Haircuts & beauty

Prices, how to book, bringing photos, and finding a salon that gets your hair right.

In short

A men's cut runs ~₩15,000–35,000; a women's cut ~₩25,000–55,000. Budget barber chains (e.g. Blue Club) are ~₩12,000–13,000.
Bring reference photos. Korean stylists work from pictures, and it's easier than describing a cut in words. No tipping.
Trendy salons are appointment-based (book via Naver/KakaoTalk, which often needs an ARC + Korean number). Neighborhood shops take walk-ins.
Korean salons are known for perms (digital/setting/down/volume), scalp/head-spa treatments and color analysis. English-friendly salons cluster in Hongdae, Itaewon, Gangnam, Myeongdong.

A haircut in a new country can be stressful. Salons in Korea are good and not expensive, and some are very used to foreign customers. Here's how to get the cut you want.

What it costs

Service	Typical price
Men's haircut	₩15,000–35,000 (budget chains ~₩12,000)
Women's haircut (wash+cut+style)	₩25,000–55,000
Perm (digital/setting)	~₩100,000–160,000+
Color	~₩70,000–150,000 (more with bleach)
Scalp / head spa	~₩60,000–100,000

Prices rise with the stylist's grade (junior → director); many salons list a uniform rate (~₩33,000) if you don't pick a specific designer. There's no tipping, and staff will politely refuse.

Booking & walk-ins

Trendy/upscale salons are appointment-only. Book via Naver Booking or KakaoTalk (Instagram DM for some barbers). Online booking may require legal residency (ARC + Korean phone + bank).
Neighborhood shops take walk-ins. Budget barber chains (Blue Club) are fast, cheap, and self-service on shampooing.
First-visit discounts are common on Naver Booking ("first visit 20% off perm/color").

Getting the cut you want

Bring photos. Korean stylists work from pictures. Reference images (ideally from Korean social media/Naver blogs) explain what you want much better than words. Show what you want and what you don't.
Learn a few words: "짧게 해주세요 (jjalge haejuseyo)" = cut it short; "조금만 (jogeumman)" = just a little; "다듬어 주세요 (dadeumeo juseyo)" = just a trim.
Korean men's styles: the two-block (투블럭) is the most common cut; also dandy cut, see-through fringe, leaf/hush cuts.
Perms here are often for texture and shape, to make daily styling easier, and not only for curls. Down perm (다운펌) flattens puffy sides (popular with men); volume magic (볼륨매직) smooths frizz with soft volume; root perm (뿌리펌) lifts flat hair.

Textured, curly or Afro hair: many mainstream Korean salons have little experience with non-straight hair, and results can disappoint. Look for salons/barbers that specialize in diverse textures. Check a stylist's Instagram for photos of clients with hair like yours. Itaewon (and Pyeongtaek near the base) have the most options; the Facebook group "Black Hair Salons/Braids In Korea" is very useful.

Finding an English-friendly salon

Foreigner-friendly clusters: Hongdae, Itaewon, Gangnam, Myeongdong, Sinchon.
Known names with English service include Juno Hair (many branches), Soonsiki and The Day's Hair (Hongdae), Evanstyle (men's), and various Gangnam/Myeongdong salons. Many can be booked online with interpreter slots.
"Foreigner-friendly" should also mean experience with your hair type, and English alone isn't enough. Check the stylist's portfolio first.

Extras Korean salons do well

Head spa / scalp treatments: relaxing and popular; some places specialize (e.g. scalp clinics).
Hair "clinic" (헤어 클리닉): intensive conditioning, often recommended with perm/color to limit damage. Worth getting with chemical services.
Personal color analysis: a popular Korean trend where they find the palette that suits your skin tone (Gangnam/Hongdae studios).
Small extras like drinks, snacks, shampoo and styling usually come with a cut.

Perm + color same day? Usually not recommended. The combined chemicals can damage hair, and many stylists will decline. Space them ~2 weeks apart, and add a treatment for chemical services.

Common questions

Do I tip?

No. Korea has no tipping culture, and staff will refuse.

How do I book if I don't speak Korean?

Use foreigner-friendly salons (many take online bookings with interpreter slots), or walk into neighborhood shops. Bring photos regardless.

Can they cut curly/Afro hair?

Only specialist salons do it reliably. Check Instagram portfolios, try Itaewon, and use the Black Hair Salons Facebook group.

What's a two-block?

The standard modern Korean men's cut: short sides/back, longer top. Ask by name or show a photo.

Sources: 2026 foreigner salon guides (Creatrip, 10 Magazine, South of Seoul, FOHO), salon price lists. Prices approximate and vary by salon/stylist grade.

Last verified: July 2026. Prices and salon details change, so confirm when booking. General information.

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