Lash extensions and combination-skin makeup at Comma, a Hongdae salon

Comma Hair & Makeup, a Hongdae salon for profile photo prep

Today I got my makeup done before a profile photo shoot. 📸 I went to Comma Hair & Makeup before the shoot. 🪞💄💄💄 It's about a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Hongdae Station.

You go up to the 2nd floor to find it! There's a price list attached right at the entrance. 💵 Handy to check before you visit.

How much does makeup at Comma Hair & Makeup cost?

When I walked in they told me to change into indoor slippers, so I switched. Outdoor shoes and indoor slippers are kept separate.

Inside Comma Hair & Makeup: private makeup rooms

Walking in, I saw the makeup rooms and a soft, plush sofa. They ask you to arrive starting 10 minutes before your reservation, so I showed up 5 minutes early and got guided straight to a makeup room.

I put my belongings in a drawer! Today I'd be getting makeup and hair done in Room 1. (Felt like a huge celebrity, haha, woohoo 🎶)

There was a sheer curtain so people outside couldn't see in, so it felt kind of private? haha

The makeup room you see YouTubers show off all the time 💄🪞 — I finally got to come myself, woohoo~~ There were seriously so many cosmetics. Warm, cool, muted? It looked like it could cover every Asian skin tone. Even inside the drawers it was almost all~~~ cosmetics. Felt like visiting a princess's room. 🫢

There were cosmetics on the wall too, plus hair styling tools! As soon as I sat down, Manager Jiyeon gently wiped my skin with a soft cotton pad, adjusting to my skin texture (her touch was so soft and careful)

I was told to come with only basic skincare done, no sunscreen, so I skipped sunscreen and only applied ampoule and cream.

Combination-skin consultation before the makeup

Before starting the actual makeup, she checked my skin type first. Oily, dry, combination, etc. — I told her the area around my nose is oily while the rest is more combination, and she said she'd care for it accordingly. She asked what kind of image I wanted for the color makeup, and I asked for a clear, clean look. 🪞

She patted on a toner pack, pat pat! 💦 Not sure what it was, but it felt cool and nice. Some kind of soothing pack maybe? I've been eating a lot of cream-based foods lately so I broke out badly around my nose and cheeks. Haha, red spots kept popping up but I just can't give up dairy... 🤣🤣 My eyebrows had a touch-up tattoo about a week before (so they're extra dark) and I wore colored lenses. 😝

The Galaxy phone's basic camera auto-corrects so my skin looks amazing...? She asked me to choose between de-puffing tea, coffee, or iced tea, so I picked the cold de-puffing tea!

It had a lid on it, so no makeup powder should get in.

What the makeup session felt like

Manager Jiyeon was great at breaking the ice, so we chatted about this and that while she worked and the time just flew by. She was so gentle and meticulous that I felt completely at ease the whole time. 💞 Nothing bothered my eyes, ears, touch, or smell, if that makes sense...? I'm actually a pretty sensitive person, and nothing about the makeup or hair process bothered me at all.

Skin and eye makeup for the camera

Before lip color, I loved how it looked even without lips done, so I quickly snapped a photo before lipstick.

I had a big trouble spot on my cheek but she covered it well, and my nose had a strawberry-nose issue that she also covered nicely. The base makeup was seriously flawless. 🫢🎶 The lip color looked a bit too vivid pink at first so I asked for something more muted, and she adjusted it right away!! 💄 It turned out that layering lipstick without toning down the base made the color come out more intense — since I have lip tattoo, haha, I have to tone down the base first for the actual lipstick shade to show properly. Hehe.

Inner-volume straight hair styling

I wanted clean-looking hair (also trying to look younger....) so I asked her to straighten it flat. She added volume on the inside, so instead of flat, stuck-down hair, I ended up with straight hair that has volume on top and at the sides.

She thoughtfully added a slight wave to the side hair too, which somehow made me feel more delicate and feminine...? With the lights off the color makeup didn't show well in photos, so I turned the lights on to take pictures. I tried pink sparkly eyeshadow for the first time and it looked better than I expected. 🎶 In the photo below the lips look a bit neon, but they're not like that in person! (Just the filter camera.)

Individual lash extensions at Comma Hair & Makeup

Look at these lashes. So pretty, right?? I love the spacing between the lashes too. 💖 I wish my eyes just naturally looked like this forever. She was so careful when attaching the lashes that I never once felt poked, and even with lashes on my eyes feel totally comfortable. Like I'm not even wearing lashes??? I should memorize exactly where she placed them. She attached individual lash strands and fixed them with mascara, repeating it maybe 2 or 3 times, until the extensions just felt like my own lashes.

+ There's a photo taken with a regular camera down at the bottom

She gave me extra lip product on the side, so I could touch up the color even after eating. Haha 💄 She gave me a lip tip and cotton swabs so I could reapply. Today's my day of living as a princess 💞 I almost didn't want to go home. Might have to swing by a photo booth again on the way home.

Honestly I wanted to chat more with Manager Jiyeon but ran out of time.... Being a chatterbox is sad sometimes.... Had to pack up and head to the studio...

Manager Jiyeon must be popular — there was already another guest right after my slot. Must be in high demand. Reluctantly heading out, I snapped a photo on the regular camera, and wow, no filter at all and this is the face

Stylist tips for setting your hair before a shoot

The shadow and highlight show up better in this photo, right?!?! Hehe, love it... When I mentioned I was heading off to take photos, she gave me detailed tips on how to set my hair for better photos. Leave some space by the face on the sides and sweep one side back for a prettier look!!! Such valuable advice 💖💖💖 so thankful.

I loved my face so much I ended up taking videos and photos — probably shot over 100 photos today, haha lol.

If you're going through an ugly-duckling phase and considering plastic surgery, honestly getting a makeup session for a mood boost might be the better move, haha.