Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jane]

Johnny is no longer at Zen, and has branched out on his own. His salon now is called Hair and Joy.

I got magic straight done last night, and am very pleased with the job. I got it done in the Korean salon the building where I live. Got quoted double the price at zen, so decided not to go there.

[Shaunad]

Hair cuts can go wrong - very wrong at home as well!! I think best bet is to cut out a picture of the hair you want - from internet or a magazine and show it to them! Least you'll end up with something in that area!

[Epicurus]

hair cuts and especially highlights or hair coloring can be a forgettable experience with anyone, even back home.

in Korea, you have the added problem of the language barrier, being able to communicate what one wants, has issues with is pretty important in a hair stylist.

The other Korean issue is finding one who understands what our concept of something is. for example - for most Koreans, blonde highlight or coloring will mean something that's ginger colored. That's not what it means for Westerners.

Having a Korean stylists who has worked with Westerners and understands such concepts I think is important. that's why I'll recommend Lucy from (ex Zen) - is she moving to Hongdae with that Johnny guy or whatever?

she worked for years in London and now cuts almost exclusively Western hair. Her English is fairly good. I still can't quite get her to do my hair like it came out back home, but it's a work in progress and I can live with the results, even if not quite what I want(ed).

yes, their pricing is high, quite high actually. If I had any confidence in other, more local places, then I probably wouldn't pay it, but I don't - so I shell out the big bucks every three months when I go to see her.

Their clientele is now probably 90% plus foreigner, and their price structure probably 100% higher (or more!) than a local place - but at least you have an idea that you're walking into a place with at least a semblance of a clue as to what you're looking for.

the choice is yours.

It's actually a nice little racket they've stumbled into. Lucy admits that their Korean friend stylists are jealous because they could never get away with charging anything even remotely close to what is charged at Zen's or at the other Western known salon, Toni and Guy's.

[simpleminds]

The best hairdresser I ever had was in Yonsudong, Incheon. Unfortunately for me, I now live six hours away. She didn't speak a work of English, but for six years she gave me excellent haircuts.

Now I go to Lucy at Zen's. When I can be bothered to make the three hour journey. She's done good cuts, but not as good as that Incheon lady, and I pay three times the price.

Tried the Green Turtle, but the guy was too timid. I ended up cutting my own fringe. Going to Itaewon takes me two hours, anyway.

I've decided an excellent hairdresser who understands your taste and better yet, your hair, is rare. I do hope there's one in Uijeongbu, but I've already had one disaster. Any recommendations?

[alibuch]

Zen's pricing is no worse than the salons in my area (Konkuk Uni). The salons all charge 25-29,000w for a cut. I've been going to Johnny for two years and have never had any problems. Several of my friends have gone to him and haven't had problems either.

[farrepatt]

Lucy is at Hair and Joy in Hongdae. I think Zen just changed it's name when it moved. I've never seen Johnny, but Lucy gives me a really nice cut, and always remembers me, even though I only make it in once every three months. I've never had my hair coloured in Korea - too scary - so I just lived with roots for the time I've been here.

Lucy is pregnant, and told me she's taking some time off this fall.

[silver_butterfly]

What's Hair and Joy's phone number please?

[alibuch]

Hair and joy- 02-363-4253

[gossipgirlxoxo]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Sophia's in HBC. My directions will be hopeless but I'll try - as you come from Itaewon toward the Namsan Tunnel, you pass Noksapyeong Station and off to the left is an entrance to the Yongsan military base, and the entrance to Haebangchon. Just past the kimchi pots outside the base, and on the left hand side of the street, is a small salon.
I've seen this place through 3 different owners, they've all been good because they pass their skills onto whoever is incoming. The current owner is a man, and Sophia (or Sophie?) was the last owner, but the name was never changed. They are EXCELLENT at doing highlights, I would never go anywhere else because they match my roots perfectly month after month. My color is not orange at all~ very natural looking IMO. My only gripe with them would be that they tend to work a little slowly, but I can live with that. Oh, and some of the assistants give a bloody awful head massage, but I can handle that too. ^^

I can't vouch for the cuts because I have another place I am loyal to for cuts, PM if you really really want to know about this place (Cheongdam Dong)- one guy does a fantastic cut for around 30K - but it's not easy to find unless you know the area and they are always JAM PACKED with every bride and her dog.

SOPHIE's in HBC: 02-796-5624

[jomiro]

a friend of mine told me she has started seeing johnny and is really satisfied with his cuts.
i havent been there yet.
the only place ive been to is the green turtle. and ive got to say the guy is total moron. hes hard to understand and doesnt get me when i explain to him what i want.
last time i went there i wasnt satisfied at all. i wanted to dye my hair brown, but not dark brown, more like hazelnut. and what did he do? dark blonde highlights. needless to say i wont go there again as they made me pay for something i didnt want in the first place.

but now my questions:
when i was back home i went to get my hair dyed in exactly the color i wanted asked for from the beginning. the hairstylist sold me some of her hair dye, told me the proportions for the mixture and everything that i have to know that goes along with that.
now im wondering where to go to in order to re-do the roots. i definately need someone who speak english and i will have to give them some explanation about the product and what to do with it.
anybody have any recommendation as to where to go to?

thanks!

[kjohns15]

I have really short hair (pixie cut) and get it cut about once a month. Is this hair style at all common in Korea? I'm worried about finding a stylist to cut it the way I like it: choppy/a little messy looking.

[Von Tristof]

Anyone know a good place where a guy can get a decent haircut in Incheon? I would prefer not to have to travel for 90 minutes. Thanks.

[jiberish]

I only got my haircut there once. But at the Juno hair in COEX the hair dressers are encouraged to learn English and I think some of the hair dressers aren't bad. When I got my hair cut there my wife was just yakking away in Korean to person cutting my hair but I heard the guy next to me having a conversation with his hair dresser.

[elltotheoh]

Can anyone recommend some good places in Seoul for a Western person to get Magic Straight or any other chemical straightening process? How much should I expect to pay? I follow some girl on Twitter who said she got it done in Nowon for 60,000 won and it looks awesome, but she won't respond to my message asking her where she got it done. I called a salon in Gangnam, one in Bundang, and then another one down here in Yongin and they were all 150,000-220,000 won. :/ I just want to know what is reasonable and what places have given other foreigners good results.

[red_devil]

Lee Chul Hair Kerker i think it's called is quite good.