Yongsan hair salon vintage perm on curl-resistant hair: ONLY FOR YOU

Tired of straight hair, but a hippie perm feels like too much

The writer wanted a change from the same straight hairstyle they'd had for years, so they got a vintage perm at ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch (온리포유 한남본점), a hair salon in Hannam-dong, Yongsan. "My hair was just long, and the style hadn't changed in years! I was sick of straight hair and wanted a change, but a hippie perm is too frizzy and curly for me, and a feminine wave isn't my style either, so I agonized forever."

Then they found the salon through a Naver search, read reviews of its vintage perms, booked, and the result was a big win.

Where is ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch, and how do you book and park?

ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch is at 70 Dokseodang-ro, 3rd floor, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, near Hannam Ogeori (Hannam five-way intersection). The writer found it easy to reach from anywhere, whether Gangnam or north of the river.

The salon is reservation-based. The writer booked ahead through Naver Reservation and went straight into the treatment with no waiting. It's open from 11 AM to 10 PM, so visiting after work is possible. Few salons stay open this late, so the hours were especially appealing for someone with lots of evening plans. 👍

Free parking for 3 hours! The writer has often been stressed about parking at Yongsan salons, but here the underground lot is spacious, so there was nothing to worry about.

Salon interior and waiting area

The salon is large, with a roomy waiting area, and each designer has a separate station, so the writer could get treated comfortably without worrying about the seat next door.

How did the vintage perm consultation go?

The designer in charge at ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch listened to the writer's vague description and suggested a vintage perm right away. The style they wanted was a bit vague: not frizzy like a hippie perm, not a feminine wave, but something in between.

It was hard to put into words, but the designer suggested a vintage perm the moment they heard it. The writer only showed a few photos of the feel they wanted, and the designer got it immediately, which was amazing. 😮

They also talked over whether to make the ends heavy or light, and decided to try a light design they'd never done before. The designer looked at their hair type and face shape and said it would suit them, so they trusted her. "Normally I'd have gone for a safe choice, so trusting the designer and trying a new style meant something in itself. This is my hair with just the ends lightly trimmed!"

15 designers and regular outside training

During the consultation, the writer heard that ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch has about 15 designers.

With that many people, they said, the salon regularly brings in outside instructors for group training. Maybe that's why the writer felt, from the consultation onward, that the designer knew a lot about current trends and designs suited to their hair type. It didn't feel like relying on one designer's technique; you could subtly sense a salon-wide atmosphere of steady study.

From cut to perm: what it was actually like

The cut at ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch came with explanations of hair traits one by one, such as hair density and the parts that stick out. "It felt different from the cut onward. She wasn't just cutting; she pointed out my hair's traits as she went, so it was easy to understand."

The writer was told that on return visits the designer moves quickly without these explanations, which actually builds trust because it means she already knows their hair. Just watching the cut, they could tell she was meticulous.

Ordering drinks during the treatment

At ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch you can order drinks mid-treatment by scanning the QR code on the mirror. There's also freshly griddled hotteok (sweet filled pancake) and strawberry jam toast, but the writer kept it light with an iced tea. Treatments take a long time, so little details like this matter more than you'd think. It felt like the salon cared about keeping you from getting bored while you wait.

The vintage perm result: how did it honestly turn out?

Even though the writer's hair doesn't take curls well, the vintage perm at ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch came out with bouncy curls.

After the rods and the neutralizing step, their hair turned all frizzy-curly.

They'd worried because their hair resists curling, but this time the curls came out springy. Curls always used to droop over time, and this time that felt less pronounced.

When the writer first looked in the mirror, the curls were so alive they wondered if it was really their own hair. It felt amazing.

Do they teach you how to style it at home after a vintage perm?

At the finishing stage, ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch showed the writer how to style at home on their own, from blow-dry direction to bringing out the curls. Thanks to that, they could copy the salon styling to a fair degree by themselves.

It felt like the salon doesn't stop at the perm but also looks after aftercare, which built even more trust. They were told the curls hold well without loosening, so the writer is now considering a C-curl perm next time.

After seeing this vintage perm result, the writer is looking forward to the next treatment.

Who is a vintage perm at ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch right for?

For anyone searching for a Hannam-dong or Yongsan hair salon, the writer recommends ONLY FOR YOU Hannam Main Branch if you want a wave style, or if hair that resists curling has made you hesitate over a perm.

It's also a good option for people who've avoided salons because of parking.