Complete Guide to Popular Korean Women's Hairstyles | 2024 Edition
A full guide to Korean perms, haircuts, and hair colors that are loved by Korean women and popular amongst K-pop girl groups and K-drama actresses!
Have you ever wondered how K-pop girl group idols and K-drama actresses always have the most perfect, trendy hairstyles? From long, wavy hair to a short, layered bob-cut, Korean women, not just celebrities, are always rocking the most stylish hair looks.
So how do they all have such beautiful hair? Well, since Korea's beauty industry is so well-developed, there are hair salons on almost every street in Seoul – if you're visiting Korea, you can't leave without getting your hair done, especially in popular areas like Gangnam, Hongdae, or Myeongdong!
If you want to get your hair done at a Korean hair salon but you're not sure what hairstyle to go for, here's a full list of different types of haircuts, colors, and perms complete with photos for you to refer to!
Korean Hair Salons
Korean Perms
1. Build Perm (빌드펌)
Medium Layered Cut Build Perm | Medium Layered Cut Build Perm Side Bangs |
Shoulder-length Cut Build Perm Side Bangs | Medium Cut Build Perm Side Bangs |
The build perm is meant to create a more fluffed-up, voluminous look and consists of C-curls that curl outwards or inwards towards the ends.
It's usually paired with a slightly layered cut to create a naturally feminine look, as well as a root perm for more volume!
2. Hug Perm (허그펌)
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Long Layered Cut Hug Perm | Long Layered Cut Hug Perm See-Through Bangs |
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Medium Layered Cut Hug Perm See-Through Bangs | Long Layered Cut Hug Perm Side Bangs |
A hug perm is usually done on long hair, as it consists of large C-curls on the ends that 'hug' the face.
It's a very simple, flattering hairstyle that anyone can pull off! It's best to get this perm with layers so the bottom doesn't get too heavy-looking or overly thick.
3. Grace Perm / Elizabeth Perm (그레이스펌 / 엘리자베스펌)
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Medium Elizabeth Perm See-Through Bangs | Long Elizabeth Perm Curtain Bangs |
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Grace Perm Front Bangs | Layered Grace Perm Side Bangs |
The Elizabeth perm and Grace perm are very similar and is a really popular Korean perm for medium to long hair, as the curls give off a very elegant look.
The difference is that the Elizabeth perm consists of both S-curls and C-curls, and the Grace perm consists of S-curls only. They both give the hair a full, voluminous shape, but with different vibes!
4. Jelly Perm (젤리펌) / Hippie Perm (히피펌)
Long Jelly Perm | Long Jelly Perm Side Bangs |
Shoulder-Length Layered Cut Hippie Perm See-Through Bangs | Long Layered Cut Hippie Perm Side Bangs |
A jelly perm gives tight S-curls to the hair from roots to ends, giving thick waves to the hair. A hippie perm is similar but has even tighter curls, giving a more dramatic, curly look.
It's super cute and is a great way to add lots of volume and texture to your hair!
5. Sleek Perm (슬릭펌)
Sleek Perm Long Layered Cut | Sleek Perm Straight Bangs |
Sleek Perm | Sleek Perm Layered Cut Full Bangs |
The sleek perm has been widely popular in Korea recently as a Y2K look. It's considered the "NewJeans hairstyle" since many of the members have this hairstyle!
It's a very clean, simple look that makes one look very chic, put-together, and stylish at the same time. It's usually done on long hair and is paired with a hair treatment for a more sleek look!
Hair Salon Recommendation:
Park Jun Beauty Lab | Cheongdam Station Branch
When it comes to Korean perms, Park Jun Beauty Lab in Cheongdam is the way to go! It's located in Cheongdam, which is where all the Korean celebrities go to get their hair done. The high-rated reviews on Google prove that this branch of Park Jun Beauty Lab is one of the best!
They specialize in Korean perms, root perms, and head spa scalp treatments, and all the designers have over 15 years of experience in the Korean hair industry. They also have lots of experience with foreigners!
You can experience the special 15 Step K-Perm option here, which is unique to the Cheongdam branch and includes a luxurious 15-step head spa treatment in addition to a Korean-style perm. Click the link below to book an appointment with up to 20% off!
