8 Konglish Korean Hairstyles for Women — From Magic Perm (매직펌) to Hippie Perm (히피펌)

💝 Natural English Guide: Konglish Korean Hair Terms – Part 5 (Women’s Hairstyles)


Illustration of Konglish Korean hairstyles for women, from Magic Perm to Hippie Perm

안녕하세요. I'm Hangeulia ^-^

After skincare and makeup, let’s head to the hair salon 💇.
Koreans use many English-looking words for hairstyles and treatments, but they often mean something quite different from natural English.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know what these words really mean — and how to explain your hairstyle clearly at a Korean salon ^^



💜 Magic Perm (매직펌)


Korean Magic Perm, permanent hair straightening style
In Korea, “Magic” means sleek permanent straightening, also called rebonding in English.

Situation
Two friends chatting while deciding on a style.

Dialogue
A: 나 이번에 매직하려고.
(na i-beon-e mae-jik ha-ryeo-go)
B: 그래, 파마 너무 오래했으니까 기분 전환 되겠다.
(geu-rae, pa-ma neo-mu o-rae-haet-seu-ni-kka gi-bun jeon-hwan doe-get-da)

Natural English
A: I’m going to get my hair straightened this time.
B: Yeah, you’ve had curls for so long — it’ll feel refreshing to change it up.


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 매직펌 means permanent hair straightening.
In natural English, people usually say hair straightening or rebonding.
It’s not real magic — just super sleek straight hair ^^

  • Magic perm (매직펌) = hair straightening / rebonding


💜 Rinse (린스)


Situation
At the salon with the stylist.

Dialogue
A: 린스 하고 오셨어요?
(rin-seu ha-go o-syeot-seo-yo?)
B: 아니요, 샴푸만 했어요.
(a-ni-yo, syam-pu-man haet-seo-yo)

Natural English
A: Did you use conditioner?
B: No, I only shampooed.


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 린스 means conditioner.
In English, “rinse” only means washing with water — not conditioner.
You may also hear 트리트먼트 (treatment), which is closer to a hair mask.

  • Rinse (린스) = conditioner


💜 Volume Magic (볼륨매직)


Korean Volume Magic style, straight hair with root lift and soft curls at the ends
Unlike regular straightening, Volume Magic keeps the roots lifted and adds subtle curls at the ends.

Situation
Consulting with the stylist.

Dialogue
A: 볼륨매직으로 하실 거예요?
(bol-ryum-mae-jik-eu-ro ha-sil geo-ye-yo?)
B: 아니요, 그냥 피기만 하려구요.
(a-ni-yo, geun-yang pi-gi-man ha-ryeo-gu-yo)

Natural English
A: Do you want it straight with some volume?
B: No, I just want it simply straightened.


💛 Story Note
볼륨매직 smooths frizz while keeping lift at the roots and adding a soft curl at the ends.
“피다 / 피기” means to straighten hair and remove waves or frizz.
In English, you’d describe this as straightening with natural volume.

  • Volume magic (볼륨매직) = straightening with root lift + soft ends


💜 C-Curl Perm (C컬펌)


Korean C-Curl perm hairstyle with inward curls at the hair ends
A soft C-curl style, where only the hair tips curl inward for a gentle and feminine look.

Situation
Another friend asking about curls.

Dialogue
A: 컬 어떻게 넣어드릴까요?
(keol eo-tteo-ke neo-eo-deu-ril-kka-yo?)
B: 끝에만 살짝 C컬로요.
(kkeut-e-man sal-jjak si-keol-ro-yo)

Natural English
A: How would you like the curl?
B: Just a soft inward curl at the ends.


💛 Story Note
C컬 means the hair tips curl inward, shaped like the letter C.
In English salons, this is described as ends curled under.

  • C-curl perm (C컬펌) = inward curl at the ends


💜 S-Curl Perm (S컬펌)


Korean S-Curl perm hairstyle with loose wavy curls
The S-curl perm gives hair soft, wave-like curls shaped like the letter S.

Situation
Continuing the consultation.

Dialogue
A: C컬은 금방 풀리긴 하는데 괜찮으실까요?
(si-keol-eun geum-bang pul-li-gin ha-neun-de gwaen-chan-eu-sil-kka-yo?)
B: 그럼 S컬로 할까요?
(geu-reom es-keol-ro hal-kka-yo?)

