If you are anything like me, you will be what I call a shampoo hopper. I don’t buy large sizes of hair care products anymore simply because even before I’ve gone through half the bottle, my hair either gets frizzy or heavy. The last large bottles I purchased were the Pantene Aqua Light shampoo and conditioner because I couldn’t get it here. Otherwise, I buy the smallest bottles on the shelf. Oh, and naturally I get bored too 😛 So I guess my hair gets bored as well.
However, I recently discovered (quite belatedly) that if I used a clarifying shampoo or deep cleansing shampoo, I prolong my hair’s interest in my regular haircare products. I’d heard of clarifying shampoo before but didn’t know where to look. So when I was introduced to the Tsubaki Head Spa Extra Cleansing shampoo, I was quite interested.
I was told to only use it once a week (Seriously? This bottle will last me forever, used once a week!) and to massage it into my scalp, because what its supposed to do is to deep cleanse the scalp and hair to remove product build up. Reckon it worked for me?
Well yes. Sort of.
The Tsubaki Head Spa Extra Cleansing shampoo is a clear orange liquid that lathers up easily and when massaged into my scalp, leaves it with a cool tingling feel. I quite like that because it feels very refreshing after a long work day. After washing off, my head and hair feels squeaky clean. Literally. My hair feels so clean, it squeaks.
But that also makes it feel a little dry which means you have to follow up with something and that something in this case, is the Tsubaki Head Spa Massage Spa Mask (You can also use your regular conditioner)
The Massage Spa Mask is a thick ochre coloured cream which does not feel slippery like conventional hair masks or conditioners. For my short hair, I usually use about an inch of it, spread between my palms and then massaged into my hair. I find that it turns into an oil like texture on my hair – not unpleasant and it washes out very easily to leave my hair feeling very soft.
I have rather thick dry slightly frizzy hair, so I take it all the way to the roots. Someone I know has oily hair and she concentrates this only on the tips of the hair because she finds it makes her scalp feel too oily.
After a few minutes, I wash off, and my dry frizzy hair is no more! No, I don’t get bald 😛 Instead, I’m left with lovely soft, smooth tamed hair. The longer I leave it on, the softer my hair feels and the longer the effects last in the week. Its very impressive. And more impressively, the effects last at least 4 days. So if I keep to a weekly deep cleanse and treatment schedule, I have good hair for the week using my regular shampoo and conditioner. If I don’t, I have a lion’s mane until I do 😛
Nice as these hair care products are, I have 2 complaints though. One is the smell. These products contain essential oil and are supposed to be a blend of Marigold, Rose, Cinnamon, Geranium, Mango, Honey, Olibanum, Litchi, Patchouli, Tangerine, Orange flower, Muguet, Laurel leaf, Cognac oil, Vetiver, Musk, Cedar wood, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Bergamot, Vanilla, to provide a relaxing scent. You know what I smell? A sharp chemical smell like that in hair perm solutions. I don’t know if you know what I mean, but if you have ever stepped into a hair salon or had a perm and you smell that sharp acrid smell in the air that prickles your nose and clears up a bunged nose, that’s what it reminds me of. I looked around online to see if anyone else complained, but no one else has. People find it relaxing so maybe its just me and my picky nose 😛
The smell is sharper in the shampoo than in the mask which smells a lot better. The smell lingers a little too but it mellows after that so it does not smell as bad as when I first shampoo my hair, but its noticeable. The mask does not tingle on my scalp the way the shampoo does.
Second complaint is the tube that the Massage Spa Mask comes in. Its a screw top tube which is terribly fiddly in the shower when you are trying to juggle a squirt of hair mask in your palm and trying to screw the cover back on with the other, and your hands are wet. I hope Tsubaki comes out with a flip top cover – that makes more sense.
In a nutshell
An affordable weekly hair treatment treat for your hair by Shiseido Tsubaki. The Head Spa Extra Cleansing Shampoo removes product build up on hair and scalp and leaves hair feeling squeaky clean. It is advisable to follow up with a conditioner or the Head Spa Massage Spa Mask which is rich and leaves the clean hair feeling soft, light and tamed. I find that the effects last at least 4 days before I start looking like a lion again. For the price, I think its very affordable hair care because you only need a little and they come in quite large bottles so will last a while!