Korean Haircuts
1. Layered Cut (레이어드컷)
| Layered Cut C-Curl Perm | Layered Cut Border Perm See-Through Bangs |
| Layered Cut Build Perm See-Through Bangs | Layered Cut Build Perm Straight Bangs |
A layered cut is always a classic! It gives a more elegant, effortless look to your hair and a lot more volume. You can get a layered cut with any hair length, and also choose how intense you want the layers to be.
2. Hush Cut (허쉬컷)
| Short Hush Cut C-Curl Perm Bangs | Medium Hush Cut Build Perm Side Bangs |
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| Medium Hush Cut See-Through Bangs | Long Hush Cut Elizabeth Perm |
The hush cut is currently the most popular haircut in Korea! You might see many Korean women sporting this style in trendy areas like Hongdae, Seongsu, or Gangnam.
It's a type of layered cut that has 2 distinct sections, with the top section having layers starting around the neck area and the bottom section remaining thinner and longer. It was popularized by Red Velvet's Wendy, and went so viral that people started calling it the Wendy Cut!
3. Hime Cut (히메컷)
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| Long Hime Cut Straight Bangs | Multi-Layer Hime Cut |
| Long Hime Cut Straight Bangs Gradation Hair Color | Long Hime Cut |
This Japanese-style haircut has been one of the newest hairstyle trends here in Korea. It gained even more popularity when Suzy sported the look for her K-drama character Lee Doona!
It's a very angular hairstyle that consists of blocks of straight, horizontal cuts without connecting layers. It gives off very chic vibes!
4. Tassel Cut (태슬컷)
| Textured Tassel Cut Side Bangs | Tassel Cut Sleek Perm |
| Tassel Cut Full Bangs | Tassel Cut Build Perm Straight Bangs |
Like its name, the tassel cut is a short hairstyle that is cut straight across the ends, resembling a tassel! It is a very clean, chic look that many Korean actresses and idols go for at one point.
Actress Seol In-ah trended in Korea after appearing in the K-drama 'Business Proposal' because people loved her in a tassel cut so much!
Hair Salon Recommendation:
If you're looking to get a trendy Korean haircut, we recommend The Day's Hair in Hongdae! The stylists are very precise and have lots of experience with foreign customers. Book an appointment in the link below for up to 20% off!
Korean Hair Colors
1. Hair Colors by Season
K-pop idols are known for trying all kinds of hair colors, especially when they are making a comeback! Korean women usually like to change their hair color according to the season to match the vibes.
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
 Rose Pink Sombre / Ash Gray |
Fall |
2. Secret Two-tone
The secret two-tone style has been extremely popular in recent years, not just in Korea, but worldwide!
The style consists of two different colors on the top and bottom layers, with the bottom layer usually being a lighter tone. It's a really fun and unique look!
3. Platinum/Pastel
Bolder colors are still popular amongst Korean women! Platinum blonde or gray and pastel pink, purple, and blue have been most popular in recent years.
In some cases, it may take multiple sessions to achieve the desired color. It's definitely worth trying if you want that K-pop look!
Hair Salon Recommendation:
For a trendy pop of color in your hair, we recommend trying out SOONSIKI Hair, located in Hongdae! This salon has multiple branches in Hongdae and is quite popular among foreigners. Click the link below to book an appointment at the main branch with up to 20% off!
Current Korean Hairstyle Trends | 2024
If you like sticking to trends, here are the top 5 Korean hairstyles that are expected to trend in 2024!
1) Long Grace Perm
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aespa Karina | Lim Jiyeon |
2) Red Hair
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LE SSERAFIM YUNJIN | aespa Winter |
3) Hime Cut
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Bae Suzy | NewJeans Hanni |
4) Medium Hush Cut
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Red Velvet Wendy | IU |
5) Sleek Cut
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LE SSERAFIM KAZUHA | Girls' Generation Taeyeon |
Korean Hair Salon Reservations
We hope this blog will help you figure out what kind of hairstyle you want next! We'll be monitoring all the newest hair trends so keep checking back for updates! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!
