I Tried Medicube’s PDRN Hair Care Line—Here’s What Surprised Me About It

Despite over a decade of testing products under my belt, I still get a flutter of excitement around new launches—and even I can’t resist the pull of pretty packaging. But as a seasoned beauty expert, I’ve also developed a healthy instinct for separating true innovation from really, really good marketing.

That tension—hope versus skepticism—is exactly what brought me to Medicube’s new Rosemary PDRN Hair Care line. The three-step system, consisting of a shampoo, conditioner, and rollerball scalp serum, promises to strengthen hair from root to tip, with the goal of making it look fuller, smoother, and overall healthier. It’s an ambitious claim, especially in a hair care market crowded with growth- and repair-focused formulas that promise Rapunzel-like results.

The entire lineup is formulated with a mix of buzzy and botanically familiar ingredients — think rosemary, PDRN, EGF (aka, epidermal growth factors), and an amino acid complex —all designed to nourish the scalp and smooth strands without weighing them down. Below, a closer look at each product — and whether it’s worth the hype.

Let’s start with the PDRN of it all. Short for polydeoxyribonucleotide, PDRN is a skincare ingredient derived from ultra-purified salmon DNA fragments. It first gained traction in Korean dermatology clinics via injectable treatments like Rejuran, where it’s prized for its ability to support cellular repair, reduce inflammation, and encourage overall skin regeneration. In topical formulas, proponents say it can help hydrate, strengthen, and rebalance the skin barrier—so its expansion into categories beyond skincare, like haircare, feels like a natural next step. Several Medicube bestsellers already feature the ingredient: The brand’s PDRN Pink Collagen range includes everything from toner pads to overnight masks to serums. (Our beauty director raved about the PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Masks in particular for achieving a juicy, “glass skin” effect.) I’ve used various PDRN skincare throughout the last year, and in my experience, the ingredient is a gamechanger for barrier repair. That said, a quick fix it’s not: You might not notice a huge difference at first, but over time, your skin will look and feel overall calmer and healthier—at least that’s been my experience thus far. I was hoping Medicube’s PDRN shampoo would have a similar effect on my scalp, which often gets dry and itchy. 

Dispensed into your palms, Medicube’s PDRN Cooling Thickening Shampoo is dotted with tiny green microbeads, which immediately set it apart from your average formula. These capsules are designed to deliver a concentrated blend of PDRN and rosemary extract as you work the product through your hair. Rosemary, long associated with scalp care, is known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to soothe irritation and keep dandruff in check. It also lends a subtle cooling sensation on contact, which can feel especially refreshing if your scalp is prone to itchiness or sensitivity. It also lathered up nicely, and effectively absorbed excess oils and product buildup — all while not making my scalp feel dry or tight. 

According to Dr. Ethan Wonuk Hwang, a cosmetic physician and the director of Cheongdam Lebelle Clinic in Seoul, rosemary contains ursolic acid and camphor. “This provides a mild stimulating effect to the skin and creates a natural vasodilation, or temporary widening of the blood vessels to improve circulation,” he explains. Theoretically, this complements the PDRN in the formula by “ensuring the scalp is biologically active and ready to absorb topicals.” In other words, rosemary helps set the stage for PDRN to work its magic. 

And while it seems like we’ve been seeing those salmon sperm facials all over TikTok forever, the truth is that the ingredient is still in early stages of being fully researched and understood — especially when it comes to long-term effects. “PDRN is still a relatively new ingredient, especially as it pertains to its application in hair care,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “We can assume that, based on PDRN’s regenerative properties, there could be a benefit to supporting scalp health, which can help with growth, but we still need more data to confirm this. In the meantime, it does seem to be well-tolerated by most people, which is important when comparing the potential risks vs. benefits of trying anything new.”

Next, I moved on to Medicube’s Rosemary PDRN Hair and Scalp Conditioner. I’ll admit: when I first squeezed it out of the tube, the thin, almost slippery consistency didn’t exactly inspire confidence. I typically gravitate toward richer, more emollient formulas to manage my thick, coarse, frizz-prone hair, so this felt like a bit of a departure.

That said, the lightweight, lotion-like texture quickly proved to be an asset. It spread effortlessly through my hair, and while I was initially hesitant to apply it from scalp to ends—most trichologists recommend keeping conditioner to the mid-lengths and below—I was surprised by how balanced it felt. There was no lingering residue, heaviness, or greasiness, even at the roots.

Once my hair dried, the results were equally unexpected: it looked just as smooth as it does when I use my usual, much richer conditioners—if not slightly sleeker. I’d credit that to the amino acids in the formula, which are often included in haircare for their ability to help strengthen, repair, and maintain moisture in the hair fiber without adding excess weight.

While discussing the line with Dr. Hwang, his enthusiasm was most noticeable when we got to Medicube’s PDRN Scalp Serum. The formula is built around spicules—microscopic, needle-like particles typically derived from marine sponges—which are designed to create temporary microchannels in the skin. In theory, this allows active ingredients—here, PDRN, along with EGF and caffeine, which is often used to help stimulate blood flow—to penetrate more effectively.

“The scalp is one of the thickest areas of skin on the body, so high-molecular-weight ingredients like PDRN often sit on the surface,” says Hwang. By incorporating spicules, he explains, the formula can enhance absorption significantly while also triggering a mild wound-healing response, which may help stimulate the scalp’s natural collagen production.

As for the user experience, I’d give it a solid 7.5 out of 10. The metal applicator features three small rollerballs that help massage the serum into the scalp, adding a tension-relieving, almost spa-like element to the process. The main drawback is that it’s somewhat challenging to control the amount of product dispensed with each squeeze. Combined with the relatively small size (just 0.67 fluid ounces), it’s easy to imagine going through the tube fairly quickly — I’d say within two uses if you’re applying it all over the scalp.

The serum itself is lightweight and absorbs almost instantly, leaving no greasy residue at the roots. It also delivers a noticeable cooling effect—something I can see myself especially appreciating during Seoul’s notoriously humid summer months.

Final Thoughts

In full transparency, I can’t confidently speak to the line’s claims around hair growth or increased fullness—I already have relatively thick (albeit very dry) hair to begin with, so those changes would be harder for me to gauge. What I can say is that the formulas exceeded my initial expectations in other ways. The sensorial experience—where the line really stands out, in my opinion—paired with the noticeable improvement in smoothness and overall strength, makes it a routine I’ve genuinely enjoyed using.

I plan to keep it in rotation for those reasons alone, though I’ll likely swap in a richer conditioning treatment here and there when my hair needs a bit more intensive moisture.

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