DR FABIANA ADDARIO - K-BEAUTY Disclosure The Korean cosmetics industry is, in fact, a powerhouse in technology and research. It invests billions in innovation, develops sophisticated formulas, creates products that work great — for Asian hair. The problem is that many Brazilian women between 18 and 35 use Korean products regularly. And most people don't know that they are using a product designed for a hair structure completely different from theirs. "This is the question I receive most in the office in the last two years: 'Is KOREA-Beauty for us, Brazilians?'", reports Dr. Fabiana Addario, a dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic trichology, with more than 25 years of experience. The answer is: it depends on your hair. What Korean Industry Does Well First, it's important to recognize: Korean industry is excellent at what it does. "They invest in research, develop formulas with innovative ingredients, test them in the laboratory — it's real science", recognizes Dr. Fabiana. "The problem is not the quality. It's that this quality was developed for a specific hair structure." Asian hair — especially Korean and Japanese — has very defined genetic characteristics: Denser structure: the strand is 30% thicker than Brazilian hair Lower porosity: absorbs only 15-20% of water, while porous hair absorbs up to 50% Lower genetic variation: 85% of people have straight or slightly wavy hair More acidic natural pH: between 4.0 and 5.0 "When you understand these characteristics, you understand why Korean products work so well there. Because were developed specifically for this structure", explains Dr. Fabiana. What about Brazilian Hair? Here is the central point: Brazil has one of the greatest hair diversity in the world. Straight hair Wavy hair Curly hair Kinky hair Hair with mixed texture (curly at the roots, wavy at the ends) Porous hair (absorbs everything) Dry hair (absorbs nothing) Hair damaged by chemicals (straightening, coloring) Hair with a genetic predisposition to hair loss "This diversity is a wealth. But it also means that there is no single product that works for everyone", says Dr. Fabiana. "And that's exactly where Korean products start to not work." The Real Case: Growing Questions In the last two years, Dr. Fabiana has received a significant increase in patients with the same question. And the pattern is always the same: women with the most diverse hair types arriving at the office with the same question. "They use a Korean product because they saw it in a video, because a friend recommended it, because the packaging is beautiful. At first, the hair is shiny. Then, it starts to become dry, brittle, and loses its natural definition", reports Dr. Fabiana. "They think, 'I'm going to use more product.' They use more. It gets worse. And then they think it's their fault. That your hair is 'difficult'. It's not. They are using products designed for another hair structure", says Dr. Fabiana. DR FABIANA ADDARIO - K-BEAUTY Disclosure The Expertise in Medical Trichology and Cosmetics Dr. Fabiana explains how her work as a specialist in medical and cosmetic trichology works: "Trichology is not just dermatology. It's understanding the biology of the hair, hair genetics, the chemistry of formulations, porosity, resistance — it's much deeper." Its diagnostic process is specific and detailed: "When a patient arrives at my office, I do not prescribe a product. I apply my method, validated for over 25 years, based on three pillars. The first pillar is diagnosis. I analyze the patient's entire history, routine, habits and hair type. I perform digital trichoscopy, which is a detailed examination to evaluate the scalp, hair follicle and root health. I also perform the traction test to measure the actual drop and observe laboratory tests to identify possible nutritional deficiencies, such as iron, zinc and vitamin D. She continues: "From this first pillar, I develop the second pillar, which is treatment. Based on all this information, I recommend the most appropriate medication to treat the cause of the problem from the inside out. It's about prescribing exactly what that hair needs." And he concludes: "Only after that do I recommend a product — and often, that product is not Korean. It's specifically formulated for scalp and shaft health." So Korea-Beauty Is Bad? No. But context is everything. "There are excellent Korean products. The problem is that they don't come with the information: 'This product was developed for Asian hair'", explains Dr. Fabiana. "If you have straight, fine, low porosity hair — characteristics closer to Asian hair — some Korean products may work well. But if you have curly, frizzy, porous or damaged hair, you need different formulations." Before Buying That Viral Product Dr. Fabiana recommends asking these questions: What is my hair type? (straight, wavy, curly, frizzy, mixed?) What type of hair was this product formulated for? (look on the packaging or manufacturer's website) What is the pH of the formula? (Brazilian hair needs a pH between 4.5 and 5.5) There are reviews from people with my type of hair. hair? (don't trust influencers — look for reviews from people with similar hair) "The truth is, you don't need a viral product. You need a product formulated for the structure of YOUR hair", concludes Dr. Fabiana. "And if you don't know what its structure is, it's time to look for a specialist in trichology." Services Dr. Fabiana Addario | Dermato Tricologia | CRM 88259 | EQR 61543 Your hair deserves diagnosis, not experimentation. @drafabianaaddario @_clinicapelli