First time trying a makeup studio in Hongdae, Korea! Honest impressions from two Japanese visitors
May
a month ago
One of the best parts of traveling to Korea is trying a “makeup studio” where you can get full professional hair and makeup done, then take photos like a Korean idol or actress.
I’d seen them all over social media and had been curious for a while, so on this trip to Korea, my friend and I tried a makeup studio in Hongdae for the first time.
After actually experiencing it, there were definitely moments where I thought, “I’m so glad we did this!”, but there were also things I wished I’d known beforehand that would have made it even more fun.
Hoping this helps anyone planning to go, here are my honest thoughts.
Hongdae is a youth neighborhood, but the streets surprised me a bit
This time we visited the Hongdae area in Korea.
Hongdae is known as a youth neighborhood, famous for shopping, cafes, street performances, and more.
When we actually walked around, it was really lively, and there were lots of stylish places.
That said, personally, the area felt a little dirtier than I expected.
There were spots with trash on the ground, and in some places there was even a sewer-like smell, which surprised me a little.
Of course, it’s not like all of Hongdae is like that, but I did feel a bit of a gap compared to the sparkly image I had from social media.
Still, there really are so many stylish shops and cafes, it’s a fun neighborhood just to walk around in.
Heading to a makeup studio for the first time
The place we used was a makeup studio that includes both Korean-style makeup and a photo shoot.
It’s not something you can easily experience in Japan, so I was really excited.
After checking in, we started with makeup and hair styling.
Unlike my everyday makeup, the finish focused on that Korean-style glow and dimension, and I got to experience professional techniques I could never do myself.
The moment I looked in the mirror, I got so excited, like, “So this is Korean makeup!”
My friend also looked completely different from her usual vibe, and we had a great time taking photos of each other.
I thought I could choose any outfit…
On social media, I’d seen people doing shoots in all kinds of outfits, so I assumed you could “choose whatever clothes you like.”
But in reality, we couldn’t freely choose outfits.
Make sure you go wearing a cute outfit you love!
It said they supported Japanese, but…
The booking site said “Japanese available,” so I booked feeling reassured.
However, when we actually went, there was hardly any guidance in Japanese, and communication with the staff was basically in English.
It was simple English so I managed to understand, but if you’re not comfortable with English, you might feel a bit anxious.
That said, the staff were very kind and really tried their best to communicate, so it didn’t leave me with any bad feelings.
Still, because I went expecting “Japanese support,” it was a little disappointing.
Once the shoot started…
After the makeup and hair were done, it was finally time for the photo shoot.
At first, the photographer gave detailed direction like, “Turn your face a little to the right,” “Chin down,” “Put your hand here.”
So even as a first-timer, I could relax and shoot with confidence.
But as the shoot went on,
“Next, do any pose you like.”
was said more and more often.
And that’s when I completely froze.
I’m not used to being photographed in the first place, so I went blank thinking, “What pose am I supposed to do?”
Time just kept passing, and I ended up doing a bunch of half-baked poses.
My friend struggled the same way, and we somehow made it through while laughing, but afterward we both said, “We really should have thought about poses in advance.”
If you’re going, decide on the “look you want” in advance!
The biggest thing I felt from this experience was how important it is to prepare beforehand.
Do you want a Korean idol vibe, something more mature, or a cute style?
Also, I think saving pose ideas on Instagram or Pinterest is really helpful for the actual shoot.
During the shoot, you hardly have any time to think.
Even if they tell you “Any pose you like,” it’s not easy to come up with something on the spot.
I went in with zero preparation, so I’m left thinking, “I should’ve tried more poses,” “I should’ve captured that expression too,” and I regret it a little.
Since you’re getting photographed by a pro, I really think even saving a few ideal reference shots can make a big difference in how satisfied you feel.
I also had some regrets when choosing photos…
After the shoot, you choose your favorites from all the photos taken.
But in my case, since all my poses were kind of in-between, it was hard to find that one shot that made me think, “This is it!”
In the end, I chose based on instinct, but I still thought, “If I’d worked on my posing, maybe I would’ve picked different photos,” and I regretted it a bit.
Photos are something you keep forever, so that part still feels like a small missed opportunity.
Even so, I’m glad I did it!
There were a few disappointing points, but overall I still feel, “I’m glad we tried it.”
You don’t often get your hair and makeup done by a professional, and you also don’t get many chances to be photographed in a proper studio.
Just spending that time with my friend, laughing and saying things like, “That makeup looks so good on you!” and “Posing is hard!”, became a really wonderful memory.
As an experience that’s unique to traveling in Korea, even now, every time I look at the photos, it brings me right back to the trip.
If you’re planning to go, definitely prepare a few “looks you want” and “poses you want to try” before you visit.
I think that alone will make a huge difference in how satisfied you are with the shoot.
And if I ever get the chance to use a makeup studio in Korea again, next time I want to plan my poses and overall vibe properly and do it right.
There were some mistakes because it was my first time, but even that became part of an unforgettable Korea travel memory.
