The Best K-Beauty Hair Products to Try This Summer

You’ve heard of cushion compacts, BB creams and K-screens, but did you know there were also K-beauty hair products, and they’re really good? This category is essentially untapped in the U.S., but not for long, as these products are beginning to gain traction on TikTok. In fact, according to Spate, “K-beauty haircare” is trending on TikTok—up a whopping 323 percent year-over-year. And, more U.S. retailers (especially Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Amazon) have expanded their K-beauty offerings in a big way as of late.

“Korean hair-care brands seem to be generally undervalued in the U.S. market,” says Daniella Jung, founder of MUSKAT (a Korean beauty distributor specializing in up-and-coming K-beauty brands), noting that scalp health is a big priority. Below, the best K-beauty hair products, from a fan-favorite serum with thousands of five-star reviews to products for thinning hair with impressive clinical results.

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Mise En Scène Perfect Serum Original ($19)

New to the U.S. (it launched here in May), but hugely popular in Korea, Mise En Scène has been the number-one hair-care brand there for 11 years, and should definitely be on your radar. This is its bestseller, a hair serum packed with seven different oils—argan, coconut, apricot, olive, camellia, jojoba and marula—that hydrates and nourishes hair to make it stronger, sleeker and more elastic. It also provides heat protection.

• BUY NOW – $19

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COSRX PEPTIDE-132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Treatment ($23)

This K-beauty brand has been around for many years in the states (we love so many of its skin-care products), but now it’s breaking onto the hair scene, too. Formulated with its patented PEPTIDE-132, plus 18 amino acids, keratin and botanical oils, this creamy treatment targets and repairs hair damage at the molecular level. If you have frizzy, damaged hair, this is the product to try.

• BUY NOW – $23

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Vitabrid C¹² Professional Hair Tonic ($30)

One of the first K-beauty brands we ever used for hair care (it’s been available in the U.S. for years), Seoul-based Vitabrid C¹² takes a unique approach to thinning hair. This formula utilizes a stabilized form of vitamin C that is gradually released on the scalp for 24 hours after you apply it. You may be thinking, vitamin C for hair? Well, look at the before-and-afters—it works. Pour the vitamin C powder into the tonic, shake it up and spray it on your scalp twice a day.

• BUY NOW – $30

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Dr. FORHAIR Folligen Sea Salt Scaler ($26)

Daniella Jung, founder of MUSKAT, recently told me Dr. FORHAIR is one of her favorite underrated K-beauty brands. Focused on scalp care and “grounded in the philosophy that a healthy scalp is the foundation of healthy hair,” one of its bestsellers is this exfoliating shampoo, which uses 45 percent Dead Sea salt and natural salt to remove excess sebum, scalp keratin and flakes. It also has a minty fresh scent, which has been clinically tested to improve odor and lends a nice cooling sensation.

 

• BUY NOW – $26

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Perseve Hair Recure & Revive Masque ($12)

Founded by veteran hairstylist Hyeri Sung and her daughter Olivia Bae, Perseve is meant to make Korean hair care available to a wider audience. All four products in the line range from $10 to $12 thanks to the founders’ relationships with Korean manufacturers, which allows them to “keep prices low, but performance high.” This argan oil– and shea butter–infused cream can be used as a hydrating hair mask or a leave-in conditioner, and is great for reducing dryness and frizz.

• BUY NOW – $12

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Dr. Groot Scalp Revitalizing Solution Hair Thickening Shampoo ($30)

Formulated with biotin, rosemary, caffeine and capsulated prebiotics, this thickening shampoo is designed to visibly volumize hair from the root. It does this while also improving scalp health. The brand says to expect “stronger, healthier hair growth in two weeks,” which is a big claim, but there’s plenty of science to back it up.

• BUY NOW – $30

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British M Stylish Curl Cream ($)

Despite its name, British M is a Korean hair-care brand, and we love its innovative formulas, including this curl cream. Great for dry curls needing more moisture, this formula contains eight kinds of hyaluronic acid to keep them bouncy without adding any extra weight. Men will love it, too!

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