanese head spas - so I was really excited when I saw one pop up on my feed that was located in Liverpool.

Japanese head spa is a treatment that focuses on the health of your scalp and hair, using exfoliation, massage and acupressure to leave you feeling calm and happy. Similar to a facial for your scalp, the treatment can also help people with concerns like hair loss or oiliness. Having watched the videos, I thought the entire treatment looked unbelievably relaxing, so I decided to book in.

Growth Head Spa, which popped up on my Instagram feed, had an unbelievably long waiting list for an appointment and I actually had to book my spot three months in advance. I'd been watching videos of the beautiful relaxation room, which is decked out with gorgeous mood lighting, a massage bed, a herbal tea station and a full head spa set-up. So when I messaged the spa the day before my treatment to confirm the address, I was surprised to find it was actually based inside someone's house. I couldn't believe this zen spa was actually based in someone's back room, because it looked like it could have been in a boutique hotel spa.

When I arrived at the house in Walton, I was greeted by business owner Lois Cain, who set up Growth Head Spa after she found the treatments incredibly helpful during a difficult period of her own life. Lois is the perfect person to run a business focused on holistic treatments and well-being, because she's got an amazing knack for putting you at ease immediately.

Lois has the calmest and most caring manner, and made me feel instantly comfortable and so well looked after. After guiding me upstairs to the room where she provides her treatments, Lois helped me settle in to the zen space she's created within her own home. She explained the treatment to me and then gave me a few minutes to get changed and position myself on the massage bed.

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The treatment started with an incredible head, neck and shoulder massage which had me melting into the bed within the first few minutes. Then Lois used a series of head spa tools which left me feeling the calmest and most relaxed I have ever felt. I've booked a lot of massages at different Liverpool spas over the years, and this was the best one I've had by a mile.

Lois then did a full hair wash and scalp exfoliation, before offering another massage and then drying off my hair while we had a chat about her business. Everything from the choice of music to the specialist rainforest shower head meant the treatment was the ultimate relaxation experience, and I walked out of Lois' house feeling like I was floating.

The treatment was priced at £65 for an hour, but clients also have the option to pay an extra fee for a full scalp analysis, so Lois can tailor the experience to any particular concerns they may have about their hair health. Lois, 27, spoke to the ECHO previously about her decision to launch the business after a period of ill health.

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Having previously worked in the beauty industry, Lois moved into an office-based job which she found to be a difficult career shift. She told the ECHO: "It wasn't making me happy and my body wasn't in a good place. I didn't know what it was I wanted to do. My hair wasn't in a great condition. I had so much stress and my lifestyle wasn't great. I looked internally at what was going on and tried to change everything as much as I could."

Lois then discovered head spas, and went on to train through Buddha Therapies and learned additional treatments including Indian head massages, Swedish full body, and holistic facials. Growth Head Spa officially launched in May but Lois' schedule is currently fully booked until March.

While it might not be a traditional spa experience, I can comfortably say that the service Lois provides from home felt more relaxing than any spa I've ever been to. I left her house feeling like a different person, and it's well worth seeking out.