Cheongju hair salon for a first medium-length C-curl perm: Salon Of

It was about time for a haircut, so while looking at salons, I went back to Salon Of Gangseo Branch, the Gangseo-dong salon I had been visiting most recently. It had been ages and ages since my last perm, so the finished look still feels a little unfamiliar—but it suits me far better than I expected, and I love it more every day.

Getting to Salon Of in Gangseo-dong, Cheongju, and the salon atmosphere

Salon Of, a hair salon in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju, is on the main Gangseo-ro road, so it was not difficult to find from near Gagyeong Terminal. Its tall vertical sign is visible even from a distance, making the location easy to spot.

Just enter through the HY Dream Mall entrance. The building address is 108 Gangseo-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do. It is a familiar building, so I found it comfortably again this time. I had only ever gotten cuts here, but this time I was getting a perm too—so exciting. I had tried a tight curly perm before, but this was my first C-curl perm.

Salon Of is in Unit 202 on the second floor. There is also a parking lot on basement level 1, so keep that in mind if you are driving.

After getting off the elevator and following the corridor, I immediately saw Salon Of’s round sign, so there was no chance of getting lost.

Inside, it was still clean and relaxed. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, brightening the entire salon, while wood furniture here and there gave it a cozy feel. The space was much larger than expected, so I never felt cramped during the service.

The shampoo area is slightly separated from the styling stations. The chairs are generously spaced and everything is neatly arranged, making it an easy place to leave your hair in someone’s hands for a long appointment.

After my consultation, I had my hair done for almost three hours, and the designer kept checking whether I was uncomfortable at any point. They brought me a drink and let me read a book too. It may seem like nothing, but I am always grateful for that kind of thoughtful care.

A cute little bokjori (traditional lucky pouch) hanging on one side of the salon. It is fun finding small decorative touches like this in such a clean space. I wonder if I was allowed to eat those snacks? Haha.

Medium-length C-curl perm: choosing a layered cut after consultation

Before the appointment, my hair was an in-between medium length, falling just above my chest. At first, I planned to cut it very short and get something like a bob perm, but I changed my mind during the consultation. They kindly showed me photos and explained that keeping my current length with a layered cut and medium-length C-curl perm would be easy to manage and naturally suit my face shape, so I decided to trust them. I know absolutely nothing about hair, after all.

I loved that they considered not only the style I initially had in mind but also my current hair condition and usual styling habits. By the way, my stylist was Designer Doa. After this appointment, I am completely won over.

The cut and perm process, completed in about 3 hours

Then the long-awaited cut began. The cut alone seemed to take nearly 30 minutes. Rather than simply trimming the length and finishing, Designer Doa carefully refined it while repeatedly checking the balance on both sides and every layer.

First heat treatment. It had been ages since a perm, so it felt a little awkward. The perm I got when I was very young was a tight curly one; I did not like it, it loosened faster than expected, and it damaged my hair. At Salon Of in Gangseo-dong, though, the stylist carefully checked my hair throughout, so there was practically no damage and not a single uncomfortable moment. Are perms really this light and comfortable now...? Has the world advanced this much already?

Time to properly create the C-curl perm! They divided my hair into small sections and rolled it up, doing this step very carefully too, without rushing through any part.

I was absentmindedly reading my book when I realized this thing was attached behind my head. What a world of civilization. Even while using the device, they repeatedly checked that it was not too hot. It was only pleasantly warm, with no heat or discomfort. I think that took about 15 minutes too. No single step was especially long, but all the steps added up to three hours.

When the rods came out, the curls were bouncier than expected, which surprised me! I suddenly felt like I had time-traveled to the Middle Ages, haha. Of course, this was not the finished look; it was the stage before being arranged into natural C-curls. They straightened out the unnecessary parts with a flat iron.

Designer Doa checked the curl condition and length again, refining everything carefully right through the end. Having one person focus on my hair for about three hours was honestly a little touching. One great thing about Salon Of is that you can select a “quiet service” when booking! For a major introvert like me, even talking can feel like a burden and makes me avoid salons more, but this quiet-service option makes it much easier to go.

I think I got shampooed at least three times that day. After a final balancing treatment or something like that, my scalp felt so fresh. The shampooing itself was also thoroughly skilled. And even after such a long service, my hair barely felt rough or stiff, so there was much less damage than I had worried about.

Finished C-curls with natural movement in every layer

Ohhh, this is a C-curl perm! My hair was gradually coming together. Looking at it wet, I could not yet imagine what shape it would take, but as it began to dry, the curls came alive naturally in every layer. Instead of only the ends curling into a blunt shape, the whole look gained a light, soft silhouette.

During the final blow-dry, Designer Doa gave me loads of tips, from the direction of the airflow to how to hold my hair, so I could style it similarly at home. I also loved that they created a style that was easy for me to manage myself, not just one that looked pretty at the salon. They even gave me time to hold the dryer and try it myself—so moved... Thanks to that, I have not forgotten and have been drying it well ever since.

Finally, the finished look! The layers flowed naturally along my face, and the ends curved softly inward, making everything look so, so, so much neater. Now I understand why people get perms, goodness. I did not cut off much length, yet my overall impression changed quite a bit; the light layers also kept the area around my face from looking heavy. I am so glad I trusted the stylist instead of getting the short bob I had originally planned. It was my first time receiving such a systematic consultation and my first time getting such a pretty result, so I loved absolutely everything from beginning to end.

The back was neatly connected through the layers too. Compared with my straight hair that used to look limp, it has movement and looks much lighter, while the ends gather naturally so it seems easy to maintain. At the same time, it does not feel as though there are too many layers or that my hair has suddenly thinned out, so the calm feeling I wanted remains intact. This is my first perm ever, so it still feels unfamiliar whenever I look in the mirror, but I like it more and more the longer I look.

After leaving the salon and looking again, the soft feel of the medium-length C-curl perm came through even better. It is neat without being overly demure, so I think it will go easily with my usual clothes too. My very first C-curl perm was a huge success!

Hours and things to know before booking

The posted hours are 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. For services that take a long time, like perms, be sure to book ahead if you want your preferred time. Also, Designer Doa, who handled my appointment, is currently offering 20% off services, so if it is time to do your hair, this could be a good event to try.

I chose a style different from my original plan, but in the end I am so glad I listened to Designer Doa’s recommendation. From the thorough consultation to the cut, perm, and blow-dry, they were kind and meticulous throughout the roughly three-hour appointment, so I was very satisfied. Above all, despite it being my first perm, I could barely feel any damage, and I learned in detail how to style it at home, so I felt happy throughout the appointment and all the way home. If you are looking for a Gangseo-dong hair salon in Cheongju with attentive consultations, or are considering a medium-length C-curl perm that is not overdone, I strongly recommend consulting Salon Of. For now, I will keep diligently drying it the way I was taught and slowly get used to my new hair.