Root perm for a flat part and back volume: Recteur Seoul, Hapjeong

I was trying to figure out what to do for my aunt visiting from the US, and decided to gift her some K-beauty. Get her hair done, right now!! We had dinner plans in Yeonnam-dong that evening, so I booked her in at Recteur, a hair salon near Hongdae, haha!

I'm honestly a salon nomad myself, but this place is seriously the best... The consultation was so thorough, they told us the exact price upfront, and most of all, the actual service was so meticulous that my aunt was literally moved to tears lol.

Where is Recteur Seoul near Hapjeong Station, and is there parking?

It's about 354m from Hapjeong Station Exit 2, and parking is well set up too.

Why Recteur Seoul stands out among Hapjeong hair salons

Consultation with designer Idam about a gapped part and flat back hair

Our designer for the day was Idam! My aunt really knew what she wanted, but the consultation was still handled so precisely and thoughtfully, and the service itself was so delicate and well done that it was just great... Note this down, Recteur's designer Idam is the real deal!

• Her back hair going flat and losing shape
• The part gapping open and looking sparse
• Having to spend so long filling and lifting that area every time she went out

The consultation was so good, ugh. Just the consultation alone took over 5 minutes.

The really great part is that right after the consultation, before the service even starts, they tell you the price. So there's no wondering how much it'll come out to at the end. You know how you go to a salon worried you might get overcharged, like they'll just charge whatever they want? Recteur has absolutely none of that — they only recommend what's actually needed, so I ended up with a genuinely reasonable price and a satisfying result.

I'd actually booked thinking of getting something like a magic straightening setting, but they said just a cut and root perm should do it, so I ended up paying way less than I expected. They tell you roughly how long it'll take, ask if there's a time you need to be done by, and then get started.

Shampoo and cut handled by the designer herself

They wash your hair so thoroughly too... usually an assistant does the shampooing, but designer Idam washed her hair herself first. I was waiting outside and it seriously took over 5 minutes, I was shocked lol. My aunt, who'd only ever been to salons in the US, was genuinely moved by K-beauty service.

Honestly I have long hair so I don't know much about short cuts, and I thought short hair would be cut super fast, but nope, she cut it so meticulously. The cut alone took an hour... that's how much care went into it.

My aunt said in the US a haircut is done in 15 minutes and costs $40, and asked what this was... She was so happy saying Korean salons are just on a different level, lol.

Just from the cut alone it already looked pretty. Designer Idam is the best!

Tea and snacks before the root perm, then the root perm step by step

After the cut, while waiting for the perm timing, they bring out tea and snacks~ There were so many tea options and the snacks were great too, really nice touch.

This was my first time seeing a root perm up close and it's genuinely a skill. First she rolled the very ends into a tight, gapless circle. I'd never seen it done before so I was fascinated.

For my aunt's problem area at the crown/part! She rolled it in exactly the right direction so the part wouldn't gap open anymore 👍 I wanted it done too so I asked about it lol.

Heat processing and neutralizing during the root perm

Heat processing for about 10 minutes.

After neutralizing and unrolling, you could already see the volume coming back.

Part volume that held up with just a blow-dry

Honestly all the moms out there need to come get a root perm here... they just blow-dried it and the volume that came back was insane?? It's amazing, seriously... The gapped part was completely gone!!! This place is a gem!!! Everyone bring your moms!!!

I'm not exaggerating when I say it wasn't even styled with a flat iron... this is literally just blow-dried, I'm a witness.

Before the cut and root perm

Hair that was gapped along the part, hair that had gone flat

After the cut and root perm

Now full and gapless~