GROWUS Damage Therapy Haircare Line Review
Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my disclaimer for more info.
Though I’ve tried plenty of Korean skincare and makeup products over the past few years, I’ve never really dipped my toe into the realm of Korean hair care.
My hair is very fine, and only just recovering from a bout of bleaching, so I’m usually pretty cautious about trying products that are targeted at thicker (and probably healthier) hair types.
However, there was one brand that caught my eye – and not just because it was heavily discounted in TK Maxx!
I’d spotted GROWUS on a few different beauty websites and, from what I could see, this haircare brand looked like a great match for my dry, bleach-damaged hair.
With its promise of shiny locks, and a very impressive list of ingredients, I felt like it was worth a shot. So I went ahead and bought the Damage Therapy collection… well, most of it. The only product I wasn’t able to get my hands on was the Hair Milk.
After trying these products out for a little while, I’m ready to share my thoughts. Here’s how I got on with the five products I tried.
Who is GROWUS?
GROWUS is a Korean haircare brand which is guided by the principles of Thalassotherapy. Don’t worry if you’re a bit stumped, I hadn’t heard of it before either!
In essence, Thalassotherapy is a therapeutic practice which uses seawater and other marine ingredients (e.g. seaweed, mud, algae) for their healing properties.
GROWUS is focussed on promoting hair health, using these nutrient-rich natural ingredients to combat signs of damage and hair loss.
The brand currently has four main collections:
- Damage Therapy (which I’ll be reviewing today) – For damaged hair
- Sea Salt Therapy – For oily hair
- Algae Therapy – For dull and brittle hair
- Recover Therapy – For thinning and weak hair
GROWUS Damage Therapy Line Review
The GROWUS Damage Therapy range is powered by a Marine Pearl Complex (made of Pearl Extract, Himalayan Pink Salt and seven types of collagen) which protects and repairs the hair.
This line in particular is suited to rough, damaged and tangle-prone hair. It’s meant to nourish the strands from root to end, delivering a healthy shine and a smooth, frizz-free finish.
1. GROWUS Damage Therapy Shampoo EX
MEET THE PRODUCT
The GROWUS Damage Therapy Shampoo is the first step in the Damage Therapy haircare routine. The protein-packed formula cleanses and fortifies the hair, removing build-up without stripping away natural oils.
how to use it
Wet your hair, dispense a small amount of product (no more than two pumps) and lather it between your hands. Then massage the shampoo into your scalp and ends for two to three minutes.
my experience
Honestly, this is probably the GROWUS product I was least excited about trying. I don’t often get wowed by shampoos, and I didn’t have particular high hopes for this one.
When it comes to shampoos, as long as it does an ok job at cleaning my hair (and it’s not super drying), it generally gets a pass in my books.
But after using the GROWUS Damage Therapy Shampoo, I think I’ve changed my mind – maybe a good shampoo really does make a world of difference?
This one certainly did. A shampoo has never had such immediate effect on my hair.
This formulation leaves my hair feeling soft, silky and tangle-free. After stepping out of the shower, my hairbrush passes through my hair so easily without any dragging or tugging at all!
I need to talk about how well this shampoo lathers too. You can work up quite a bit of foam with just one pump. And even a small amount of product really does leave your hair feeling clean and free from oil and build-up.
I often double wash my hair because, with a single wash, my hair can still feel quite weighed down. But, with the GROWUS shampoo, I don’t have to do that. After drying, my hair is so soft and bouncy – I love it!
2. GROWUS Damage Therapy Hair Cream Treatment EX
meet the product
The GROWUS Damage Therapy Hair Cream Treatment comes post-shampoo. It’s a rich, conditioning cream which smooths and nourishes the hair, helping release any tangles and protecting the strands from further damage.
how to use it
After shampooing, squeeze the excess water out of your hair. Take a good dollop of this treatment and spread it through roots and ends. Leave for a few minutes than rinse out thoroughly.
my experience
I’m still a bit confused by the GROWUS Damage Therapy Hair Cream Treatment. Is it a conditioner or a hair mask?
I feel like it sits somewhere in between.
It’s definitely thicker than a traditional conditioner. Squeezing it out of the tube is a bit of a challenge, that’s for sure!
But it softens and detangles the hair in much the same way a conditioner would.
I do enjoy using this but it doesn’t stand out to me as much as the shampoo does. I notice quite a big difference in my hair when I don’t use the shampoo – I don’t really get that with this hair treatment.
3. GROWUS Damage Therapy Scalp Scaling Ampoule
MEET THE PRODUCT
The GROWUS Damage Therapy Scalp Scaling Ampoule is the part of the Damage Therapy routine where the scalp takes centre stage. This treatment is designed to improve scalp health, reducing flakiness and irritation and encouraging hair growth in the long term.
how to use it
This is a no-wash treatment that needs to be applied to clean, dry hair. Use the dropper to apply a few drops across the scalp. Then use your fingers to gently massage it in.
my experience
When it comes to haircare, we often focus so much on the ends of our hair, and totally forget to look after our scalp – where the hair is actually growing.
I love the idea of a scalp ampoule because it means nourishing and protecting the part of our hair that actually needs it the most: the roots.
I’m always cautious about putting products on my scalp after I’ve just washed my hair. If you have fine hair like me, you’ll know it doesn’t take much to weigh it down.
