Korean Job Discussion Forums

Noureli · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Location: Nowhere but Here

Hey, I will be moving to Ulsan Korea in about a month. I was just wondering about hair dressers ands estheticians in Korea. What are the prices and services like? I'm coming from Montreal so everybody here is really advanced and all. I was just wonerding what you all do there for such things. Any answeres will be greatly apperciated. Thanks a bunch......

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Don't know about ulsan but in Seoul.

For me Korea has been a series of hair dos, dyes and don'ts. I've yet to find a hairdresser I would recommend without reservation.

Nails - There appears to be no certification required to set up a beauty shop thus if you find of/hear of someone good stick with it.

Waxing - Koreans don't really wax so finding a person who is able to do it well is very difficulot.

sistersarah · Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Location: hiding out

while some of us have found regular hair dressers, other have not had such luck.
i've been here 3 1/2 years. i've just let my hair grow during that time with occassional trims and box dyes (they sell some l'oreal and feria and other stuff).
i took a risk and went to a toni and guy salon in hongdae for highlights and layers and it was a hair disaster. i learned my lesson. it would have been over $100, but they felt bad and didn't charge me.

i think there's a thread about stuff like that.

anyway, in my experience, there are some decent hairdressers, but it's a risk. go with friends' recommendations and don't get anything major done on the first try.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

There's a big expat community in Bangojin (not sure of the spelling...Ulsanchris???) which is north of the city. You might find a place that is used to dealing with "foreign" hair there....

BTW, have fun in Ulsan! I did!!

thursdays child · Joined: 21 Sep 2005

I've had some great hair cuts here!! But it greatly depends on your hair type i think. I've got thick straight hair - so it's not strangee! And I usually take a picture. But, a few friends with curls have had nightmares -

Ekuboko · Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Location: ex-Gyeonggi

What I really hate is that most of the haircuts I have had have been dry cuts. Where I come from (NZ), that's not the norm, and I can't stand feeling and hearing the 'cutting' dry hair sounds. I have Asian hair and haven't had a satisfactory cut yet. Haircuts may be cheap, but now I know why! Korean hairdressers have a habit of pretending to listen to what you want and then doing what THEY want - I've had this chat with some female teachers and they agree!
Having said that, I had a straight 'perm' recently, and that was cheap as well as good.

As far as manicurists go, I haven't had one here even though they are really cheap. A friend had one for W20000 but was complaining less than a week later 'cos the varnish was chipping already. I think you just need to find a place that has reputable U.S. products (like O.P.I. or Jessica - I've seen the former here, but not the latter) and try them out.