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Do you want healthy, luscious, and shiny hair? It starts with shampoo. Whether you want to have a long, thick mane or want to maintain short, vibrant hair, you should find the best shampoo for your needs.
What Is the Best Korean Shampoo?
The best shampoo for you depends on your hair goals. Some shampoos help strengthen, others help moisturize, and some help with dandruff and other scalp issues. Here are our top picks for the best Korean shampoos for each hair concern:
Our Top 7 Picks for the Best Korean Shampoos:
- Best Overall: DAENG GI MEO RI Ki GOLD Premium Shampoo
- Best for Clarifying: LG Reen Yungo Hair Cleansing Treatment Shampoo
- Best for Damaged Hair: Esthetic House CP-1 Nourishing Shampoo
- Best for Hair Loss: RYO Hair Loss Care Shampoo
- Best for Oily, Clogged Scalps: Village 11 Factory Sulfate & Silicone Free Shampoo
- Best for Dull and Rough Hair: Somang Korean Red Ginseng & Herbal Scalp Cleanser
- Best for Dry or Colored Hair: Whamisa Organic Seeds Sub-Acid Hair Shampoo
Picking the right shampoo for you may take some trial and error. But with our well-researched, in-depth list, you can start with the best Korean shampoos on the market in 2024.
Why You Need a Korean Shampoo
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You may have already heard about the effectiveness of Korean skin care products. From moisturizers to cleansers, Korean beauty products are all the rage right now, and for a good reason. Korean labs formulate products to be effective but also non-stripping.
This same formula is used for their hair products. Korean shampoos address your hair problems without stripping your hair or drying out your scalp. When buying Korean shampoo, you need to take careful stock of your hair, your goals, and your needs.
A shampoo can be well-formulated and have all the right ingredients but wreak havoc on your hair. Similarly, a friend can complain that a shampoo ruined their hair, but it works perfectly for you.
Best Korean Shampoos: Our Top 7 Picks
If you are ready to have the best hair of your life, try one of the seven best Korean shampoos:
1. DAENG GI MEO RI Ki GOLD Premium Shampoo
- Cleanses without stripping hair
- Controls sebum production and makes hair less oily
- Users report the pump can break easily
- Strong herbal smell which can be off-putting for some
Made with green tea, ginseng, and Changpo extracts, this shampoo is well-formulated to ensure your hair gets enough nourishment and moisture even as it is well-cleansed. It cleans thoroughly, removing all residue from the hair.
The Ki GOLD Premium shampoo leaves your hair deeply moisturized, soft, and smooth. Ideal for oily and sensitive scalps and thin or fine hair. Customers report the product reduces inflammation and bacteria overgrowth on the scalp quite well.
2. LG Reen Yungo Hair Cleansing Treatment Shampoo
- Removes product buildup without stripping hair
- Reduces scalp inflammation
- Heavily perfumed, which can irritate sensitive scalps
- Small amount for the price, only 250mls
This shampoo is perfect for those who love to wash their hair every day. Formulated with red ginseng, wild ginger, and saponins, the shampoo is deeply cleansing and moisturizing.
It’s great for dry, flaky scalps that suffer from dandruff and fine, dehydrated, thin hair. The LG Reen Yungo shampoo is a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. It cleanses and moisturizes at the same time.
3. Esthetic House CP-1 Nourishing Shampoo
- Repairs and strengthens weak, damaged hair
- It smoothens and adds shine
- Sulfate-free and nourishing
- Can leave a filmy residue on hair if not rinsed properly
Packed with smoothening proteins and silk peptides, Esthetic House CP-1 Nourishing Shampoo strengthens weak hair. It also contains amino acids and ceramides, making it great at repairing broken hair bonds and reconstructing hair.
A great option for dry, damaged hair or anyone with high porosity hair. It contains a good number of oils which makes it too heavy for fine, oily hair. It is fantastic for dry scalps.
4. RYO Hair Loss Care Shampoo
- Helps prevent hair loss, thinning, and shedding
- Contains biotin for added hair strength
- Controls excessive sebum production
- Not for very dry hair unless followed by a deeply moisturizing hair mask
- Fragrance can be irritating for sensitive noses and scalps
If you are losing hair and have an itchy scalp, the RYO Hair Loss Care Shampoo for men and women will work well. It is made of ginseng and caffeine.
Red Ginseng is calming, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory making it great for itchy, oily, flaky scalps. Caffeine is a known DHT blocker which means it blocks excess testosterone, which causes hair fall, thinning, and androgenetic alopecia.
5. Village 11 Factory Sulfate & Silicone Free Shampoo
- Exfoliates and deeply cleanses without stripping hair
- Free of silicones and sulfates
- Salicylic acid can irritate sensitive, dry scalps
This shampoo is made with salicylic acid, which exfoliates and cleans the scalp thoroughly. It removes dead skin cells and product buildup, leaving a clean scalp conducive to hair growth. The Village 11 Factory shampoo also contains revitalizing menthol.
It is perfect for those with oily, clog-prone scalps and oily but dehydrated hair. It contains panthenol which helps smooth and hydrate hair, though some customers found it not very hydrating and needed to follow it with a hydrating conditioner.
