Gangnam hair salon layered cut + CS perm for postpartum hair: Beorn

Why I went to a hair salon for the first time in 19 months after giving birth

It's been 9 months since my second baby, and counting the 10 months of pregnancy, that's a whole 19 months before I finally spent time just for myself at Beorn Hair Cheongdam (비오른헤어 청담점) near Gangnam-gu Office Station. With a first child and a second one, every day flies by in a blur. I wake up, feed the kids, play with them, put them to bed, do the housework, and suddenly the day is over.

So taking care of myself naturally fell to the back of the line. I got so used to living with a bare face and my hair yanked up in a ponytail, and I kept thinking "I want to go to the salon" without ever actually finding the time.

Then not long ago I finally got some "free woman" time! A friend's wedding meant I could go out on the weekend. Putting on makeup and dressing up for the first time in ages felt strange. I was excited, but also a little bittersweet, realizing how little I'd been looking after myself.

After the wedding, my husband told me to take my time coming home, so I decided to spend some time just for me.

I booked the salon right away! 10 months of pregnancy, then 9 months of raising a baby. It was 19 months before I could spend time entirely on myself. My steps toward the salon were so light.

This time I visited Beorn Hair Cheongdam, near Exit 4 of Gangnam-gu Office Station. I've tried plenty of salons through blogging, but the deputy director (Buwon-jang) I met this time was so meticulous that I really liked her.

How did Beorn Hair handle postpartum baby hairs?

While doing the perm, the deputy director at Beorn Hair Cheongdam checked the baby hairs around my bangs and sides one by one, and even did root straightening with great care. From the first consultation she listened well to my concerns and could tell my hair condition at a glance.

Anyone who lost a lot of hair after giving birth will relate. About 6 months postpartum, the hair that fell out starts growing back and tons of baby hairs pop up, like a grass doll's hair! Mine came up a lot around the bangs and sides, and my biggest worry was that my hair looked messy whether I tied it up or wore it down. And while doing the perm, the deputy director checked those baby hairs one by one.

She even did the root straightening so carefully, and I was really touched. Honestly, I've never met a designer who pays attention to this level of detail. It seems like a small difference, but it makes a big difference in the finished style. The style I chose this time was a layered cut combined with a CS curl.

What are a long-bob layered cut and a CS perm like?

A layered cut adds layers that wrap around the face to make it look smaller, and a CS curl is a perm somewhere between a C curl and an S curl. At Beorn Hair Cheongdam, after the consultation I had a shampoo and then the cut began. I wanted my face to look a bit smaller, so I asked for a layered cut.

As the cut went on, I could feel it: the deputy director is a true master of layered cuts. The layers went in naturally without being overdone, and the way they wrap the face line is really pretty.

After the cut came the perm. The CS curl I chose isn't too frizzy-curly and brings out natural volume and movement, so it apparently suits long bob and medium-length hair especially well. It was exactly the vibe I wanted.

How long does a layered cut and CS perm take?

At Beorn Hair Cheongdam, it took about 3 hours from consultation through cut, perm and finishing. After applying the perm solution and setting the curls, she carefully finished the neutralizing step, and after a final shampoo she trimmed the cut line once more.

It was a long time, but I wasn't bored at all. If anything, being pampered by someone for the first time in ages made me so happy. Above all, the result was really satisfying.

Layered cut and CS perm results, and how easy it is to style

After the layered cut and CS perm, my frizzy hair calmed down, and thanks to the layers my face line looks much more defined. The natural CS curl on top makes styling much easier too.

When you're raising kids it's hard to spend a lot of time on your hair, so I really liked that the style comes back to life just by drying it.

Looking in the mirror for the first time in a while, I liked what I saw. When you're raising kids, you focus on being a mom and take care of yourself less and less. But I felt that spending time on yourself like this once in a while is really necessary. With pretty hair, my mood lifted and I felt more confident.

A precious 19 months' worth of time for myself, and the deputy director at Beorn Hair who made it even more special. It was a really satisfying visit.

Who I'd recommend Beorn Hair Cheongdam to

• Anyone worried about changes in their hair or baby hairs after giving birth
• Anyone who needs a mood refresh after a long time
• Anyone who wants a pretty layered cut and a natural CS curl

If you have the same worries as me, I recommend getting a consultation with the deputy director at Beorn Hair Cheongdam. I'm 100% going back next time :)

Beorn Hair Cheongdam, Exit 4 of Gangnam-gu Office Station. Highly recommended!