KAIST Researchers' "Gravity Shampoo" Launched at France's Top 3 Department Store Printemps

by Kim Heungsoon

Published 27 Apr.2026 10:25(KST)

First Korean Shampoo Brand in Major French Department Stores
Functional Hair Care Product with Patented Polyphenol Technology
1.85 Million Bottles Sold in Just Two Years Since Launch

Polyphenol Factory, a beauty tech startup founded by researchers from KAIST, announced on April 27 that its functional hair care product, Gravity Shampoo, has been launched at Printemps, a French luxury department store.


Local customers are examining Gravity Shampoo, which is stocked in Printemps, one of France's three major luxury department stores. Provided by Polyphenol Factory

Local customers are examining Gravity Shampoo, which is stocked in Printemps, one of France's three major luxury department stores. Provided by Polyphenol Factory

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Printemps is recognized as one of France's three major luxury department stores, alongside Galeries Lafayette and Le Bon March?. This marks the first time that a Korean shampoo brand has entered these leading department stores.


Gravity Shampoo is based on a patented polyphenol technology developed by Professor Lee Haeshin's research team in the Department of Chemistry at KAIST, inspired by the adhesive properties of mussels. The product was launched in Korea in April 2024, selling out its initial stock within 109 hours. It went on to achieve 17 consecutive sold-out pre-order events. Within two years of its launch, cumulative sales surpassed 1.85 million bottles.


Lotte Homeshopping, which has been supporting domestic and international promotion and exports, recorded KRW 1 billion in sales just 35 minutes into its broadcast. The product has also received positive responses in overseas markets, including Japan and Taiwan. At CES 2026, the world's largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, Gravity Shampoo achieved an export contract for 70,000 bottles following a sellout on Amazon.


The company explained that the successful entry into Printemps was largely due to selling all 5,000 units prepared on the first day of the 2024 Foire de Paris exhibition. Gravity Shampoo aims to achieve annual sales of 5 million bottles both domestically and internationally this year.


Professor Lee, the CEO of Polyphenol Factory, stated, "Technology developed in the KAIST laboratory is now reaching consumers at the heart of Europe," and added, "We hope to showcase not only the potential of K-Beauty but also of K-Tech."

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