Have you ever wondered what the difference between Korean hair care and ours might be? There must be some beauty secret that gives Asian women such wonderfully shiny hair. We'll tell you: The focus is on the scalp. How can you apply this methodology and achieve a magnificent mane? Read on now!
Korean Hair Care – A Long Tradition
Already during the Joseon Dynasty at the end of the 13th century, long, shiny hair was considered an ideal of beauty in Korea. Cleanliness was a particularly important attribute. Women rose before dawn to prepare themselves for visiting the shrine. Their hair, which was tied into a bun, could of course not be neglected. An unwashed face or a disheveled hairstyle was considered an insult to ancestors and in-laws.
It's not surprising that this mentality has carried over into modern times. The proof of this lies in the Korean cosmetics industry. Besides products for the face, there is a multitude of products for an equally thoroughly cleansed scalp. The difference to the West: While we focus solely on hair care, Koreans also place great importance on a well-cared-for scalp!
Why? Because the health of the scalp is reflected in the hair. If the organ is itchy and red, it usually goes hand in hand with brittle and dry hair. Because if the follicles are not healthy, nothing healthy can grow from them. For this reason, in Korea, they rely on a range of products and care steps that are rather less common in Western routines. We'll show you exactly what that looks like here!
Korean Hair Care: three steps to success
The process of Korean hair care can be roughly divided into three steps: cleansing, care, and aftercare. These are again subdivided into various points. This may seem a bit overwhelming at first glance. But don't worry! You don't have to go through every single one of these steps every time. Because the whole thing depends on you and the needs of your hair. Nevertheless, we have listed them all here. Do you want to get a first overview? Then check out our table with product recommendations.
Step 0.5: Before Washing
Before we get to the actual first step, we need to talk about massages. They are standard in the routine. Korean women swear that a scalp massage 10-15 minutes before showering works wonders. Whether with fingers or a brush – this loosens dead skin cells and stimulates blood circulation. This can help optimize nutrient supply and support hair growth.
If you want to use a brush, make sure it has long and flexible bristles. These protect the strands and do not pull unnecessarily when detangling. At the same time, they pamper your scalp. Special massage brushes, which you can use to work in the shampoo, are also suitable for Korean hair care. They are made of silicone and are therefore soft enough not to irritate your scalp.
Step 1: Thorough Cleansing
While in the West we would probably start directly with shampoo, Koreans begin the actual hair care with a peeling, also called scaling. Similar to facial care, flakes or other residues are removed, only on your scalp. However, this deep cleansing doesn't have to be done every time. Every two washes is completely sufficient, or you can alternate it with oil cleansing.
Because this process of Korean hair care also serves as preparation. Unwanted particles are also removed from the scalp here. To do this, simply massage the product of your choice for 3-5 minutes. This has a revitalizing effect on your skin and provides the desired moisture through its omega-9 fatty acids.
After completing the preparation, you can now proceed to the actual wash. It is best to use mild shampoos with gentle or no surfactants and silicones. Otherwise, your scalp could be stripped of its natural layer of fat and thus dry out.
Refreshing, soothing ingredients like menthol and peppermint or supportive olive, argan, or bay leaf oils, on the other hand, are welcome. These can restore lost moisture. If you have chosen a shampoo, first wash only your scalp. In a second pass, then finally your hair lengths.
Step 2: Care
The conditioner: not an unknown product to us either. However, its application differs somewhat from the Western care routine. Because here, too, it is less about moisturizing the hair than the actual scalp. Special scalp conditioners are made for this. You can use these on both the roots and the lengths without them becoming unpleasantly greasy.
This type of conditioner can also help to soothe irritated scalp. For this, Korean hair care often relies on the use of medicinal herbs. These include, for example, turmeric extract, lavender oil, or the tea plant Camellia Sinensis. Stimulating ingredients also help to strengthen your roots and thus prevent hair loss. Some recommended conditioners of this type are:
- Lador Moisture Balancing Conditioner: with a calming effect
- Lador Herbalism Treatment: here you'll find the concentrated power of medicinal herbs
- Lador Wonder Balm Professional Salon Care: particularly suitable for dry, brittle, and colored hair
For the finishing touch, you can then massage a hair mask into the lengths and leave it on under a towel. Afterward, simply rinse it out.
With ingredients such as keratin, collagen, or silk proteins, you help your hair maintain its shine and smooth its surface. Ceramides, as in Lador Perfect Hair Fill-Up, also help you protect your hair from UV light and other chemical treatments. Of course, such a hair mask does not have to be applied with every wash.
Step 3: After Care
Finally, Korean hair care includes scalp tonics and scalp sprays. These are applied to slightly damp hair and are also intended to help strengthen and revitalize the scalp. Essences such as leave-in treatments also contribute to smoothing brittle and dry hair. Korean products are characterized by their particular lightness and do not overload your hair. This is particularly good if you tend to have an oily scalp.
Of course, you should also make sure to use a suitable heat protection spray before blow-drying and styling your hair. Because it would be a shame to invest so much time in caring for it, only to damage it afterward. To prevent this, products with keratin, such as the Lador Before Care Keratin PPT Spray, are particularly suitable.
However, you should not only protect your hair from unnecessary heat exposure at home. This can also be very important in summer. For more Korean hair care tips, read on in our blog:
Korean Hair Care: A Long-Term Investment
As you can see, Korean hair care differs in some aspects from our familiar routine – especially in its focus on the scalp. Therefore, it's understandable if the whole thing seems a bit overwhelming at first. Nevertheless, it's worth taking a closer look and trying out a product here and there! Because similar to the Korean Skin Care Routine, it is ultimately a process that should benefit you and your body in the long run.
Don't forget that you don't have to go through this detailed process completely every time you wash your hair. First and foremost, it should be tailored to you and your needs. So perhaps consider these steps as building blocks from which you can choose as needed.
Do you want a concrete guide with example products that you can follow? Then try out this routine:
| Action | Product Recommendation | Benefits |
| Pre-wash massage | Lador Middle Wooden Paddle Brush | removes dead skin cells |
| Hair peel or oil cleansing | Lador Scalp Scaling Spa or Lador Polish Oil Apricot 80 ml | Deep cleansing, about every 2 washes |
| Washing with mild shampoo | Lador Moisture Balancing Shampoo Professional Salon Hair Care 100 ml | Cleansing & Care |
| Conditioner | Lador Wonder Tear Professional Salon Care | soothes hair & scalp |
| Hair mask | Lador Perfect Hair Fill-Up | maintains shine, protects against UV rays, approx. once a week |
| After Care with Scalp Tonic or Spray | Some By Mi Cica Peptide Anti Hair Loss Derma Scalp Tonic | revitalizes the scalp |
Further links
world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents...
www.sugarpeachesloves.net/korean-skincare-101-koreanische-haarpflege-routine-whamisa-shampoo/
www.faces-of-fey.de/tenside-in-der-kosmetik/
www.nylonmag.de/alles-ihr-uber-koreanische-haarpflege-wissen-musst/
