We tested the best Japanese hair care products for every hair texture, type, and concern. The best overall is from Shu Uemura for damaged, dry strands.
After 11 years as a beauty editor testing countless hair essentials, I’ve learned that my oily scalp and dry ends need products that not only treat these issues, but help prevent them. That’s where the best Japanese hair care products come in.
J-Beauty hair care is all about creating the healthiest environment for hair to grow in. While styling products exist , there’s a big emphasis on washing and pre-styling in Japan’s hair culture, as those steps set up the foundation of healthy hair, says celebrity hairstylist Rena Calhoun. “I find the Japanese approach keeps the hair soft, shiny, and full of movement before you even add product,” says Calhoun. “Even my mom has never been a fan of styling products, she’s always preferred hair that feels soft, natural, and touchable.” J-Beauty products also prioritize natural ingredients, such as rice water to strengthen strands, honey to lock in moisture, and anything that will treat a problem at the source. To find the best options, I asked celebrity hairstylists for their favorite picks and tested hero products from Japan’s tried-and-true brands myself over several weeks. My hair has never looked better since discovering the best overall product on this list, the Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Overnight Serum, which is the ultimate reset that treats everything from dryness, to tangles, and frizz. Whether you’re looking to balance out oily strands, add volume to thinning hair, or pull off a salon-worthy blowout at home, there’s a J-Beauty product on this list for you, too. Jump to FAQs Best Japanese Hair Care Product Overall: Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Overnight Serum Best for: All hair types looking to treat damaged and dry hair I'm not one to add another step to my night routine, but this overnight hair serum is worth the extra effort. It’s a lightweight serum made of nourishing ingredients like Japanese red camellia oil and glycerin to detangle any knots and provide needed hydration to my dry ends. It also boosts my hair’s shine and I wake up to smooth, soft, and lustrous hair in the morning. And yes, there is zero product transfer onto my white sheets as I, a notorious toss-and-turn sleeper, get my beauty sleep. Best Japanese Hair Care for Oily Hair: NatureLab.TOKYO Perfect Clean 2-in-1 Scalp Scrub & Shampoo Best for: Oily scalps I used to wash my hair everyday so I wouldn’t look up like I dunked my head in a batter of oil. But since using this scrub, I can now skip a day without feeling like a greasy mess. It’s made with sake water, which contains probiotics to balance the scalp's microbiome and prevent flaking and sebum buildup, and hyaluronic acid, grape extract, and platinum fiber to hydrate and strengthen hair. It’s also packed with sugar crystals to provide a very gentle exfoliation. This scalp scrub makes for a soothing cleanse and my hair feels softer, stronger, and cleaner after. What more could I ask for? Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle is also a fan. “I have oily skin and scalp, so my head tends to get greasy after just a day. NatureLab's scrub is great at keeping oiliness at bay and feels great on my thick hair.” Best Japanese Hair Care for Curly Hair: &honey Melty Moist Shampoo & Conditioner Best for: Curly textured hair Calhoun says this Japanese shampoo and repair hair treatment duo gives curly hair the perfect reset. “It hydrates deeply, defines without crunchy texture, and leaves hair touchable,” Calhoun says. Each product contains nourishing ingredients such as rose honey, Bulgarian rose water, glycerin, and keratin to strengthen strands and provide much needed moisture. She loves the shampoo for its non-drying gentle formula and the treatment for its hydrating and detangling properties. Best Japanese Hair Care for Thinning Hair: Shu Uemura Izumi Tonic Thickening Serum Best for: Thinning or damaged hair For those looking to add volume and body to thin hair, nothing is easier than a leave-in treatment spray. Enter this thickening tonic by Shu Uemura, a pick from celebrity hairstylist Gareth Bromell. It contains ceramides and rice water to strengthen strands, which Bromell says reduces the appearance of hair loss and split ends, resulting in a healthy environment for hair to grow and added volume. Best Japanese Hair Care for Frizzy Hair: Milbon Smooth “Coarse” Luminous Smoothing Oil Best for: Frizzy, dry hair Humidity. Dryness. Overuse of hair styling tools. A number of things contribute to frizzy hair. To combat it, you need a product that works to strengthen strands and infuse any needed moisture. Calhoun loves this smoothing oil as it’s a lightweight formula made of squalane, hydrolyzed silk, and argan oil to keep you moisturized and silky smooth. “It calms frizz and protects against humidity without leaving heavy residue,” she says. Best Japanese Hair Care for Low Porosity Hair: &honey Melty Moist Repair Oil Best for: Dry hair, frizz, and low porosity Calhoun loves this oil for low porosity hair . How to tell if you have low porosity hair? Do the float test. Take a clean strand of hair and place it in a glass of water. If your hair sinks to the bottom, it means it is absorbing the water and is most likely high porosity. Hair that floats and stays at the top of the glass is not absorbing the water, and therefore low porosity. This pick helps the hair lock in moisture, smooths flyaways and frizz, and makes hair feel super soft. Also, it easily soaks into strands thanks to the honey, which can penetrate hair better than most oils to deliver nourishment. Best Japanese Hair Care For Styling: Shu Uemura Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream Best for: Styling, protection against high heat, and dry hair I admittedly have a co-dependent relationship with my Dyson Airstrait and use the hot styling tool more than I probably should. Because of that, I need a styling product that will protect from high heat while still allowing my hair to still have movement . This blow dry cream is super lightweight and I can work it easily into damp hair. But what I love is that it has a flexible hold so that my hair doesn’t feel too stiff and it protects hair from any heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. I basically get to have blowout-worthy hair from the comfort of my own home, which is always a win. Best Japanese Hair Care for Dry Hair: Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask Best for: Damaged strands, extremely dry ends When we need to give our hair some TLC, a good mask is essential, and Bromell says this deep repairing and moisturizing treatment is his favorite. It contains pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid acid , which is a humectant that locks in moisture. It also smooths out rough texture and strengthens strands to give you healthier-looking hair.
Hair Hair Products Hair Care Shampoos Hair Serums Scalp Damaged Hair
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