Hair spa treatments are not new, but what stood out at Phase Hairdressing is that being run by a husband-and-wife team, Ivan Lim and Ivy Tan, I experienced a very personalised level of service when I stepped in for my hair spa treatment.
The salon began five years ago in Tampines and recently moved into its new premises in North Bridge Commercial Complex.
The ambience was pleasant enough as they gave their salon a modern chic look, lined with bamboo plants to complement the glass partitions and wide mirrors, and chill-out music to relax to.
The salon's director, Ivan, attended to me. There was a range of treatments to choose from. The head spa -designed to treat hair and scalp problems, the spa wash - a 30-minute session which uses a customised shampoo from the salon's shampoo bar to suit individual hair type and scalp condition, and even a post-natal hair spa, designed by Ivan's wife, Ivy, just for women who have just given birth and cannot wash their hair for prolonged periods during their confinement.
I opted for the head spa, since it included a lengthy and relaxing massage. Ivan first used computerized scalp analysis to diagnose my hair and scalp condition. The detailed scalp analysis points out existing or potential problematic areas, so that the team can apply the right treatment shampoos. It also helps to highlight problem areas to customers so they will learn how to care for their scalp and hair at home.
He gave my scalp a clean bill of health, so all I needed was to keep up the good maintenance. He cautioned that I should not overlook the importance of maintaining my hair and scalp since scalp part of our skin and can be prone to ageing and infections. He related horror stories of how customers had failed to seek the right treatment for their scalp conditions which eventually resulted in their scalp suffering from inflammation.
After explaining about the scalp treatment I would be given, Ivan used an anti-ageing lotion from La Biosthetique (Paris) to prevent dryness at the base of my hair.
Another hairdresser then gave me a neck, shoulder and upper body massage that lasted for about 10 minutes. Next, she proceeded with a shampooing ritual and another 10-minute soothing head massage to stimulate the blood circulation in my scalp. The salon has a team of hairstylists who are trained in spa administration and massage techniques, that is to say, they were experts at making those stress knots melt away.
When I went to have my hair washed, I was extremely relieved that there were no glaring spotlights shining from above as this is the case in most salons.
Instead, soft lights shone from the floor, creating a nice ambience, allowing me to relish every moment of the hair wash. After the wash, the anti-ageing lotion was applied onto my scalp, followed by a five-minute head massage to help the scalp absorb the lotion more effectively. Then came the last application of the lotion and another five- minutes of a wonderful shoulder massage. I was certainly in paradise.
I left the salon after 30 minutes of hair and scalp pampering, which left me yearning for more.
Charges are from $85 onwards, depending on the treatment received.
Phase Hairdressing is located at 470 North Bridge Road, #01-05 North Bridge Commercial Complex. Tel: 6337 8337.
*The Post-Natal Hair Spa is aslo available at a special introductory price of $38 for the first 200 first-time clients to undergo this treatment.
