Kolmar Korea, a leading K-beauty OEM, has developed the country's first scalp-specific sunscreen, the Scalp Sun Essence, signaling a new frontier in the $98.5 billion global hair care market. The move positions the company to supply overseas brands and distributors with specialized scalp care formulations, tapping into rising demand for functional hair and scalp products beyond traditional shampoos and treatments.
Market signal
Kolmar Korea's Personal Care Research Institute, led by Managing Director Lee Hyun-sook, has launched the Scalp Sun Essence, the first scalp sunscreen approved by South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The product is designed to be applied directly to the scalp like a facial essence, addressing growing consumer awareness that the scalp is also skin requiring UV protection. The global hair care market reached $98.5 billion last year, up 13.4% year-on-year, according to Euromonitor, while South Korea's hair product exports rose 33% to $190.13 million in the first four months of this year.
Product innovation
Developing the scalp sunscreen took nearly a year, with 6-7 months spent adapting existing sun care technology for the scalp. The team overcame challenges such as inorganic sunscreens appearing like dandruff and organic ones potentially irritating the scalp. The final formulation minimizes stickiness and clumping, and works naturally on hair. Kolmar Korea, which holds 70-80% of the domestic sun care market, has increased its hair care R&D staff by 30% since establishing a dedicated institute in 2022.
What buyers should watch
More than 10 domestic and international brands have already expressed interest in adopting the scalp sunscreen, with inquiries also coming from the U.S. market. Kolmar Korea is developing formulations tailored to different ethnic hair types, including Black hair, to target global distributors and clinics. The company sees scalp sun care as a new beauty category, similar to how skin care expanded from basic toners and lotions to ampoules, pads, and prep products.
Sourcing context
Kolmar Korea's move reflects a broader shift in K-beauty OEM strategy toward functional hair and scalp care. For overseas importers and clinic buyers, this opens opportunities to source differentiated scalp care products—such as sunscreens, ampoules, and prep treatments—that align with the growing "scalp is skin" trend. The company's established sun care expertise and scalable manufacturing capacity make it a key supplier for brands looking to enter this emerging segment.
Source: Read the original report | Published: June 11, 2026