A Sunday evening, 4 pm. My scalp and face are swollen, the wine from the night before still lingering in my system, and the fatigue from the past week is slowly creeping into my head. I’m carrying the weight of chronic shallow sleep and the tension in my head, neck, and shoulders as I head towards Palm House, located just a 5-minute walk from Omotesando Station’s Exit 3.
The space is welcoming, filled with warm, sophisticated vibes thanks to the organic-shaped wood and modern ceramic art (by Hong Kong ceramic artist, éphēlis). My excitement starts to build even before the consultation.
The treatment I’m here for today is the ‘Bone Membrane Drainage’ (60 minutes, ¥13,700). While it seems like a standard lymphatic massage menu, it’s actually a hybrid treatment born from the collaboration of Yuki Kawashima, a bone membrane therapist who has developed his own unique techniques, and Takashi Nishi, a neuroscientist who has authored numerous books, based on his ‘brain science’ expertise. As I chat with the spa therapist for today, Fujishima, she gently presses on my scalp while asking, “Do you feel any stiffness here?” Her touch is soothing, and her explanations only heighten my anticipation.
I get to smell three different balancing oils from the aromatic brand, ‘àile holistic’, which are still relatively unknown in Japan. I choose the geranium-based fragrance based on intuition and take a deep breath. The room is minimalist, dimly lit, with a nude-colored cloth partition filtering the soft light. Finally, the treatment begins.
The pressure is pleasantly strong, the techniques precise and light, skillfully flushing away waste products. First, she works on the bones around my eyes, applying a comfortable amount of pressure. Gradually, she moves up to my forehead and hairline, taking her time. Just those first five minutes are enough to switch me into relaxation mode. As I start to relax, she applies a cooling clay cleanser to calm my scalp, which has been overheating from the summer heat. From this point on, all the products used are ethical products from ‘YUMEDREAMING’. She gently massages my scalp with the ‘EPICUREAN Hair Cleansing Clay’, and I can feel my pores tightening and impurities being drawn out. The cool sensation feels wonderful. Then, she washes the clay away with the ‘marbb’, which generates nano-bubbles that are 2,000 times smaller than carbon dioxide bubbles, leaving my scalp feeling refreshingly clean. Next comes the shampoo and treatment. She generously applies the ‘EPICUREAN Treatment Rich’, which contains high-quality olive oil and rose extract, to my head, neck, and shoulders. Then, she starts on the main event: the bone membrane approach method. She uses the pads of her ten fingers to apply light pressure, but intersperses these with firmer pressure using the ball of her thumb, focusing on the top, sides, and back of my head, meticulously loosening each area.
Fujishima explains, “The back of your head and your neck are particularly stiff, so I’ll focus on those areas.” So, for the second half of the treatment, she concentrates on the base of my neck and shoulders. She stretches my neck side to side, and then applies surprising techniques, flushing the lymph nodes in each neck and facial line. It’s amazing how a head spa can actually work its way down to your jawline and facial contours.
I’m describing the flow of the treatment here, but honestly, I felt like I was in a state of ‘astral projection’ while I was actually receiving it. I felt like I was sleeping soundly, but still conscious—a sensation I had never experienced before. Unlike regular head spas, the pressure applied here feels a bit stronger, directed towards the inside of my brain, and alternates with lighter touches. It’s a sensation that satisfies both ‘relaxation’ and ‘releasing tension’. Lastly, after loosening the top of my body, from my head to my shoulders, she gently shakes my legs to help disperse the waste products that have traveled downward. The feeling of my body being balanced is amazing.
As I leave the room, my vision feels clear, and the puffiness has completely disappeared from my face in the mirror. Most importantly, I feel positive (seriously!) and like the stress and fatigue have been completely lifted. “Many of our clients experience this immediate effect,” says Fujishima, the spa therapist. As a finishing touch, she applies a generous amount of plant-derived scalp serum and massages it in with god-like tapping techniques to ensure the beauty ingredients are fully absorbed. Finally, I’m given a refreshing drink: a spicy, salon-original carbonated beverage made with lemongrass, peppermint, and green cardamom. It’s incredibly satisfying for my detoxified body.
Palm House’s drainage treatment effectively tackles the ‘brain fatigue’ that we all experience, all within a 60-minute session. While results may vary, this treatment definitely worked wonders for me, a 40-something man. The Sunday evening, which usually makes me feel melancholic due to the ‘Sazae-san syndrome’, was filled with positive energy, and I slept more soundly than usual. I woke up feeling refreshed the next morning, and my morning dog walk was a breeze. My work was productive and energized. I highly recommend this treatment for a weekend brain reset, or even as a quick fix for mental fatigue during the week. This spot deserves recognition as a savior for busy modern-day people, especially with its ‘brain wellness’ concept. Oh, I already want to go back!
Salon Information
Palm House
3-42-15 PAL COURT Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Weekdays 11:00-22:00
Holidays, Saturdays & Sundays 10:00-22:00
070-3307-1680
Reservations: https://palmhouse-headspa.com/
Profile
Toru Mitani
Beauty Editor. Started scalp care at age 23 due to fear of hair loss. Currently focusing on zinc intake. Recent beauty obsessions: early morning activities, nasal oil cleansing, low SPF UV care, and growing my hair long for the first time in 4 years.
