12 Asian-Owned Hair Brands That Should Be on Your Radar

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, serving as a reminder to appreciate, celebrate, and support the diverse history and culture that these communities bring onto the table — and even to the shelves of our favorite stores.

So many trends — in beauty and beyond — can be traced back to their roots in China, Japan, Korea, India, and all sorts of diasporas. Viral topics like glass skin, Aryuvedic skin care, hair-oiling, as well as meditation have all stemmed from the Asian community, making a continuous impact on our everyday lives and practices. Not to mention, many beloved ingredients like snow mushroom, rice, ginseng, and silk have been deeply embedded in Asian cultures for centuries upon centuries.

Hair-wise, there are a growing number of Asian-owned brands gaining buzz for their creative goods. Take, Chunks, for example. You may have seen the Seattle, Washington-based line of quirky colorful hair accessories founded by Korean American, Tiffany Ju, while scrolling through your Instagram feed. The brand started out of Yu’s basement in 2019 with a clear goal: to manufacture transparency and dispel the negative stereotypes around “made in China” (more on this brand in a sec).

We’ve come a long way in recognizing the value and importance of Asian heritage and culture, but there’s still plenty of work that needs to be done. For centuries (and even more so in the past two years), we can’t ignore the racial discrimination surrounding the AAPI community.

Joining change-making communities, donating to mission-driven organizations, and shopping from Asian-owned brands are just a few of the many ways to show your support this month and always. When it comes to the latter, read on to discover and support 12 Asian-owned hair brands that we just can’t get enough of.