A Scalp-First Approach: Inside Serenity Scalp Spa

What makes a great head spa experience?

For Carisa Douglas, founder of Serenity Scalp Spa in Temecula, California, it starts with the scalp, and giving it the same level of attention as you would for your face.

After more than 30 years as a stylist, Carisa moved into scalp care as a Trichologist. I spoke with her about what a head spa experience is like, the approach behind her personalized treatments, and why she chose OCHRE.

What inspired you to open Serenity Scalp Spa?

“After more than 30 years as a stylist, I wanted a little change in my career.

I saw that head spas were going to be the next big thing in wellness and quickly became obsessed with scalp health.

That passion led to opening Serenity Scalp Spa, where we focus on treating the scalp with the same intentional care as the skin on our face, combining deep relaxation with real, restorative results.”

For someone who’s never visited a head spa, what happens during a treatment?

“It always starts with a thorough intake form, followed by a scalp analysis using a microscopic camera so we can see exactly what is going on at the follicle level.

From there, we move into customized, gentle exfoliating treatments to clear away buildup, followed by soothing steam, specialized scalp cleansing, and an extensive massage that melts away tension.

People are also blown away when they see their magnified before-and-after pictures and realize just how deeply relaxing and physical the experience is.”

What are some of the most common scalp concerns you see, and what everyday habits might be contributing to them?

"Seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis are what we see the most of in the spa.

A major issue is that clients are treating their scalp concerns with harsh clarifying or medicated shampoos and making matters worse by stripping the scalp barrier.

Everyday habits like relying too heavily on dry shampoo, rushing through washing, or over-using harsh stripping cleansers without proper hydration only aggravate these flare-ups."

What do you look for in products—and why OCHRE?

“When choosing products, clean ingredients, active formulations, and scalp-barrier protection are non-negotiable.

What drew me to OCHRE is their thoughtful, skin-first approach to scalp wellness that respects the natural microbiome while delivering real results.

My clients are completely obsessed with it too, which makes recommending it to them even better.”

If someone could make just one change to their at-home routine to better care for their scalp, what would you recommend?

"Start brushing your scalp—and stop listening to influencers! (Oops, that’s two!)

Gently brushing your scalp stimulates blood flow, loosens dead skin, and helps distribute natural oils properly.

And taking trendy hair advice online often leads to over-exfoliating or using products that ruin your scalp barrier, so keep it simple and focus on what your scalp actually needs."

What stayed with me from my conversation with Carisa is how much of her approach comes down to paying attention: taking time to understand each client’s scalp, personalizing the experience, and helping them keep things simple at home. 

Whether you’re curious about booking your first head spa treatment or considering opening a space of your own, that feels like a good place to start

Discover OCHRE’s fragrance-free, scalp-first haircare for your wash-day routine or professional practice.