Gangnam hair salon grown-out bangs cut and C-curl bangs perm: Koara

The mornings and evenings have turned properly cool, so you start swapping outfits and suddenly want a new hairstyle too, right? That's exactly how I felt. I'd been growing out my bangs, but they hit that awkward in-between stage (what Koreans call the "beggar zone") where they poke you in the eyes, bug you all day, and go limp by the afternoon. So this time I went to Koara Haircare Gangnam (고아라헤어케어 강남점) near Gangnam Station!

The treatment I got was a bangs cut + bangs perm. Long story short, they matched exactly the look I wanted, one detail at a time, and I left really happy with the result :D

Koara Haircare Gangnam hours and reservations

• Name: Koara Haircare Gangnam
• Address: 105 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, A Tower B1F
• Hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–21:00 / Thu 10:00–20:00
• Reservations: Available via Naver Reservation (I booked on Naver before visiting)

How to get to Koara Haircare Gangnam, and parking

Koara Haircare Gangnam is literally steps from Gangnam Station Exit 12. When you come out, you'll see A Tower right on your left, and the salon is down the basement stairs on the right side of the building. If you take the subway, you can get there almost without getting wet on a rainy day, so it's a perfect spot to drop by on your way home from work.

If you're driving, you can use the Yeoksam Cultural Park Public Parking Lot No. 1 nearby, but traffic around Gangnam Station is so bad that I'd recommend public transport!

Since it's in the basement, I imagined somewhere a bit dark and cramped, but when I went down I was surprised at how much bigger and brighter it was. My first thought was, "Wow, there's a salon this big in the middle of Gangnam?" haha

What's the atmosphere like inside Koara Haircare Gangnam?

Overall, the inside of Koara Haircare Gangnam felt calm and comfortable. I went on a weekday evening, and I loved that it's open late enough to visit after work!

The first thing that catches your eye as you walk in is the wig section! Pink Age, a well-known wig brand, operates together with the salon, so when I first walked in I thought, "Am I even in a hair salon?" lol If you're interested in hair extensions or wigs, you could get a consultation for those too.

One wall is decorated like a café, so waiting doesn't get boring. Each seat has a little screen, so I wasn't bored while waiting for my perm.

The shampoo area is separated from the styling area, which made it feel much cozier.

Signature treatments at Koara Haircare Gangnam

Koara Haircare Gangnam gets lots of reviews for straightening perms (magic straight and restorative magic straight) and tone-down dyeing, and it's a full-service salon that also does men's cuts, down perms, scalp care and head spa. The salon says it uses L'Oréal hair dye.

The treatment I got was a bangs cut + bangs perm.

Grown-out bangs: how did the consultation go?

At Koara Haircare Gangnam, they carefully checked the condition of my bangs before cutting. Mine had been growing out and had landed in the beggar zone, and when they asked what length and curl I wanted, I told them all my usual complaints. This is what I was after:

• A length that doesn't poke my eyes
• A natural line that doesn't drop in a hard straight edge
• A slight C-curl that stays even if I just roughly dry it in the morning

After hearing me out, they explained the result in advance, saying "If we cut to this length, it'll lift up this much after the perm," which made me trust them from the start.

Bangs cut: will they match the length you want?

The bangs cut at Koara Haircare Gangnam wasn't one big snip; they cut little by little and had me check in the mirror. Even 1 cm can totally change the impression with bangs, right? So I'm always nervous when getting them cut ㅠㅠ

When I said, "A bit lighter, please," or "Leave the sides a bit longer," they reflected it right away and trimmed again. They kept asking, "Is this okay?" so it never felt hard to speak up. Even when I repeated my requests, they smiled and adjusted without a hint of annoyance, so I could comfortably go into every detail.

Is the bangs perm also a setting perm (heat perm)?

At Koara Haircare Gangnam, they moved straight on to the bangs perm after the cut, and did it as a heat perm. With a bangs perm, the curl changes completely depending on roll size and angle: too strong looks dated, too weak falls out quickly, which is a shame.

They paid attention to curl position and strength to get the "natural C-curl" feel we'd discussed in the consultation.

I'd only ever had bangs done with a regular perm, so it was interesting and special to learn that bangs can be done as a setting perm too.

While the perm solution was on, they brought me a drink and snacks, so I waited in comfort. Watching videos on the screen in front of my seat made the time fly haha

Finishing styling after shampoo, and home-care tips

After shampooing, they shaped my bangs with a blow-dryer and also showed me how to dry them at home so the curl stays pretty. They explained which direction to set the roots when drying and how to care for the hair for the first few days after the perm, so it was easy to follow at home.

Bangs cut and perm results: how was the next morning?

My bangs, which used to poke my eyes, were neatly sorted, and my face looked much brighter and more put together. The line fell naturally just as I wanted, and the slight C-curl at the ends added volume, so even with the same face, my overall impression came across much softer.

Best of all was the next morning! Normally I couldn't get ready for work without a curling iron, but now just running a hair dryer through them sets the shape, so my mornings are much more relaxed 🙌

Koara Haircare Gangnam overall review

I give it five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Here's what I liked:

• Detailed feedback: they listen to each request and apply it on the spot
• Kind, comfortable service from start to finish
• Right by Gangnam Station Exit 12, so it's easy to visit on the way home from work
• Thorough after-care explanations, including home-care tips

I'd 100% go back! As soon as my bangs grow out again, I'll book right away.

Who I'd recommend it to

• People who want the exact length and line they have in mind
• People who hate wasting time curling their bangs every morning
• People who find it hard to voice their requests at a salon and always leave a bit disappointed
• Office workers looking for a Gangnam Station hair salon for a weekday evening after work

With the weather cooling down, I'm sure many of you want a change of mood. If changing your whole style feels like too much, just tidying up your bangs can change your look quite a bit. I only changed my bangs this time, yet I feel like I'm all set for autumn 🍂

I think Koara Haircare Gangnam is "a salon that makes it happen exactly as you say, just the way you want."

If you're looking for a place near Gangnam Station for a bangs cut or perm, stop by on your way home from work :)