How to Build a Japanese Hair Care Routine with ULULIS
The Japanese approach to hair care is systematic in a way Western routines rarely are. In Japan, a shampoo is chosen for scalp health, a treatment is chosen for the hair shaft, and a leave-in oil is chosen to lock in the work. Each product has a specific job. They stack. The result isn't just hair that looks better on wash day — it's hair that gradually becomes healthier over weeks of use.
The ULULIS Premium Black Serum line is built on exactly this logic. The shampoo, treatment, and hair oil each deliver the same PDRN and Black Serum complex through a different application method at a different stage of the wash routine. Together they create a layered repair effect no single product can achieve alone.
Why Japanese Hair Care Uses a 3-Step System
In a typical Western routine, shampoo and conditioner are the whole system — with maybe a hair mask once a week. In Japan, daily wash routines commonly include three products for a specific reason: each product type accesses the hair differently.
| Product Type | Where It Works | What It Does | Can Replace the Others? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | Scalp + hair surface | Cleanses, removes buildup, primes cuticle to receive actives | No — cleansing is distinct from repair |
| Treatment / Conditioner | Hair cortex (inside shaft) | Deposits repair actives while cuticle is swollen open from washing | No — only effective on freshly shampooed hair |
| Leave-in Hair Oil | Cuticle surface + ongoing cortex absorption | Seals the cuticle, protects against heat and friction, extends repair actives through the day | No — surface protection and day-long action require a leave-in |
The ULULIS Black Serum line delivers PDRN, Tosurea, and the Black Serum complex through all three stages — shampoo, treatment, and oil — at different concentrations and with different delivery mechanisms. Using all three together is the most efficient way to build the cumulative structural repair the line is designed for.
Step 1 — Shampoo
ULULIS Premium Black Serum Shampoo
PM WASH · 340ml · Sulphate-FreeThe Black Serum Shampoo uses an amino acid-based cleansing system that removes buildup without stripping the scalp's moisture barrier. Conventional sulphate shampoos remove sebum aggressively, which triggers the scalp to overproduce oil and leaves the hair shaft dry before treatment is even applied. The amino acid base cleanses efficiently while keeping the scalp in balance.
The shampoo also primes the cuticle: washing with warm water swells the cuticle scales slightly open, creating the optimal window for the treatment to deposit actives inside the cortex in Step 2. This priming effect is why product order matters.
ULULIS Premium Water Conc. Black Serum Shampoo 340ml
Amino acid base · PDRN + Black Serum complex · sulphate-free · Japan-domestic formula from Matsumotokiyoshi
Shop Shampoo →How to apply: Wet hair thoroughly. Lather in palms first, then apply to scalp and work through lengths. Massage for 60 seconds minimum. Rinse completely — residual shampoo prevents treatment from absorbing properly.
Water temperature: Warm, not hot. Hot water over-opens the cuticle and strips moisture. Warm water opens the cuticle just enough for treatment absorption.
Step 2 — Treatment
ULULIS Premium Black Serum Treatment
AFTER SHAMPOO · 335g · Rinse-OutThe treatment is the highest-concentration repair step in the routine. Applied to freshly shampooed, towel-squeezed hair (damp but not dripping), the PDRN, Tosurea, and concentrated keratin can penetrate into the cortex through the open cuticle created by washing. This is the window that makes the treatment fundamentally different from a leave-in applied to dry hair.
The 335g jar is designed for daily use. Unlike intensive hair masks that require 10–20 minute dwell times, the Black Serum treatment is formulated to absorb effectively within 3–5 minutes — making it practical for a daily shower routine rather than a weekly treatment.
ULULIS Premium Water Conc. Black Serum Treatment 335g
PDRN + Tosurea + 10× collagen · rinse-out · daily use · Japan-domestic formula from Matsumotokiyoshi
Shop Treatment →How to apply: Squeeze excess water from hair after shampooing. Apply treatment to mid-lengths and ends — not the scalp. Work through with fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Leave 3–5 minutes (or longer for heavily damaged hair). Rinse with cool water — cool temperature closes the cuticle and seals in what was deposited.
For heavily damaged hair: Apply, clip hair up, and allow 5–10 minutes before rinsing. The extra dwell time increases how much PDRN and Tosurea the cortex absorbs in each session.
