Japanese salon shampoos have a reputation for a reason. They tend to be gentler on the scalp, lighter on the hair, and more specific about who they are for. The catch is that the labels are often in Japanese and the product names give little away. These are the Japanese shampoos we use and sell at Kija Hair Salon in Irvine, and how to pick the right one for your hair.
Quick picks
| Your hair | Our pick | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Color-treated, damaged or mature | Amatora QUO Hair Bath | $58 |
| Oily scalp or hot weather | Arimino Mint Sparkling Shampoo Cool | $32 |
| Dry, wants a soft, moist finish | Arimino Mint Sparkling Shampoo Mild | $28 |
| Everyday use, product build-up | Arimino Mint Shampoo Refresh | $37 |
| Men who style every day | Arimino Men Scalp Care Shampoo | from $31 |
Best for color-treated hair: Amatora QUO Hair Bath
Amatora QUO Hair Bath ($58, 375 ml) is our best-selling shampoo. It is made for color-treated hair: silicone-free and paraben-free, with keratin, amino acids, squalane and jojoba oil, plus the hematin and fulvic acid source that every Amatora QUO product is built on. It cleanses gently and, used over a few weeks, leaves hair softer and shinier.
Use it this way: wash twice. The first wash lifts oil and product; leave the second on for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing. Follow with QUO KitomasQ. Our full QUO Hair Bath guide covers the details.
Best for an oily scalp: Arimino Mint Sparkling Shampoo Cool
Arimino Mint Sparkling Shampoo Cool ($32, 180 g) is a carbonated foam shampoo. It comes out of the can as a dense CO₂ foam made with serum ingredients, and it has the strongest cooling feel in the Mint line (level 4 of 5 on the can). It is the one we suggest for an oily scalp or hot days.
Use it this way: shake the can well, hold it upside down, and use a tennis-ball-size amount of foam on wet hair, massaging it into the scalp.
Best for dry hair: Arimino Mint Sparkling Shampoo Mild
Arimino Mint Sparkling Shampoo Mild ($28, 180 g) is the gentler foam. It washes and moisturizes in one step, with only a subtle cool feel, and leaves hair smooth, silky and moist with bounce. It has a lemon and coriander scent.
Best everyday shampoo: Arimino Mint Shampoo Refresh
Arimino Mint Shampoo Refresh ($37, 600 ml) is the liquid shampoo in the Mint line, and the largest bottle on this list. It cleanses hair and scalp with a cooling feel and is the one to reach for when styling products build up. Wash twice after heavy product, then follow with Arimino Mint Mask Refresh ($21), a green-clay conditioner for the hair and scalp. Unlike QUO Hair Bath, it contains sodium laureth sulfate, which is part of why it removes build-up so well.
Not sure which Mint to choose? Our guide to the Arimino Mint shampoos compares Cool, Mild and Refresh side by side.
Best for men who style every day: Arimino Men Scalp Care Shampoo
Arimino Men Scalp Care Shampoo (280 ml $31, 680 ml $55) removes dirt, oil and styling-product residue from the scalp and hair. If you use gel, wax or spray every day, this is the one that gets it all out at night. See which Arimino Men product to use for the styling side of the routine.
How to get more from a Japanese shampoo
- Wash twice when you use styling products. The first wash removes product; the second actually cleans and conditions.
- Massage the scalp, not just the lengths. Work the shampoo in with your fingertips for about a minute.
- Use lukewarm water. Hot water dries out the scalp and fades color faster.
- Pair it with the matching conditioner. Japanese lines are designed as sets: QUO Hair Bath with KitomasQ, Mint shampoos with Mint Mask Refresh.
Japanese shampoo FAQ
Are Japanese shampoos sulfate-free?
Not all of them. Amatora QUO Hair Bath is free of sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate. Arimino Mint Shampoo Refresh uses sodium laureth sulfate. Always check the full ingredient list on each product page.
What is a carbonated (sparkling) shampoo?
A shampoo that comes out of the can as a dense CO₂ foam. Arimino’s Mint Sparkling shampoos use it to cleanse the scalp and give a cool, refreshed feel.
Which Japanese shampoo is best for color-treated hair?
Amatora QUO Hair Bath. It is made for colored hair, and we recommend it after a color service.
For conditioners, masks and leave-ins, see our guide to the best Japanese hair treatments, or browse all brands in the best Japanese hair care brands. Every shampoo here ships from our Irvine salon, and U.S. orders over $40 ship free. Shop Japanese hair care.