Yeoksam hair salon root perm for a flat, wavy bob in summer: Owlly

Summer flat hair: why I chose a root perm

I have wavy hair, so when summer humidity rises my hair tends to get frizzy. The ends puff up while the roots go flat, so my whole hairstyle never looks neat. Even if I blow-dry for root volume every morning, it collapses as soon as I hit sweat and humidity on my commute.

With a bob especially, no crown volume makes the hair look flat and makes my face shape stand out more. Blow-drying every day was also a burden, so this time I got a root perm at Owlly, a Yeoksam Station hair salon. I asked for a style that's easy to manage even in summer while keeping the volume looking natural.

How the root perm went at Owlly, a Yeoksam hair salon

Designer Jaeun at Owlly Yeoksam Branch carefully checked my current hair damage, root condition, and how much volume I wanted before the treatment. Instead of just forcing the roots up hard, she worked toward natural volume suited to my face shape and part direction.

What satisfied me most afterward was that the crown wasn't overly lifted or artificially kinked — the roots just came back to life naturally. With volume added where it used to sag, my whole bob line looked lighter and livelier. Thanks to the root volume, just drying my hair well was almost enough to finish the style, so I don't think I'll need to use a flat iron or do much extra styling.

How to blow-dry after a root perm

She told me the key when drying is to blow-dry the permed section from underneath upward. Lifting the roots gently with your fingers while drying from below can bring out the volume even more naturally.

Daily blow-drying vs. root perm: comparing morning prep time

Before, it took a lot of time — blow-drying plus hair rollers — just to build root volume. On days when it wouldn't cooperate, I'd redo the same section over and over, dragging out my morning prep time. After the root perm, I only need to focus on how I dry my hair, with barely any extra styling needed, so my morning prep should be much shorter. Even cutting just 10 minutes a day off hairstyling adds up to about 5 hours saved in a month. Ten minutes on a busy morning feels bigger than you'd think.

They said a root perm can last about a month, up to two months depending on hair condition and growth speed. Being able to manage flat roots and frizzy hair more easily through the summer season made this a satisfying choice. If you want to cut down time spent on daily blow-drying and flat irons, or you're looking for a low-maintenance summer hairstyle, a root perm might be worth considering.

Owlly Yeoksam Branch: location and prices

Owlly Yeoksam Branch is at 7 Yeoksam-ro 33-gil, 2nd floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Hours are Monday–Friday 11:00–20:00, Saturday 10:00–19:00, Sunday 11:00–19:00, closed on the last Sunday of every month. Hours and closures may change, so I'd recommend calling or checking the booking page before you visit.

Main first-visit prices

• Root perm ₩64,000
• Root straightening ₩78,400
• Basic perm ₩77,600
• Basic straightening ₩126,400
• Women's cut ₩28,000

Ipeul Hair has changed its name to Owlly. It's located in a residential area, so parking is limited — they can guide you if you inquire before your visit.