K-Drama Hair? Let’s Book It in Korean!

Hello! It’s your favorite Korean language booster, Everyday Korean, here to upgrade your skills!

Have you ever been watching a K-drama or a K-pop music video and thought, “I need that hairstyle!”? You’re not alone! Getting a haircut in Korea is an amazing experience, but first, you need to make that all-important phone call. Today, we’re going to learn how to confidently book a hair salon appointment over the phone.

You know, in Korea these days, trendy and textured styles like the “hush cut” (허쉬컷) seen on many female idols or the soft “shadow perm” (섀도펌) for men are incredibly popular. If you want to try one of these amazing styles, you’ll need to call a salon first. Let’s learn how to do it!

Key Expressions You Need to Know

Here are the essential phrases that will make booking your appointment a breeze.

• Korean Expression: 예약하고 싶은데요.
  • Pronunciation [Romanized]: Yeyak-hago sipeundeyo.
  • English Meaning: I’d like to make a reservation.
  • Detailed Explanation: This is the perfect way to start the conversation. The ~고 싶은데요 (~go sipeundeyo) ending is a wonderfully soft and polite way to state what you want. It sounds much more natural on the phone than a more direct sentence. It signals, “This is what I want, can you help me?”
• Korean Expression: ~시에 가능할까요?
  • Pronunciation [Romanized]: ~si-e ganeung-halkkayo?
  • English Meaning: Is it possible at ~ o’clock?
  • Detailed Explanation: This is how you ask for a specific time. Just put the time you want before 시에 (si-e). For example, “두 시에 가능할까요?” (Du si-e ganeung-halkkayo?) means “Is 2 o’clock possible?”. 가능할까요? is a polite and common way to ask about availability.
• Korean Expression: 어떤 거 하실 거예요?
  • Pronunciation [Romanized]: Eotteon geo hasil geoyeyo?
  • English Meaning: What (service) would you like to get done?
  • Detailed Explanation: The salon staff will almost certainly ask you this! It’s good to recognize it. You can answer with simple service names like 커트 (keoteu – cut), 펌 (peom – perm), or 염색 (yeomsaek – coloring/dyeing).
• Korean Expression: ~로 예약해 주세요.
  • Pronunciation [Romanized]: ~ro yeyak-hae juseyo.
  • English Meaning: Please make the reservation under the name ~.
  • Detailed Explanation: This is how you give your name. Simply put your name before the phrase. For example, “Chris로 예약해 주세요.” (Chris-ro yeyak-hae juseyo). The ~해 주세요 (~hae juseyo) is a polite way to say “Please do ~ for me.”

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation! Here, “B” is you, the awesome Korean learner.

A (Salon Staff): 여보세요, 스타일 헤어입니다.
(Yeoboseyo, Seutail Hee-eo-imnida.)
Hello, this is Style Hair.

B (You): 안녕하세요. 예약하고 싶은데요.
(Annyeonghaseyo. Yeyak-hago sipeundeyo.)
Hello. I’d like to make a reservation.

A (Salon Staff): 네, 언제로 원하세요?
(Ne, eonjero wonhaseyo?)
Sure, for when would you like?

B (You): 내일 오후 세 시에 가능할까요?
(Nae-il ohu se si-e ganeung-halkkayo?)
Is tomorrow at 3 PM possible?

A (Salon Staff): 잠시만요… 네, 가능합니다. 어떤 거 하실 거예요?
(Jamsimanyo… Ne, ganeunghamnida. Eotteon geo hasil geoyeyo?)
One moment… Yes, that’s possible. What service would you like?

B (You): 커트요. 요즘 유행하는 섀도펌 사진처럼 하고 싶어요.
(Keoteu-yo. Yojeum yuhaenghaneun syaedo-peom sajin-cheoreom hago sipeoyo.)
A cut. I’d like it to look like the trendy shadow perm pictures.

A (Salon Staff): 알겠습니다. 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
(Algesseumnida. Seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?)
I understand. May I have your name?

B (You): 마이클로 예약해 주세요.
(Maikeul-lo yeyak-hae juseyo.)
Please book it under Michael.

A (Salon Staff): 네, 마이클 님. 내일 세 시에 뵙겠습니다.
(Ne, Maikeul-nim. Nae-il se si-e boepgesseumnida.)
Okay, Michael. We’ll see you tomorrow at 3.

Culture Tip: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

Worried about describing the exact K-drama hairstyle you want? Don’t be! In Korea, showing a picture to your hairstylist is not just common, it’s practically expected.

Before you go, search on Instagram or Naver for the style you want. For example, type in 남자 섀도펌 (namja syaedo peom – men’s shadow perm) or 여자 허쉬컷 (yeoja heoswi keot – women’s hush cut). Save a few photos you like! When you get to the salon, you can just show the picture and say “이 머리 스타일로 하고 싶어요” (I meori seutail-lo hago sipeoyo – I want this hairstyle). This simple trick guarantees you’ll get the look you’re dreaming of, even if your Korean isn’t perfect yet!

Let’s Review & Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned the most important phrases for booking a hair appointment in Korean. You now know how to state your purpose (예약하고 싶은데요), ask for a time (~시에 가능할까요?), and give your name (~로 예약해 주세요). You’re ready to make that call!

Now, let’s test your knowledge:

1. Fill in the blank: You want to ask if 5 PM is available.
   다섯 ______ 가능할까요? (Daseot ______ ganeung-halkkayo?)

2. Make a sentence: How would you tell the salon to book the appointment under your name? (Use your own name!)

Leave your answers in the comments below using the phrases we learned today! We’d love to see you try. 화이팅 (Hwaiting – You can do it)