As someone whose hair is a bit high maintenance (high porosity, oily scalp, dry ends, breakage, and split ends here and there), the best Korean hair products are a game changer. It takes a special hair care routine with the right shampoos, conditioner, hair serums, oils, treatments, and leave-in masks to keep my strands strong and my scalp thoroughly cleansed. But after trying some of the best-selling hair products that K-beauty has to offer, I’m not surprised that everyone is starting to pay attention to how Koreans are taking care of their hair.
Similar to its approach with skin care, Korean beauty hair products are designed to prioritize long-term hair and scalp care over quick styling fixes. According to Sarah Chung Park, founder and CEO of Landing International, a business platform bringing K-beauty brands to the US, K-beauty hair formulas focus on both nourishing the scalp’s overall health while also rebuilding protein in strands to treat damage from the inside out.
So if you’re looking to give your hair some TLC, below are some of the best Korean hair care products that experts recommend. From dry scalps to thinning hair, we’ve got every hair concern and want covered.
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Best Overall: Dr. Groot Scalp Revitalizing Solution Miracle in Shower Treatment
- What we love: Lightweight; gently exfoliates scalp; gets rid of oiliness; hair feels stronger and softer
- What could improve: The slightly medicinal citrus smell may be unpleasant for some
This in-shower scalp treatment really does it all. It’s a lightweight liquid meant to be used two to three times a week that you apply on the scalp and massage in before rinsing out to reveal really healthy strands. My thick, dry hair feels clean but still hydrated, supersoft, and—most importantly for my oily skin—free of buildup and excess oil. It’s especially great in the summer when I have to wash my hair every day to keep my oily scalp from looking so shiny; now I feel like I’m not drying out my strands every time I wash. It’s so good that I personally don’t mind the faint smell of medicinal citrus.
Best for Fine Hair: Dr. Forhair Bio-3 Folligen Biotin Shampoo
- What we love: Strengthens hair; improves scalp health; boosts volume
- What could improve: Reviews say that the smell can be off-putting.
With fine hair, you want something that will give your roots some lift. This Korean shampoo does that while also encouraging healthy hair growth thanks to nourishing ingredients such as biotin and ceramides. “I love this biotin shampoo because it gives my hair instant volume, strengthens it from the roots, and improves my scalp health,” says Park. “This is the best for people who want more hair growth and volume.”
Best for Dry Scalp: Hair+ Protein Bond Water Essence
- What we love: Lightweight spray; sulfate-free
- What could improve: Reviewers say that the smell can be off-putting.
Packed with protein, this water hair essence works to treat damage on your scalp and hair. You can apply on either damp hair for treatment or dry hair to boost hydration in crispy strands, and you’ll notice that your hair will feel softer and healthier overall. “It's an easy-to-use, lightweight spray that instantly makes my hair feel stronger, smoother, and more hydrated without any stickiness,” says Park.
Best for Dandruff: Dr. Forhair Salt Scaler
- What we love: Deeply cleanses; gentle on scalp; refreshes hair and scalp
- What could improve: Reviewers say that it might be too drying.
This scalp scaler, designed to be used two to three times a week (or as needed) in place of shampoo, deeply cleanses away product buildup, excess oil, and other debris without irritating skin. It’s made with sea salt to refresh the scalp but is packed with nourishing ingredients like ceramide and peppermint oil to soothe skin. You can also find biotin and caffeine to help promote healthy hair growth and strengthen strands.
Best for Thinning Hair: Hasuo Phytoncide Scalp Shampoo
- What we love: Lightweight; deep cleanse; gentle on the skin
- What could improve: Pricey
If you’re looking to give thinning hair an extra boost, celebrity hairstylist Jenny Cho recommends this shampoo. It’s made with Asian botanical ingredients such as polygonum multiflorum thunberg and hinoki cypress, which are known for their exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as their ability to stimulate healthy hair growth. “[It’s] great for hair loss and restoration,” says Cho, noting it works well for all hair types.
Best for Curly Hair: Unove Curling Essence
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- What we love: Nourishing ingredients, adds volume, keeps curls soft
- What could improve: Reviewers say it can be too heavy for some.
Cho’s pick for curly hair is this lightweight cream that’s applied before drying. It boasts 36 types of proteins and other nourishing ingredients such as keratin and olive and argan oils to keep curls healthy and moisturized. She adds that it’s the perfect keratin product for adding volume and softness to your luscious curls.