Step 3 — Hair Oil (Leave-In)
ULULIS Premium Black Serum Hair Oil
LEAVE-IN · 100ml · Apply to Damp HairThe hair oil seals the cuticle after the cool-water rinse, locking in the repair actives deposited by the treatment. It then continues working through the day — the PDRN and exosome complex in the oil provide ongoing cellular moisture support as hair dries and moves through daily friction and heat.
The leave-in also provides immediate benefits: smoothing the cuticle surface for a silky finish, protecting against blow-dry heat, and controlling frizz caused by humidity penetrating the shaft. Because the oil is water-based rather than silicone-based, it absorbs without coating — making it suitable for daily application without build-up.
ULULIS Premium Water Conc. Black Serum Hair Oil 100ml
PDRN + Tosurea + exosomes + 10× collagen · leave-in · non-greasy · Japan-domestic formula from Matsumotokiyoshi
Shop Hair Oil →How to apply: After towel-drying (hair should be damp, not wet), dispense 2 pumps into palms. Apply from mid-lengths to ends. Comb through. Blow-dry or air-dry as usual. Do not apply to the scalp.
For fine hair: Start with 1 pump. The oil absorbs cleanly but fine hair is more sensitive to any weight. Increase to 2 pumps if ends feel dry.
Optional: Weekly Deep Treatment
ONCE A WEEK · For Heavily Damaged HairFor hair that's severely bleached or chemically processed, supplementing the Black Serum treatment with a dedicated hair mask once a week accelerates structural repair. The Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask or Shiseido Tsubaki Premium Repair Mask work well alongside the ULULIS routine — apply the mask in place of the treatment on one wash day per week, then return to the standard routine for the remaining days.
Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask 230g
Royal jelly EX + CMC complex · weekly deep treatment · works alongside any leave-in oil routine
Shop Hair Mask →AM vs PM — What to Use When
| Product | Morning | Evening (Wash Day) | Non-Wash Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Serum Shampoo | — | ✓ Required | — |
| Black Serum Treatment | — | ✓ Required (after shampoo) | — |
| Black Serum Hair Oil | ✓ Optional (on dry hair, 1 pump for frizz) | ✓ Required (on damp hair after treatment) | ✓ Optional (dry hair, styling finish) |
5 Mistakes That Kill the Results
Applying treatment to soaking wet hair straight from the shower
Squeeze out excess water first — damp hair allows actives to absorb into the cortex rather than washing off
Rinsing treatment with hot water
Cool water rinse closes the cuticle and seals in deposited PDRN and keratin
Applying hair oil before towel-drying
Hair should be damp — not wet. Too much water dilutes the oil and prevents absorption
Applying hair oil to the scalp
Mid-lengths to ends only. The scalp has its own sebum production — adding oil weighs down roots
Expecting results after 1–2 uses
Surface results (softness, shine) appear immediately. Structural repair from PDRN and Tosurea builds over 2–4 weeks of consistent use
Adapting the Routine by Hair Type
| Hair Type | Shampoo Frequency | Treatment Dwell Time | Oil Amount | Key Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine, oily scalp | Daily or every other day | 2–3 min | 1 pump | Keep oil strictly on ends — avoid mid-shaft for oily scalp types |
| Normal, healthy | Every 2 days | 3–5 min | 2 pumps | Standard routine — no adjustments needed |
| Dry, colour-treated | Every 2–3 days | 5 min | 2–3 pumps | Add weekly mask; extend treatment dwell time on colour refresh weeks |
| Bleached / heavily damaged | Every 2–3 days | 5–10 min | 3 pumps | Clip hair up during treatment dwell time; use weekly mask as 4th step |
| Thick, coarse, resistant | Every 2 days | 5–7 min | 3–4 pumps | Work treatment through sections with a wide-tooth comb for even distribution |
Shop the Full ULULIS Black Serum Routine
The Complete ULULIS Black Serum Routine
All three products sourced directly from Matsumotokiyoshi, Japan. Japan-domestic formulas — not export versions.
Also available: the ULULIS Black Serum Hair Oil full review, and a complete guide to all four ULULIS lines to confirm the Black Serum is the right choice for your hair.