Koreans use specially designed scalp massagers or scalp brushes regularly to improve the blood circulation to the scalp tissues, which in turn aids in hair growth stimulation. Once your hair is dried properly after shampooing, you can use a scalp massager in circular motions to activate your scalp follicles gently.
“Men and women in South Korea are meticulous when it comes to maintaining healthy hair with a three-step process. After washing the hair with shampoo and conditioner, they often apply a hair essence or hair oil to achieve a shiny head of hair. Hair masks, serums, milks and hair mists are all must-haves,” explains Cho.
Korean haircare promotes the use of carbonated water to wash your scalp. This helps remove dirt, balance the pH levels of the scalp and unclog pores effectively. It is a great way to keep your hair health in check.
One of the best products for thicker hair in Korean hair care trends is scalp tonic. This is another product designed to be left in your hair after you've washed it. It's packed with nutrients, and if it's got biotin, it will help to stimulate hair growth and strengthen it leading to thicker hair.
The reason Asian hair tends to be thicker is that it has around 10 layers of cuticles. Cuticles are the small areas around the inner protein structure of your hair–they are there to protect those proteins.
Hair masks play a significant role in the Korean hair care routine. This is to impart deep nourishment and conditioning to the hair. They use oils such as argan oil, coconut oil [3], or castor oil among other emollient ingredients in their hair masks to treat dry hair, frizziness, and split ends.
In Korea, people like to wash their hair every day because of environmental pollution (fine dust, gas emissions, etc). Whereas people in America generally tend to wash hair every 2-3 days due to the common perception that it's much healthier for your hair.
Since ancient times, Koreans have only used natural, harsh-free ingredients for their skincare routines: green tea, “snail slime”, bamboo extracts, propolis, and honey are just some examples of the elements they used and have passed through generations.
To do so, a person should shampoo their hair and then thoroughly rinse it with distilled water. Then pour rice water on their hair and massage it into their scalp and hair. After that, leave it on for 15 - 20 minutes and then properly rinse the hair with mild water from the tap.
In Korea, during the Joseon Dynasty, men and women were forbidden to cut their hair, since it was viewed as a legacy from parents and thus something to be preserved.
“According to my hair stylist, Korean women use a hair essence or oil every single day, which is why they have such silky, soft, and shiny strands.” A personal favorite for Cho is British M's Organics Annatto Hair Oil, while Lee is a fan of the Mise en Scene Pearl Shining Hair Essence.
Typically, Koreans like to shampoo every day, so the trend is to have a variety of hair care products on hand and choose what you need based on how your hair feels that day. This is similar to the trend of sheet masking every day—you keep a variety at home so you can pick and choose which one you want that day.
Korean diet essentials
Traditional Korean foods focus heavily on fruit, soy, steamed vegetables, rice, fish and fermented foods such as kimchi, a cabbage-based dish thought to be a centerpiece of the Korean diet. The K-pop diet is also one that is characterized as minimally processed, as well as low in sugar and fat.
Double cleansing is important. For Koreans, it's considered so necessary that no one ever washes their face just once. You must remove your make-up first and then wash your face again with a second product to get your skin deeply cleansed.
Use A Hair Mask Post-Wash
If you feel like going that extra mile, consider using a mask on your hair after it's nice and clean. Masks can really help keep thin and straight Asian hair shiny and full of volume. It will also nourish and tame your hair from frizz, as well as repair any damage from hot tool use.
Many idols have confessed they use an ACV rinse every time they wash their hair as a way to keep their hair healthy, shiny, and smooth.
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Caucasian hair usually appears thicker since it is more difficult to see through the scalp than other ethnic hair types. However, Asian hair is the thickest and coarsest hair of any ethnic group.
The cuticle layer in Asians is thicker with more compact cuticle cells than that in Caucasians. Asian hair generally exhibits the strongest mechanical properties, and its cross-sectional area is determined greatly by genetic variations, particularly from the ectodysplasin A receptor gene.