While facials and makeup might come to mind when thinking of Korean beauty, there’s another equally impressive aspect: haircare. Korean scalp treatments have been making waves online, and we wanted to see the hype. So, we booked a 15-step treatment at Park Jun Beauty Lab in Seoul.
Booking The Hair Treatment
We secured our appointment via WhatsApp for Park Jun Beauty Lab’s Myeongdong outlet. The team spoke English so our exchange online was smooth and easy!
Korean Scalp Treatment Experience
Park Jun Beauty Lab offers two variations of the scalp treatment: Full (120,000 won for 9 steps) and Max (180,000 won for 15 steps).
The Full version includes the following:
- Scalp camera consult
- Scalp exfoliation
- Steam mist
- Nourishing shampoo
- Waterfall
- Scalp treatment
- Scalp massage
- Root strengthening ampoule
- Styling
The Max version has a few add-ons; aroma therapy, light therapy, a neck massage, an additional scalp shampoo and two tools called the ‘Y-stick’ and ‘T-sick’.
These are supposed to help the scalp better absorb the treatment products.
We opted for the Max version and did an additional ‘Cinderella’ hair treatment (from 250,000 won, depending on hair length).
Our total damage for both treatments per person was 480,000 won.
Consultation
The session began with a scalp camera analysis. The camera showed a super zoomed-in look at the state of our scalp.
Let’s just say ours was not looking too good, especially compared to a healthy scalp.
My scalp was peeling, flaky and dry, which would be targeted with the treatment!
Scalp Cleansing & Steaming
The first half of the steps focused on exfoliating to remove dry and dead skin cells.
Since we got the Max version, we got to pick an essential oil for the treatment. It was a nice touch but didn’t make a big difference to our experience.
The stylists then did the light therapy – or what they call the Galvanic Sealing Brush – to help stimulate blood flow to the scalp and soothe inflammation so the dry bits would come out easier.
Afterwards, the stylist scrubbed my scalp with a brush and some product. It had a minty sensation which was nice!
This was followed by scalp steam mist to soften or ‘dissolve’ the dead skin cells.
We looked funny with these big steaming bags on our heads but it was a trust-the-moment process.
In between, we got a neck massage with this cool suction machine and the Y-stick, which is supposed to make the dead skin easier to remove.
We didn’t feel any significant difference during the Y-stick portion though.
After two rounds of different shampoos, we were laid down for the ‘Waterfall’ – undoubtedly the most popular step shown on social media.
To be honest, it was underwhelming. The sensation was calming and comfortable but not as life-changing as what we saw online.
It could be the smaller scale of the facilities or just the nature of the treatment. We took it as an opportunity to relax and let our hair be cared for.
Before & After
After the waterfall, the staff will whip out the camera once more to show the results after the treatment.
We think it was effective! My scalp was cleaner and significantly less inflamed, albeit with some residual dryness at the roots.
The treatment segment was finished with a tonic ampoule based on your scalp type to nourish it!
They used the T-stick to help the scalp absorb the ampoule better. Once again, we didn’t feel a difference with the tool, but we’ll take it as part of the experience.
Bonus: Cinderella Hair Treatment
The Cinderella hair treatment was done as the last step before the styling.
It’s supposed to make the hair soft and shiny so you look and feel like a princess (at least that’s our interpretation).
It was applied to semi-dry hair and then put under a heat lamp for about 30 minutes. Once this was done, it was one more wash before hair styling.
I requested a layered cut style and the stylist did a great job! She did a quick trim and curled the ends to create a nice shape.
A note that all the staff spoke basic English; they used Papago for more difficult conversations.
Final Result And Review
I was thoroughly impressed at the end. My hair had never looked softer or shinier, and my scalp felt clean and refreshed!
It made my hair look lightweight and voluminous compared to when I first entered the salon.
My honest opinion as a paying customer? The scalp treatment is worth it, but the regular Full version is sufficient. I feel like the additional steps did not justify the extra 60,000 won.
The staff were quick but thorough and everyone was helpful, so it was overall a satisfying experience.
Korean Hair Treatment In Seoul
After spending almost 2 hours in the salon, the scalp treatment was worth it! The experience would be useful if you’re looking to revitalise your hair and are already planning to slot it into your Korea itinerary.
However, it might not be worth a specialised trip here. We would also consider trying other salons to compare their offerings!
If haircare isn’t something that interests you, consider other wellness treatments like a jjimjilbang or getting a flower-themed photoshoot.
Check out our Korean content for more things to do in Korea!
Park Jun Beauty Lab Meyongdong (박준뷰티랩 명동점)
서울 중구 명동8길 27 엠플라자 5층 (Located on the 5th floor of Solaria Hotel)
27, Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Open daily: 10am-10pm
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*This was an independent review by MiddleClass
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