Guide for Men’s Haircuts in Korea

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Men living in or visiting South Korea deserve better guidance on getting their haircuts. After 13 years of visiting men’s salons with my partner, I’ve finally compiled a guide for men’s haircuts in Korea to help you feel more comfortable visiting men’s stylists across South Korea. Get ready for detailed insights about men’s haircuts in Korea.

Content Framework

This Guide for Men’s Haircuts in Korea our Local Guide for Women’s Salons in Korea have many similarities. I created a template and changed the details relevant to each gender. The information that’s duplicated is simply true for everyone. So please don’t hate me for not rewriting cross-over information to save time and my sanity.

Culture Shock for International Residents

Let’s start with the common challenges international residents face at Korean salons. Unless you’re visiting a foreigner-focused salon, things can get tricky. But you don’t want to travel across the country each time you need a haircut, so let’s dive into the issues and how to deal with them.

Lack of Specialization for Foreign Hair Textures

A major surprise for international men is that many Korean salons may not be familiar with handling certain hair types, particularly curly, coarse, or afro-textured hair. Most salons may only have experience with straight or slightly wavy hair, which is common in Korea. If you have a textured hair type, you may need to search for salons or stylists that specialize in diverse textures and international clients. Also, join groups on Facebook such as Black Hair Salons/Braids In Korea.

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Language Barriers

Many local salons have limited English-speaking staff, especially in smaller towns. In expat-friendly areas like Itaewon, you’re more likely to find English-speaking stylists. However, learning some basic Korean hairdressing vocabulary or bringing pictures of the style you want will help avoid miscommunication. Simple phrases like “짧게 해주세요 (jjalge haejuseyo)” for “cut it short” can be useful. A full list of key terms is provided later in this post.

No Walk-Ins at Popular Salons

Many upscale or trendy barbershops and salons operate primarily on an appointment-only basis. While walk-ins are possible at smaller, neighborhood shops, trendy places require reservations, often made through KakaoTalk or Naver apps. Read 10 Mags Article on Naver appointments. You may need legal residency in South Korea to book online. Legal residency means you have a Foreign Registration Card (Formerly called ARC), bank account, and Korean phone number to make reservations via Kakao and Naver.

The Full-Service Approach

In Korean salons, it’s standard to receive a full-service experience that includes not only a haircut but also a shampoo, scalp massage, and post-cut styling. Many salons include all such services in the cost of the cut, not as add-ons. While this level of service is welcome, it may feel unfamiliar to those coming from countries where you might get a haircut without any extra treatments unless specifically requested.

Basic Terms for Haircut Styles (Men)

Korean salons often provide thorough consultations, which can be challenging if you don’t know the local terms. Your stylist might ask many questions to clarify what you want, so it’s best to have photos ready. Additionally, South of Seoul recommends that you show photos from the stylists/salon’s social media feed or other Korean platforms to ensure better communication. We discuss sourcing information from social media research in more detail later in this blog post.

Receiving a full consultation might be a relief if you have specific ideas, but it may also feel intense for those used to quick haircuts back home. Both you and your stylist might feel some stress while communicating. It’s important to work through that discomfort and focus on achieving the style you want.

Concepts and Meaning May Not Be The Same

Even the language surrounding haircuts has its own culture in Korea. Words you use may not carry the same meaning in South Korea. Always bring images that show exactly what you want—don’t rely on words alone. Miscommunication is common, so it’s crucial to understand how stylists interpret your requests.

Finding Men’s Cuts for Different Hair Textures

As of 2024, if you have curly or coarse hair, finding a salon may still feel more challenging depending on where you are in South Korea. Most salons are highly experienced with straight and fine hair, which is common in East Asia. However, men with curly, coily, or coarse hair may have a harder time finding a barber who understands their hair texture.

Curly or Coarse Hair

For curly or coarse hair, it’s best to look for international salons or barbershops that cater to a diverse clientele. Areas like Itaewon, which has a large foreign population, have barbers experienced in a variety of hair textures. Try searching for places using terms like “외국인 남자머리 (waegugin namja meori)” or “foreigner men’s haircut” on social media or Naver Blogs (not in Naver Maps, look specifically on Naver.com).

Afro-textured Hair

This can be particularly tricky. Traditional Korean salons are not well-equipped to handle Afro-textured hair, so it’s advisable to seek out a specialized barbershop or a salon with experience in working with black hair. Itaewon or Pyeongtaek are considered by many to be the best areas to explore for these services. Join groups on Facebook such as Black Hair Salons/Braids In Korea.

