If it wasn’t already made clear by the hordes of HuffPost reporting and personal endorsments made in our coverage, we’re big fans of K-beauty. After several years of using Korean formulations myself, I can confidently confirm that I find these innovative products effective, non-irritating, high-quality and always reasonably priced. Medicube is a well-known and consumer-trusted skin care brand from Korea that consistently makes it into product rotations, including on my own carefully curated shelf. So, you can imagine my excitement at learning of the brand’s recent launch of hair care products, specifically for sparse and thinning hair.
Released early Feb. of this year, Medicube’s Rosemary PDRN line combines ingredients and delivery methods popular in K-beauty skin care and apply them to the scalp, with the intent of making hair appear fuller and creating optimal conditions to encourage hair growth. The line features three products: a shampoo, a conditioner, and a scalp serum, all designed to be used in tandem but available individually. (We did the math, however, and you get a better deal by purchasing it as a set.)
All products in the line feature rosemary extract, an ingredient that board-certified dermatologists have previously told us not only conditions and strengthens hair, but also helps reduce damage and breakage, thereby contributing to a stronger hair appearance.
“Research has also indicated that rosemary oil can potentially accelerate hair growth by improving blood circulation in the scalp, which stimulates hair follicles,” Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist with MDCS Dermatology in New York City, said in earlier reporting.
The products also include PDRN, a buzzy anti-aging ingredient that you’ve probably already heard of for its potential to boost collagen production. As it applies to hair care, the brand claims PDRN can help promote a healthier scalp that, in turn, produces healthier hair from the root. Although we haven’t gotten direct confirmation of this claim from experts, some studies point to PDRN as an effective way to stimulate hair follicles and reduce inflammation when injected into the scalp.
These ingredients are also paired with more conventional names in hair care, such as classic hydrators and amino acids to help created healthier strands that are less prone to breakage.
In our opinion, if you were thinking about trying out just one product from this line, we would suggest the scalp serum, a post-wash treatment that, in addition to rosemary extract and PDRN, also contains caffeine to energize the scalp, and EGF, an ingredient that can soothe troubled scalps and calm flaking. Applied with a cooling massage tip to encourage blood flow, the serum is lightwieght, fast-absorbing, and won’t make your roots greasy or weigh hair down.
Harkening back to that famed K-beauty innovation I mentioned earlier, this serum uses spicules to deliver its active ingredients. Spicules, as previously explained to us by experts, create micro injuries at the superficial skin level, allowing mild exfoliation, increased epidermal turnover, and enhanced penetration of actives. It’s not as terrifying as it sounds and just feels like mild tingling when massaged into the skin or scalp.
Although Medicube’s Rosemary PDRN line is still fairly new, already reviewers have made the purchase on label devotion alone.
“I love Medicube products so much. When I saw they had shampoo and conditioner, I didn’t hesitate. I love the way it makes my hair feel,” one Amazon shopper wrote.
As far as hair that appears fuller, healthier and more abundant, early users of the Medicube line report immediate volume after the first wash, while others have experienced less fallout and breakage.
“I have been losing my hair for about a year now and now has places that have gaps and those places happen to be on the front sides of my hairline,” one customer said in a review for the Rosemary PDRN scalp serum. “Now that it has been about 3 weeks of every other day ( and sometimes 2 days in between washes ) of use. I am almost certain that I see a few new tiny spores poking out on my right side where one of my MAIN patches is!”
It also appears to be particularly beneficial for people who claim to have fine hair and oily, dandruff-prone scalps. One reviewer said, “I have scalp psoriasis and found this really helped calm my scalp down. I have fine, thinner hair and typically lose my hair because of my autoimmune disease and have found less fallout lately!”
Read even more from Medicube’s adoring fans below, who attribute the brand’s new Rosemary PDRN line to volumized and healthier-looking hair.
