Just as there are different skin types, hair too has its own kind of traits. Especially when it comes to the comparison between Asian hair and Caucasian hair. Broadly speaking, Asian hair strands are round and thick. Although it’s generally quite straight, the texture can vary from fine to coarse, soft to hard. Compared to Caucasian hair, it’s less dense but relatively stronger and more resistant to breakage. However, Asians also tend to have oilier scalps, which is why daily washing is needed to prevent tresses from looking flat and greasy.
Factor in the hot and humid climate that we live in, it means you also have to deal with overactive sebum glands and sweat follicles, and it makes for a constant challenge to keep the hair light and voluminous. Then you consider that over-washing can sometimes lead to dry and brittle strands. It’s a fine line of balance and care.
As Celia Tham, the creative director of BLOC+ The Salon, shares “If the climate is really humid like Singapore, then it’s good to have a lighter shampoo for everyday use. It also depends on whether you’re targeting the hair or the scalp. Scalp shampoos do more deep-cleansing and they also help to thicken fine hair, but they are usually a little more drying. Soothing scalp shampoos are gentler and more suitable for daily use. Coarse and dry hair should opt for more moisturising shampoos. If you feel that makes your hair too limp or greasy, balance it with a lighter conditioner.”
Here are 15 shampoos that will help you get your way to healthy Asian hair, no matter what condition your hair is in.
Perfect for the Singapore humidity, this range of shampoos from Tokio Inkarami takes care of both hair and scalp concerns. With soap nut extract, an organic cleansing ingredient, hyaluronic acid, and water-soluble collagen for additional moisturizing effect, the shampoo has an effective dual-care function.
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Living in high-density Asian cities, it is unsurprising that both skin and air will be affected by air pollution. Add in stress to the mix, clogged hair follicles, and oily scalp will follow suit. To prevent this, Klorane‘s anti-pollution detox shampoo cleanses away build-up from air pollution. What we also like is its minty cooling effect to help with blood circulation as well.
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Formulated with powerful natural ingredients like gingko biloba, ginger root, lavender oil and orange peel oil, this new shampoo from local hair care brand Verdure works to prevent hair loss and also promote hair growth. The gingko and ginger root work to stimulate the scalp and hair follicles for growth, while lavender and orange peel work to purify and moisturise damaged hair. Camellia sinensis leaf extract is also present and protects the hair from UV damage. Use it with the Hair Growth Essence and LED Hair Regrowth Scalp Activator, a special brush that uses sonic vibrations and soothing blue or rejuvenating red lights to increase product penetration.
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Sulfate-free and colour-safe, this shampoo uses a blend of coconut-based surfactants that effectively lifts dirt and styling products without damaging the hair or stripping the colour away. Perfect for everyday use and the humidity of Asian tropics, the blend of multi-amino acids lends moisture and gloss to the hair without weighing it down.
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Featuring a new and improved formula, John Frieda’s Frizz Ease collection is designed to banish dryness. The shampoo features a combination of three natural oils – argan, moringa and coconut oil which together, nourish and repair damaged hair. Use it with the accompanying conditioner, which contains Anti-Damage technology that protects hair cuticles and prevents further damage. The range is suitable for all levels of frizz and safe for colour treated hair.
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Korean hair care brand RYO’s Hair Loss Expert Care is all about strengthening and aiding hair growth using anti-hair loss ingredients found in traditional Korean herbal medicine such as ginseng, caffeine and green tea. It also features new technology called Ginsen9EX which addresses nine kids of scalp and hair concerns. The range features five different types of shampoo catering to oily scalp, weak hair, sensitive scalp, dandruff-prone scalp and dry scalp as well as a pre-shampoo scalp cleanser, a nourishing treatment for scalp and hair, and a leave-in treatment to finish the process.
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Made with 93% naturally derived ingredients, this shampoo from THREE is good for those with thin or limp hair as it helps add volume to the hair strands. Containing frankincense oil, eucalyptus radiata oil, orange peel oil, sugar maple sap, and Japanese apricot fruit water to state just good ingredients in the bottle, it helps to cleanse away excess sebum from the scalp while moisturising the hair.
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Perfect for oily hair, this shampoo is formulated for fine and thin hair to thick and curly locks. It promises to keep the natural moisture of your scalp intact while reducing dryness and frizz.
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Thanks to a formula that’s rich in Honey Jelly, this shampoo gently cleanses while restoring a healthy shine to hair. Plus, it is also silicone-free so you can rest assured that it won’t weigh your hair down.
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A highly nourishing shampoo with rosehip oil and hyaluronic acid, this formula lathers into a rich and creamy foam. As it cleanses, it nurtures the scalp to give hair new strength and supple density. It also prevents waviness, counters dullness, damage, and other concerns of aging, leaving hair more voluminous and resilient.
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Suitable for virtually all hair types, this shampoo is made with plant-derived cleansing ingredients that form a protective and nourishing veil over your hair, while Amino Acids prevent hair and scalp from drying or being stripped of moisture. It lathers well and doesn’t contain alcohol, oil, silicone, and sulfuric acid-based surfactants.
Buy it here.
Developed with some of Japan’s top hairstylists, this boasts a high level of hyaluronic acid and zero amount of silicone that can weigh hair down or worsen an oily scalp. Great for those with greasy roots and dry tips.
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A gentle and soothing formulation that nourishes dry scalp and fights hair breakage, it is packed with Argan oil, a vital antioxidant that helps protect and hydrate both hair and scalp, without any greasiness. At the same time, cold pressed baobab oil, keratin and biotin strengthens each individual strand, adding body to fine and flat hair for fuller, bouncier tresses.
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Combining the brand’s repair technology with anti-pollution benefits, this promises to keep dust and pollutants off your mane for up to 72-hours while strengthening hair’s inner structure so there’s less breakage. It contains no silicone, so it won’t weigh hair down or grease up the scalp.
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Those with sensitive or irritable scalp will love this, which uses a blend of moisturising and soothing botanicals like tea tree essential oil, beta-glucan, aloe, and quinoa protein to hydrate, relieve scalp discomfort (yes, that includes dandruff) and even boost circulation. On top of being pH-balanced so it doesn’t zap away moisture, it also contains no parabens, sulphates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, or colour.
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Though it contains French rose oil, this lightweight shampoo nourishes, and conditions without leaving any greasy residue. Delivering all-day moisture and a gentle but effective cleanse, it removes dirt and excess sebum and seals damaged hair fibres to give you a beautifully smooth, glossy mane. Bonus marks for the lasting, feminine rose scent.
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What this coconut shell-derived deep-cleansing shampoo has: lemon and grapefruit oils, activated charcoal, hydrolysed soy protein, and vitamin B5. What it doesn’t: sulphates, parabens, phthalates, alcohol, and artificial colours. It removes build-up without stripping away moisture as well and helps in boosting hair volume. Perfect for oily, flat and fine locks.
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Like all of the brand’s offerings, this shampoo designed for flat hair and oily scalp is enriched with camellia oil – known for its strong moisturising, antioxidant and hair-conditioning benefits. Here, it helps to soften and hydrate the scalp and locks while lending a loose, airy finish to the ends.
Buy it here.
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Text: Goh Yee Huay And Melissa Chew, HerWorldPlus / Additional text: Cheryl Lim, Debby Kwong, Elizabeth Liew, Farisia Thang and Karen Fong
This post was first published on June 21, 2019, and last updated on August 12, 2021.
All products are carefully handpicked by our editors, and we may earn money from links on this post.