Natural English
A: C-curls loosen quickly. Is that okay?
B: Then should I go with loose wavy curls?


💛 Story Note
S컬 creates flowing, wave-like curls shaped like the letter S.
“풀리다” means the curl loosens or falls out over time.

  • S-curl perm (S컬펌) = loose wavy curls / S-shaped curls


💜 All-back (올백)


Situation
Still with the stylist, talking about bangs.

Situation
Talking about bangs.

Dialogue
A: 앞머리는 내리실 거예요?
(ap-meo-ri-neun nae-ri-sil geo-ye-yo?)
B: 아니요, 그냥 올백으로 묶는 게 편해요.
(a-ni-yo, geun-yang ol-baek-eu-ro muk-neun ge pyeon-hae-yo)

Natural English
A: Are you keeping your bangs down?
B: No, it’s easier to pull my hair back.


💛 Story Note
올백 means styling all hair back with no bangs.
In English, you might say “slicked-back hair” or “pulled-back style.”

  • All-back (올백) = slicked-back hair / pulled-back style


💜 Hair Essence (헤어에센스)


Situation
After finishing the styling.

Dialogue
A: 에센스 좀 발라드릴게요.
(e-sen-seu jom bal-la-deu-ril-ge-yo)

Natural English
A: I’ll apply some hair serum.


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 헤어에센스 means leave-in hair care.
In English, people say hair serum, hair oil, or leave-in treatment.

  • Hair essence (헤어에센스) = hair serum / leave-in treatment


💜 Hippie Perm (히피펌)


Korean Hippie Perm with crimped, voluminous waves from roots to ends
A hippie perm creates frizzy, crimped waves from the roots, giving a casual, voluminous style.

Situation
Chatting while leaving the salon.

Dialogue
A: 다음에는 히피펌 하러 올게요.
(da-eum-e-neun hi-pi-peom ha-reo ol-ge-yo)

Natural English
A: I’m thinking of getting a hippie perm next time.


💛 Story Note
히피펌 creates frizzy, voluminous curls from roots to ends.
In English, stylists might call it a spiral perm, crimped hair, or boho waves.

  • Hippie perm (히피펌) = spiral perm / crimped hair / messy waves


💜 Quick Recap


Infographic of Konglish hair terms for women — Magic Perm, Rinse, Volume Magic, C-Curl Perm, S-Curl Perm, All-back, Hair Essence, Hippie Perm

So, here’s a quick recap:

  • 매직펌 = hair straightening / rebonding
  • 린스 = conditioner (Konglish: "rinse")
  • 볼륨매직 = straightening with root lift + slight curl at the ends
  • C컬펌 = inward curl at the ends (C-shaped)
  • S컬펌 = loose wavy curls (S-shaped)
  • 올백 = slicked-back hair / pulled-back style
  • 헤어에센스 = hair serum / leave-in treatment
  • 히피펌 = spiral perm / crimped hair


💜 FAQ


Q1. What’s the difference between magic perm and volume magic?
Magic perm is fully straight, while volume magic keeps lift at the roots.

Q2. Which lasts longer, C-curl or S-curl?
S-curls usually last longer because they hold more wave.

Q3. Is “rinse” really conditioner in Korea?
Yes. 린스 means conditioner, not just rinsing with water.

Q4. What does “all-back” mean?
It means styling all hair back with no bangs.

Q5. Can I say “hippie perm” at a Korean salon?
Yes. It’s a common and well-understood term in Korea.



💜 Final Thoughts

Now you know what Koreans mean when they say “린스,” “볼륨매직,” or “올백.” Save this post before your next salon visit — it’ll make consultations much easier ^^


With love,
한글리아 😊

Part 5 of the Konglish series — ← Previous: Part4. 7 Konglish K-Beauty Makeup Terms — From Tone-Up Cream (톤업크림) to Shading (섀딩) | Next: Part 6. 8 Konglish Korean Men’s Haircuts & Hairstyles — From Two-Block Cut (투블럭컷) to Down Perm (다운펌)



Hair completes the look, but makeup sets the tone ^-^ Curious about the famous Korean babyface style?
Click here 💄dongan (동안) makeup tips



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