So grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and settle in--this is going to be a long (but hopefully helpful) review of Down to the Root Head Spa in Carmel Valley.
Let me start by saying I had very high expectations. If you've spent any time on Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook, you've probably seen those dreamy luxury head spa videos with cascading water, blissful scalp massages, and people looking like they've temporarily left planet Earth. I absolutely love having my hair brushed and getting a great head massage, so I went in expecting peak relaxation.
I booked the 90-minute Luxury Treatment for $218.
The studio itself is very cute--small, clean, and cosy, with two treatment tables and two shampoo sinks. It has a nice boutique feel.
What surprised me, however, was the amount of upselling. Before the treatment even began, I added a $40 foot treatment (booties, lotion, and foot massage) and a $35 hand mask. A hand massage was already listed as part of the luxury treatment, so I wasn't expecting additional upgrades before we'd even started.
The biggest surprise was that approximately 80% of the appointment was actually a facial.
This wasn't obvious from the description online, and I wasn't really expecting it. I'm fairly particular about the skincare products I use, and I couldn't find information beforehand about what products would be applied. Since I already have an excellent esthetician, the facial wasn't really something I was looking for.
The facial itself was...fine, but nothing memorable. It definitely wasn't a lymphatic facial massage. My face was cleansed twice while the technician wore oversized plastic gloves, followed by a scrub brush, serums, a mask, another mask, and several lotions that were gently patted in. Overall, I'd rate the facial 2 out of 5 stars.
Then came the part I had been waiting for: the head spa.
Unfortunately, this was the biggest disappointment.
I've honestly received better shampoos and scalp massages from just about every hairstylist I've ever had. There was essentially no neck massage and very little actual head massage. Instead, the focus was on using two or three different scalp tools to vigorously scrub and exfoliate my scalp.
If your goal is scalp cleansing and exfoliation, this may be exactly what you're looking for.
If your goal is to melt into the table while someone massages every ounce of stress out of your scalp...this probably isn't it.
The products used also left my hair feeling quite dry afterward. I'm sure there were conditioning treatments available, but by that point I politely declined any additional add-ons.
For the actual scalp treatment and shampoo experience, I'd also give it 2 out of 5 stars.
Ironically, my favorite part of the appointment was probably the massage table itself. It was wonderfully comfortable.
The foot massage was also quite pleasant and probably the highlight of the service for me. I'd rate that 3 out of 5 stars.
One suggestion I'd offer is regarding comfort. It was a warm day outside, but the treatment room was heavily air-conditioned. Once your hair is soaking wet for an extended period, you get cold very quickly. One blanket wasn't enough my--I would have appreciated two or even three blankets. By the end of the appointment, I was shivering.
The service finished with a complimentary blow-dry, and I was offered another upgrade to have my hair styled, which I declined.
Two days later, my scalp is actually sore and itchy. Perhaps that's considered part of the "detoxifying" process, but regardless of the reason, it still isn't a pleasant feeling.
To be clear, I don't have anything negative to say about the technician herself. She was sweet, professional, and pleasant to chat with toward the end of the appointment.
I do think the marketing and my expectations simply didn't align with the actual experience.
Based on all the luxury head spa videos online, I expected an immersive sensory experience with luxurious scalp massage, neck massage, relaxation, and pure bliss.
Instead, this felt much more like a clinical scalp cleansing and detox treatment.
Neither approach is wrong--they're just very different experiences.
If you're looking for a deep scalp exfoliation and detox, you may enjoy this.
If you're dreaming of floating out the door after 90 minutes of heavenly scalp and neck massage, you may want to adjust your expectations.
Overall rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars (rounded to 3 stars). read more