Best for Thick Hair: Narka Core Rebuild Confident Deep Treatment Hair Pack
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- What we love: Hydrating; treats damage; restores elasticity; keeps hair soft
- What could improve: It might be too thick for some.
Both Park and Cho love this hair mask, which is applied after shampooing and then rinsed off, to treat damaged hair. Though it’s great for all hair types, it does have a rich thick consistency that we just love for thicker strands. Made with shea butter, squalane, jojoba seed oil, and glycerin, this mask boosts hydration and treats damage from inside the cuticle to reveal smoother and healthier hair.
Best for Dry Hair: Mise En Scene Perfect Serum
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- What we love: Lightweight; hydrating; keeps hair soft
- What could improve: Some may not love the floral scent.
A pick from Glamour contributor Sarah Y. Wu, this lightweight serum is made with seven—yes, seven—naturally derived oils to keep your hair hydrated and looking healthy. You’ll find Moroccan argan oil, marula, and jojoba oil to nourish dry strands and help increase your hair’s elasticity overall. “My hair gets dry and brittle, but a single pump of this serum turns it glossy and soft without weighing it down or feeling greasy,” says Wu. “The scent is also amazing—a lush blend of warm, tropical flowers.” You can apply one to two pumps to towel-dried hair and style as usual, and then finish with another pump for extra shine and anti-frizz power.
Best Heat Protectant: Unove Heating Guard No-Wash Treatment
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- What we love: Protects hair from high heat; nourishing
- What could improve: It goes on very thick and heavy.
As someone who may or may not be too hot tool-reliant, this heat-protectant treatment—applied on towel-dried hair—is a beauty godsend. It’s made with nourishing ingredients such as olive, organ, and sunflower seed oil to keep my hair hydrated as I style it. But it also contains keratin and amino acids to help smooth hair, combat frizz, and keep those split ends at bay. This makes my at-home blowout super achievable.
Best for Hair Growth: Labo-H Scalp Strengthening Clinic Hairline Ampoule
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- What we love: Lightweight; easily absorbs; promotes healthy hair growth
- What could improve:
Park loves this ampoule, which can be massaged into the scalp before drying, to help with a thinning hairline. She says it’s lightweight and absorbs easily. And thanks to ingredients such as probiotics, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, it provides nourishment to promote a healthy scalp and hair growth.
Best Styling Product: Anaze Janmuri Cara (Baby Hair Fixer)
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- What we love: Smooths flyaways with ease; doesn’t flake
- What could improve: Some may not love the citrus scent.
What’s a sign of a good product? For Wu, it’s how beat up it looks. Her well-loved tube is a testament, she says, to how often she depends on this styling stick product. “I love using this whenever I put my hair in an updo or high ponytail or just want to smooth down flyaways,” says Wu. “It goes on completely clear, is packed with softening ingredients like coconut oil and royal jelly extract, and doesn’t flake or dry down crunchy.
“The brush is wider and softer than a mascara wand, which makes it easy to sweep over my hair without tugging or pulling,” adds Wu. “It also has a subtle citrus scent I can’t get enough of.”
Frequently asked questions
What are the differences between K-beauty hair products and ones you would find in Western markets?
“K-beauty hair products differ from Western ones in both philosophy and formulation,” says Park. “A major distinction is the ‘skinification’ of hair—treating the scalp like facial skin using targeted products such as scalp toners, essences, exfoliators, and serums. This leads to a more holistic, long-term approach to hair health, rather than focusing on fixes like shine or volume.”
Korean hair care also embraces multistep routines, she says, and you’ll find yourself layering different (but still lightweight) products that will hydrate, nourish, and protect the scalp and strands. “[Another] unique aspect of K-beauty hair care is the idea of maintaining hydration throughout the day,” she adds. This can be seen, for example, in hair mists that are likened to the ever popular K-beauty face mists, which are used to refresh your skin periodically as the day goes on.
What ingredients are popular in K-beauty hair products?
Again, just like Korean skin care, K-beauty hair care is all about innovation. Park says that you’ll find many formulations that use proprietary blends and unconventional ingredients (think silk or soy as protein treatments) to treat damage and protect hair.
There’s also an emphasis on functional ingredients, she says, and you’ll find known nourishing ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid to help hydrate dry ends, provide gentle exfoliation, and support the skin’s barrier.
Meet the experts
- Jenny Cho, celebrity hairstylist
- Sarah Chung Park, founder and CEO of Landing International, a business platform bringing K-beauty brands to the US
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