Korea 2023 2/15 : Getting My Hair Permed For the First Time in Korea

"You own your life, live it just the way you want."

inside Kakao Friends store at Hongdae

Day 2 - Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Landed this morning in Seoul, Korea and sooo happy to see those familiar airport again, Incheon International Airport. Go directly to immigration and took my baggage, I remember I was the first one arrived at the baggage belt and waiting for my baggage but it took a while until I realized the size of my luggage apparently not that big and it's already there since few minutes ago haha..I got up from the bench since most ppl already took their baggage while I was waiting for mine that I thought still doesn't show up but I was wrong, it was thereee already. I always saw that bag but thought it wasn't mine. Ohh it's my first time using my new luggage because I bought it before pandemic.

I rented a portable wifi (SK Telecom) for 15 days via Trazy (Rp 532k), it's so easy that I can get it in the airport, I choose to take it from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 (between airport exit 9 & 10) on the 1st floor (arrival). The process was so quick and I asked them for power bank. So far the signal was good and I have no bad experience.

Anyway it was still cold, brrrr, I took out my jacket and wear it. I already booked the hostel at Myeongdong so I took Arex airport train (all-stop train, cheaper), I topped up my T-money (KRW 50,000) then took the train to go to the hostel, hope I can put my luggage there. I miss that Banana Uyu (Banana Milk) so I had one, the price increased to KRW 1,700, I remember I keep buying this milk before, it was KRW 1,200.

   

let's taking Arex to Myeongdong

The hostel is located so closed with subway (Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station) which is very nice! like 5 minutes walk. I booked Calistar Hotel in 4-Bed Female Dormitory from April 25 - 30, 2023 (5 nights) total Rp 1,450,051 (Rp 290k/night). Once I arrived there, the staff haven't arrived yet but I saw that we can put luggage outside. Anyway the hostel located inside the building and it's on 4th floor, luckily they have elevator tho' so I put my luggage there since I saw some people also put the luggage there.

my hostel was at 4th floor

Since it's public building so they have toilet that we can use there, so I got ready there before going out. I had appointment at 2 PM in Hongdae area. But since it's still morning, I went to Coffee Shop, near my hostel, Twosome Place and had coffee there, sitting near the window and enjoyed the view. After that I was heading to Hongdae and just window shopping while waiting for my appointment time.

For the first time I felt like I want to try Hair Perm in Korea, so I did some research and already booked an appointment via IG @ccahair to do my hair. The appointment was on 2 PM, so yeah I was heading to Hongdae to go there. I read that they can speak English so it's just easy to book via IG before and they also have the price list so I can check beforehand. I came too early but since they still had customer so they asked me to wait and came according the time so that's okay I can wander around.

this store is always cuteeee

wandered around Hongdae

So, finally it's time, once I arrived, they asked me to sit in the middle and did some consultation, I told them I want to get hair perm, they were very nice anyway they can speak English so no worries. They discussed with the Hair Stylist, checked my hair and gave some recommendation. They told me how much the cost and gave some alternatives, so if cost lower probably due to the products that they will use, I chose the medium, so the will did straightened the up part and perm the lower part, the cost for this Hair Perm was KRW 225,000 and it took 4 hours to get done, I started at 2 PM and finished around 6 PM. I was tired and felt so sleepy at that time yet it was so cold. I think I was shivering because it's cold. It was a nice experience to try tho' after that they told me not too wear hat for sometime and not too wash my hair for 2 - 3 days. Anyway at first I want to pay with my credit card since I didn't exchange too much cash but apparently they prefer cash because if card they will have additional charge or something so thankfully I bring my cash with me, but I only bring KRW 200,000 so I paid with cash and card at the end.

   

From the salon I went to nearby cafe called Bonobo Cafe, and there I want to customize my own Phone Case, so I had some time to do there (KRW 11,800). You can choose what kind of accessories do you want and paid before doing the work. I am not very creative but I like Daisy flowers so I took mostly Daisy flowers. From there I went back to hostel and checking in, it was so cold and since I couldn't sleep well on the plane, I decided to go home early and took some rest.

let's make customized phone case here

the result haha messy but I love those Daisies flower

But after checking in, I decided just to look around a little bit at Myeongdong haha, because it's just so interesting to wander around. Just for a while before going back to hostel and sleep. I was lucky, I got the under bed, not too big my it's comfortable, they don't turn on the Aircon, probably because it's still cold season, so it's kind of hot inside the room. Mostly I sat in the common room/kitchen. The downside of this hostel was the toilet because it's located outside the room, apparently that public toilet, they only have shower room located inside the area. And I forgot how Korea similar like Europe, no bum gun, only tissue. Aside from that, everything was great!

Thank you for reading my travel diaries.

Take care,

MJ