Hongdae hair salon: chin-length bob for thinning hair, Obeumua

Thinning hair in my 30s: why I finally decided on a bob

The reason I got a chin-length bob at Obeumua Hongdae Branch was my thinning hair. I'm just an average thirty-something who stood in front of the mirror going, "Is my part getting wider, or am I imagining it? Please tell me a highway hasn't opened up on the crown of my head," all alone in my very serious worries.

(Just between us, once you pass 30, I'm not the only one who sighs at the shower drain every time I shampoo, right? Let me wipe my tears and get started...)

I've actually had one bucket-list item buried deep in my heart for ages: a chic, trendy short bob that hugs the jawline! But you all know how it goes. "I'll do it once I lose some weight and my jawline gets sharper," "I'll cut it once the puffiness goes down." Putting it off is basically our national rule.

So I kept shouting "starting tomorrow" hundreds of times and clung to my long hair... and before I knew it, my precious hairs were declaring independence one by one and running away from home. And then the fear hit me! If I put it off any longer, I wouldn't end up with a bob, I'd end up as Gollum.

I may never lose the weight in this lifetime, but shouldn't I get at least one pretty cut while I still have a bit more hair? A bob looks sad when hair gets thin, after all. So I made the call before it was too late.

Why I chose Obeumua Hongdae Branch among Hongdae hair salons

After a storm of searching, I picked Obeumua Hongdae Branch, a holy-ground kind of place that's rumored to be on fire lately even among Hongdae hair salons. When I looked at my designer's Instagram references, wow... the cut lines were truly art. It didn't look like hair that was just chopped off; it looked sculpted to suit each person's vibe. Exactly the city-girl look I wanted.

• Location: 2F, 32-22 Donggyo-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Booking: Naver booking required (the designer is popular, so book ahead or you won't get a spot!)

How the bob consultation at Obeumua Hongdae Branch went

At Obeumua Hongdae Branch, I got a scalp massage at the shampoo station, then sat down to talk about the bob style I wanted. The moment I walked in, the interior alone seemed to have "we're good at hair here" written on it. After a refreshing scalp massage at the shampoo station, I sat down and basically made a confession to my designer.

"My hair isn't what it used to be... You can see my precious little seedlings, right? I didn't lose the weight, but I want my face to look half the size, and I want a bob that's hip but not too childish, that kind of classy feel... you know?"

The designer was so kind despite my rambling requests. She took one look at my head shape and face shape and said, "Don't worry, unni. I'll make your face disappear with a jawline plastic-surgery cut, and I'll give your hair CPR so it looks full." Wow... at that point my rating was already booked at 10 out of 5.

Cutting long hair into a chin-length bob: the process

The designer at Obeumua Hongdae Branch offered a cutting solution the moment she heard about my thin-hair complex. I've wandered through plenty of Hongdae hair salons like a nomad, but she was the first to understand my insecurity so perfectly and propose an answer right away.

When the scissors really got going, every time a heavy clump of long hair dropped, it felt like a ten-year-old knot in my stomach was loosening. Goodbye, my lame long-hair days! Goodbye, the heaviness of my youth!

A Hongdae women's cut that keeps back-of-head volume and frames the face

The key to the bob at Obeumua Hongdae Branch was the detail: keeping volume at the back of the head while wrapping around the face to build a jawline. We chatted the whole time she cut, and she was so fun that there wasn't a boring moment.

We had a deep (?) conversation about the shared worries of women in their 30s: elasticity, upkeep, and hair-dependent looks, and time just flew. Above all, her hands are really... the title of Hongdae women's cut master isn't there for nothing. It felt like the hair was finding its own way at the tips of her scissors. I was moved by the detail of keeping the back of the head plump while wrapping the face to create a jawline.

Does a bob look full with thin hair? The finished result

After the blow-dry at Obeumua Hongdae Branch, the finished bob had so much volume that my thin-hair worries felt silly. I almost broke the mirror. Because it was so pretty!

Where did my hair-thinning worry go? With the cutting technique alone, my hair came back so sturdy and full. From every one of the 360 degrees it had volume and looked polished, and I felt almost deflated thinking, "I should have cut it ages ago, why did I wait to lose weight?" Hair styled by a professional is a much faster and surer makeover than working out for a hundred days.

My friends went wild the moment they saw me, asking where I got it cut and why my face looks so small. I usually can't be bothered to recommend things, but this time I sincerely want to spread the word all over town.

Who should get a bob at Obeumua Hongdae Branch

If you're looking for a place in Hongdae that does women's cuts properly, especially if you're in your 30s and hesitating over a bob because of thin hair, I recommend Obeumua Hongdae Branch. Don't think twice, just run there. She catches the volume and trendiness that are the pride of us thirty-something unnis, plus that one-notch-different sensibility, all of it!

Especially those of you hesitating over a bob because of thinning hair like me: worrying doesn't just delay the delivery, it only wears out your precious hair roots!

If you're pondering a Hongdae women's cut, the designer at Obeumua Hongdae Branch will be a no-regrets life choice. Unnis who want to hit a new peak like me, visit before it's too late! Now I'm off shopping to keep this pretty hair going!