Everything that’s hot seems to stem from Korea these days, from K-dramas and fashion trends to makeup and hair.
The latter in particular is so easy to love. Korean hairstyles are incredibly versatile – from a stylish and sleek bob cut to a demure C perm, there’s something for everyone (and every face shape).
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Luckily for us, there’s no need to fly all the way to Korea to have a haircut. Check out this curated list of the must-visit Korean salons in Singapore – each with its own signature treatments to try. Now you know where to go for your next haircut!
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Founded by the same team behind Leekaja Beauty Salon, Walking on Sunshine boasts a beautiful enchanted garden-inspired décor. It’s also attached to a café, so you can indulge in a healthy selection of Korean cuisine right after transforming your hair.
SIGNATURE: Volume rebonding and trendy hair colours
Besides going there for the décor and potential Instagram opportunities, the salon is also known for its colour treatment gives you a bright hue without bleaching. This colour service uses Shiseido Professional Primience colours that have been specially developed for the melanin in Asian hair, which tends to have more reddish or brassy hues.
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Located within Mandarin Gallery is this one-stop beauty destination. With franchises all over Korea and other countries including America and now Singapore, Leekaja isn’t just a salon. It provides a suite of beauty services including nail art, eyelash extensions and makeup packages. The place also houses a cafe that serves you refreshments while you pamper yourself, making it the perfect place for a monthly indulgence.
SIGNATURE: Cinderella keratin treatment
The salon’s signature? The highly raved Cinderella keratin treatment that promises to salvage damaged hair by strengthening and repairing it. If you’re into a holistic pampering experience, consider the head spa and scalp treatment.
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Led by director Soo Bin, Be De Bon is one of the few Korean salons you should be familiar with. Soo Bin has been in the hairstyling industry for a good 20 years, and she’s highly sought after for haircuts that are low-maintenance, flattering, and last for a long time. Other popular Be De Bon hairstylists include Vicky, who used to work closely with celebrities back in Korea, and Ailee, a favourite amongst younger customers thanks to her penchant for creating haircuts that shave years off your actual age.
SIGNATURE: Low-maintenance cuts and C-curl rebonding
Beside’s Soo Bin’s signature low-maintenance cuts, you should also try out C-curl rebonding done by Vicky. You’ll achieve sleek hair, all day, every day with this treatment.
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Located at The Cathay, The Space Hair Salon boasts a softly-lit space with tall ceilings and Instagram-worthy décor. The salon makes sure that each stylist doesn’t handle more than two customers at one time, which means you’ll get to experience a more personal and detail-oriented service.
SIGNATURE: Perms
Lee Han, the founder of the salon, is extremely popular for his ability to create supposedly perfect perms. He uses different types of perm lotion on different sections of the hair in order to achieve the results he envisions. Be warned: do make your appointments far in advance as he’s highly sought after for his skills.
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Located within Millenia Walk is Zinc salon. The place boasts an all-Korean team that promises a full Korean experience. Spacious and sleek with an industrial chic interior, you’ll definitely fall in love with the plush interiors!
SIGNATURE: Korean natural perm
The stylists are all extremely experienced within their own expertise, and are also fluent in English so you don’t have to worry about miscommunication. Try the Korean perm because that is their forte. A perm may be a no-brainer, but this all-Korean team should be able to take the Korean wave to the next level!
Koinonia is actually a Greek word that roughly translates to “joyful sharing”, and Koinonia Salon aims to provide just that with its services to its customers.The services provided in-house are all inspired by Korean styling techniques, like the oh-so-popular S- and C-curl perms.
SIGNATURE: Volume rebonding
Do you have frizzy and coloured hair that can no longer withstand further damage? If you still insist on straightening your hair, try volume rebonding. Unlike usual rebonding, this treatment is said to last longer; up to three or four months. In addition, the chemicals used are intensively moisturising, causing little damage during the entire process. So bid farewell to frizzy hair!
The final highlight of the treatment is the S- or C-curl that’s applied at the roots for a subtle boost in volume, as opposed to the rather flat top you get when you rebond at regular salons.
We’re just going to put this out there: There is unlimited coffee, free parking, a VIP corner and the salon uses chemical-free ingredients. Plus the decor of Salon b is lush and cushy, and makes for a great place to hang out if you have nothing on. Leading the salon is director Sunny Lee, who helms a Korean and Asian crew specialising in intense cuts and colour, plus the the hallyu (Korean wave) perm, of course.
SIGNATURE: Intense cuts with strong colours
If you’re looking for something that’s more than just a beauty salon, Salon b will cater to all your needs with its lifestyle concept. Intense colours, remember? Now you can be that edgy Korean pop star to stand out from your group of friends.
The first Korean salon to hit our shores in 2003, Ocean Korean Hair Salon, formerly known as Jiwon Hair Salon, located at Winsland House beckons with its sleek wooden interiors and lush in-salon botanical decor, reflective of its philosophy of using only plant-derived products.
SIGNATURE: Colour and scalp treatment
Whether you want a colour or scalp treatment (from $120), get pampered with Aveda products which are 96 per cent natural, while hair glossing treatments are infused with botanical oils that improve your hair’s condition so you emerge with ‘rich girl’-style hair that’s satiny, loose and luxe.
Whether you want a C-curl, S-curl, natural wave or bold wave perm, the Korean staff at The Wiz will deliver on their promise of buoyant, bouncy curls. The men can get in on the fun too with innovative hair cuts and perms by owner Bella Yoon, who has had 15 years of experience working in Korea.
SIGNATURE: Korean iron perm
The Korean iron perm (from $250) is ideal for guys who have thick, hard-to-style hair, we can’t guarantee they’ll leave looking like Nam Joo Hyuk but it’ll definitely be an upgrade.
A version of this story first appeared in Her World.