Korean Job Discussion Forums

[emetib]

I live in Goyang-si and I am trying to find a place to get fills for my acrylics as well as somewhere that does brow-waxing. I asked my principal's wife where I might get this done in town, and she said she didn't know as she didn't get any of this done herself. Can someone be so kind as to let me know of any locations (I don't mind traveling)? Also, if you can recommend an awesome salon that can maintain my red locks, I'd appreciate that as well. Directions are a plus.

[Janny]

If you are looking for quality care for your hair and nails, I recommend take a weekend and come to Seoul. Here you will more likely find a salon that knows a) how to brow-wax and b) how to properly color / process your red hair.

Unfortunately, I have not found any hair dressers in this country that know how to handle non-Korean hair properly. Twice I've gone to salons which advertise "our experts are trained in London!" or "professionals with Western hair needs" and both times I've been stuck with a person who not only speaks no English but is trepidatious (and that's being kind) about styling my hair as I want it. One time I brought in a photo, and the guy got OFFENDED because apparently, hair stylists in Korea KNOW what to do with your hair and need not be directed by the client.

Anyway...good luck. It's not easy. The problem is, hair stylists / aesthetic technicians in Korea follow narrow paths since their clientele is basically uniform (black, thick, straight hair, styled similarly, no radical nails, few requests for wax, same same same). Probably the best bet is to go to Myongdong or Kangnam and find a place that looks busy. Or try to find a place that is both busy AND has an English-speaker on shift at the time.

Maybe someone else has had better luck ..?

[Cerulean]

Hello,

Find a nail salon. They do gel and silk nails here. Not sure about acrylic. Some hair salons have manicurists.

You can do shil-myeon-doe. It is the Korean version of threading. Ask your female co-t's about it. There must be someone in your area that does it. It's popular with women here. I go to a jimjilbang for it. The woman is called sil-myeon-doe un-ni I think. Take a picture and a friend. Our eyebrows are just different and I took someone the first time to make sure I left with eyebrows and she didn't take them all off and think I would pencil them in.

Don't know about waxing but if you find a salon, ask about waxing. The girls will know.

I work with a local Korean salon to do my hair. I took someone with who could watch the first time, did a simple trim and crossed my fingers. Don't go big the first time and ask them to take off less that you truly want. Once I've found someone, I don't go anywhere else. I used to drive 90 minutes to see my guy. I had moved and 90 minutes was less nerving than finding someone new. He was nothing special but he knew me and my hair and I was satisified.

If you're in a small town or city, make a trip to a big city nearest you. I'm not sure how far you are from Seoul but if you can do these things closer to you it makes it easier. Of course, a weekend is Seoul in always great and add new hair and nails to it and you'll have even more fun!

Good luck. Maintenance here has always been an adventure here for me but it's worked out fine.

[tzechuk]

If it's not too much of a trek, I recommend Tiffancy's Nails in Itaewon.

The owner speaks English, does a great job with waxing eye brows, and her team is pretty good with nails, too.

[naturegirl321]

Anyone know where I can get eyebrow threading done?