Promising Amazon reviews:
“I have scalp psoriasis and found this really helped calm my scalp down. I have fine thinner hair and typically lose my hair because of my autoimmune disease and have found less fallout lately! I also LOVE THE SMELL! My therapist even asked me what I did different to my hair!
I feel like my hair is growing back in better and feels a lot thicker, maybe not the most [moisturizing] conditioner buuut I just use an additional conditioner for scalp care mixed with this conditioner if it feel a bit dry as you first use it. I also use R+CO, Brad Mondo and Liaison conditioner for adding extra moisturizing.
I will be only using this from now on as I find it works really well for my problems !
I only use medicube skin care products and find all the products are a good value for the cost.” — Syde“Holy cow. I’m a fan of Medicube skincare so when the hair care came out I jumped on buying it. I LOVE this stuff. Immediately my hair felt fuller, shinier, and I had way less breakage or hair falling out with brushing. I’ve also noticed that I can go an extra day or two between washing because it’s not greasy as fast.” — Christy May
“THIS ONE IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF HAIR CARE PRODUCTS!! I absolutely love this spicule serum for your hair!! I’ve only been using this product for about a week now, and I am absolutely blown away and head over heels in love! From the very initial wash with the shampoo and conditioner when I got out of the shower and air dried my hair while it was still damp I added the spicule serum to my scalp, and after it fully dried, I 100% noticed and increased look of volume.. I thought I had to be tripping until my husband asked what I did different...lol He could see that my hair looked more volumized as well. Now that it has been about a 3 weeks of every other day ( and sometimes 2 days in between washes ) of use. I am almost certain that I see a few new tiny spores poking out on my right side where one of my MAIN patches is! I have been losing my hair for about a year now and now has places that have gaps and those places happen to be on the front sides of my hairline, ( meaning I can never ware my hair pulled back because it is highly prominent and extremely visible self confidence was at an all time low over this ) and behind my right ear so being able to see any difference in that area has just been a complete and total confidence boost!! I am absolutely obsessed and head over heels and in love with all of MEDICUBE’S products!! Their face, serums and moisturizers are phenomenal as well, but I want to fully express how immensely impressed and blown away I am by this hair care set!!!! Thank you so much Medicube for giving me this part of my confidence back, also helping me to come back out of my shell!” — Ashley C.
Continue shopping for more shampoos aimed at promoting hair density in the following list curated by the HuffPost Shopping team:
A biotin-infused shampoo with rosemary oil
We've previously covered this Maple Holistics biotin shampoo that also contains rosemary oil. In another previous story, Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist with MDCS Dermatology in New York City, said that rosemary oil can help with strengthening hair and reducing breakage for a fuller appearance. This shampoo continues to be a HuffPost reader favorite as well as a highly-rated option among reviewers, with more than 37,000 5-star ratings.
A DHT-blocking shampoo
This HairStem shampoo has earned an endorsement by the American Hair Loss Association. It contains biotin, is sulfate-free and is designed to block DHT as well as the stress response on hair follicles for fuller-looking hair. One reviewer who's been using it for years said it "makes a significant difference in the thickness and texture of my hair."
A Nulastin shampoo with "a dream formula" for replenishing elastin
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman told HuffPost, "When selecting a shampoo for thinning hair, I recommend formulas that help support the scalp environment while strengthening the hair fiber." One of her picks was the Nulastin Vibrant Scalp Shampoo, a volumizing option that aims to smooth and strengthen fine hair to reduce frizz and breakage.
"This formula focuses on supporting elastin, a structural protein that helps anchor the hair at the follicle," Engelman said. "It uses peptide and elastin-support technology to stimulate the scalp and reinforce the follicle environment, which can help reduce visible shedding and improve hair resilience over time." She also explained that elastin can "maintain flexibility and resilience in hair fibers and the surrounding follicle environment."
Reviewers claim that a little of this shampoo goes a long way, which can potentially make the price a bit easier to bear. And, given that one reviewer called it "a DREAM formula" and said, "I'm not losing nearly as much hair, which is thrilling," this seems to be worth every penny.