What Korean and Chinese Hair-Washing Rituals Can Teach You About Scalp Care

Dry-brushing before you wash, shampooing twice, and treating your roots like skin are just a few of the habits these traditions share. Here’s how to bring their scalp-first approach into your own routine.

It may seem like a standard routine: shampoo, rinse, condition. That’s what most of us do when washing our hair. But in Korean and Chinese hair-care traditions, there’s more to the ritual, and it starts with the scalp.

“Your scalp is skin,” says Sarah Chung Park, founder and CEO of K-beauty company Landing International. And just like the skin on your face, “it gets oily, dry, irritated, and it ages,” she adds.

That being said, Korean beauty has helped make scalp care part of everyday self-care, “rather than something you only think about when you develop problems like dandruff, itching, or hair thinning,” says Dr. Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified dermatologist at Union Derm.

Meanwhile, in Chinese tradition, hair is associated with good fortune, and there are traditional practices like the Chinese head spa, which combines scalp massage, herbal infusions, and steam to promote relaxation while cleansing and moisturizing the hair and scalp.

Both approaches have several things in common, and we can learn a thing or two from them when it comes to washing our hair.

Prep Before You Wash

In both traditions, the routine begins even before you turn on the water. In the Korean approach, some people begin with a scalp scrub or exfoliating treatment to remove buildup, though Chang says it isn’t a must every time.

The Chinese method starts with gently dry-brushing the scalp using a soft-bristled brush, which can help loosen buildup and detangle hair before washing. The key is to avoid pressing the scalp too hard.

Keep the Water Lukewarm

Both use lukewarm water instead of hot water, which can dry and irritate the scalp. Warm water helps lift oil and makes the scalp easier to clean.

Massage, Don’t Scrub

In the Korean approach, the choice of shampoo matters. Chang recommends choosing one that responds to your scalp’s needs, like oiliness, sensitivity, or flaking. After applying the shampoo, Park also suggests massaging it in for about a minute. Some people even use a silicone scalp brush.

In the Chinese method, shampooing isn’t just once but twice. The first round is to remove oil and product buildup. The second is for a deeper cleanse. Each time, massage the scalp with your fingertips, not your nails, in circular motions.

Treat Your Scalp and Your Ends Separately

Both approaches treat the scalp and the lengths of the hair differently. A conditioner is typically applied to the hair from midlength to the ends, while scalp-specific tonics or treatments are applied to the roots. Traditional Chinese hair care often uses ingredients like ginseng and ginger in scalp treatments.

Finish Gently

To complete the routine, the Korean approach ends by drying the scalp thoroughly, without too much heat or friction, while the Chinese method finishes with a rinse of comfortably cool water.

Rooted in Tradition

In Chinese tradition, some avoid washing their hair during the Lunar New Year, so as not to wash away their luck.

Meanwhile, vinegar rinses have long been a traditional Korean home remedy for adding shine. However, Beth Stokes of Korean hair-care brand Dr. Groot says this effect is temporary, and there’s little evidence that it can improve scalp health.

For those who find these routines too complicated, Park suggests something simpler: “A good scalp shampoo, a treatment, and drying your scalp completely.”