Pros: Extra Cleansing Shampoo removes product build up and leaves hair and scalp feeling fresh, cool and clean, Very little is needed to lather up on hair, Massage Spa Mask leaves my hair feeling soft and tamed and the effect lasts at least 4 days, Affordable
Cons: I find the smell of the shampoo too sharp and chemical, The shampoo can make hair feel too dry, Those with very oily scalps may find the Massage Spa Mask too heavy or oily for their hair, Packaging of the hair mask can be improved
Tsubaki is a pharmacy or drugstore hair care brand by Japanese cosmetics giant, Shiseido. This is my second time trying something from this brand. My first experience with the red bottle (Tsubaki Shining) was abysmal because it made my scalp itch. But this Head Spa treatment products have given me a little more faith in the brand. I’d been petrified of trying anything else from Tsubaki but now, just maybe I will 🙂
Have you tried this Tsubaki Head Spa Extra Cleansing Shampoo and Massage Spa Mask treatments? Or maybe you have tried the Tsubaki Head Spa or any other Tsubaki range of hair care products? I only just realised there is a whole range meant for the scalp. I had a bad experience my first time with this brand that put me off it, but now that I’ve actually had positive results with this combo, I will be possibly taking a peep at some of the others and your recs will be helpful! 🙂
Paris B
Shiseido Tsubaki Head Spa Extra Cleansing Shampoo Price: RM28.90/280ml Tsubaki Head Spa Massage Spa Mask Price: RM44.90/180g Availability: Watson’s, AEON Jusco Wellness and most major pharmacies
I’ve been using the Head Spa Extra Cleansing Shampoo for a while now and I haven’t really noticed any smell from it. Or maybe it’s because I’m used to Lush shampoo’s really strong scent!
Ah maybe it’s my nose then 😛 or maybe it’s lush hehe…
Anyone know where I can still get hold of this head spa shampoo? I’ve been searching everywhere.
Thanks.
now this one I love 🙂 The shampoo is indeed a little drying for the hair, but the hair mask fixes things.
I don’t quite get the cooling/ tingling feel when using the shampoo and I need to use quite a bit of it for my hair. And it doesn’t lather very well. No foam or anything! The smell is less sharper than it’s white/ red counterpart and I find it quite nice lol.
i think the star product is the mask itself. I have oily scalp myself, but then it doesn’t make it feel any oilier than normal. Usually by day 3 I need to wash my hair as it’s oily n icky, but with this combo I can wait till the 4th day and yet it doesn’t doesn’t feel as heavy or as oily as it should if I have used my normal shampoo & conditioner.
And I’m not sure if you have this experience, but I do think my locks are actually shinier, softer and lighter if I used this!
Ah I forgot to note that the mask itself gives me the cooling feel rather than the shampoo itself. Even after washing all off and letting my hair dry under the fan my scalp still feels the cooling sensation.
sorry i got a long comment on this one! 😛
Yes, my hair does look shinier and most definitely feels softer after using this as my weekly treatment. Sometimes, I even use it twice a week 😛 the mask doesn’t feel like much to me but the shampoo does give me that tingle and perming lotion smell which seems to be just me. Sigh,,,
wow. i’ve been thinking of trying out clarifying shampoos because the other day when i go dye my hair, the hairdresser said my scalp is kinda congested with shampoo residue which is not wash away properly. That kinda scare me cos the residues are blocking my pores in the scalp (if that’s how to describe it haha). this may be a good try? thanks for the great review!
I think this is an inexpensive product to try anyway to see if it’ll help you. The shampoo does make hair and scalp feel very clean. I haven’t tried other clarifying shampoos though so I can’t compare with others but for the price I’d say give it a shot! 🙂
Ahhh I have tried Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner and it gave me a bit of the dry scalp but I love the scent!
Hmm…this is new! I do reckon extra cleansing shampoos to be used once a week not unless you have super oily scalp and use a lot of hair products 😀
Ahhh you too didn’t agree with Tsubaki! I’m glad I’m not alone 😛
I”ve tried their range of shampoo/conditioner before and found it a bit thick and rich in nature. Was afraid I’d break out in the long run since my hair touches my face alot!
