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Salon Spotlight - Saori: Scalp & Hair Specialist and Stylist

March 13, 2026

Salon Spotlight - Saori: Scalp & Hair Specialist and Stylist

Welcome to the Salon Spotlight, the series where we go behind the chair to get the inside scoop from our talented team. We’ll be chatting with different members to uncover their favourite cuts, the trends they’re currently obsessing over, and the must-have products they swear by. Get to know the faces behind the salon and find the perfect inspiration for your next appointment! This week we meet Saori.

Scalp Health: The Foundation of Beautiful Hair
With a specialist focus on hair and scalp health along with Japanese Head Spa therapy, Saori brings a deeply holistic approach to haircare at Michael Van Clarke. As our in-house Scalp & Hair Specialist, she understands that truly beautiful hair starts at the roots. She is currently in her final year of a clinical trichology degree.

Blending clinical knowledge with restorative ritual, Saori works to rebalance, revitalise and optimise the scalp environment, helping clients address concerns from thinning and sensitivity to excess oil and build-up. Her philosophy is simple: when the scalp is healthy, the hair thrives.

Hey Saori...

Many people focus on hair but ignore the scalp. Why is scalp health the true foundation of healthy hair?
Scalp health is the true foundation to hair health as that’s where the hair is made. So without a healthy balanced life and correct routine, the hair can’t reach its true potential. With a clean healthy scalp the hair follicle has sufficient nutrients and oxygen supply while efficiently eliminating toxins. This supports healthy, shiny and fuller hair growth. Leaving build up on the scalp and not addressing scalp or hair problems may lead to bigger problems.

Can you explain how hair follicles grow and what affects the hair growth cycle?
The hair growth cycle has 3 main stages…the growing phase, the transition phase and the resting phase. 90% of our hair in any given moment is in the growing phase which is the longest phase of the three. Stress, poor diet, pollution, illnesses, genetics, can all disrupt the growing and resting phase, which can often lead to hair thinning or other scalp/hair conditions.

What are the most common myths you hear about scalp health?
The most common myth is ‘not washing the hair is better for the hair’. Good hygiene is always a good idea to prevent bacteria and fungi growth on your scalp. There is a reason why good hygiene has helped humankind to live longer compared to the past.

Another myth is that scalp oils moisturise a dry scalp but most oils are too heavy or overused and cause build up which actually causes more problems. Maintaining a healthy scalp by regular shampooing, exfoliating and a healthy lifestyle is recommended.

What should we be doing weekly or daily to maintain a healthier scalp?
A weekly scalp treatment with our Exfoliating Scalp Treatment is a great place to start if you are looking to maintain a healthier scalp. If your hair is not fragile, regular scalp brush massage to stimulate your scalp is a fabulous way to get the blood flow going.

Depending on climate, daily care with leave-in treatments and regular shampooing (every other day) is also recommended.

How does scalp massage stimulate hair growth and is it something clients should be doing at home?
Scalp massage is a fantastic way to encourage blood flow to the scalp which carries oxygen and nutrients to our hair follicle and removes toxins. This improves cell turnover for better hair growth. We carry a lot of tension on our scalp so massaging your scalp will help to relax, reduce dizziness, headaches and improve immune system.

There are many benefits to regular scalp massage overall and at Michael Van Clarke we have just launched our Japanese Head Spa to offer luxury treatments designed to improve the scalp health.

What are the biggest mistakes people make that compromise scalp health?
The biggest mistake is not keeping the scalp clean. Scalp health is the foundation of healthy scalp microbiome. If you are using heavy silicone hair products, regularly using dry shampoo/gels, intense styling and colouring can all contribute over time to compromise scalp health.

Why would you recommend avoiding silicones in your haircare routine?
Silicones are added to the majority of hair products because they give instant smoothness and shine. The problem is that over time they can create a coating on both the hair and the scalp. This layer can build up gradually, preventing moisture, nutrients and treatments from properly penetrating the hair fibre and reaching the scalp.

