I like to say I went into “turbo mode” after experiencing my first bout of hair loss. Determined to stimulate regrowth, I’ve become religious about my hair-care routine: I get regular trims to keep split ends at bay, use bond repair treatments to combat damage, never touch a hot tool without heat protectant first, and have even added supplements to support my overall hair health.
So when I set foot inside Christian unv Headspa—a traditional Korean headspa that’s drawn celebrities like Zendaya, Ashley Graham, and Princess Eugenie—during my recent visit to Seoul, I expected a really fantastic scalp massage and maybe 90 minutes of pure no-screen, eyes-closed, untethered-from-the-world relaxation. But what I didn’t expect was that it would cause me reevaluate my already near-prescriptive hair-care regimen.
Vogue’s Favorite Korean Hair and Scalp Products
The technician started with an analysis, propping up an iPad displaying near microscopic images of my scalp. Fortunately, my scalp was in pretty good shape. She explained that I had two or three hairs per follicle (and in some spots, four!), which meant that my hair follicles were active and intact at the root. What I could work on, she said, was the amount of dryness, flaking, and buildup at the root—a concern that Christina Kim, an esthetician and founder of Korean scalp and skin studio Dupï Studios and K-beauty haircare brand Dupï, explains is the most common scalp issue of her clients. “It often means the scalp is dehydrated and congested at the same time (just like the skin on your face),” she says. This can stem from improper product layering, barrier disruption, over-cleansing, and more. “What’s happening is that dead skin and oil is getting ‘stuck,’ and the scalp underneath it is lacking hydration, so the barrier becomes compromised and the scalp is stuck in this loop of imbalance.”
Thus, my treatment, like many Korean scalp treatments, was focused on bringing balance and hydration back to my scalp—something I learned is more essential for long-term hair health. Where I was focused on keeping my lengths strong and moisturized, I was foregoing treating my scalp with the same attention. “We must maintain a balanced microbiome to prevent the accumulation of bacteria, inflammation, and biofilm,” explains trichologist, hairstylist, and co-founder of hair-care brand Arey, Jay Small. “If the scalp surface is congested or inflamed, it can create a physical barrier that limits the skin’s ability to absorb active ingredients.”
With my scalp analysis complete, the next 90 minutes were a meticulous dance of gentle cleansing, steaming, thorough rinsing, exfoliating, serum-ing, and massaging. Afterwards, I could visibly see how clean my scalp was, and I could feel a difference—it felt lighter, more nourishing, and totally restored with moisture. “Scalp treatments are built on layered protocols rooted in Hanbang (traditional Korean medicine) and modern scalp science,” explains Kim. “The goal is always to have a clear, calm, and circulating scalp which leads to a better hair growth environment.”
