20 Absolutely Underrated Japanese Hair Care Products You Need To Know About Immediately

Japanese hair care has been rising in popularity over the last few years. While brands like &honey and Fino have been gaining traction in the West, we believe there are many other Japanese hair care products that are being overlooked! In this article, we’re sharing all of our favorite Japanese hair care products that we feel are severely underrated. We’ll cover everything from shampoos and conditioners to masks, hair oils, and much more. You’ll definitely want to give this article a read because we’re not gatekeeping anything!

Underrated Japanese Shampoos

Kracie Ichikami Smooth Care Shampoo For Silky Hair 480ml

Ichikami is one of the most popular affordable hair care brands in Japan, but we feel that its popularity has not caught on as much in the West (yet). If you’re new to the brand and want to try out one of their hair care products, then the Ichikami Smooth Care Shampoo is a great place to start. Not only is this shampoo reasonably priced, but it also will benefit many different hair types. It also smells like cherry blossoms. Enough said. 

A standout feature of Ichikami hair care products is that they are formulated with native Japanese botanical ingredients rooted in extensive Japanese hair research. In the case of this shampoo, Ashitaba, Red Rice, and Camellia (tsubaki) are used to deliver smooth and shiny results to the hair. This shampoo is also silicone and sulfate-free, so that’s pretty cool too.

Yolu Calm Night Repair Silicone Free Shampoo for Damaged Hair 475ml

The Yolu hair care brand is extremely popular in Japan but may not be as well known outside the country. At the time of writing this article, the Yolu haircare series could be considered the most popular drugstore brand in Japan. Yolu products are specially formulated to provide intensive care for your hair overnight. The active ingredients coat each hair strand, preventing friction and delivering moisture while you sleep. Additionally, their hair care products smell amazing. If you love &honey hair products, you may really enjoy using Yolu as well!

Allna Organic Shampoo Salon Exclusive Hair Smoothing Shampoo 500ml

Allna Organic is a salon-exclusive brand dedicated to providing high-quality hair care products that are free of sulfates and other additives. Their hair care line, including this shampoo, offers a salon-like experience in the comfort of your own home. As a Japanese beauty brand, Allna Organic is committed to producing premium organic cosmetics.

Botanist Scalp Cleansing Botanical Shampoo Lime & Green Leaf 460ml

Botanist is a super popular and affordable Japanese hair care brand that we believe more consumers interested in Japanese cosmetics and hair care products should know about! Let’s start with this shampoo. It acts more like a clarifying shampoo, effectively cleansing impurities from your scalp. After use, your scalp and hair will feel thoroughly cleansed and refreshed.

A bit more about the brand: Botanist aims to provide a holistic approach to enhancing beauty while remaining environmentally responsible. This shampoo (and all their shampoos, for that matter) comes in an eco-friendly bottle with reduced CO2 emissions and a biomass ink label, showcasing Botanist's commitment to the environment.

Nature Lab Tokyo Perfect Volume Shampoo For Thinning Hair 340ml

This Japanese shampoo by Nature Lab Tokyo is not only a fantastic option for those with thinning hair, but it is also produced by an underrated brand! Specifically formulated for thinning hair, this shampoo enhances volume, leaving your hair looking fuller and more vibrant. Plus, it comes in a cool-looking bottle!

RinRen Shampoo Yuzu & Neroli Vegan Hair Smoothing Shampoo 480ml

On to probably the least-known Japanese shampoo on this list: the RinRen Shampoo Yuzu & Neroli. Not only is this shampoo made from completely plant-based ingredients, but it also smells like yuzu, one of the most refreshing scents in Japan. This shampoo specifically aims to make your hair softer and smoother, and you’ll really feel the difference when you start using it regularly.

Another interesting fact about this RinRen shampoo (and other RinRen hair products, for that matter) is that they use ingredients native and unique to Japan, providing natural beauty properties. If you’re interested in this concept, you can also check out their Rose & Tsubaki shampoo.

Underrated Japanese Conditioners

Moist Diane Conditioner Extra Shine Glossy Hair Organic Argan Oil & Keratin 450ml

If you find your hair to be particularly dull or lackluster, you’ll love Moist Diane Extra Shine Conditioner. In fact, this Japanese conditioner may be the perfect hair solution! Formulated with organic argan oil, coconut oil, and malura oil, these natural ingredients penetrate deep into the hair strands to revive them from the inside out, creating a glossier shine and a softer, smoother texture. This is the perfect Japanese conditioner to use if you want ultra-glossy hair—almost like glass hair!

Kumano Yushi Horse Oil Conditioner 600ml

This particular conditioner might not be well known outside of Japan, and to be honest, it may not even be that well known in Japan. However, it’s formulated with an interesting ingredient… horse oil! Now, before you click out of this article, just hear us out for a second. Horse oil has the closest composition to human sebum, meaning it’s extremely compatible with human hair. We should note that this conditioner is on the richer side, so it may be more suitable for those with thicker or fuller hair.

Kracie Ichikami Double Moisturizing Care Conditioner For Dry Hair 480ml

Here’s another great product from Ichikami—this time, a moisturizing conditioner for dry hair! But it doesn’t just offer single moisturizing power…it has double moisturizing power! What we mean by that is this conditioner moisturizes both the hair and scalp. Since many people with different hair types struggle with the common issue of dry hair, we believe this conditioner can be suitable for a variety of hair types. Like other Ichikami hair care products, this double moisturizing conditioner harnesses the power of Japanese botanical ingredients to provide ample moisture to your hair strands.

