Korean skincare went mainstream years ago. Plenty of people now know what double cleansing is, what an essence does, why the skin barrier matters, and what "glass skin" is supposed to look like.
Then we get in the shower and do shampoo, conditioner, done.
A Vogue Arabia feature published on 3 November 2026 asked whether Korean haircare has been overlooked next to Korean skincare — and landed somewhere sensible: "it's less about following every step and more about finding what works for you."
That is exactly the right frame. Because the idea worth borrowing from K-beauty isn't a longer routine. It's knowing where each product belongs. RIMAN's Botalab Deserticola Plus range is built on that split — three products, three different jobs.
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What Makes Korean Haircare Different?
Not a single universal tradition — plenty of Korean routines look different from one another. But many of them share a few emphases:
- Scalp-first thinking. Hair grows out of skin, so the scalp gets attention in its own right: cleansing, excess oil, buildup, comfort, moisture.
- Purposeful cleansing. The goal isn't to scrub harder. It's to cleanse effectively without stripping the scalp and hair along the way.
- Treating the strands separately. Conditioning addresses the lengths and ends after the scalp has been cleansed, because they need different things.
- A targeted leave-in finish. A hair oil or serum can help with shine, softness, flyaways and dry-looking ends, depending on the formula.
Notice what isn't on that list: a scrub, a tonic, an ampoule, a mask, a vinegar rinse, and ten separate bottles. None of that is required.
Meet the Botalab Deserticola Plus Routine
Three steps, in order:
- 1 — Cleanse the scalp with the Botalab Deserticola Plus Shampoo
- 2 — Condition the hair with the Botalab Deserticola Plus Conditioner
- 3 — Finish the lengths with the Botalab Deserticola Plus Hair Oil Serum
All three are available together as the Complete RIMAN Botalab Hair Care Routine ($109.81).
Step 1 — Start With the Scalp
The Botalab Deserticola Plus Shampoo ($38.33, 500 ml / 16.9 fl. oz.) is positioned for cleansing away everyday oil, buildup and environmental debris while leaving scalp and hair feeling nourished rather than stripped.
Its directions are the clearest example of scalp-first thinking in the whole range:
- Wet scalp and hair thoroughly with warm water.
- Apply one to two pumps to your hands.
- Massage into the scalp, working it into a rich foam.
- Rinse thoroughly, letting the suds travel down the strands.
RIMAN is explicit about the last part: avoid applying shampoo directly to the ends, because that portion of the hair is more vulnerable to drying from repeated washing and styling. The suds running through on the way out are enough.
Shampoo belongs primarily on the scalp. If your ends feel dry, are colour-treated, or get heat-styled often, that one adjustment may be the most useful thing in this article.
What Is Deserticola Plus?
Deserticola Plus is RIMAN's proprietary complex, derived from chlorella — a microalga the brand describes as thriving in harsh desert conditions. RIMAN highlights loliolide, a metabolite from that microalga, as the key component, and positions it around soothing, hydrating and nourishing the scalp and hair. The brand also describes its patented version as carrying a twelve-times higher concentration of loliolide than its predecessor.
One honest caveat. A proprietary ingredient story is a brand ingredient story — it is not the same thing as independent clinical proof, and it doesn't mean the complex has been shown to outperform alternatives. What it does give this range is coherence: the same complex runs through all three products, so the routine behaves as one system rather than three unrelated bottles.
It is a cosmetic haircare ingredient. It does not stimulate follicles, treat hair loss, or change hair density.
Step 2 — Condition the Strands
The Botalab Deserticola Plus Conditioner ($31.08, 300 ml / 10.14 fl. oz.) is not a thick cream conditioner. RIMAN describes it as a water-activated treatment: it starts out water-thin and builds into a richer, creamier texture as you massage it into wet hair, with a gentle warming sensation as it works.
The application order matters here, and it runs opposite to the shampoo:
- Start at the ends. They're the oldest part of the strand and usually the driest.
- Work upward through the lengths toward the scalp.
- Massage gently as the texture changes.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
In brand-reported testing by P&K on 32 adult men and women aged 20 to 55, conducted 6–8 November 2024, RIMAN reports a 56.24% increase in hair shine after a single use. That is the brand's own instrumental testing rather than independent research, and a measured average across a group doesn't guarantee the same result on any individual head of hair.
Step 3 — Finish the Lengths
The Botalab Deserticola Plus Hair Oil Serum ($40.40, 100 ml / 3.38 fl. oz.) is the leave-in finishing step, built around softness, shine, a smoother-looking length and less frizzy-looking hair. RIMAN also lists heat protection among its benefits.
