A Full Shirodhara Protocol for Summer

The Conscious Coconut Ayurvedic Head Massage is a relaxing and dreamy treatment. In addition to calming the mind, it coats a guest's hair with coconut oil, which shields it from chlorine, sun and saltwater—making it an ideal stand-alone or add-on treatment during the summer. The treatment is also an excellent option for guests with color-treated hair as they are the most at risk for breakage, patchy color and thinning.

The Conscious Coconut Ayurvedic Head Massage draws inspiration from Shirodhara, an Ayurvedic healing technique that involves gently massaging the guest's head, then dripping a slow stream of warm oil onto the forehead in alignment with the third-eye, or Anja chakra. Shirodhara helps increase circulation, moisturize the hair and scalp, relieve pain and stress, lower blood pressure, boost energy and clear waste. 

[Protocol] Conscious Coconut Ayurvedic Head Massage

1. With your guest in supine position, perform the following stretches: Place the palms of your hands on the guest’s upper traps and perform slow alternating presses to gently stretch their neck and shoulders. Slide your hands under the guest’s neck, perform three neck stretches: (a) Gently glide your fingers along the posterior side of the neck from the base of the neck moving up to the occiput to create a stretch. Repeat on other side. (b) Assert gentle pressure at the occiput for a few seconds, then smooth to the tips of the hair. (c) With a palm on the back the neck and the other palm on the forehead, lift guest’s head toward their sternum, stretching the back of the neck. Place head back down, feathering out the hair.
2. Slowly apply Conscious Coconut oil onto the hairline, in alignment with the third‐eye or Anja chakra. If your guest has short to medium length hair, apply ½ Tbsp.; for guests with long hair, apply 1 Tbsp.
3. Perform deep strokes through the hair to apply the oil, making sure it is evenly distributed along the length of the hair and the back of the head.
4. Using the pads of the fingers, massage the entire scalp with slow circular movements.
5. Place a flat hand on the highest point of the head (Adipati marma) and massage with clockwise palm circles. Then, stimulate this marma with gentle fingertip taps.
6. Place a flat hand on the fontanelle (soft spot, part of the Simanta marma) and massage with clockwise palm circles.
7. Gently squeeze temples (Shankha marma) with finger pads while performing the following strokes from the center hairline (Simanta marma) to the crown chakra (Mardhi marma) using the following methods: (a) Circular pressure with thumbs. You should feel the scalp moving across the bone. (b) Alternating thumbs (crisscross). (c) Scissor the thumbs back and forth in a straight line.
8. Apply circular pressure with fingers or thumbs working along entire hairline, starting at the front‐midline.
9. Massage circles around the ears (Vidhura and Sevikuthi marma) with the thumbs, then massage ears.
10. With palms covering ears, apply gentle clockwise circles.
11. Turn head and do the following steps: (a) Tug ‐ grasp fistfuls of hair at the roots and tug, keeping your knuckles very close to the scalp. (b) Scalp flick – with fingers and thumb, perform pinching tapotement. (c) Chopping – with hands together perform light chopping over scalp. (d) Tapping – fingers over scalp. (e) Rake fingers through the hair. (f) Massage the occiput (Krikatika marma), back of the neck and upper traps (free style). (g) Repeat on other side.
12. Squeeze upper traps working laterally to the shoulders, the arm and then the elbow. When you reach the elbow, go back to the base of the neck. 
13. Effleurage from the base of the neck toward the elbow then back to the base of the neck.
14. Finish by cradling the guest’s head with only the lightest pressure. Hold for 10 seconds. Slowly remove one hand at a time.
15. Remove damp and dry hot towel from cabby. Wrap head in hot damp towel first, then wrap dry hot towel (or  Conscious Coconut Hair Wrap) around guest’s head, bring each corner over their eyes to act as an eye mask.
16. Place eye pillow on top of dry head wrap.
17. Continue with any additional spa treatment.
18. If this is your guest’s only treatment, it is best to leave the oil on for at least 2 hours, or for as long as possible. If your guest plans to swim or spend time outdoors, encourage them to reap coconut oil’s protective benefits by leaving in their hair until after the activity. If leaving overnight, use the Conscious Coconut Hair Wrap.
19. Step out to allow the guest to put their robe on.
20. Re‐enter after guest allows and offer a fresh glass of water and home care recommendations.