Hongdae hair salon rescues a DIY layered cut on curly hair: U Art Hair

Why did my DIY layered cut go so wrong?

I followed a YouTube self-cut video and gave myself a layered cut at home, and the balance of my curly, awkward-length bob was completely wrecked. So I decided to get it repaired with a cut at U Art Hair Hongdae, a hair salon in Hongdae.

My hair had been stressing me out lately. I figured I'd try growing it out, so I just let it grow, but I have so much hair, I had no idea how to manage it, and my husband kept teasing me by calling me Bob Ross, haha, T_T I'm naturally a bit curly, and at that awkward shoulder-grazing length (the "beggar zone") it was hard to manage.

Even when I blow-dried every morning, it got frizzy fast and went in every direction, so I couldn't tame it. Then I came across a YouTube self-cut video that looked easy, copied the layered cut at home, and the overall balance fell apart completely.

If it looks easy, it's for the pros... I shouldn't have copied it. My lengths were uneven, the top stuck up while the bottom flared out, styling got even harder, and every time I looked in the mirror the stress got worse T_T

So I wanted a proper cut from a professional, searched for hair salons in Hongdae, and ended up visiting U Art Hair Hongdae.

Where is U Art Hair Hongdae, and what's the salon like?

U Art Hair Hongdae is close to the subway station, so it was easy to find, and best of all, it opens early in the morning. I thought it could work well even for people who struggle to fit in appointments.

Even among Mapo-gu hair salons, it felt calm and not crowded, which made it more relaxing, haha. Many of the popular salons in Mapo-gu these days have long waits and feel hectic, but I went with a reservation and the wait wasn't long, which was nice. The interior was clean and tidy, and I felt good from the moment I walked in.

Can you get a straight perm on damaged hair? The consultation

At the U Art Hair Hongdae consultation, they advised against a straight perm (magic) because of the heavy damage. That judgment came after carefully checking the curl direction, the parts that stick up, and the lines ruined by my layered cut.

I was impressed by how thorough the consultation was. They didn't just look at my hair's current state; they checked the curl direction, the lifting areas, and the lines wrecked by the layered cut in detail. I had originally wanted to straighten it while cutting off the damaged parts, but perhaps because of the bubble dye I did at home a few months ago, my hair was badly damaged and they didn't recommend it.

What I liked is that they didn't just push ahead with a treatment. They explained what condition my hair was in now and what to do from here to get the natural style I wanted! Going through it with explanations made me trust them much more, and I started to feel hopeful about the result.

How did the curly bob cut go?

The bob cut at U Art Hair Hongdae didn't take as long as I expected and moved along quickly overall. It never felt sloppy, though; if anything, it felt like they paid even more attention to detail.

They kept the root volume, tidied up the messy hair, and made sure it didn't look heavy! They balanced the whole shape. They checked in on my hair as they went and touched up the parts that needed it, which made me even happier. It definitely felt both quick and careful.

How did the layered cut repair turn out?

I couldn't get the straight perm, but the cut and nutrition treatment calmed my frizzy curls naturally, and that awkward in-between length looked much neater. I was really happy with the finished look.

It doesn't look stuffy, and it's the natural-feeling bob that's trendy right now, so I liked it even more! My face shape looks a bit more polished too, and it feels like half my head has disappeared~ My overall impression is so much neater, and I really love it.

They even finished with a careful curling iron styling and explained how to do it, so even a klutz like me should be able to follow along, haha. The stylist was so kind that I felt good from the moment I came in until I left.

Does it hold up after a few days?

Even a few days after the cut at U Art Hair Hongdae, almost no frizz came back. It held up well not just right after the treatment but over time, and my morning styling time definitely got shorter!

In the past, my curls fell out quickly even with a curling iron, but now the style seems to hold with just basic tidying. I think that's why my overall satisfaction was even higher!

Summary: who would I recommend it to?

I'd been agonizing over my ruined layered cut before visiting U Art Hair Hongdae, and in the end I really felt it was a good decision. If you have curly hair and an awkward-length bob that's hard to manage, it's worth getting a consultation.

If you're looking for a hair salon in Hongdae or Mapo-gu and want careful work in a calm atmosphere, I recommend visiting U Art Hair Hongdae 🙂