By Agnes Grumslys · CA Licensed Cosmetologist #A330955 · Certified in Kobido & Hadado Facial Sculpting · Agnes Beauty & Wellness, Huntington Beach

Most estheticians who offer "Kobido-style" facials have trained in one lineage, watched a handful of videos, or completed a single weekend course. I trained in both Kobido and its modern evolution, Hadado, under separate master instructors — one of them in my own homeland of Lithuania.

That combination changes how I see a face the moment someone lies down on my table. I want to share what that dual training actually taught me, because it's not something most people get to hear directly from a practitioner who's lived both sides of it.

Going Home to Learn an Ancient Technique

Going back to Lithuania — my homeland — to learn Kobido was deeply meaningful for me. I wanted to learn from experienced European educators and deepen my understanding of this traditional technique. There was something special about combining my personal connection to Lithuania with growing professionally in a craft this old.

Kobido itself dates back over 540 years, built on 48 core movements passed down master to apprentice since 1472 — historically reserved for Japanese royalty, Empresses and Geishas. Learning something with that kind of lineage changes how you approach it. The history and tradition made me respect the technique even more. It reminded me that these movements were created with purpose and passed down through generations, so I approached learning it with patience and respect.

About two years after Kobido, I trained in Hadado — Kobido's modern evolution, which incorporates 21st-century anatomical science into Kobido's foundation. Learning Kobido first gave me a strong foundation. It helped me understand the movement, the rhythm, and the connection of the face before I ever added the deeper structural layer Hadado brings.

What Each Technique Actually Is

Let me explain this the way I do for clients sitting in my chair, deciding which one is right for them.

Kobido — The Dance of the Hands

Kobido is an art of rhythmic lifting and stimulation using beautiful, precise movements. It's famous for its speed and its rhythm — often described as a "dance of the hands." There's a reason for that description. Performing it feels both physical and meditative at the same time. The rhythm becomes almost like a dance with the hands, but at the same time I'm constantly paying attention to the client's tissues, tension, and response. It's never mindless repetition — every movement has intention behind it.

→ Read the full Kobido guide here

Hadado — Kobido Modernized

Hadado builds on that foundation by adding a much deeper focus on anatomy, fascia, muscles, and structural work. Where Kobido moves rhythmically across the surface and just beneath it, Hadado goes further into the tissue — working the fat pads, the fascia, and the muscular structure that actually determines how a face ages and sags over time. Hadado uses nearly 100 distinct hand movements — developing the muscle memory for all of them to feel natural rather than choreographed takes real time and repetition.

Both are unique. Both create a genuinely different experience. Knowing both allows me to see the face from different perspectives — Kobido brings tradition, rhythm, and precision; Hadado adds deeper structural work and modern anatomical understanding. Together, they give me far more tools to create something personalized for the person actually in front of me, rather than applying one fixed protocol to every face that walks through the door.

See how Hadado compares with other types of facial massage.

Why Every Session Starts at the Neck — Not the Face

This surprises almost every first-time Hadado client. The session doesn't begin on the face at all.

The face is connected to the whole body. Many clients carry tension in their neck, shoulders, and jaw — and releasing those areas first creates better flow and relaxation before any work happens on the face itself.

I see "tech-neck" constantly. Phones and computers affect posture, and posture directly influences the appearance of the lower face. When we open and relax the neck and shoulders first, clients often notice their face already looks more refreshed before the facial work is even complete. That forward head position from hours of screen time pulls down on the tissue connecting the jaw and lower face — so addressing the neck isn't a warm-up. It's structural prep work that changes the outcome.

What I'm Actually Feeling Under My Hands

When I'm doing deeper facial work, I'm feeling areas of tension, restriction, and imbalance. The goal is never to force anything — it's to support the tissues, improve mobility, and encourage a more lifted, more balanced appearance.

How I Assess Each Client

I assess the whole face before I begin — symmetry, tension, jaw, posture, skin condition, and the specific areas where someone holds stress. The session is never exactly the same twice, because every face has its own story.

Choosing Between Slow and Fast Movements

Hadado moves between two very different rhythms within a single session — slow, high-friction work and faster, Kobido-style stimulation. I listen to the tissue to decide. Slow movements let me work deeper and release tension. Faster movements create stimulation and energy. Every face is different, so the technique adapts to the person in front of me rather than following a script.

