Two block (투블럭)
The foundation of almost every modern Korean men’s cut. Sides and back are clipped short, often very short, with a clear disconnection from a longer top. Unlike a Western undercut the transition is softer and the top is usually textured, not slicked. It works on most face shapes because the length on top can be adjusted. Ask how short the sides go; a “short two block” is close to skin, a “natural two block” leaves a finger’s width.
Comma hair and the middle part
Comma hair is a two block where the front is shaped into a curve that falls like a comma over one side of the forehead. It usually needs a light perm to hold the curve. The middle part, which became the default idol look, is the same cut with the front split down the center and both sides curling slightly outward. Both need the top at least eight to ten centimeters.
If you have a cowlick at the front, tell the stylist; they will place the part to work with it.
Leaf cut and hush cut
These are layered, texture-heavy cuts that look soft and slightly undone. The leaf cut keeps the ends feathered like leaves, the hush cut is a longer, shaggier version borrowed from women’s styling. Both suit thick, straight hair and both need product every morning. Seungil at Soonsiki Hongdae and Donggyu at Juno Hair Apgujeong both publish leaf-cut work.
The Korean fade
Korean salons borrowed the fade but keep it tighter and higher on the sides than most Western barbers, with a longer, textured top. If you want a classic barbershop fade, say “barber fade” and show a photo; the default Seoul fade is a different shape. Seojun specializes in men’s fades combined with perms.
The down perm, the secret ingredient
If you have ever wondered why the sides of Korean men’s cuts lie so flat, the answer is the down perm. It is a quick, mild straightening applied only to the sides and back so the hair hugs the head instead of sticking out. Salons describe it as a short add-on to a cut, usually well under an hour, priced far below a full perm and lasting a couple of months before the sides start to lift again; ask the stylist for their own time and price. Men with thick or coarse hair that flares at the sides get the biggest change from it. Ask for it by name.
Matching the cut to your face and hair
Korean stylists think about men’s cuts in terms of forehead height, jaw width and hair density, and they will tell you if a style fights your face. A middle part needs a forehead you are willing to show and hair with enough density to hold two curtains; on a high forehead stylists lower the part or add a see-through fringe. Comma hair suits longer faces because the curve adds width at the brow. Two blocks with very short sides make a round face look rounder, so stylists leave the sides slightly longer and add height on top. A leaf cut needs thick, straight hair; on fine hair it collapses by noon.
If your hair is wavy or curly, say so early. Many Korean men’s looks assume straight hair that is then permed into shape, and a stylist may suggest working with your natural texture instead, which is usually the better call and the cheaper one.
The two-minute Korean styling routine
The styles look effortless because the routine is short and the cut does the work. Towel dry, then blow dry with fingers only, pushing the top in the direction you want it to fall and pressing the sides down. Take a pea of matte wax or cream, warm it between both palms until it disappears, then rake it through the top from back to front and pinch a few ends. No comb, no gel, no hairspray except on a very windy day. The down perm keeps the sides flat and the light perm on top keeps the direction, so the product is only there to separate.
Ask the stylist to show you this at the chair and to name the product. Korean salon brands are inexpensive and sold at Olive Young, so you can take the routine home.
Barbershop or salon?
Seoul has a growing barbershop scene for classic fades, pompadours and beard work, and a salon scene for the textured, permed looks in this article. They are different trades. If you want a sharp skin fade with a hard part, a barbershop will do it better and faster. If you want a two block with a down perm and a middle part, go to a salon with a men’s specialist; most barbers do not do perms at all. Prices overlap, with both mostly in the ₩25,000 to ₩45,000 range for a cut before any perm.
Stylists in our catalog who focus on men include Donggyu for sleek and texture cuts and men’s perms, and Seojun for fades combined with perms. Both work at Juno Hair’s Apgujeong Rodeo branch.
Two mistakes first-time visitors make
First, booking a cut only. Most of the looks in the photos are cut plus a light perm plus a down perm, and the stylist assumes you know that. If you want the full result, say so when booking so the time slot is long enough.
Second, expecting the stylist to style it dramatically. Korean men’s styling is light: a little wax or cream and a blow dry with fingers. Ask the stylist to show you the two-minute routine and which product they used. Our team can help you connect with a men’s specialist and check the quote and timing first. Plan your visit.
Questions people ask
What is the most popular Korean men’s haircut?
The two block in its many variations. The middle part and comma hair are the two most requested front shapes on top of a two block.
Do I need a perm for a Korean men’s hairstyle?
For comma hair, the middle part and most volume looks, a light perm on top makes the shape hold. For a leaf cut or fade it is optional.
What is a down perm?
A mild straightening applied only to the sides and back so they lie flat. Salons sell it as a short add-on to a cut; confirm the time and price with the stylist.
How often do Korean men’s cuts need maintenance?
Every three to five weeks for the sides. A down perm usually needs redoing after a couple of months and a top perm after three to four.
Related topics
Sources
- Creatrip, Best Men’s Hair Salons in Seoul 2026
- Aclipse, Foreigner-friendly hair salons in Korea (men’s cuts)
- Nimble Made, Korean perm for men
- Creatrip, Best Seoul Hair Salons for Foreigners 2026
Prices and practices above come from the 2026 guides and booking listings linked here, checked on 2026-10-11. They are orientation, not a price list; our team gets a quote for your hair from the stylist.
Keep reading
- Donggyu · Juno Hair · Apgujeong Rodeo 1
- Seojun · Juno Hair · Apgujeong Rodeo 1
- Seungil · SOONSIKI · Moment
- Getting a Korean Perm in Seoul: Price, Time and What Actually Happens in the Chair
Choose your next question
- Planning a Seoul salon visit — Choose a stylist, confirm the branch and prepare a useful consultation brief.
- Finding English consultation support — Check individual public language claims and the questions to ask before a visit.
- Planning a Korean perm in Seoul — Compare published perm work and prepare questions about suitability, price and timing.
Written and maintained by the Korean Hairstyle editorial team at Kohwoon & Company. Editorial update: . Source profiles may change; check the linked original before relying on a branch, service or language claim. Sources, corrections and editorial policy.