South Korea’s Polyphenol Factory has introduced the Gravity g0.0 PDRN Hair Recovery Shampoo, a functional hair product combining KAIST-developed technology with marine microalgae-derived PDRN to address hair thinning and crown volume loss, according to company announcements. The product builds on the firm’s existing Gravity shampoo line by adding ingredients aimed at improving damaged hair texture while maintaining cleansing efficacy.
KAIST Technology and Core Ingredients
The shampoo utilizes a technology termed Coacervate Adhesive PDRN™, developed to prevent active ingredients from washing away immediately during a shower. According to Polyphenol Factory, PDRN—a DNA fragment structurally similar to human DNA—is combined with natural polyphenols to increase viscosity and adhesion to the scalp and hair strands. The company selected marine microalgae as the PDRN source to ensure stable supply and sustainable production compared to traditional fish-derived extraction methods.
Hyeshin Lee, a KAIST chemistry professor and research authority in natural polyphenols, designed the core formulation. The formulation allows polyphenol compounds to bind tightly to keratin, the protein found in hair, coating the strands to provide structural support. Additional ingredients included in the formulation are biotin, dexpanthenol, niacinamide, and salicylic acid to support overall scalp health.
Clinical Testing and Regulatory Certification
The product holds official certification from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea as a functional cosmetic designed to alleviate hair loss symptoms. Measurements also indicated an immediate 43.02% increase in crown volume following application and blow-drying.
Safety evaluations included a primary skin irritation test and an Excellent grade rating from Germany’s Dermatest. The formulation excludes 14 ingredients, including silicones, sulfates, lead, arsenic, and mercury.
Sales Performance and Market Reception
The broader Gravity shampoo line recorded sales exceeding 2.7 million bottles between its launch in April 2024 and late 2024, according to manufacturer figures. The newer g0.0 PDRN variant, released in June 2024, surpassed 70,000 units sold, including an inventory sellout of approximately 26,000 bottles during a television home shopping broadcast.
The product is retailed at 27,000 KRW for a 350mL bottle. Company representatives note that due to the active polyphenol ingredients, the shampoo liquid may naturally darken to a deep brown over time without affecting product efficacy.
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