Kao Essential Hair Products

I am super thrilled that I finally used up my bottles of Shiseido White Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner, so that now I can use my Kao Essential shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment! (From now on, I will never buy big bottles again. Even though they're better values and you get more for your money, they last way too long for a girl like me who sooner or later wants to try something new!)



I really enjoy using Japanese hair products since their formulas are different and targeted for Asian hair. I'd already used the Lux Super Damage Repair set I'd received from Mona, but I believe that exact set has since been discontinued. I first saw these from Eki's review and was very excited since I know Eki has dyed her hair often like I have (used to, not anymore since July), so I figured if she likes it, I might like it too.

Information taken from the English website:

Essential Damage Care provides care for damaged hair, even the last 15cm (5.9 inches). The last 15cm is most prone to damage caused by chemical treatments, styling and blow-drying, resulting in dry, frizzy hair with tangles and split ends. With Essential Damage Care, hair becomes healthy, damage-free and shines all the way to the ends!

In addition to the natural ingredients - high purity honey & milk protein^*1 Essential is also formulated with Ultra Shine Essence^*2 to give hair a healthy shine.

Essential deeply repairs and strengthens hair damaged by colouring, perming, rebonding, styling and blow-drying.

Hair becomes so healthy, it shines all the way to the ends!

1. ^*1 Protection ingredients: honey and whey (milk)
2. ^*2 Repair ingredient: lanolin fatty acid

As you can see, these products are for damaged hair, but there are two finishes (hence the different colored bottles).


Nuance Airy (pink packaging)
"Hair shines to the ends with a light & bouncy feel"

Wild Rose Essence leaves a protective layer to keep hair soft and moisturized.
Gives limp and flat hair a light and bouncy feel.
Recommended for soft and airy hairstyles.

Ideal when you...
♥ want to style your limp and flat hair
♥ want to try soft and airy hairstyles with a light and bouncy feel

Rich Premier (orange packaging)
"Hair shines to the ends with a smooth & manageable feel"

Sunflower Oil Essence leaves a protective layer to keep hair soft and moisturized.
Gives untamable hair a smooth and manageable feel.
Recommended for sleek and elegant hairstyles.

Ideal when you...
♥ want to tame your unmanageable hair
♥ want to try elegant hairstyles with a smooth and manageable feel


I ordered from Sasa because it's so affordable, although you can also find Essential at Japanese markets like Mitsuwa and Marukai. However, Sasa is still cheaper at $4.30 per shampoo/conditioner (small bottles) and $6.20 per treatment, especially if you get free shipping (otherwise shipping is $6 for orders under $75) and of course, you don't pay taxes if you're in the U.S.

Here is the Nuance Airy set I'm currently using.


I've only been using it for a week, but I already feel the effects! It really does make my long and thick hair feel feathery light and soft (but not too soft so that I have a hard time styling it). It's an amazing feeling because I have a lot of hair which can make me feel weighed down (it has in the past when it'd gotten too long, but now I have lots of layers). It also doesn't leave any sticky residue like some Japanese drugstore hair products do and it does not dry out my hair or scalp or make it greasy so that I have to wash it right away again. Lastly, it smells fruity and sweet...like a Hi-Chew! I noticed that the shampoo smells sweetest and the treatment smells more like honey and milk, definitely not fruity or floral.

I ordered the Rich Premier set from Sasa also. I don't know if I'm just going to wait a month or so before trying them out just to compare, or wait until I finish the Nuance Airy set, although that might not happen for quite some time.


I'm also using the Essential Damage Care Treatment, which is "enriched with 2x more High Purity Honey and Milk Protein to repair and strengthen damaged hair." I swap between using this and the conditioner once a week. It makes my hair feel uber silky and soft.

Nuance Airy

Rich Premier

Essential now also has hair masks, and of course, I want! But they're not available on Sasa...I shall keep a diligent watch and if I try them, I shall report back! =)


I don't know too much about hair but I try my best to take care of mine, even though I put it through a lot of abuse like frequently dying or highlighting, as well as flat ironing, curling, and sometimes blow drying it. That's why I like Essential so much (so far) — I feel it's a really good product for its cheap price, plus of course I like the "sassy kawaii" look. What shampoo and conditioner are you currently using? What do you like your hair products to do for you?