Stylists “Relish” the Opportunity to Prioritize Guests’ Scalp Health

The Growing Scalp Health Conversation in Salons

Hair loss has become one of the most common conversations happening in salons today, with causes spanning hormones, stress, nutrition, inflammation, and genetics, according to Modern Salon reporting. Stylists are often the first professionals to notice subtle changes in a client's hair or scalp, sometimes before the client is aware of them—a position that carries real responsibility.

Salon Today reports that most salons are not currently offering services or products that specifically address scalp health. The publication frames this as a gap with practical consequences: guests may not be getting optimal results, stylists may be missing service opportunities, and salon owners may have an unfilled space in their retail inventory. It is worth noting that the Salon Today article covering this topic also promotes the Relish product line and includes a disclosure that the content reflects the views of Relish Hair rather than the editorial positions of Salon Today or Bobit Business Media.

What Certified Trichologists Say Stylists Should Recognize

Modern Salon spoke with certified trichologist Jennifer Bressler, founder of Jennifer Does My Curls and JDMC Hair Loss Clinic, about what salon professionals should know. Bressler points to the widening of the part as the biggest visual clue of follicular miniaturization, explaining that terminal hairs gradually become finer, shorter, and less visible with each growth cycle.

Bressler identifies several key factors that can contribute to hair changes, framing hair loss as a signal that something is off elsewhere in the body. Those factors include nutritional deficiencies, hormonal deficiencies, stress, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory issues.

On the question of shedding versus hair loss, Bressler notes that normal shedding runs roughly 100 to 150 hairs per day. Abnormal shedding, she explains, is indicated when hair comes out in clumps during handling—while running hands through the hair, brushing, or combing—or when clients find clumps on their pillow.

World Trichology Society Certified Trichologist Kati Giles, who has more than 20 years specializing in hair restoration, echoes the complexity of the issue. Giles tells Modern Salon that hair loss of all kinds is indicative of something else going on, and that many stylists do not know the difference between shedding and actual hair loss. She advises that any solutions for clients experiencing hair loss should be based on the stage of hair loss, lifestyle, and budget, because every client is different.

Understanding Scalp Health: What Normal Looks Like

Bressler describes a healthy scalp as one where good and bad microorganisms exist in balance. It should be free of redness, irritation, flaking, and excessive buildup—neither excessively oily nor overly dry—with follicular openings that appear clear.

Bressler cautions that scalp health should not become trendy without proper education behind it. She uses the example of a client who may actually have psoriasis while a stylist is attempting to treat what appears to be dandruff—two completely different conditions that a simple scalp treatment will not address. When a stylist is unsure of a client's scalp concerns, Bressler recommends referring the client to a dermatologist or certified trichologist for further evaluation rather than guessing.

Common Myths and Education Gaps

One myth Bressler wants the industry to move past is the belief that biotin grows hair. She notes that biotin is not scientifically supported as a way to grow hair, that true biotin deficiency is extremely rare because everyday diet provides it, and that companies continue using it as a marketing buzzword despite the lack of scientific backing.

On professional education, Bressler identifies the biggest gap as the belief that scalp health is an overnight certificate. She describes it as a complex subject requiring years of learning across scientific research, nutrition, hormones, stress, sleep, exercise, and genetics.

Giles adds a practical note on product recommendations, encouraging stylists to recommend professional-grade products they have researched and trust rather than products promoted through online marketplaces or social media advertising, which she describes as frequently misleading. She also notes that evidence-based options, including FDA-cleared low-level light therapy devices, may be appropriate for some clients depending on their individual diagnosis and treatment plan.

Head Spa Services in Practice: How Salons Are Responding

Salon Today reports that head spa services look different from one salon to the next. Some salons use a special camera to examine the scalp and identify concerns, some have shampoo chairs that allow guests to fully lie down during treatment, and some conduct the service in a separate treatment room.

Kim McQuillan, owner of Salon Evolve in Royersford, Pennsylvania, tells Salon Today that her salon offers 10-minute, 15-minute, and 60-minute head spa options, with the 10- and 30-minute services booked most frequently because they can be sold as add-ons to existing appointments. McQuillan notes the service has created a new talking point in the salon for clients asking about thinning hair, and that it is particularly useful for male clients with thinning hair and for extension clients who need to keep the scalp clean between services.

Danielle Mullins, owner of Balayage Boutique in Naples, Florida, tells Salon Today that her clients' experiences with scalp-focused services have been positive, describing the scalp as feeling refreshed and nourished and the overall experience as resembling a spa treatment.

The Relish Product Line: What Salon Today Reports

Salon Today covers the launch of Relish, a product line from the founders of Signature Formulations, developed by cosmetic chemists Paul Browning and Irma Jobst, who previously worked with Kenra Professional. The article, which carries a disclosure that it reflects the views of Relish Hair and does not necessarily represent the views of Salon Today or Bobit Business Media, describes the line as formulated to support scalp balance and strengthen hair at its foundation.

As described in Salon Today, the Relish system includes four steps: an Apple Cider Scalp and Hair Purifier pre-cleanse, a balancing scalp tonic featuring wild hazel and jojoba oil, a Tea Tree and Mint Scalp Therapy Shampoo, and a Pea Protein and Cysteine Bond Builder mask. A Prickly Pear and Marula Oil finishing product rounds out the line. The article also notes that Relish offers a home-care retail component for salons to offer clients.

What This Means for Stylists: Practical Takeaways

Modern Salon frames the opportunity plainly: stylists who can help a client in the early stages of hair loss not only help preserve the client's hair but also preserve the client relationship. That framing positions scalp awareness as a professional skill with direct business implications, not just a wellness trend.

• Learn to distinguish between normal shedding, breakage, and progressive hair loss before advising clients—trichologists note many stylists currently cannot tell the difference.
• When a client's scalp concern is unclear or may involve a medical condition, refer them to a dermatologist or certified trichologist rather than attempting in-salon treatment.
• Approach scalp health education as a long-term commitment, not a short course—certified trichologists describe it as requiring years of study across multiple disciplines.
• Evaluate product recommendations carefully and prioritize professional-grade products over those promoted through social media advertising, which trichologists describe as frequently misleading.
• Consider whether your current service menu includes scalp-focused add-on options, given the variation in how salons are currently structuring head spa services.

Giles encourages stylists to keep learning, noting that there are many solutions available today for clients experiencing hair loss and that staying current with advanced education and emerging technology helps stylists grow professionally while better serving their clients. The BLS projects overall employment of barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with approximately 84,200 openings projected each year on average over the decade—a workforce context that underscores the scale of the professional community this conversation reaches.

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