Wangsimni hair salon first men's iron perm, soft As perm: Salon de L

Why did I choose an iron perm?

The writer goes to the hair salon once a month and agonizes every month over which style to get. Lately they had been getting lots of treatments and skipping perms, so their hair had recovered somewhat. So this time they decided to try a men's iron perm for the first time, at Salon de L (살롱드엘) in Wangsimni.

What are the outside and inside of Salon de L like?

Salon de L is on the 2nd floor of the shops at Tenshill apartments. They say it's the oldest shop in this mall. Staying in business that long means customers must really love it, right?

In front of the shop there was a notice about Salon de L's 12th anniversary event.

At the entrance you'll find the price list and the designers' profiles. The prices are quite reasonable.

Inside, the warm lighting was easy on the eyes.

Overall the mood was modern yet cozy and warm, with a slightly retro feel too.

Thanks to the indirect lighting around the shop, it doesn't strain your eyes.

The shampoo area is a damp space, but it was kept neat and clean.

The waiting area, which doubles as the heat-treatment area, was also nicely and cozily decorated.

Salon de L isn't very big, but it didn't feel stuffy.

Hair products are also sold near the entrance. If you can't decide which products to buy, buying here seems like a good option.

How was the consultation with the designer?

The person who did the writer's hair that day was Salon de L's head designer (실장님). From start to finish they worked cheerfully and kindly, and explained the condition of the scalp and hair and how to care for them in detail, so the whole thing was a pleasant experience. The writer was a little nervous because it was an iron perm for the first time, not the regular perm they usually get, but the designer kindly completed the style.

What is the order of a men's iron perm?

The men's iron perm at Salon de L went in this order: cut → perm solution applied (down perm on the sides) → waiting → rinse → shaping curls with a machine → neutralizing. Before the treatment, the sides were sticking out and the top was weighed down and flat, not looking good.

First comes the cut. The cut alone made it look quite a bit neater.

Then they start applying the perm solution.

They did a down perm on the sides and applied the solution to the top. After applying it there was a waiting time, and they gave me a drink while I waited. You can pick coffee or other drinks, and I chose a lemonade.

Scalp check while waiting

While waiting, they checked my scalp with a machine. It uses a tiny camera, so I could see the state of my scalp's health in advance. If the scalp is in bad shape, you can prepare for what comes next.

Shaping the curls with a machine

After rinsing, they set the perm shape with a machine.

It was a Mozart style. At first I was a bit scared that the curls were so strong and it would turn out a disaster. But that worry was unfounded.

And then they finish with the neutralizing step.

How did it turn out, before and after?

Here are the before and after of the men's iron perm at Salon de L. First, the sides were done as a soft two-block and then pressed down with a down perm. Neat.

The back was lightly raised with clippers, so it looks tidy. My head looks smaller.

In the end they finished it in an "As perm" style. The volume on the top and fringe is alive, and the detail was more defined than with the regular perms I usually get. Best of all, it's easy to style: just a quick blow-dry keeps this look.

I took a selfie of the fringe, and it's definitely different.

Where is Salon de L, and what about parking?

Salon de L is at 137 Majang-ro, Tenshill Mall 2nd floor, Unit 115, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, and it's open daily 10:00-19:00. A scalp clinic is also available.

It sits between Sinseoldong Station, Sindang Station and Sangwangsimni Station; just come up to the 2nd floor of the Tenshill Mall shops. If you come by car, you can park for free in the mall's car park.

Verdict: an iron perm for guys who like an effortless look

Maybe because the Salon de L men's iron perm is done with heat from a curling-iron-like machine, it gave natural curls rather than an overdone curly style. If you like a effortlessly styled look, you'll be happy with this hairstyle.

It's very easy to style day to day. The plus is that you keep that natural look, as if you'd lightly touched it with a curling iron. I asked for the most natural style possible, and they nailed exactly what I needed.

Since it's a heat-based treatment I worried about damage, but my hair felt much less damaged than expected, and I could check my scalp too, so overall I was satisfied. If you're looking for a hair salon near Wangsimni that does men's hair well, visit Salon de L.