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

💝 Lost in Translation? Konglish Korean Hair Terms – Part 5: Women’s Hairstyles


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 real English. Let’s join two friends getting their hair done and see what these words really mean!



💜 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)

Translation
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 English, people just say hair straightening or rebonding. So if you hear “매직,” it means sleek straight hair — not real magic✨^^

  • Magic perm (매직펌) = hair straightening / rebonding


💜 Rinse (린스)

Situation
At the salon with the hair 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)

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


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 린스 = conditioner. But in English, “rinse” only means washing with water. So remember: 린스 = conditioner.

  • 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)

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


💛 Story Note
볼륨매직 is not just simple straightening. It smooths frizz while adding lift at the roots and a slight curl at the ends. This creates a more natural, bouncy look compared to regular straightening. In English, you’d describe it as volume straightening or straightening with natural volume.

  • Volume magic (볼륨매직) = straightening with root lift + slight curl at 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)

Translation
A: How would you like the curl?
B: Just a slight inward curl at the ends.


💛 Story Note
In Korea, C컬 = inward curl shaped like the letter C. In English, stylists describe it as “inward curl at the ends.”

  • 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?)

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


💛 Story Note
In Korea, S컬 = flowing curls shaped like S. In English, you’d say “wavy curls” or “S-shaped curls.”

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


💜 All-back (올백)

Situation
Still with the stylist, talking about bangs.

Dialogue
A: 앞머리는 내리실 거예요?
(ap-meo-ri-neun nae-ri-sil geo-ye-yo?)
B: 아니요. 더워서 그냥 올백으로 묶는 게 편하더라고요.
(a-ni-yo, deo-wo-seo geun-yang ol-baek-eu-ro muk-neun ge pyeon-ha-deo-ra-go-yo)

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


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 올백 means styling or tying all hair back, with no bangs. In English, you’d say: - “I slicked my hair back.” (올백으로 넘겼어) - “I pulled my hair back into a ponytail.” (올백으로 묶었어)

  • 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)
B: 네, 감사합니다.
(ne, gam-sa-ham-ni-da)

Translation
A: I’ll apply some hair serum for you.
B: Thank you.


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 헤어에센스 = leave-in hair treatment. In English, people say hair serum, hair oil, or leave-in treatment, not “essence.”

  • Hair essence (헤어에센스) = hair serum / hair oil / 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)
B: 네, 기장 좀 길러서 오시면 예쁘게 해 드릴게요.
(ne, gi-jang jom gil-leo-seo o-si-myeon ye-ppeu-ge hae deu-ril-ge-yo)

Translation
A: Next time I’ll come for a spiral perm.
B: Sure, if you grow it out a bit more, it’ll look great.


💛 Story Note
In Korea, 히피펌 means long, frizzy, voluminous curls from roots to ends — inspired by the “hippie” look. In English, people don’t really say “hippie perm.” Stylists would usually call it a spiral perm. You might also hear crimped hair (zig-zag texture waves, similar to the hippie vibe), or casual terms like messy waves or boho curls.

  • 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

  • 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


💜 Final Thoughts

Now you know what Koreans mean when they say “린스,” “볼륨매직,” or “올백.” With this guide, you can understand K-beauty hair talk and even explain your hairstyle better at a Korean salon ^^


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 Hairstyles for Men — From Two-Block Cut (투블럭컷) to Down Perm (다운펌)

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