Sinsan-ri hair salon in Jeju: men's shadow perm at Noah Barbershop

This Chuseok holiday is a long one, so I'm heading to the mainland to spend it with family at my parents' place. Before going home, I figured I'd get my hair sorted out. I came here last year and it turned out so well that I trusted the owner again this time — and once again, it looked great. So here's my story of getting a men's perm in Seogwipo, Jeju, at Noah Barbershop in Pyoseon.

Where is Noah Barbershop Jeju?

Noah Barbershop Jeju is located in Sinsan-ri, between Pyoseon and Seongsan. There are lots of tourist spots nearby — Seopjikoji, Honinji, and Pyoseon Beach — so a lot of tourists passing through and locals living in Seogwipo drop by to freshen up their style.

Is parking easy at Noah Barbershop Jeju?

There's a very spacious lot behind the building, so anyone can park comfortably. When I used to go to salons in the city, the lack of parking meant paying for a lot elsewhere, which was such a hassle. Here, there's a private lot, so even a first-timer can park easily.

A one-man salon, so booking ahead is a must

Noah Barbershop, known for great men's perms in Seogwipo, Jeju, is a one-man salon run entirely by the owner. So the space is quite simple. There are only two styling chairs, so if you book ahead you can get your hair done right on time without a long wait.

For reference, while it's a specialist for men's cuts, perms and clinic treatments, they also do women's cuts and perms, so there are apparently many regular female customers too. My partner, who was watching me get my hair done, asked if she should get hers done here too. I think she'll end up going to her usual salon on the mainland during Chuseok though.

Drinks and snacks for waiting customers

The fridge at the counter is packed with cold drinks. There are snacks laid out on the table too. I visited in the afternoon and was a bit hungry, so while getting my nice perm, I enjoyed a cold coffee and some tasty chocolate cookies. Service like this is really nice.

The shampoo chair reclines automatically, so lying back is really comfortable. During the shampoo, the owner gives you a head massage too, which feels amazingly refreshing.

15 minutes from Pyoseon, a perm twice a year

My hair is naturally straight, so I get a perm about twice a year to bring the style to life. I tend to do it especially before traveling to the mainland or heading home for the holidays. I used to go to a salon in downtown Seogwipo, but now I only come to Noah Barbershop. It's about 15 minutes by car from Pyoseon where I live, and there's no salon specializing in men's hair in downtown Pyoseon itself. Still, getting it done by a real professional makes it turn out so much better.

The cut first, then the men's shadow perm

Before doing the perm, the long hair gets cut first. As a Pyoseon salon specializing in men's perms in Seogwipo, the sides and back were trimmed nice and crisp.

The owner has 25 years of experience, so once I told him the style I wanted, he took care of the rest to suit my hair. I went with a shadow perm — I wonder how it turned out!!

A head massage during the shampoo

I sat in the electric chair for the shampoo, and that's when he gave me a head massage... it felt amazingly refreshing. I was dozing off while getting my hair done, but after the massage I felt so much better, mood and all.

How the shadow perm looks after a few days

Before drying my hair, he even told me how to maintain the style. A perm doesn't look its best on the day it's done — it really comes alive a few days later. Now I can head to the mainland for Chuseok feeling good and looking sharp. I'm leaving Noah Barbershop in Pyoseon, the go-to for men's perms in Seogwipo, Jeju, with a great new style...

Noah Barbershop Jeju: address, hours and parking

• Address: 5023 Iljudong-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju, South Korea
• Hours: 9 AM–7 PM (closed every Sunday)
• Parking: Private lot behind the building