Curly bob straightening perm at a Geomdan salon: Lee Kyung Min Foret

My hair is quite curly, and I've also repeated gray-coverage dye jobs over and over, so I've always been worried about damage. Still, I couldn't give up on straightening perms or covering gray, so this time I decided to have my hair condition checked first.

Before the perm, the curl inside and the way it flared out at the sides really stood out. After the perm, the frizz calmed down and the bob's ends looked naturally tidy. It wasn't a flat, stiff bob — it was closer to the soft, calm bob I actually wanted.

My stylist at Lee Kyung Min Foret Geomdan New Town Branch was Manager Sein.

Where is Lee Kyung Min Foret Geomdan New Town Branch, and is there parking?

Lee Kyung Min Foret Geomdan New Town Branch is on the 3rd floor, units 304-305, of Geomdan Nundambom 101, 377 Ieum 1-ro, Geomdan-gu, Incheon. It's about 331 meters from Ara Station Exit 2.

• Address: 3rd floor, units 304-305, Geomdan Nundambom 101, 377 Ieum 1-ro, Geomdan-gu, Incheon, South Korea
• About 331m from Ara Station Exit 2
• Stylist: Manager Sein

I drove and used the building's underground parking lot.

Lee Kyung Min Foret Geomdan New Town Branch is on the 3rd floor of the Geomdan Nundambom 101 building. Getting off the elevator, the salon signage was right there, so it was easy to find.

Inside the salon: bright, spacious and easy to settle into

Lee Kyung Min Foret Geomdan New Town Branch is a spacious salon in white tones, with generous spacing between seats. Natural light poured in through big windows, so even during the long perm process it didn't feel stuffy.

Some seats were partitioned off, giving that area a different feel from the main salon floor.

The shampoo area was set apart from the regular seats and looked neatly kept.

On one side, hair products were displayed in a way that was easy to browse.

Checking curly, gray-dyed hair before the straightening perm

My curl is strong, so I get straightening perms regularly. On top of that, I've repeated gray-coverage dye, so damage had to be checked as well.

Manager Sein didn't just look at the surface — she lifted the inner layers of hair herself to check the current condition. She also listened carefully first to how I usually style my hair and what bob shape I wanted.

What I wanted was a style that calmed the curl and frizz while keeping the bob's natural shape. After checking my hair condition and desired look, she started the perm with that direction in mind.

How the curly bob straightening perm was done

Straightening perms tend to take a long time, so I could choose a drink from coffee, tea, or juice. I picked iced coffee and also got a light snack.

My hair was sectioned off and treated with solution, with the condition checked periodically along the way.

Next came heat treatment and straightening with the iron, one step after another. At some points two stylists worked together, dividing my hair into small sections and straightening it very carefully.

Before and after: how the bob changed

Before the perm, curl and frizz made the sides of my hair look like they were flaring out, and the bob line was blurry. After the perm, the parts that flared out settled down and the bob shape became crisp.

Even up close, the strands that used to look frizzy were smooth and even, so the before-and-after change was really visible.

From the front too, the sides no longer flared out too much and looked calm, which made the bob line stand out even more clearly.

Aftercare advice and final verdict on Lee Kyung Min Foret

After the styling was done, I was told when to wash my hair next and how to take care of it at home. I also got advice tailored to my current hair condition on what to be careful about when combining perms with repeated gray-coverage dye. Manager Sein and I ended up chatting about a lot of things we could relate to as parents, so the long perm time didn't feel boring at all.

The price can vary depending on the menu you choose, your hair length, and its current condition. It's best to check the exact amount through Naver reservation or by inquiring before your visit.

What I liked most this time was that instead of jumping straight into straightening, they checked my hair condition first. After listening to the bob shape I wanted, they calmed the curl and frizz while keeping the natural line at the ends. If you're looking into a curly bob straightening perm at a Geomdan New Town hair salon, or want your hair condition checked alongside repeated dye jobs, this might be worth a look.