For the scalp especially, heavy silicone build-up can contribute to congestion around the follicles, which may affect the overall health of the scalp environment. Healthy hair growth begins at the follicle, so keeping the scalp clean and balanced is essential.

That’s why I often recommend silicone-free formulations, such as the Van Clarke haircare range. They allow the hair and scalp to breathe, so treatments, conditioners and natural oils can work more effectively, supporting stronger, healthier hair over time rather than just creating a temporary cosmetic effect.

Do silk pillowcases really make a difference to scalp or hair health?
Yes, silk pillowcases and silk hair ties can make a difference over time, reducing friction and breakage, but it will not address any severe damage that may be coming from within or cosmetic mistakes.

Does the type of brush we use affect our scalp health?
Yes, brushes can make a big difference, for example natural bristles or nylon may reduce friction and harsh synthetic brushes may damage the scalp depending on method of brushing.

We recommend the No.1 Brush which is available in Black, Jet Silver Luxe and Deluxe Rose Gold.

Detangling the hair with the correct tool and correct method is also very important. Follow these steps

1 - Never brush straight from the top of the head as tempting as it is
2 - ⁠Always slowly work your way up from the ends
3 – Gently brush big knots from the ends
4 – Once all knots are gone, you can brush it through from the top

Which Van Clarke products should clients be using at home to maintain a healthy scalp and why do they work?
My go to product for a healthy scalp is our, silicone-free Exfoliating Scalp Treatment.

Our anti-dandruff and antioxidant natural fruit acids gently exfoliate and cleanse the scalp. The peppermint and menthol extract helps to reduce inflammation. The aloe vera and cashmere amino acids keep the hair and scalp hydrated. This all-round treatment should be used once a week at home to help maintain a clean healthy scalp.

The treatment should be washed out with the Exfoliating Scalp Shampoo. It gently removes product build-up, excess oil and impurities, leaving the scalp feeling fresh, balanced and deeply cleansed without ever stripping the hair. Enriched with rare cashmere proteins, it also strengthens the hair fibre from within, helping hair feel thicker, healthier and more resilient.

The scalp brush is a simple but very effective way to gently massage the scalp to help stimulate circulation around the hair follicles, encouraging a healthier environment for hair growth while also loosening product build-up, pollution and dead skin cells. I recommend using the brush in small, gentle circular movements while shampooing or applying a treatment, rather than large swirling motions which can tangle the hair. It can also be used on its own as a relaxing scalp massage for a few minutes to boost blood flow, relieve tension and support overall scalp balance.

Some people suffer with overactive scalps that can produce excess sebum. This leaves hair feeling oily, flat or lifeless and can lead to seborrheic scalp conditions.

For this I recommend the Balancing Scalp Shampoo. Healthy hair is usually around 4.5-6.0 on the pH scale and this shampoo will restore your pH balance using ingredients such as bio-sulphur and horse chestnut.

For someone serious about improving their scalp health, which in-salon treatments do you recommend (including the Japanese Head Spa) and how often should they book?
Our Japanese Head Spa is ideal for your initial treatment as this includes a consultation with trichoscope, a specialised magnifying device used to closely examine the scalp and hair follicles. It allows a trichologist to see issues not visible to the naked eye, such as inflammation, product build-up, hair thinning or follicle health, helping to diagnose scalp conditions and recommend the most effective treatments and homecare.

Following this I recommend clients then book in a scalp recovery treatment or hair and scalp treatment weekly as follow up for 6 weeks to see great results.

Especially for clients with scalp concerns, it is important to follow a 6-week course and give your scalp a good foundation before continuing your at home scalp care routine.

Quick Fire: Scalp Essentials with Saori

One sign your scalp needs attention:
Itchy scalp

Most underrated scalp habit:
Frequent shampooing

Product you recommend most for scalp health:
Exfoliating Scalp Treatment

How often should we really wash our hair?
As necessary but a good guide is every other day

The secret to long-term healthy hair growth:
Clean scalp

Thanks so much Saori.

You can book an appointment with Saori or any of the van clarke team via the tab to the right of your browser.



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