A REALLY good clarifying shampoo is actually Neutrogena’s anti-residue shampoo. My sis and I swear by this. It makes your scalp/hair feel REALLY clean. It has been discontinued here years ago but I get them from a personal shopper who gets it from US (try drugstore.com). If you have friends in OZ, ask them to get you the Clairol Herbal Essence Clarifying Shampoo (it’s a green bottle), I recently purchased this and like it. But of course the Neutrogena one is MUCH better.
Hmm good call about the thick texture. I noticed that too in the shining range. Thanks for the reca for clarifying shampoo. I can’t believe we need to have a shampoo to remove the residue left by another shampoo. That’s like so…. Mind boggling -_-
I, like you, am a shampoo hopper haha. I think I’ve tried almost everything a Japanese drug store has to offer. I’ve also tried the red Tsubaki ones before. I know how the commercials say that Tsubaki is made specifically for Asian hair and stuff but it didn’t wow me. I got better results with western brands like Redken and Tresemme, granted they are more expensive. I’m currently use a Tresemme clarifying shampoo, but now that I read your post, next I’m going to try out the Tsubaki head spa series. I’m constantly combating frizzy hair so this just might be a life saver. =)
Me too, Pamela! I’ve tried a couple of these brands made for Asian hair, and they don’t work very well for me. But we have Asian hair! LOL! I actually like Kerastase but its pricey too boo! Tresemme broke me out majorly. Give this one a try the next time you need a clarifying shampoo and see if it works for you 😀
I agree with you on the smell. The other Tsubaki shampoos do not smell this way, in fact, they smell great. But I must say I am quite swayed by your review to give this a second chance. I actually used this head spa shampoo and conditioner for a few weeks but my hair felt really terrible — though maybe I was using it all wrong because I used this pair every single day. My hair felt dry and looked listless. I didn’t realize it was meant to be a once a week treatment….
Oh wow! Using this set every day would totally kill your hair. Best to only use it once a week or once every two weeks max. Hope your hair has recovered from its ordeal 😛
The Head Spa Tsubaki range has four products: shampoo, conditioner, extra cleansing shampoo and mask.
The regular shampoo and conditioner are meant for everyday use.
The extra cleansing is a clarifying shampoo so it is a once a week/once a month treatment because it can strip you hair.
The mask is a weekly scalp treatment, so it must be applied on the roots of the hair, not on the ends like regular masks. That is why the package is designed the way it is, a squeeze tube with a tapered tip: you’re supposed to divide your hair in five parts and squeeze the mask onto the hairline. Then you massage the scalp, leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse it. The excess will run to the ends and work as a conditioner, but it is a treament meant for the scalp.
I am sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but you are not properly using this product and your post is a little misinformative …
Of course the product might not work for everybody but it will definitely not work if you do not use it correctly.
Hi Anis, thanks for your comment. Based on my experience and after speaking to a few people who tried using the Hair Mask the way prescribed, we found it too heavy for our hair and scalp. A friend’s scalp broke out but using it just on her hair alone helped. In my case, I take it all the way to my roots and scalp but I don’t section off hair nor apply too much on my scalp because it is quite heavy and I have short hair. Maybe its our weather here or just my skin. It is a very good product used either way, and I have no hesitation to recommend it.
Hello! I just bought the extra cleansing shampoo and the head spa mask Im going to try it out and would let you know, I like your review you are also very funny 😀 xx
Thanks Paris for this post! Very informative indeed. I definitely want to try Tsubaki Spa Mask when I’m back in KL. I’m looking for a hair mask to treat my recent itchy scalp due to cold weather. Cant wait 😉
Where can i get this scalp care shampoo? I tried Watson and Guardian but they dun carry it.
I’ve checked and its still available in the market – maybe the stores are low on stock? I don’t know otherwise if you can’t get it at the pharmacies.
Hi Paris, just stumbled on your blog, and love the unbiased reviews. I think I have same hair texture as yours, and I am still looking for a shampoo that works. I have been searching for clarifying shampoo but couldn’t find any in pharmacies, in the end I got frustrated and tried apple cider vinegar. I diluted it with water and I think it kinda works! My hair feels softer and less frizzy. Just sharing if anyone else wants to try it 🙂 The smell though could take some getting used to, but I don’t mind it since it’s one less harsh chemical I use on my head.