A new wave in scalp care is emerging from Korea — and it's not your typical haircare solution.
In recent years, scalp health has become one of the fastest-growing beauty trends in the U.S., with hashtags like #hairtok and #scalpcare gaining hundreds of millions of views on TikTok. Consumers are no longer satisfied with products that just style the surface. Instead, they’re looking for solutions that support real scalp wellness — from the inside out.
That’s where Korean haircare brands come in. Drawing inspiration from traditional herbal medicine, many are now turning to mushrooms — yes, mushrooms — to combat hair thinning and scalp imbalance. At the center of this movement is the matsutake mushroom, a rare and revered East Asian ingredient known for its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties.
One standout brand leading this trend is Morethan8, whose hero product — the Thickening Shampoo — features a patented matsutake extract. This natural compound is rich in B vitamins, amino acids, and protein, and it's designed to support what the brand calls scalp immunity: the idea that a healthy, balanced scalp creates the ideal environment for stronger, longer-lasting hair.
But it’s not just the ingredient list that’s turning heads — it’s the philosophy. Morethan8 approaches scalp care like K-beauty approaches skin: with lightweight, pH-balanced, vegan formulas that restore and protect rather than mask problems. Their holistic approach targets the deeper causes of hair thinning, like chronic stress and hormonal changes, especially common among women in their 20s to 40s.
The result? A product that’s gentle enough for sensitive scalps, yet powerful enough to make a difference. For anyone tired of temporary fixes and ready to try a nature-powered routine that actually cares for the root cause, mushrooms might just be your next haircare hero.
