How to explain your hairstyle to a Korean stylist
The clearest way to explain a hairstyle is with photos, simple measurements and a few key words. Show what you want, show what you do not want, and describe your hair history. This guide gives a short routine and a checklist you can follow.
WENEED BLACK THE CHEONGDAM · Updated October 2026
A direct answer
Use pictures first, then words. A photo of the result you want does more than any description, and a photo of your hair as it is now gives the stylist a starting point. Add one sentence about what you like in the photo: the length, the color, the bangs or the movement.
Keep your requests concrete. Clear short sentences and a few reference images are enough for a good consultation, and the stylist will ask questions to fill the gaps.
Choose the right photos
Pick two or three images, not twenty. Choose pictures of people whose hair type is close to yours, since a style on very fine straight hair will look different on thick or wavy hair.
- A front view and a side view of the cut or color you want.
- A photo of what you do not want, if you have one.
- A photo of your own hair, dry and unstyled.
- Photos taken in daylight, so the color is visible.
If the photo has been filtered, say so. Color in edited images often looks different in real light.
Describe length and shape in simple terms
Use body landmarks. Say the hair should end at the chin, the collarbone, the shoulder blade or the mid-back. Touch the spot on your own body when you say it. For bangs, point to the eyebrow, the eye or the cheekbone.
Use direct words for texture: straight, wavy, curly, thick, thin, flat, volume, soft, light. Words like layers, bangs, bob and perm are widely understood in salons.
If you need to adjust, say shorter or longer, more or less. Ask for the first cut to be cautious, since hair can be taken off but not put back.
Tell the stylist your hair history
This part matters most for color, perms and straightening. Write a short note on your phone before you go.
- Dates of any color, bleach, perm or straightening.
- Whether you used box dye or salon color.
- Any scalp sensitivity or allergy.
- How you usually dry and style your hair.
- How much time you will spend on it each day.
Do not skip details that seem old. A perm from last year can still affect what is possible today.
Useful Korean words and phrases
A few Korean words help, even if the consultation is mostly visual. Write them in Hangul on your phone to show.
- Cut: 커트 (keoteu). Color: 염색 (yeomsaek). Perm: 펌 (peom).
- Short: 짧게 (jjalbge). A little: 조금 (jogeum). Bangs: 앞머리 (apmeori).
- Like this photo: 이 사진처럼 (i sajin-cheoreom).
- Not too much, please: 너무 많이는 말고요 (neomu mani-neun malgoyo).
Pronunciation helps less than a clear written word. Showing the screen is perfectly fine.
Confirm before the first cut
Before the stylist starts, repeat the plan back in a single sentence. For example: shoulder length, light layers, side-swept bangs, no color change. If the stylist offers a change, ask why, and decide.
Also confirm the price and the time. Prices depend on stylist level, length and condition, so ask for the final figure before any service. Read more in our price list and salon etiquette guide.
Booking so the stylist is ready
At WENEED BLACK THE CHEONGDAM, each stylist has an individual booking page on Naver. Read about the team on the stylists page, and see how to book. The salon is at 4F, 34 Apgujeong-ro 80-gil, Gangnam-gu, open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–19:30.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know Korean to get the haircut I want?
No. Photos, body landmarks and a written note cover most of what you need. Keep sentences short and clear.
What if my reference photo shows different hair from mine?
Say so. The stylist can adapt the idea to your hair type, or tell you what is not realistic.
Should I show a photo of my current color history?
Yes, if you have photos. Dates and a simple list work as well.
Can I ask for changes during the cut?
Yes. Speak up early, since it is easier to adjust before the length is gone.
How do I say I want a small trim only?
Say 조금만 (jogeumman), meaning only a little, and show the length with your fingers.
Visit WENEED BLACK THE CHEONGDAM
4F, 34 Apgujeong-ro 80-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 3, 586 m. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–19:30, closed Sunday and Monday.