Nature Lab Tokyo Perfect Repair Conditioner For Damaged Hair 340ml

We highly recommend this underrated Japanese conditioner to those who frequently dye or perm their hair! Nature Lab Tokyo Perfect Repair Conditioner moisturizes and repairs damaged hair, ensuring manageability from roots to ends. This exceptional conditioner is specifically designed for hair damaged by coloring or perms, providing the care your hair deserves.

Kao Curel Scalp Care Hair Conditioner for Sensitive Scalp 420ml

Curel is a well-known Japanese cosmetics company recognized for its skincare products aimed at sensitive skin. However, did you know they also make hair products? This conditioner is perfect for you if you find your hair ends to be a bit overly dry but have a sensitive scalp. The plant-based conditioner will thoroughly wash away all your hair troubles, leaving behind ample moisturization.

For best results, we recommend pairing this conditioner with the matching Curel shampoo. 

Underrated Japanese Hair Masks & Treatments

Ichikami Premium Hair Treatment Moisturizing Mask 200g

Move over Fino and Tsubaki! While we still love (and highly recommend) both of those hair masks, we think this one from Ichikami is just as good and deserves more recognition! First of all, if you love floral and fruity-scented hair products, you’ll love this mask. If you want ultra-shiny hair, this Japanese hair mask will help you achieve that. It’s infused with a blend of botanical oils, including safflower oil and premium grass oil, to give you super glossy hair. This hair mask will instantly revive dry and damaged hair, so why not give it a try?

Dove Milk Hair Treatment 10 Second Moisturizing Hair Mask 180g

While many hair masks require three to five minutes or more to deliver results, this effective hair mask from Dove Japan only needs 10 seconds. It’s a great, underrated option for busy folks who don’t have time to incorporate traditional hair masks into their routines. Plus, it’s quite affordable too.

Nature Lab Tokyo Perfect Repair Hair Mask For Damaged Hair 200ml

Here’s another underrated Japanese hair mask that’s slightly higher-end. This Nature Lab Tokyo hair mask is designed for dry strands that just can’t seem to hold on to moisture. Its advanced formula allows ample moisture to sink into the strands, so you can say goodbye to overly dry and damaged hair. Another huge plus is that this hair mask is completely cruelty-free.

Underrated Japanese Heat Protectants

Orbis Essence In Hair Milk for Silky Smooth Hair 140g

We’ve mentioned this product in a couple of our other articles, including this one about heat protectants, but we really want the whole world to know about it! This Japanese hair milk is infused with beauty essence, working to repair damaged hair from its core. It’s unscented and coats the hair strands with a protective layer that prevents them from drying out. It’s easy to use on both wet and dry hair, so we recommend including this product in your daily hair styling routine.

Kracie Ichikami Junno Herbal Essence Treatment for Damaged Hair 100g

If you prefer scented or water-based heat protectants, then the Ichikami Junno Herbal Essence Treatment is right up your alley! We’ve mentioned a few Ichikami products throughout this article, which really just goes to show how versatile the brand is—and we want more people to know about it. Anyway, back to this heat protectant: it not only prevents heat damage but also shields the hair from UV rays. Like other Ichikami products, this heat protectant also smells like cherry blossoms.

Maputi Organic Fragrance Hair Oil Luxurious Styling Serum 100ml

While this product from Maputi is technically called a hair oil, it also includes beauty serum ingredients for the hair and can be used on both wet and dry hair. Unlike traditional oils that merely coat the hair, this serum penetrates deeply, nourishing and smoothing from within. Infused with nourishing oils such as Argan Oil, Baobab Seed Oil, Tamanu Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, and Meadowfoam Oil, this hair oil and serum will repair any existing hair damage from the inside out. This luxurious hair treatment is also gentle enough to be used on the body and delicate areas. 

Underrated Japanese Hair Oils

Napla N. Polish Oil 150ml

Napla N. Polish Oil is a premium Japanese hair treatment used in salons for both styling and conditioning. This versatile polish oil is crafted from naturally derived ingredients, including organic botanical oils and shea butter, making it suitable for application on both hair and skin. Since this item is salon quality and very well known in Japan, we believe that it deserves more recognition from overseas.

Yolu Calm Night Repair Hair Oil for Damaged Hair 80ml

Here’s another product from Yolu that we’re excited to share with you—the Yolu Night Repair Hair Oil. This hair oil is extremely moisturizing while remaining lightweight, which we believe is essential for an effective hair oil. While it’s usually recommended to use hair oil before or after styling, this one is specifically designed for use before bed, complementing the rest of the Yolu series. Its refreshing fragrance of bergamot and blackcurrant will surely help you sleep peacefully.

Diane Be True Damage Repair & Moisture Vegan Hair Oil 95ml

Last but not least is the Be True Damage Repair Hair Oil, which is also vegan. Featuring cruelty-free ingredients like plant-derived keratin and sugar squalane, this oil works effectively with natural and organic oils such as avocado oil and cactus oil to repair damaged hair. The result is smooth, glossy hair that feels lightweight and non-oily. This is a perfect underrated Japanese hair oil for consumers seeking a more sustainable product.

Did you know about any of these underrated Japanese hair care products? Which one would you like to try? Did we miss any other notable Japanese hair care that’s underrated? Be sure to let us know in the comments.