THE UNDENIABLE appeal of the Zik Zleep Zalon on Bangkok’s Phaholyothin Soi 5 (Soi Ratchakru) is that you can have a snooze while being massaged before getting your hair styled.

The salon is dimly lit – the better to calm the senses – and clients sink onto comfy leather beds for 40 winks while their hair is washed and their head, shoulders and hands are massaged.

Afterwards their hair is blow-dried and then, if they like, cut or styled.

Hairstylist Sikawat “Zik” Lue-sopon has a professional understanding of how relaxing it is to have someone else gently wash your hair, and he decided to extend the creature comforts further.

“Anyone who’s had a poor night’s sleep or just needs some relaxation is going to love this nap salon,” says Zik, who earned his diploma from the Sassoon Academy in London.

“We incorporate neck, head, shoulders and hand massage with hair treatments – washing and applying aromatic spa products. You hop on the bed and relax and we do the rest.”

There are eight of these inviting beds, plus two private rooms, each with two more beds.

The treatments on offer are the one-hour Nap Original Shampoo (Bt1,000), two-hour Nap Original Treatment (Bt2,000), two-hour Nap Sculpt Scrubbing Treatment (Bt2,000) and two-hour Butterfly Pea Latte Shirodhara (Bt2,500).

Zik himself will cut, style or colour clients’ hair later have at prices starting at Bt1,000.

If chronic insomnia or just a lack of sleep is an issue for you, Zik recommends the Butterfly Pea Latte Shirodhara.

It entails an ayurvedic massage with warm milk containing butterfly-pea extract, which promotes healthy hair growth and helps prevent hair loss and greying.

Shirodhara as a healing technique involves gently massaging the head and a slow stream of warm oil being poured on the forehead, where the “third eye” (the anja chakra) is believed positioned.

Once you’re on the comfy bed, the hairdresser-therapist covers your eyes with a warm towel and begins gently massaging your hands. There is the soothing sound of a “singing bowl” to deepen the sense of calmness and serenity.

The warm milk is then applied to the forehead and the scalp and head are massaged.

Next, Bulgarian rose oil is applied to the hair to strength the shafts, add sheen and eliminate itchiness.

Then there’s a nap shampoo, which adds ozone to the hair to stimulate follicles, improve blood circulation and foster hair growth. A Phyto Aromatic Mist is spritzed on the face to refresh and restore skin moisture. Then you wake up, as if from a wonderful dream, and get those locks blow-dried.

“For the Nap Original Treatment formula, I worked with an instructor-researcher at Kasetsart University,” says Zik, whose mum runs the popular Pitsamai salon in Thon Buri.

“It’s an organic shampoo with kaffir lime extracted using the cold-press method that’s considered the best way to extract essential oils. It preserves all of the natural benefits.”

The Nap Sculpt Scrubbing Treatment, Zik says, is designed to soothe the scalp and restore hair to its optimal level of health.

“That formula contains extract of black rice, which is rich in vitamins, and grape-seed oil to add sheen. The massage feels absolutely luxurious.”

There’s no reason to doubt that, but do people really sleep during all this?

“I can say that more than 90 per cent of our clients have a good doze during their treatments,” Zik confirms.

SNIPS AND SNORES

>> Zik Zleep Zalon is on Phaholyothin Soi 5 (Soi Ratchakru) near the Ari BTS station.

>> It’s open daily from 10.30am to 9pm.

>> Call (098) 614 9997 or go to the “Zik Zleep Zalon” page on Facebook.