How to Choose Korean Hair Care Products
Instead of a brand list, choose Korean hair care by matching the label to your hair: scalp type, damage level and what you do to your hair. This page gives the words to look for, the questions to ask staff, and what to ask your designer at WENEED Seomyeon Lotte.
WENEED Seomyeon Lotte · Updated October 2026
Why a brand list will not help you
Rankings of hair care brands change quickly, many are paid placements, and a product that works for one scalp can irritate another. A better skill is reading what is in front of you. Korean shelves are easy to read once you know about twenty words.
Product types and their Korean names
- Shampoo (샴푸): cleans the scalp and hair.
- Conditioner or rinse (컨디셔너, 린스): softens the lengths, usually rinsed out soon after applying.
- Treatment or hair pack (트리트먼트, 헤어팩): a heavier conditioning product, left on for a few minutes. Keep it off the roots unless the label says otherwise.
- Essence, serum or ampoule (에센스, 세럼, 앰플): a light or concentrated leave-in.
- Hair oil (헤어오일): a finishing product for dry ends.
- Scalp scrub or tonic (두피 스크럽, 두피 토닉): an extra step for the scalp, not a replacement for shampoo.
Words that describe hair and scalp
- 지성 / 건성 / 민감성: oily, dry, sensitive (scalp).
- 손상모: damaged hair. 염색모: color-treated hair. 펌모: permed hair.
- 두피: scalp. 모발: hair strand.
- 약산성: weakly acidic. It describes the product’s pH. It is a marketing term, not proof of anything, so use it as one clue.
- 무실리콘 / 실리콘프리: silicone-free. This suits some people and not others, and silicone-free products can feel lighter or drier.
Reading the ingredient list
Korean labels list ingredients under 전성분 (full ingredients). Ingredients are usually listed in order from most to least. You do not need to know chemistry. Three checks are enough:
- Is the product for your hair state? “Damaged” and “color-treated” lines are usually richer than “oily scalp” lines.
- Is there a fragrance or an ingredient you already react to? If your scalp is sensitive, choose a fragrance-free option where available and test a small area first.
- Does the claim match the product type? A shampoo is rinsed off in under a minute. Be doubtful of large promises for it.
What to ask store staff and your designer
At a store, point to the product and say your hair state: “염색한 머리예요” (I have dyed hair) or “두피가 지성이에요” (my scalp is oily). Ask whether the product is for 두피 (scalp) or 모발 (hair).
Ask your designer these questions:
- What does my hair need most: moisture, repair, or scalp care?
- What type of product, not which brand, should I use at home?
- How often, and in what amount?
- What should I stop using after a perm, color or bleach?
Shopping in Korea: practical points
- Where: health-and-beauty drugstore chains, department store counters, large supermarkets and online shops all carry hair care. Selection and prices differ.
- Compare by size: check the volume and price per 100 ml, since sizes differ a lot.
- Start small: buy travel sizes or one product at a time. A new routine with five new products makes it hard to tell what caused a reaction.
- Check the date: look for the manufacturing or expiry date, 사용기한 (use-by date).
Read the label first, then compare with our guide to a Korean hair routine. The idea is a routine that suits your hair, not a haul.
At WENEED Seomyeon Lotte
We do not publish which products the salon sells or uses, so ask your designer directly. What the menu does list is a Shiseido hair clinic, ₩80,000 – ₩150,000, and a basic clinic at ₩80,000. The hair clinic page and scalp care routine are good next reads.
Questions guests ask
What should I look for on a Korean shampoo label?
Check the hair or scalp type it is made for, such as 지성 (oily), 건성 (dry) or 손상모 (damaged hair), and the 전성분 list for anything you react to.
What does 약산성 mean?
It means weakly acidic and refers to the product’s pH. It is a label claim, so treat it as one clue rather than proof of quality.
Do I need a different product after bleach or a perm?
Often a richer conditioning product helps, but ask your designer. Chemical services change what your hair needs.
Can I buy Korean hair products as a tourist?
Yes. Health-and-beauty drugstore chains, department stores and large supermarkets sell many types. Prices and stock vary.
Which products does WENEED Seomyeon Lotte use?
We do not publish that. The menu lists Shiseido hair clinic treatments, and your designer can tell you more about the service.
Related services in Seomyeon
Ready for your visit?
Questions about a style or price? We are on the 3rd floor of Jeongsan Building, 412 m from Seomyeon Station Exit 7.