Two different applications:
- On wet hair: two pumps, rubbed between your palms, applied from the middle of the hair down to the ends — starting with whichever areas feel driest. Then style.
- On dry or styled hair: one more pump to tame flyaways and refresh shine.
Its formula leans on a botanical oil blend — camellia seed, argan kernel, apricot seed, jojoba seed and sunflower seed oils — alongside the Deserticola Plus complex, chlorella oil and a centella asiatica extract RIMAN calls BYoungPool.
Brand-reported testing from the same November 2024 panel of 32 participants reports a 61.52% increase in shine immediately after use. Same caveat as above: brand-reported, measured instrumentally, not a promise.
This is not a scalp product. Keep it to the mid-lengths and ends, as directed.
The Scalp-to-Strands Map
| Hair Area | Botalab Step | Main Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Scalp and roots | Deserticola Plus Shampoo | Cleanse oil and buildup |
| Lengths and ends | Deserticola Plus Conditioner | Condition and soften |
| Mid-lengths and ends | Hair Oil Serum | Finish with softness and shine |
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember the table.
Oily Scalp, Dry Ends — Why One Product Can't Fix Both
This is the most common hair complaint we hear, and the reason the map above matters.
Your scalp is living skin, with oil glands. The visible hair shaft is not living tissue — it can't produce oil and it can't repair itself. So the two ends of the same strand have genuinely opposite problems: the roots are dealing with too much oil, the ends with too little.
Treating your whole head identically means one of those areas always loses. Cleanse the scalp, condition the lengths, finish the ends — and both get what they actually need.
A Few Questions Worth Answering Honestly
Do you need a ten-step Korean hair routine? No. Just as K-beauty skincare moved past the idea that everyone needs ten facial products, Korean haircare doesn't require a scrub, a tonic, an ampoule, a mask and three oils every wash day. This routine is three products, and that's its strength.
Should you double cleanse your scalp? Not necessarily. The Vogue Arabia piece makes the same point — double cleansing "isn't necessarily a must for everyone." The Botalab routine contains one shampoo, and we're not going to invent a second cleanser to mimic a facial routine. Start with the shampoo as directed. Someone with heavy product buildup may have different needs.
Do you need a scalp scrub? The routine doesn't include one, and this article isn't going to imply everyone needs one.
Should conditioner touch your scalp? The internet says never. The product says otherwise: Botalab's own directions have you work upward toward the scalp, and RIMAN describes it as a hair and scalp treatment. Product-specific directions beat generic internet rules.
Should hair oil go on your scalp? Not this one. Its directions specify mid-lengths to ends. It's a finishing serum, not a scalp oil.
Korean Haircare vs. Western Haircare
There's no contest here, and anyone selling you one is overreaching. Korean beauty has helped popularise a ritual-based, scalp-aware way of thinking that feels familiar if you already enjoy Korean skincare — and plenty of Western brands now work from similar ideas. The difference is philosophy and product design, not nationality.
Your Botalab Wash Day
- Before the shower: brush or detangle if that's useful to you. No mandatory pre-oiling.
- Shampoo: wet thoroughly, one to two pumps, massage the scalp, rinse and let the suds run through.
- Conditioner: start at the ends, work upward, massage gently, rinse thoroughly.
- Hair oil serum: two pumps on damp hair, mid-lengths to ends. Style.
- Optional refresh: one pump on dry or styled hair for flyaways and shine.
How often? That depends on your scalp's oiliness, your hair texture, how you style it and how active you are. Use the products as needed and as directed — frequent washing isn't inherently bad, and nor is washing twice a week.
What Results Are Realistic?
Based on what these products actually claim: a cleaner-feeling scalp, softer hair, smoother-feeling lengths, improved shine, less frizzy-looking hair, more manageable ends and a more polished finish.
Not on the list, because cosmetic haircare doesn't do it: permanent repair of damaged hair, follicle regeneration, reversal of hair loss, elimination of dandruff, or any kind of medical scalp treatment.
Is Botalab for Hair Loss?
No. Botalab is cosmetic haircare. It is not a treatment for androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, postpartum shedding, medication-related loss, or any other medical cause of hair loss, and it shouldn't be bought as one.
If you're experiencing sudden shedding, patchy loss, or scalp symptoms that concern you, that deserves a proper assessment from a doctor or dermatologist rather than a shampoo. Cosmetic products can make hair look and feel better; they can't diagnose or treat anything.
