Florida’s salty air and relentless sunshine can ravage even the healthiest scalp. In Cape Coral, Toni DePaola merges her expertise as a hairdresser and former nurse to create a strand sanctuary at Hollis Head Spa. The studio blends Japanese head spa traditions with organic infusions from Toni’s biodynamic family farm. Like facials for your hair, head spa sessions combine diagnostic analysis, deep cleansing and targeted treatments to revitalize locks at the source. “A healthy scalp is key to healthy hair growth,” she says.
Toni, who trained with gold-standard salon manufacturer Takara Belmont, categorizes offerings in two ways: treatment-based (for issues like dandruff and psoriasis), and purely relaxative. She begins with a thorough analysis, leveraging a high-powered magnifier to reveal root culprits for more serious issues.
The journey for a standard experience unfolds with plushly wrapped guests choosing from three organic aromatherapy oil blends (relaxing lavender, energizing citrus, an earthy blend with rosemary and thyme). She applies her private-label, farm-sourced hair oils to prep the scalp and prevent over-stripping before proceeding to a layered ritual: cleansing with exfoliation to remove follicle-suffocating buildup; a fine mist therapy softens the scalp to enhance absorption; and targeted care for hair loss, frizz and other common needs. Having worked as a Lee Health nurse, Toni’s equipped to address chronic conditions, like seborrheic dermatitis. Throughout, she combines massage tools with traditional shiatsu techniques, focusing on pressure points to stimulate circulation and soothe tension. A final rinse washes away impurities—and any lingering stress.
Regulars swear by the lasting effects: healthy shine intensifies for weeks as tresses become more resilient to the elements. Layer on a facial from the licensed aesthetician, hot stone massage or a blowout to leave camera-ready.
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Photography by Anna Nguyen
Each 75- to 90-minute treatment combines hydrotherapy, aromatherapy and targeted massage for deep relaxation and scalp renewal.
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