Hapjeong hair salon: bob volume magic + Ayunche clinic, Recteur Seoul
In short
Recteur Seoul is a hair salon between Hapjeong and Hongdae in Mapo, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 2. The writer's curl had started coming back and a bad thinning cut had left her damaged hair puffy, so after a 1:1 consultation with designer Idam she had a clinic-perm volume magic (a Korean straightening perm) for 240,000 won at bob length plus an Ayunche clinic treatment for 50,000 won, 290,000 won in total. With no pushy upselling and an explanation at every step, Recteur Seoul is worth recommending to anyone dealing with curly or damaged hair.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Hapjeong Station Exit 2 · 5-min walk (store listing, Oct 6, 2026)
- Location
- About a 5-minute walk along the side streets from Hapjeong Station Exit 2 (1F, 61 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul)
- Clinic-perm volume magic
- 240,000 won for bob length
- Ayunche clinic treatment
- 50,000 won
- Total paid
- 290,000 won
- Products used
- Mainly Ayunche, L'Oréal and Shiseido
- Price reference
- ₩240,000 ≈ $179 · ₩50,000 ≈ $37.5 · ₩290,000 ≈ $216 (2026-10-12)
as written by the visitor on Oct 11, 2026
You know those moments when you're taking a photo or looking in the mirror and suddenly think, "Why does my hair look so off?" That weirdly frizzy, awkward feeling. My hair is very curly, so I have to get it straightened regularly, and since it had been a while, the curl was sneaking back up from the roots.
On top of that, a salon had once thinned out my hair and chopped the middle, so the whole thing was puffing up everywhere. I couldn't go on like this, so I booked and rushed over to Recteur Seoul (렉터 서울, RECTOR), a stylish salon between Hapjeong and Hongdae! I'll honestly share everything: the interior, the careful 1:1 consultation, the treatment and the result 😃
What are the location and first impressions of Recteur Seoul?
Come out of Hapjeong Station Exit 2 and walk a little way along the side street; Recteur Seoul is about a 5-minute walk away.
The moment I opened the door and walked in, my first thought was, "Is this a Gentle Monster store...?"
The interior is a modern mix of silver, black and white, so the vibe is really sleek and clean! The salon is also bigger and more comfortable than I expected.
Above all, the designers are hip personified... "Is this that Hongdae vibe?" The trendy energy was everywhere.
How does designer Idam's 1:1 consultation work?
My hair was in the hands of designer Idam (이담) this time! At most salons they just ask vaguely, "What style did you have in mind?" and move straight into the treatment.
But Idam did such a thorough pre-treatment diagnosis that I'd never had a consultation this detailed anywhere.
- Checking when I last had straightening, coloring and a cut
- Checking my current face shape and head line
- Understanding my usual styling habits and the direction I want
I tried to thin my hair to make it lighter, but I think the middle got chopped off. Now it puffs up strangely and looks bulky.
That's what I told her, and she calmly listened all the way through.
She clearly pinpointed why my hair looked bulky, and because I'd done perms and coloring often and my hair was quite damaged, she didn't push excessive treatments! We decided to straighten the upper part with a clinic perm solution, without damaging the hair further, and to load the whole head with an Ayunche clinic treatment.
What were the explanations and service like during the treatment?
Recteur Seoul mainly uses Ayunche, L'Oréal and Shiseido products. I found out while looking around the salon during my treatment.
And now, the part I personally loved!
At the salons I used to go to, they'd apply product and shampoo it out with no explanation, and I often thought, "What treatment am I even getting right now... I guess they'll just handle it."
At Recteur Seoul, though, at every step they told me, "Protein is going in now," "Next we'll do the xx care at the shampoo station." Explaining one thing at a time really built my trust.
When they checked my brutally honest hair condition with a camera, I teared up a little inside... T_T
Throughout the treatment they also thoughtfully brought a charger in case my battery ran low, and curled my bangs smartly so they'd be easy to style at home. (Such a thoughtful touch!)
Recteur Seoul is a hidden coffee gem
Also, Recteur Seoul is a hidden coffee gem, haha. I was tired and asked for a cold café latte, and I was surprised at how rich and nutty it was, like something from a proper café.
What are the volume magic + Ayunche clinic price and result?
This time I got a clinic-perm volume magic (bob length, ₩240,000) and an Ayunche clinic (₩50,000) at Recteur Seoul, ₩290,000 in total.
When I looked in the mirror afterwards, the messy curl that had been stressing me out was gone, and my hair had turned into something that curls under naturally. I really loved it!
After a salon visit I sometimes think, "Ugh, maybe I shouldn't have done this," but this time my parents complimented my hair as soon as I got home.
Home care tips for damaged hair and when to visit next
At the end they gave me a L'Oréal repair mask (treatment) as a gift, and carefully explained that since my hair is badly damaged, a thick cream-plus-balm type essence is better than a runny one.
They also wrote down my next visit not roughly but at the right time: another cut in about two months would make the line much prettier, so I plan to go back in December!
If you're worried about frizzy curly hair or damaged hair near Hapjeong or Hongdae, I highly recommend designer Idam at Recteur Seoul, who consults carefully with no pushy treatment upselling ♥︎
Where it is
1F, 61 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 마포구 잔다리로 61 1층
Rector Seoul: hours, menu and prices →