What About Mature Hair?
Hair does change over time — people often notice more dryness, a rougher feel, less shine, more flyaways, or changes in texture and diameter. That isn't universal, and not everyone's hair gets drier or thinner with age.
But if your hair has become drier-feeling, rougher or duller than it used to be, a routine that cleanses the scalp while separately conditioning the lengths is a sensible structure. The conditioner and the finishing serum are the two steps most likely to matter to you, and the shampoo's scalp-focused directions keep the cleansing off the ends that are already struggling.
Who Might Like This Routine?
- "My scalp gets oily but my ends feel dry." This is the routine's core use case.
- "My hair looks dull." The conditioner and serum are both built around shine.
- "My hair feels rough or frizzy." The two conditioning steps target softness and a smoother-looking finish.
- "I heat-style often." RIMAN lists heat protection among the serum's benefits.
- "I want fewer products." Cleanse, condition, finish — and nothing else to remember.
- "I already love Korean skincare." This is the same ritual logic, moved from your face to your scalp.
Why the Complete Set Makes Sense
The Complete RIMAN Botalab Hair Care Routine ($109.81) brings all three together: the Shampoo, the Conditioner and the Hair Oil Serum.
Worth being straightforward about the money: at current prices the set costs the same as buying the three separately. What you're getting is the complete routine in one order, with each step doing a distinct job and all three sharing the same ingredient complex — not three products that overlap.
If you'd rather start with one, start with whichever step addresses your main complaint. Oily roots and limp hair? The shampoo. Rough, dull lengths? The conditioner. Frizz and dry-looking ends? The serum.
Bring the K-Beauty Ritual to Your Hair
BRING THE K-BEAUTY RITUAL TO YOUR HAIR
Cleanse the scalp. Condition the strands. Finish with shine.
Already building a skincare routine too? The Find Your K-Beauty Ritual quiz covers the face side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Korean haircare?
Less a fixed routine than an emphasis: many Korean haircare routines pay close attention to the scalp, cleanse thoughtfully rather than aggressively, and treat the lengths separately from the roots.
How is Korean haircare different from Korean skincare?
It applies similar thinking — cleansing, hydration, layering, consistency — to the scalp and strands instead of the face. The shared idea is that each product has a specific job and a specific place.
Why does Korean haircare focus on the scalp?
Because hair grows out of skin. Oil, buildup and debris collect at the roots, so that's where cleansing is most useful — while the ends, which are the oldest part of the strand, generally need conditioning rather than more washing.
Do I need a 10-step Korean haircare routine?
No. Three purposeful steps beat ten overlapping ones, and nothing here requires a scrub, tonic, ampoule or mask.
What is Botalab Deserticola Plus?
RIMAN's proprietary chlorella-derived complex, highlighting a metabolite called loliolide, positioned around hydrating and nourishing the scalp and hair. It runs through all three products, and it's a cosmetic ingredient story rather than independently proven science.
What comes in the Complete Botalab Hair Care Routine?
Three products: the Deserticola Plus Shampoo (500 ml), the Conditioner (300 ml) and the Hair Oil Serum (100 ml).
How do I use Botalab Shampoo?
Wet scalp and hair with warm water, apply one to two pumps, massage into the scalp to a rich foam, then rinse thoroughly and let the suds run through the lengths. Avoid applying it directly to the ends.
How do I use Botalab Conditioner?
After shampooing, apply a generous amount starting at the ends and work upward toward the scalp. Massage gently as the water-thin formula turns creamy, then rinse thoroughly.
How do I use Botalab Hair Oil Serum?
Two pumps on wet hair, rubbed between the palms and applied from the mid-lengths to the ends, then style. One more pump on dry or styled hair for flyaways.
Can I use the Hair Oil Serum on dry hair?
Yes — RIMAN directs one additional pump on dry or styled hair to tame flyaways and refresh shine.
Is Botalab good for mature hair?
It may suit you if your hair has become drier-feeling, rougher or less shiny and you want the scalp cleansed separately from the lengths. It depends on your hair's condition rather than your age.
Does Botalab regrow hair?
No. These are cosmetic haircare products, not treatments for hair loss of any kind. For unexplained or significant hair loss, see a doctor or dermatologist.
Prices and availability were current at publication and may change. KBeauty-USA.com is an independent RIMAN Planner website and is not the RIMAN corporate website. Where percentages appear they are brand-reported testing commissioned by RIMAN, not independent research, and individual results vary. This article is general information about cosmetic products and is not medical advice.
