This year alone, however, the global scalp care and hair market is estimated at about $93.6 billion dollars and projected to reach $150.5 billion by 2033. Yet, a healthy scalp is more than just effective products. It starts with knowing the state of yours—and what’s impacting it in the first place. 

“People are seeking non-invasive, professional treatments that go beyond traditional shampoos and topical products,” HydraScalp chief brand and clinical innovation officer Whitney Cypestells ESSENCE. For Black women specifically, nearly half have had hair loss or thinning whether from GLP-1s, menopause, eczema, or traction alopecia, which may require more than just a targeted hair serum.  

While I don’t have any serious scalp concerns, I wear braids almost exclusively, so my scalp skin is constantly exposed to environmental stressors making it dry, itchy, and dirty. And, I’m also trying to grow my hair longer and stronger. After a long, busy New York summer, though, you already know I need a deep cleanse before building a proper scalp care routine this fall. 

So, leaning into the “skinification” of hair, I got a scalp facial. The new HydraScalp facial, to be exact, buffing all my hair’s problems away straight from the root.

Why is Scalp Care Popular Now?

According to HydraFacial research, Internet searches like “hair loss medicine” is up 68 percent and “scalp serum” is up 55 percent from last year. On TikTok, the hashtag “scalp care” has almost 500,000 videos of creators demo’ing their routine and tips. 

“We’re seeing a growing awareness that scalp health is the foundation of healthy-looking hair,” Cypessays. As consumers become more knowledgeable about skincare, “they’re beginning to understand that concerns like dryness, buildup, and the appearance of thinning hair often start at the scalp level.”

What is a HydraScalp Facial?

“HydraScalp® with Keravive™ is essentially a Hydrafacial treatment for the scalp,” she says. Combining seven skin therapies, from lymphatic and extractions to LED and hydration, the Hydrafacial is all about hydrated, glowing skin. Now, with the new HydraScalp facial, “skin” doesn’t just mean on your face. 

“The treatment uses Hydrafacial’s proprietary Vortex-Fusion™ technology to deeply cleanse, exfoliate, and nourish the scalp while delivering specialized peptides and growth factor-inspired ingredients to support scalp and follicle health,” she says. “The goal is to remove buildup, replenish hydration, and create a healthier scalp environment that can support fuller, healthier-looking hair.” 

How Does It Work?

For my HydraScalp facial, I went into their New York HQ to have my scalp revived. First, the practitioner took a close look at my scalp using a scalp analysis tool that worked like a magnifying camera. To her, my scalp and hair looked healthy: no split ends, moisturized, and not as much buildup as I expected. 

That was, until the treatment revealed what was really hiding in my scalp. The treatment followed a three-step process: Purify, Nourish, and Boost. “First, the scalp is deeply cleansed and exfoliated to remove oil, dead skin cells, and product buildup,” Cypes says. 

Step one

Using a targeted pen-like tool, the practitioner suctioned my scalp and watched all the gunk turn the tank water an orange-brown color (Yuck!) Even though I shampoo’d and conditioned my hair before the treatment, I still had dead skin, excess oil, and product residue on my scalp. 

Step two

After cleaning the debris away, my scalp was infused with Keravive biomimetic peptides, which are inspired by the body’s natural growth factors and skin proteins. For someone who wears braids constantly, this step worked wonders for hydration and itch relief, nourishing my scalp with ingredients that are the foundation of an effective scalp care routine.

Step three

Luckily, the third step was actually the first step to building my scalp routine at home. Their Peptide Complex Spray has a targeted nozzle to help maintain hydration and scalp support between treatments. “Each peptide is encapsulated in a microscopic protective sphere that helps deliver ingredients precisely where they’re needed on the scalp and around the hair follicle,” she says.

The Benefits of a HydraScalp Facial

“The primary benefit is helping create an optimal scalp environment to help reduce hair thinning and promote hair growth,” she says. While the treatment works best after three sessions, clinical studies show improvements in scalp hydration after just one treatment, along with visible reductions in dryness, flaking, and roughness.

Over time, 75 percent of participants saw improved hair fullness after eight weeks when combining treatments with daily use of the take-home peptide spray, and 82 percent said their hair looked healthier and shinier after a series of treatments. Best of all, the treatment is non-invasive, comfortable, and requires no downtime to achieve real results.

My Results

I’ve never had a targeted scalp treatment, so I didn’t know what to expect, especially as a Black woman with coily hair. I went in the first time with my hair blown out (I was getting cornrows shortly after the treatment) then went in a second time once those braids got old. 

Needless to say, my scalp feels officially reset. I’ve kept my braids in longer than usual, just to have a little more time building my at home scalp care routine knowing I now have a healthy foundation. My scalp feels lighter and less congested, so I’ve started trying out new products, like scalp serums and pre-wash detoxes, to keep the momentum going. 

The HydraScalp facial was the push I needed to start taking my scalp care more seriously. It’s the late-summer reset I didn’t know I needed. Now, just a month until fall, it’s time to see just how strong, longer, and healthy my hair can actually grow.