Haircare happens to be an active part of every beauty regimen. With so many trends on the block, we are often inclined toward K-beauty hacks and trends because of its sheer popularity. While Korean skincare is much discussed, the approach towards haircare and hairstyle is worth bringing to the focus. With "good for you" innovations and latest technology, K-beauty is bringing us the best of both worlds. We might not be born with supermodel-esque hair but there's always a way to achieve it. Whether it was Irene Kim's "rainbow hair" that took the fashion world by storm, or Blackpink Jennie's two-toned hair, we are truly obsessed with the K-beauty hair sphere. Decoding it further is leading K-Beauty hair expert Sunwoo Kim, who has been the hairstylist to some of South Korea's biggest names, such as Blackpink, Irene Kim, Go-eun Kim, Min-young Park, Ye-ji Seo and Soo Joo Park.
The K-Beauty Approach To Everything Hair
We often find ourselves tangled when it comes to beauty. In the scope of what we know of Korean beauty, health of the skin and scalp happens to be of utmost importance. The intriguing world of K-beauty has introduced us to trends like cloud skin, honey skin and more. This time, we divulge into the philosophy of hair styling with celebrity hair stylist and Dyson Global Ambassador Sunwoo Kim.
"Koreans value not only beauty but also the health of skin and hair. Even for hair care, every step that is incorporated into the haircare routine is purposeful and effective. For example, scalp health is something that Koreans are super particular about, and they focus on nourishing and hydrating the scalp rather than drying out or stripping the moisture. Similarly, protecting their hair from extreme heat damage is also what Koreans prioritize," says celebrity hairstylist Sunwoo Kim.
He further adds, "As for hairstyles, Koreans usually tend to focus on haircuts that enhance their features and bring out the youthful look. One often sees soft, bouncy, and lustrous curls on Korean celebrities along with hair colours that go well with their skin undertones.
A Korean Hairstylist's Guide For The Perfect Hairstyle
From an in-depth approach to hair care to Gen-Z approved cuts, the K-beauty industry is at the forefront of all of it. There have been enormous trends that emerged from South Korea, and we have even dabbled in some of them. With every trend that we tried, we acknowledged that more than achieving, maintaining is the key. The insight of the Koreans in the realm of haircare and hairstyling offers up much and we are totally up for it.
"Above all, I consider the harmony of the customer's preference, face shape, and the overall look the most important. No matter how fashionable and pretty the styling is, it is of no use if it does not suit the customer. Therefore, I always think about how to come
up with a harmonious style by thinking about the overall look. If you have 100 customers, you must apply 100 different styling methods," he elaborates.
What Does It Take To Style Celebrity Hair?
K- Beauty is ever changing and we see incredible styles every other day. We sure won't shy away from admitting that we are obsessed with K-pop idols and celebrities as they are paving a path for new trends.
"When styling a celebrity, the most important thing is to implement a style that fits the concept that the celebrity wants to direct. We have to transform celebrities' looks according to TPO (Time, Place, Occasion) such as fashion pictorials, stages, and dramas. One has to create a new look every time, while keeping their preference and beauty in the centre," tells us Kim Sunwoo. He further adds, "When styling one's hair, one major factor to always remember is to go for hairstyles that enhance your natural features and also showcase your natural hair texture."
Styling might look as luxe as possible but eventually it can bring in damage and it is essential to ensure usage of the right products and tools to prevent maximum damage. "When it comes to styling out the widely loved Korean Air Bangs, the first stage of styling is to break the 'temporary' bonds in the hair so that it can be reshaped. This can typically be achieved by either wetting the hair or by heat. For frizz-prone hair, try the Dyson Airwrap Firm Smoothing Brush to achieve the voluminous air-bangs," states Sunwoo Kim.
He further explains, "When your hair is wet, its hydrogen bonds are broken, making it easier to reshape. Styling your hair wet to dry with the Airwrap multi-styler can help prevent damage because your hair will take on its new shape as it dries. The cold shot will keep your stretched hair bonds firmly in place for a longer time."
Hot Selling Korean Trends: What's Next?
"Bangs are something that never goes out of trend in Korea. Currently, air bangs are something which are highly in-demand by many. From K-pop artists to Korean celebrities, you could spot many adorning this trend," he says.
Next on the block is something that can truly add an edge to one's personality. He further adds, "Koreans are ditching long curls and going in for bolder and shorter hairstyles. A blunt bob or a Pixie cut is really in sync with the ongoing trends."
We have seen a shift towards bold yet subtle hair colours which are proving to be an absolute game-changer. "When it comes to hair colours, ash-based colours are a choice for many. One could opt for ash pink hues like Blackpink's Rosé or go for ash blue hues like soloist IU. Two-toned hair colour is also widely in demand ever since Blackpink's Jennie slayed the look in the 'How you like that' music video," he further elaborates.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
