Photoshoot makeup at a Hongdae hair salon, wet short bob: Today Makeup

What kind of salon is Today Makeup?

Today Makeup is a hair and makeup styling salon on the 2nd floor of 26-8 Worldcup-buk-ro 1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. They style according to each person's skin tone and vibe, offering everything from daily makeup to hair-and-makeup styling to purpose-driven looks for weddings and photoshoots. Parking is available too.

Why Seoul Fashion Week called for bolder makeup than usual

I'd been invited to Seoul Fashion Week, so I got shoot-prep makeup done in Hongdae. I normally like a clean, muted look, so on a regular day I'd have asked for the thinnest, most natural application possible.

But since events like this involve a lot of photography, they told me that a thin base and color would just get washed out on camera. To keep my skin tone looking even, it needed to be applied with some real definition, so for this one day I let go of my usual preferences haha. Once I actually saw the shoot photos, I understood exactly why they built it up.

Parking at Today Makeup: what to know if you drive

Being able to drive to Today Makeup was pretty convenient for me too. If you visit by car, you just place the provided tag on your dashboard as instructed.

If the salon's parking spaces happen to be full, there are paid lots nearby you can use instead.

If you're driving, checking the parking situation before you head over will make things a little easier to find.

How to walk to Today Makeup from Hongik University Station

Today Makeup sits on the 2nd floor of the building at 26-8 Worldcup-buk-ro 1-gil. There's a sign out front, so finding the entrance wasn't hard at all.

The walk from Hongik University Station was less complicated than I expected, so it's a fine option to reach by public transit too.

The skincare step that surprised me before the base makeup

Walking in, the space was really well divided up. The layout felt private, which made it easy to settle in comfortably.

And what stuck with me before the makeup even started was the skincare. They went in pretty thoroughly from the very beginning, and it fizzed on my skin like foam, which felt so unusual that I asked about it directly.

Turns out it exfoliates too, so oh... that's why they were so thorough with the base prep, I thought haha.

Maybe thanks to that step, even with a heavier base than usual, my skin didn't feel dry at all. Even much later, there was no lifting or cracking anywhere, which I really liked.

The saturated color makeup that read best on camera

I asked them to match the color makeup to the outfit I'd be wearing that day. The outfit had a chic, polished feel and was simple overall, so the priority was bringing out my features rather than going for anything flashy.

Even the lashes felt a little noticeable to me by my usual standard. But once the actual shoot started, this level turned out to work really well. Same with the blush and lip.

My favorite muted colors have low saturation, so they can barely register in photos. That's why they went with a color that had a bit more saturation, and seeing the shoot results, I got why they made that call.

How Today Makeup restyled a grown-out short bob into a wet look

After makeup, the hair stylist took over and did my hair styling. At the time my hair was a short bob, and my previous perm had nearly fallen out completely.

So they first sorted out the curl, then styled it into the wet-look finish I'd prepared as a reference. When I saw the finished look, I was honestly surprised at how pretty it turned out haha. It made me think, this is why people get their hair done in Seoul — the way they instantly caught the trendy vibe and brought it to life was impressive.

Both the makeup artist and the hair stylist were friendly the whole time, and they picked up on the direction I wanted really quickly, so I finished feeling satisfied. If I have another important shoot or event, this is a place I'd want to come back to.

Why Today Makeup is worth booking for important days

Getting it done in person, I really liked how they styled with the camera in mind.

They listened well to the look I wanted while also handling the points that would pop in photos. With the hair done too, my satisfaction was high, so I'd love to come back for the next shoot haha.

Who Today Makeup in Hongdae is best for

• Anyone who needs styling ahead of a shoot or event
• Anyone with a schedule full of photography, like Seoul Fashion Week
• Anyone who wants a look matched to their outfit and mood
• Anyone who wants hair and makeup together in a private space