It can feel intense — we're working with deeper structures than a typical facial reaches. Communication matters enormously here. I always adjust pressure and technique based on how the client is responding in real time.

The Closing Phase Most People Don't Expect

After all the stimulating, rhythmic, and structural work, every session ends with a closing acupressure phase — static pressure applied across specific points on the skull, brow, and jaw. It's a completely different sensation from everything that came before it.

This phase helps transition the body into a relaxed state. After stimulating and working the tissues, the closing phase supports calmness and allows the nervous system to settle. It's the part of the session where the active work stops and the integration begins.

What Clients Notice When They Look in the Mirror

Many clients notice their face looks brighter, more lifted, and refreshed immediately. But honestly, one of my favorite reactions isn't about how they look at all — it's when someone tells me they feel lighter and deeply relaxed. That combination of visible result and genuine nervous system release is exactly what I'm aiming for in every session.

How I Decide Between Kobido and Hadado

This is the question only someone trained in both can really answer honestly.

When Kobido Is the Right Choice

Some people benefit more from the lighter, rhythmic stimulation of Kobido — especially if they want a gentler, more meditative experience with visible glow and lift. If you're new to these techniques or want something more relaxing, Kobido is often the ideal starting point.

When Hadado Goes Further

Others need the deeper structural focus that Hadado provides — particularly if jaw tension, fascia restriction, or more significant structural sagging is the primary concern. I customize based on the person, not a fixed rule.

Combining Hadado With Buccal Massage

I often combine Hadado with buccal massage because the two genuinely complement each other. Hadado works externally with the muscles and fascia. Buccal allows deeper access to areas like the jaw and cheeks from inside the mouth — territory Hadado alone can't reach.

When I combine them, something different happens than either technique produces alone. Together they create a deeper sense of connection because we can address tension from both inside and outside simultaneously. It allows a more complete sculpting approach — accessing structural layers from two directions in the same session.

Clients with jaw tension, facial tightness, puffiness, or deeper areas of chronic holding tend to benefit most from combining both techniques. If you're dealing with TMJ-related tightness alongside visible structural sagging, this combination is often where I'd start the conversation.

Realistic Expectations and Results

I always set this expectation clearly: one session can create a beautiful temporary change. But consistency is what trains the tissues and supports longer-lasting results. Like anything in the body, repetition matters. This isn't a one-and-done treatment — it's a process.

Post-Session Care

A mild detox reaction isn't common after Hadado, but supporting the body afterward still matters. I recommend hydration, rest, and giving your body time to process the increased movement and drainage from the session.

Botox and Filler Timing

If you've had Botox or fillers, timing matters too. I always ask before booking, because we want to respect both the product and the tissue. Every client's history is different, so I adjust the approach based on their specific situation rather than applying a blanket rule.

Why This Feels Like Home to Me

I believe growing up closer to nature in Lithuania influenced my appreciation for balance, for slowing down, and for caring for the whole person — not just one area of the body. That philosophy shows up directly in how Hadado works, starting at the neck and shoulders before ever touching the face, treating the body as one connected system rather than isolated parts.

Kobido and Hadado fit naturally with how I approach beauty as a whole. I believe true beauty comes from connection — skill, knowledge, relaxation, and care all working together. Neither technique is just a cosmetic procedure to me. They're an extension of how I think about caring for someone.

One Last Thing — From Me

If I had to describe a session in three sentences, it would be this: it begins by creating relaxation and connection with the body before ever focusing on the face. The techniques combine movement, structure, and flow to release tension and support a refreshed appearance. The goal isn't only to help the face glow — it's to help the person feel renewed.

If you've been curious about Kobido, Hadado, or which one might be right for you, I'd genuinely love to talk through it at your next visit.

Agnes Grumslys is a California Licensed Cosmetologist (License #A330955) certified in Kobido Japanese Facial Artistry through Spa Pasaulis in Lithuania under Vida Jankuniene, and in Hadado Face Sculpting through Academia SPA-Tomasik. She also holds Advanced Buccal Intraoral Face Lifting certification under Yakov Gershkovich. Book your session here →