Yongsan hair salon face-shape cut: Oterre Namyeong

Oterre Namyeong location and reservations

Getting there

It is a five-minute walk from Exit 1 of Namyeong Station. My wife said it took her about 15 minutes to walk to Seoul Station on the way back. It is really conveniently located for anyone on a business trip to Seoul Station or with plans around Namyeong or Sookmyung Women’s University Station :) You do need to go up to the third floor, but there is a sign at the stair entrance, so she said it was not hard to find.

Same-day reservation inquiry

My wife messaged through Naver TalkTalk the day before to ask about a same-day appointment, and they generously coordinated the schedule around the next booking to fit her into a morning slot. She said she could tell they were kind right from the reservation messages, haha. If you need an appointment in a hurry, it seems worth asking through TalkTalk!

The cozy feel of a one-person hair salon

She said a warmly inviting space opens up on the third floor. In my wife’s words, it felt “like visiting an English grandmother’s house” and “as cozy and comfortable as being in a café,” haha.

The calm, quiet atmosphere made her feel relaxed just walking in. Looking at the photos, it really does have that cute, atmospheric charm unique to a one-person salon :)

Discount coupon

There is also a 20% Naver discount coupon, so be sure to check before visiting!

A cut consultation based on face shape, not a perm

My wife had originally wanted a perm. She brought along a photo of the soft, wavy “cloud perm” look she wanted, but she knew her hair was fine and lacked strength, so perms do not hold well for her. She had mentally prepared a Plan B too: perm first, color second, haha. But as soon as designer Lee Eui-nam saw her hair condition, she honestly told her that she would not recommend either a perm or color.

That was when my wife completely opened up. If the goal had simply been to increase sales, she could have said, “Sure, I’ll do it,” but instead she looked at the client’s hair condition and spoke first about the better long-term direction.

She said the consultation was genuinely detailed. The designer listened to my wife’s concerns and even pointed out features of her face shape. My wife said she had never met anyone like this in the 20 years she has been going to hair salons.

My wife’s face is generally slim, but she has slightly prominent cheekbones, and she worries that the wrong style can make her face look like an hourglass. Designer Lee Eui-nam picked up on that right away, haha.

For this visit, she only had a cut to reduce the layers, finished in a direction that could soften the cheekbone area. She was also shown how to use a curling iron and given at-home care tips.

To quote my wife exactly, she said she was “moved,” and I could understand why just hearing about it :) She came home with a special mission(!) to grow it out for another three to four months before returning, and she is already determined to go back at the end of the year, haha.

Pros and drawbacks

Pros

• Kind replies even to a TalkTalk inquiry the day before
• A sincere consultation that puts hair condition before sales
• Five minutes on foot from Namyeong Station, with Seoul Station also within walking distance
• A 20% Naver discount coupon may be available
• A cozy one-person hair salon atmosphere

Drawbacks

• Paid parking only
• Public transportation is recommended

Who I recommend it for

• Anyone looking for a hair salon near Sookmyung Women’s University or Namyeong Station
• Anyone looking for a hair designer who takes consultation seriously
• Anyone with hair concerns who is unsure which direction to take

One-line review

My wife chose this place as some “time for myself” in between business-trip plans, and even after getting only a cut, she came back excitedly saying, “I need to go again at the end of the year,” haha. You know how hard it is to find a designer who puts consultation before technique. “If you are looking for a hair salon near Sookmyung Women’s University, you really should meet designer Lee Eui-nam.”

Satisfaction instead of taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Price: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Consultation & service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) 100% willing to revisit

I will post another review when my wife goes back at the end of the year, haha.