I needn’t have worried with this formula though, because it’s so fast-absorbing and lightweight. It doesn’t make the roots feel greasy or sticky, or cause my hair to look limp and lifeless.
In fact, to the touch, I wouldn’t really be able to tell it’s in my hair at all.
It’s still too early to say whether this has made a huge difference to my scalp and overall hair health, but I quite like this step in my haircare routine. It feels like I’m finally giving my scalp the TLC it deserves.
4. GROWUS Damage Therapy Hair Oil
MEET THE PRODUCT
The GROWUS Damage Therapy Hair Oil is the finishing touch. It smooths and nourishes the hair, taming flyaways and providing some heat protection.
Light and quick-absorbing, this is meant to work for all hair types. With a sprinkling of micro pearl pigment particles, this is a guaranteed way to bring back the shine to damaged, dry ends.
Fun fact: This won the 2024 Allure Korea Best of Beauty award in the hair oil category.
how to use it
Dispense a few pumps of product into your hands. I usually only do one pump, but you may be able to use more if your hair is thicker.
Rub your hands together then run them through the ends of your damp hair.
my experience
I’m pleasantly surprised by this hair oil. I was a little worried it would be too thick and heavy for my hair, but it’s actually pretty light.
It sinks in nicely and doesn’t leave my hair feeling greasy, unless I pair it with the No-Wash Treatment (more on that below!).
The packaging is pretty sturdy, and since the rest of the Damage Therapy line comes in plastic, the glass bottle for the hair oil feels comparatively luxe.
My one annoyance, though, is that the pearl pigments are trapped at the bottom of the bottle and don’t properly disperse throughout the oil. Shaking helps a little bit, but it’s rather hit or miss whether you’ll get a pump with the pearl particles in or not.
This does do a good job at softening the hair and reducing the appearance of damage. I just wish the dispersal of the glitter was better, especially since that’s a major selling point!
5. GROWUS Damage Therapy No-Wash Treatment EX
MEET THE PRODUCT
The GROWUS Damage Therapy No-Wash Treatment is a a leave-in hair ‘mist’ that’s designed to hydrate the hair and reduce frizz. It’s powered by various types of protein and collagen, which help strengthen strands and improve elasticity. It’s also meant to have heat protecting power.
how to use it
Since this is a ‘no-wash’ product, it should be one of the last steps in your haircare routine. Squeeze out any excess water from your hair or briefly towel dry, then spray the treatment evenly through the damp roots and ends.
my experience
I’m not 100% sold on the GROWUS Damage Therapy No-Wash Treatment. While it looks really pretty, and the spray format seems like a good idea, there are just a few things about it that don’t work for me.
The first sticking point is that you can’t really use the GROWUS Hair Oil and this No-Wash Treatment in the same haircare routine – and least not with fine hair!
I thought this would be a shine-enhancing mist – something watery and glittery that would dry down pretty undetectably. But in reality this feels like a light hair oil.
After applying both products, the ends of my hair looked incredibly greasy and weighed down. There was no fixing it either. I had to hop back in the shower and start again!
If you’re using this treatment by itself, you only need to use a couple of sprays to coat the hair. Any more than that and, again, your hair will start looking greasy.
On that note, because this is quite oily, it becomes a real slip hazard. For every droplet that makes your hair, the same amount ends up on the floor. So, definitely go careful if you’re on a slippery surface!
Cost & where to buy
I managed to grab all of these GROWUS products from TK Maxx; some I found in store, and others I had to order online.
TK Maxx actually has a surprisingly large K-beauty offering, and you can find some gems if you look in the right places.
I managed to snag the whole collection for £55.95 in total, which I was super impressed with. That’s really not too bad for a whole Korean haircare line!
You can also order this from global Asian beauty retailers like YesStyle, Stylevana and StyleKorean.
Final thoughts: Is the GROWUS Damage Therapy line worth it?
Overall, I think the GROWUS Damage Therapy line is a well thought out selection of products. There are a few definite repurchases… but also a couple that I wouldn’t be in a rush to buy again.
For me, the shampoo is the product that’s most worth buying. While I had my hesitations at the start, this actually ended up being the product I liked best!
I think it’s great value for money for the amount of product you get – it’s 500ml when most standard shampoos come in 300ml bottles.
The formula is also just really strong. I love how soft it makes my hair feel, and how good a job it does at washing it. I will 100% be stocking up on this.
The scalp ampoule and hair oil are also great purchases in my book. I often struggle to get these types of product to work with my fine hair, but they’re both so lightweight that they don’t leave any greasiness behind.
The GROWUS Damage Therapy Hair Cream Treatment is a nice mask/conditioner when paired with the shampoo. I’m not sure I’d purchase it as a standalone product though.
And finally, the No-Wash Treatment is probably the only Damage Therapy product I wouldn’t pick up again, which is a shame as this is the one that made me buy the line to begin with. It’s just a bit of a faff – I think I’d stick with a regular hair oil!
One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is the scent profile of the GROWUS Damage Therapy haircare line. It smells like a mix of rose and blackcurrant – very floral and possibly not to everyone’s taste.
The scent has grown on me, although I wasn’t a fan at first – it is very ‘perfumey’. If you’re not big on botanical scents, then this is just something to bear in mind. If you do love a floral haircare product, then jump right in!
Are you interested in trying the GROWUS Damage Therapy Haircare Line? Which product has caught your eye the most?
