Gangnam hair salon root-volume CS perm: Heeol Hair

I have fine, limp hair, so I am seriously invested in volume even on ordinary days. As soon as my hair gets a little longer, the top goes flat so quickly and never holds up for long, which is why I kept a hippie perm for quite a while. But when fall came around, I suddenly wanted a little cut and a neater change. The problem was worrying that it would cling even flatter to my head or look limp.

On top of that, my hair was badly damaged, so I definitely needed a treatment and thought I would need a root perm too—meaning I expected the price to be pretty high. But the Heeol Hair (희올헤어) salon near Sinnonhyeon in Seoul's Gangnam Station area that I visited this time had a value package with everything included in the ₩200,000 range, so it felt less burdensome than expected. I rushed over to recommend it to you!

Heeol Hair near Sinnonhyeon Station: location and parking

It is close to Exit 6 of Sinnonhyeon Station; if you are coming from Gangnam Station, just head straight toward the CGV alley. I took a bus from Daechi-dong, which was convenient. For anyone wondering whether driving in Gangnam would be okay, I also loved that they provide free parking for up to 4 hours during a service at the Daiso and Jump Milano lots just 2–3 minutes away.

A comfortable salon atmosphere, even for a long appointment

The moment I walked in, the neat interior in a blend of wood and white tones caught my eye. The large windows kept it from feeling stuffy, and the wide spacing between seats meant it did not feel crowded.

On days when I need to sit for a long time for something like a perm, I care quite a lot about the salon atmosphere. If the space is hectic or uncomfortable, the time feels even longer, you know. Heeol Hair was calm and pleasant overall, and every seat had an outlet, so it was nice to spend the time charging my phone. Even on my first visit, I could settle in comfortably.

There was a wide range of complimentary drinks too: Americano, café latte, orange juice, iced tea, peppermint, chamomile, green tea, and chocolate latte. I visited on an empty stomach in the morning, so I chose green tea. They also brought a snack with the drink and even put a cute cover over the cup—those little thoughtful touches quietly made me happy.

There was also a clean restroom and a well-equipped waiting area. It is a pet-friendly hair salon where pets can accompany you, which is useful to know.

Perm pricing with a cut and treatment included

One thing I was especially pleased with was the fixed pricing by hair length and the inclusive pricing system. The design perm price allows for a cut, root volume, and even a straightening treatment; what I received also included the A-course clinic treatment. With Designer Hyeonju at the time of my visit, it was ₩245,000.

Because my hair is damaged, I thought I would need a treatment and a separate root perm and that the cost would shoot up. Since it was bundled into one package, though, it felt much more like good value, so I recommend it. Especially at Gangnam-area hair salons, extra charges can often make the total higher than expected, right? Here, the necessary basic services were included, which put me at ease from the consultation onward.

Consultation and curl choice for fine, damaged hair

My hair was damaged overall, and the length was awkward because of a layered cut I had received at another Gangnam Station hair salon. It was frizzy after maintaining a hippie perm for so long, but I was also worried that smoothing it down would flatten the top of my head. I told Hyeonju, “I am not good at blow-drying, so I want it to take shape even when I dry it myself.”

We decided to neaten the overall look while keeping natural SC curls at the front and doing a volume perm at the crown. At first, I wanted only S curls, but she explained that putting them all over at my current length could make it look too bulky, so she concentrated them toward the front. In the end, that choice was just right.

The more-than-4-hour perm and treatment process

The appointment began around 11:30 a.m. and continued until after 3:30 p.m., taking more than 4 hours. First, they shampooed my hair and checked its condition, then applied the perm solution and used heat processing.

I felt reassured seeing them repeatedly check along the way that the solution was processing properly. Fine hair can become more damaged if pushed too hard, and the perm may not take well, so those checks matter. Afterward, they redid the layered cut where needed.

They created the CS curls using rods. Because I said I did not want the crown to fall flat, we skipped the straightening treatment there and focused on a volume perm instead.

Finally, they finished with neutralizing and the A-course clinic treatment, an intensive treatment to replenish protein and keratin in the hair.

Root-volume CS curls that held without blow-drying

What I loved after it was finished was that the style settled naturally without any separate blow-drying or curling iron. The top had natural lift, while the untidy ends were cleaned up with the cut and shaped into C curls. What I wanted was hair that would be easy to manage in everyday life. As long as I pay attention to the direction when drying it, it falls neatly into place, so I think getting ready for work will take much less time.

Fine hair can look stuck to the face if you simply straighten it all down, but this time the balance between root volume and curls was so good that I was satisfied. I was worried whether it would turn out nicely because of the damage, but perhaps because I did the A-course treatment too, it looked shinier than before.

Things to know and consultation tips before visiting

If I had to pick one downside, it would be that it takes quite a while. Of course, we did several services including a cut, and my hair condition needed a careful check, so I understood why. Still, I would not schedule your next appointment too tightly. Also, because it is between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station, I recommend checking the parking-lot location and entrance in advance if it is your first visit.

The parking support is great, but around Gangnam there can be mechanical parking lots or narrow entrances, so it is more relaxing to leave yourself extra time. When booking, it helps to share not only photos of the style you want but also what normally bothers you. If you mention habits like “my crown goes flat easily” or “I am not good at styling my hair,” you can get a much more tailored consultation.

Why I recommend it for fine, limp hair

After visiting myself, I felt that Heeol Hair near Sinnonhyeon is a Gangnam hair salon that does more than reproduce a trendy style exactly—it assesses your hair condition and sets the right direction. I think it would suit anyone concerned about fine, limp hair like mine. If the price has been holding you back, I highly recommend Designer Hyeonju's value package!