You know the moment. Your favorite group is about to have a comeback, and all you’re waiting for is for them to show up at the airport or outside of their agency so you can start betting on their new hair shades. While I absolutely love to play guess-your-idol’s-next-hair-color, I can’t help by wonder: how do they keep their hair healthy after so much coloring and styling? While I constantly dream about dying my hair pink, I also ask myself, is there a secret to prevent your hair from basically falling out after constantly dying it?

Well, our prayers have been answered, because thankfully, idols are not ones to keep the secret to themselves. From apple cider vinegar rinses — yes, you read that right — to weekly intensive hair masks, here are a few tips and tricks idols rely on to keep their beautiful hair healthy and shiny, and some recs on the products that can help you reach your #hairgoals.

Washing your hair only 1-2 times a week

This one is an absolute must for idols, and it is for you too! If you wash your hair on a daily basis, you may think this is crazy, but it actually makes a lot of sense. While there’s no one rule for how long you should wait in-between washes — as it depends on your hair type and your scalp’s condition — over-washing your hair can be just as bad as not washing it enough, as it can strip the hair from oils that are necessary for growth and overall hair health. It’s ideal to wash your mane from one to three times a week tops, as doing more than that will contribute to drying out both your hair and scalp.

Apple cider vinegar rinse

Yes, I know, it sounds weird. Why would you put ACV on your hair? This magical ferment from apples can help restore life into your hair in the blink of an eye. Now, this does NOT mean you can just run to your kitchen, grab a bottle of apple cider vinegar, and pour it on top of your head. You can either create your own rinse — there are some recipes out there depending on your hair type — or you can go for the safe choice and purchase a pre-made rinse.

In a few words, ACV is your best friend to get build-up off of your hair. Due to its acidic nature, it can take care of grease, grime, and all the products you put in your hair in-between washes. Not only that, but this ferment is also great for your scalp health, helping keep the pH in balance. Many idols have confessed they use an ACV rinse every time they wash their hair as a way to keep their hair healthy, shiny, and smooth.

dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

R+Co Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse

Gloss treatments

If you ever wonder what the trick is behind super shiny locks, there are probably two answers: a good hair care routine and gloss treatments. Think of gloss treatments as if you were applying a protective layer of glass on top of your hair. A gloss is basically a temporary treatment — lasting up to 6 weeks — that can help fix your hair tone and add some shine.

They come in colored and translucent shades, so you can decide if you only want the glossy effect or also a bit of a color change/enhancement. For those who suffer from grey hairs, or if you dyed your locks but don’t want to keep adding permanent products to it, glosses are a great alternative.

dpHUE Gloss+

Kristin Ess Signature Gloss

Intensive hair masks

At the end of the day, both our skin and hair need one thing to stay healthy: hydration. Because of the weather change, our hormones, lifestyles, and the products we use, our hair tends to lose hydration easily, reason why we need to ask for a little help from our friends, the hair masks, once in a while.

A hair mask is basically a deep conditioning treatment that helps heal damaged hair and bring back its natural healthy self. Natural oils and lipids are usually found in these, and they’re commonly heavier in concentration than your regular conditioner. Now, there are hundreds and hundreds of different hair masks out there. The key is to keep an eye on ingredients: prefer those that feature natural oils, such as almond, jojoba, olive, or avocado; and superfoods such as bananas, oats, honey or seeds, and vitamins.

Nature Republic Argan Essential Deep Care Hair Pack

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Mask

Hair supplements

Not everything is in the products we put in our hair. It’s also about how things are working in our system. Idols can’t live without their vitamins, including ones focused on hair. While these supplements are not enough to keep your hair healthy, they can definitely help prevent hair loss and thinning and promote healthy hair growth, so your hair grows back stronger. Now, these don’t work overnight. If you wanna see results, make sure to take them daily for at least 5 to 6 months!

HUM Hair Sweey Hair Gummies

Love Wellness Perfect Condition Vitamin

Scalp treatments

We usually pay way too much attention to the hair we already grew, but it’s our scalp we should actually be focusing on. There’s only so much we can do for the hair we’ve already cultivated, but if we want it to look and feel great in the long run, taking care of your scalp is a must, and idols know this. In order for it to be considered healthy and at its best, there are a few elements you need to keep under control: moisture and oils, pH balance, cleanliness, circulation, and protection. Once these are in balance, you will feel the improvement of your scalp and see your hair grow shinier and stronger than ever!

NatureLab. TOKYO Clarifying Scalp Scrub

Innisfree Strength Tonic Essence

Do you use any of these on your regular hair routine, Soompiers? Let us know in the comments!

Caromalis is a K-pop, K-fashion, and K-beauty obsessed content creator and writer. You can find her interviewing some of your (and her) favorite groups when they visit NYC, trying the latest K-beauty trends or testing idols’ skincare routines. Say hi to Caro on Instagram and Twitter!