Gangnam hair salon: awkward length to bob C-curl perm, Anew Hair

I was determined to grow my hair out, but once it hit that awkward in-between length (the dreaded "beggar zone", as we call it in Korea), I felt so stifled that I gave up. Around this time every year I can't hold out and end up cutting it.

So after a lot of thought, I went all in! I took a day off just for myself and visited Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch, a hair salon near Gangnam-gu Office Station. Spoiler: it was a real mood boost, and the perm came out perfectly, so I'm completely satisfied. Let me walk you through the visit! 😊

Where is Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch, and how is parking?

Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch is at 5 Seolleung-ro 127-gil, 2nd floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It's not far from Gangnam-gu Office Station, so it's easy to reach by public transport. There is shared building parking on the 1st floor, but the space isn't generous.

Gangnam-gu Office Station is a double station where Line 7 and the Suin-Bundang Line meet, so getting there is really convenient. Whichever line you take, access is great. It's also close to the station, which makes it an ideal route for office workers taking a day off.

If you're driving, you can park on the 1st floor, but it's the building's shared parking, so it's not especially roomy. If the tight parking worries you before your visit, I'd recommend simply taking public transport for peace of mind!

Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch interior

The moment I stepped into Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch, the modern, clean, clutter-free look caught my eye.

Thanks to the bright, tidy interior, I could relax and recharge during the treatment as if I were in a pretty café.

How does the consultation before a bob perm work, and what does it cost?

Before the treatment, Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch holds a 1:1 consultation in a consulting room, looking at your hair condition, head shape and styling habits. Prices depend on the designer's rank, and there was a first-visit discount.

At most salons you have a quick chat and go straight into the treatment, which can feel hectic, and you worry whether your opinion will really be reflected, right?

Anew Hair, though, first guided me to a consulting room, a space just for this, and it felt really systematic.

They carefully checked my hair condition, head shape and everyday styling habits, then gave me an in-depth, 1:1 tailored consultation on which design and perm would suit me best.

They even asked how much conversation I wanted during the treatment, haha. Starting after communicating so thoroughly made me much more excited about the result and gave me trust. I also felt looked after.

My designer was the head manager (suseok siljang). From consultation to treatment, she was kind and meticulous. Prices differ by rank, and they weren't expensive compared with other well-known brands. With the first-visit discount, I got it at a reasonable price. ^^

Bob C-curl perm process and how long it takes

The bob perm at Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch took about 3 hours in total, from cut to blow-dry. Perhaps because the designers are veterans from big brands (such as Juno Hair), every touch felt really professional and friendly. Here is how it went, step by step.

Step 1. Cut

After setting the direction together in the consulting room, we started with the cut: tidying up that stifling in-between length and shaping the base of the bob.

Step 2. Softening treatment

To minimize hair damage, the softening solution was applied carefully, and they checked my hair's condition from time to time.

Step 3. Rod winding and heat treatment

To bring out the bob's volume, they wound the rods carefully and applied heat at a suitable temperature. They kept making sure it wasn't too hot and nothing felt uncomfortable, so I stayed relaxed.

Step 4. Neutralizing and finishing shampoo

After neutralizing to set the curl nicely, a refreshing shampoo and scalp massage washed all my fatigue away.

Step 5. Blow-dry and styling tips

They kindly showed me how to easily build volume at home when drying, plus home-care tips, which touched me right to the end!

Refreshments during the treatment: healing at CAFE A`NU

At Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch, you can enjoy the CAFE A`NU refreshment service during the treatment or while waiting. Coffee, tea and light snacks are available.

I loved being able to enjoy refreshments between steps or while waiting.

• Coffee: Americano, latte
• Tea: barley tea, green tea, rooibos tea, chamomile tea
• Snacks: cookies, cereal

There was warm coffee, fragrant tea and even light snacks.

For me, visiting on a long-awaited day off, it was a small but definite healing break.

From beggar-zone length to a bob C-curl perm: the result

Most important, the bob perm turned out great: the volume came back full and it's easy to style. My stuffy, in-between hair became a chic, fresh bob, and I feel happy every time I look in the mirror.

If you're like me and want to completely change your mood from an awkward length, or you're looking for a Gangnam-gu Office area salon that does bob perms well, try Anew Hair Cheongdam Main Branch, with skilled designers from big brands, careful consultation and a café snack service. I think you'll have a gift-like time just for yourself!