6. Somang Korean Red Ginseng & Herbal Scalp Cleanser
- Botanical ingredients soften rough hair
- Moisturizes and smoothens dry hair
- Slightly expensive
- The ginseng scent can be unpleasant for some
A gentle scalp cleanser for those suffering from dry scalp, dandruff, and pruritus. It cleans without stripping but also soothes and calms. Contains numerous herbal botanical ingredients to help soothe the scalp and smooth hair.
It’s ideal for those with dry scalp and hair. Most customer feedback indicates that this product reduces itching and inflammation of the scalp.
7. Whamisa Organic Seeds Sub-Acid Hair Shampoo
- It is slightly acidic and helps maintain the perfect pH for hair and scalp at 4 -5
- Hydrating without being too heavy
- Not ideal for very dry scalps
- It uses plant and essential oils, which can be irritating to some
If you are looking for a sulfate-free shampoo for dry, colored hair, Whamisa’s Organic Seeds will do the trick. It is formulated with organic, herbal ingredients like barley seeds, aloe vera, and camellia to help hydrate and smooth hair.
The shampoo also contains soybean and rice ferment filtrate, which have probiotic properties.
This sub-acidic shampoo is created to ensure your hair remains at its ideal pH level to avoid disrupting the moisture-protein balance. It is rich in antioxidants and other nutrients to promote scalp and hair health.
Finding the Best Korean Shampoo for You
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Everyone’s hair has different needs, and you need to assess your hair’s needs before you purchase a shampoo. Consider the following:
Your Scalp Health and Type
Korean shampoos are often formulated to tackle specific scalp problems. Make sure you know what kind of scalp you have. Is it oily? Dry? Flaky? Check for scalp conditions like dandruff, inflammation, clogged pores, and dehydration.
You want to purchase a shampoo that targets your scalp issues while working with your scalp type. A shampoo that deals with dandruff but is made for an oily scalp will make a dry scalp inflamed and dehydrated, making dandruff worse. The same applies to the opposite end.
Your Hair Type
Is your hair oily or dry? Brittle or limp? Straight, curly or coily? Thick or fine? Take a detailed look at your hair and catalog its type. It can match many types at once. Knowing your hair type will help you pick the ideal shampoo.
Your Main Goal
What do you want to achieve in your hair journey? You may want to thicken your hair, reduce breakage, make it stronger or add moisture.
Pick two main goals and address them if you have several. Oftentimes, shampoos address one to two goals at a time. You can choose to buy different ones and rotate them based on how your hair feels
Your Porosity
Your hair’s porosity determines how it absorbs water. If you have low porosity hair, you probably also have dry, brittle, and breaking hair. This is because your hair struggles to absorb water and hence stays dehydrated.
For those with high porosity, your hair can get limp, lifeless, lack volume, and break easily. Your hair struggles to hold on to protein. Normal porosity hair has a perfect balance of moisture and protein.
Read Next: Take Our “How Porous Is My Hair?” Quiz!
Your Protein-Moisture Balance
Understanding your hair’s porosity will help you pick the right shampoo. Shampoos with protein can lead to further breakage and brittleness in low-porosity hair.
Shampoos with no protein can lead to hydro-fatigue in high-porosity hair. Proteins like peptides, hydrolyzed plant and food proteins, and silk proteins help strengthen and volumize hair.
Humectants like hyaluronic acid, panthenol, glycerin, aloe vera, honey, and sodium lactate moisturize and smoothen hair. Finding the right balance in shampoos for your hair needs will help you achieve your hair goals.
Brand Reputation
Our list contains shampoos from some of the most reputable hair care brands in Korea. We did our research. However, you should do your research as well. Ensure you are buying Korean shampoo from a brand already trusted by Koreans.
Seller Reputation
Ensure you buy from a verified and reputable seller. Many merchants sell dupes and fake products. Check with the brand’s official website to make sure the serial number match and the product is genuine.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Shampoos Do Korean Celebrities Use?
Korean celebrities, like all of us, have different hair needs and goals and use different shampoos to address them. But, many celebrities report using AMH Add More Hair Shampoo which has salicylic acid to chemically exfoliate the scalp, and zinc pyrithione to address dandruff.
Which Korean Shampoo Is Best For Hair Growth?
Any Korean shampoo that helps promote a clean scalp will help with hair growth. The seven on this list work wonderfully at providing a clean, non-irritated environment for hair growth.
Which Shampoo Is Best In South Korea?
Popular shampoo brands in South Korea include Ryo and Daeng Gi Meo Ri Ki. Aromatica and Esthetic House are also loved.
What Do Koreans Use To Wash Their Hair?
Koreans focus on scalp care for better hair. They use a scalp scaler to take off dead skin and use products with gentle chemical exfoliants occasionally to further exfoliate the scalp. They also focus on hydrating and calming shampoos to ensure they don’t irritate their scalp or dry out their hair.
What Is the Best Korean Hair Product?
Koreans love to nourish and protect their hair with serums and masks. The Etude House Silk Scarf Hologram Hair Serum, TonyMoly Haeyo Mayo Hair Nutrition Mask, and Mise En Scene Damage Care Perfect Repair Serum are some of the best Korean hair products.
The Best Korean Shampoos: Final Thoughts
The best Korean shampoo for you is one that addresses your hair needs. You want to properly evaluate your hair and choose a shampoo that tackles the problems without stripping your hair. Remember, the key to healthy hair is a clean scalp, moisture, and nutrients. Happy shopping!