Celebrating Filipino Heritage Month Through Beauty & Wellness

Every October, Kansas joins communities nationwide in celebrating Filipino Heritage Month — a time to honor history, contributions, and traditions. For those of us in the salon and spa world, it’s also a chance to explore the beauty and wellness practices that Filipino culture has nurtured for generations.

Even if you’ve never been to the Philippines, these traditions tell stories of family, nature, and care. They can inspire how we approach beauty, relaxation, and self-expression right here in Kansas Filipino Beauty & Wellness Traditions to Know

Hilot (Traditional Massage)

A centuries-old healing art combining massage with natural oils and gentle stretches. It’s used not only to relax muscles but also to restore balance and promote overall wellness — the Filipino version of massage therapy with a holistic twist.

Coconut Milk (Gata) Hair Rituals

Long before “clean beauty” was a trend, Filipinos have used gata—fresh coconut milk squeezed from grated mature coconut—to nourish hair. The white meat is scraped with a kudkuran (grater) and the grated flesh is tightly squeezed through a cloth or sieve until the creamy milk is released; that fresh gata is then gently massaged into the scalp and worked through the lengths, left for about 15–30 minutes, rinsed out, and washed as usual. Beyond the visible softness and shine it gives, the ritual of preparing and applying gata connects daily self-care to family traditions and the island’s plant-based wisdom.

Herbal & Botanical Scalp Rinses

Guava leaves, calamansi (Filipino lime), and other botanicals are often used in homemade rinses to cleanse and soothe the scalp. These plant-based remedies are gentle and rooted in the idea that nature heals.

Festive Braids & Updos

At fiestas, weddings, and cultural events, intricate braids and elegant updos are part of the celebration — expressions of artistry passed down through generations.

Traditional Skincare Rituals

Filipino skincare emphasizes gentle exfoliation, hydration, and natural ingredients like rice, papaya, and honey. It’s less about quick fixes and more about consistency and care.

Celebrating Cultural Roots in Self-Care

Filipino Heritage Month is also a reminder that beauty and wellness can be cultural expressions as much as personal ones. By learning about practices like hilot massage, coconut-oil hair treatments, and herbal scalp rinses, we deepen our understanding of where some of today’s most-loved rituals come from.

Even if you’re not trying these at home or in a salon right now, simply knowing their stories honors the community and makes self-care feel more connected and meaningful. It’s about appreciation, not appropriation — and about supporting traditions that have nourished people for generations.

Did You Know?

Many popular beauty trends — from coconut-oil hair masks to rice-water rinses — trace their roots back to Filipino self-care practices passed down for generations. Learning about these rituals during Filipino Heritage Month is a meaningful way to appreciate culture and see the deeper stories behind everyday beauty routines.

This month, take a moment to explore the roots of your favorite self-care rituals and share them with others. Filipino Heritage Month is a beautiful chance to celebrate diversity in beauty and wellness — right here in Kansas.