Wellness Technology in the Spa Industry

By Maggie Staszcuk 

The health and wellness industry is immense, comprising personal care, beauty and anti-aging, nutrition and weight loss, physical activity, wellness tourism, preventive and personalized medicine, and the spa economy. Each of these sectors has seen exponential growth, partly due to the rise in physical and mental disease such as cancer, diabetes, depression, and anxiety, which has resulted in an increased awareness for self-care and whole-body health. In 2022, the spa industry was valued at $5 trillion, and it’s expected to reach close to $9 trillion by 2032.  And it won’t stop there—digital devices and technology are also impacting each sector of this industry and have grown rapidly by close to 200 percent in the last two years. 

Touchless Spa Treatments 

Hands-free spa services may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “wellness technology,” but services such as infrared and LED light therapies, zero-gravity flotation pods, and other hands-free modalities provide a self-guided experience that’s gaining popularity thanks to current wellness trends. These services provide innovative ways for clients to treat their whole-body health while maximizing therapists’ time. Virtual reality, or augmented reality, is also becoming popular with the use of virtual reality goggles and virtual reality screens used in zero-gravity pods or as an add-on to other spa treatments. This provides a hyper-personalized and interactive experience for the spa-goer.  

Smart Wellness Tech 

The wellness industry has seen a push to destigmatize mental health and with that, an increase in devices aimed at benefiting mental well-being. One such device is the Muse headband, a wearable device that reads and measures brainwaves to show how the brain is impacted by emotions. It was created to help manage stress and provide guided meditation through an accompanying app. For some spa owners, this device fits with their brand and philosophy, and they are incorporating it into treatments to help guests master the art of meditation and relaxation.

AI-powered skin analysis is another device at the forefront of the wellness tech industry. This technology is used for skin care solutions, treatments, and is therefore helping generate revenue. It’s used to detect and analyze skin conditions and areas of concern including cancer and has become a common device found in both esthetic treatment rooms and dermatology practices. This analysis may be included with esthetic treatments and free to some or offered as a standalone service along with consultation. Some phone apps, such as Fin Routine, are also coming to the market, offering to “analyze” the skin through photos and provide skin care regimens with product purchase.  

Interested in more content like this? Tune in to ASCP's Esty Talk Ep 109, Beauty and the Bots, and Ep 237, Wellness Technology, where Ella and Maggie discuss everything from interactive shopping experiences to lash robots, and whether tech in beauty is going too far or if it’s the wave of the future.

For more useful tools to help advance your career and knowledge, join ASCP. We have education and career building resources at your fingertips with ASCP SkinPro, Free Online Scheduling, 300+ OnDemand technique videos, and more!

Not a member? Join today and get access to all of the benefits we offer to support you and your career as an esthetician.