Thick, Wavy Hair

While stylists in Korea are great at creating clean, sleek looks, men with thicker or wavier hair might want to clarify the desired amount of thinning or layering to avoid having too much bulk left in the hair. Be prepared to ask for specific techniques, such as texturizing or thinning, to control volume.

Areas that May Have Foreigner Focused Salons

You can find salons that cater to textured hair in the following cities:

• Seoul (서울)
• Suwon (수원)
• Pyeongtaek (평택)
• Dongducheon (동두천)
• Daegu (대구)
• Pohang (포항)
• Gunsan (군산)
• Chilgok (칠곡)
• Busan (부산)
• Uijeongbu (의정부)

Remember, these salons are often located near U.S. military bases or in areas with large immigrant populations. Instagram is a great platform to start your search.

Generational Differences in Korean Men’s Hairstyles

So what are the local trends for cuts in Korea? Like any culture, each age group tends to lean toward different styles. We’ve put together a little look at the trends by age group in 2024. This will change with time.

Older Generation (50+)

Men in this age group often prefer short, neat cuts, like the crew cut or sports cut (스포츠머리, seupocheu meori). These cuts are practical and low-maintenance, which suit the formal and conservative styles often seen in Korean business culture. Many older men also opt for darker hair coloring to cover any greying.

Middle-Aged Men (30–50)

Many in this age group tend to favor clean, professional styles like the pompadour (포마드컷, pomadeu keot), dandy cut (댄디컷, daendi keot), or Ivy League cuts (아이비리그 컷, aibiri-geu keot). They view such cuts as polished and suitable for both office settings and casual environments.

Younger Men (Teens–30s)

Young men are much more experimental with their hair. One popular style includes the two-block cut (투블럭컷, tubulleok keot), where they cut short the sides short but the top is left long. Other trendy options are the comma hair (쉼표머리, swimpyo meori), with its soft, inward curls, and more voluminous styles like the French crop or faux hawk.

Teenagers

Teenagers in Korea, especially those influenced by K-pop, are adventurous with their styles. Colored highlights, perms, and bold cuts like the mullet (멀릿, meollit) are more popular in this group. The younger generation often seeks cuts that mimic their favorite idols or actors.

Terms for Searching Social Media

If you want to explore more options in a localized context, use Korean hashtags on social media. Here’s a list of commonly used hashtags on Instagram and other platforms for men’s haircuts:

Korean Social Media Vocabulary List

These hashtags are widely used by Korean social media influencers, barbers, and stylists on Instagram to share and showcase their work in men’s grooming and hairstyling. Using these tags will help you connect with the Korean barbering community online or find inspiration for men’s hairstyles in Korea.

Here’s the list organized into a table with recommendations for the most relevant platforms to search for each keyword:

Platform Recommendations:

As we often mention in South of Seoul information, the local population in Korea engages with some different social media platforms than new international residents. Therefore, we want to let you know where to start your search:

• Instagram: Best for visual inspiration, trending styles, and connecting with hairstylists.
• Naver Blog: Popular in Korea for in-depth reviews, before-and-after images, and local salon recommendations.
• YouTube: Useful for tutorials, hairstyle transformations, and finding barbers who specialize in specific techniques.
• KakaoStory: Popular among Koreans for personal experiences, hair trends, and sharing images with a local audience.

Researching Korean Social Hashtags Improves Your Salon Results

Researching Korean hashtags may improve your results at the salon. As we previously mentioned, men’s style culture differs from other countries. Therefore, the more you look at the images under each hashtag, the more you can conceptualize how to communicate your needs. Additionally, showing samples from Korean social media will feel more conceptually attainable to your stylist. It’s like speaking their creative language.

How Much Will These Cuts Cost?

Finally, you’ve done all the research for your men’s haircut, but you need to know what to expect regarding prices and services. The following table reflects our experience with salon pricing in South Korea as of 2024.

Also, remember that the following exist as generalizations. Each salon creates its own experience. Use the information as a guide regarding what might occur rather than what to specifically expect from every salon experience.

Good Luck!

We hope this guide helps you find your perfect haircut while living in South Korea. What other blog posts do men need about barbers and salons in South Korea? Let us know.

Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAIT

Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.

Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.

Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.

Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.

When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.

www.southofseoul.net