8 Best Japanese Hair Care Products 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Calhoun says this Japanese shampoo and repair hair treatment duo gives curly hair the perfect reset. “It hydrates deeply, defines [curls] without crunchy texture, and leaves hair touchable,” Calhoun says. Each product contains nourishing ingredients such as rose honey, Bulgarian rose water, glycerin, and keratin to strengthen strands and provide much needed moisture. She loves the shampoo for its non-drying gentle formula and the treatment for its hydrating and detangling properties.

Best Japanese Hair Care for Thinning Hair: Shu Uemura Izumi Tonic Thickening Serum

Best for: Thinning or damaged hair

For those looking to add volume and body to thin hair, nothing is easier than a leave-in treatment spray. Enter this thickening tonic by Shu Uemura, a pick from celebrity hairstylist Gareth Bromell. It contains ceramides and rice water to strengthen strands, which Bromell says reduces the appearance of hair loss and split ends, resulting in a healthy environment for hair to grow and added volume.

Best Japanese Hair Care for Frizzy Hair: Milbon Smooth “Coarse” Luminous Smoothing Oil

Best for: Frizzy, dry hair

Humidity. Dryness. Overuse of hair styling tools. A number of things contribute to frizzy hair. To combat it, you need a product that works to strengthen strands and infuse any needed moisture. Calhoun loves this smoothing oil as it’s a lightweight formula made of squalane, hydrolyzed silk, and argan oil to keep you moisturized and silky smooth. “It calms frizz and protects against humidity without leaving heavy residue,” she says.

Best Japanese Hair Care for Low Porosity Hair: &honey Melty Moist Repair Oil

Best for: Dry hair, frizz, and low porosity

Calhoun loves this oil for low porosity hair (aka hair that is packed so tightly that water and products can’t penetrate as easily).

How to tell if you have low porosity hair? Do the float test. Take a clean strand of hair and place it in a glass of water. If your hair sinks to the bottom, it means it is absorbing the water and is most likely high porosity. Hair that floats and stays at the top of the glass is not absorbing the water, and therefore low porosity.

This pick helps the hair lock in moisture, smooths flyaways and frizz, and makes hair feel super soft. Also, it easily soaks into strands thanks to the honey, which can penetrate hair better than most oils to deliver nourishment.

Best Japanese Hair Care For Styling: Shu Uemura Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream

Best for: Styling, protection against high heat, and dry hair

I admittedly have a co-dependent relationship with my Dyson Airstrait and use the hot styling tool more than I probably should. Because of that, I need a styling product that will protect from high heat while still allowing my hair to still have movement (aka nothing too heavy). This blow dry cream is super lightweight and I can work it easily into damp hair. But what I love is that it has a flexible hold so that my hair doesn’t feel too stiff and it protects hair from any heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. I basically get to have blowout-worthy hair from the comfort of my own home, which is always a win.

Best Japanese Hair Care for Dry Hair: Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask

Best for: Damaged strands, extremely dry ends

When we need to give our hair some TLC, a good mask is essential, and Bromell says this deep repairing and moisturizing treatment is his favorite. It contains pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid acid (PCA), which is a humectant that locks in moisture. It also smooths out rough texture and strengthens strands to give you healthier-looking hair.

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