As we head into 2025, the world of Korean haircare and styling is set to blend fresh innovations with traditional elements, paving the way for new global trends.
The LEEKAJA CREA Team KOREA, a top player in the Korean hair scene, has shared their thoughts on the most thrilling trends, innovations, and challenges that are influencing the haircare industry.
Let’s dive into the trends that are likely to take centre stage, inspired by the insights from the LEEKAJA CREA team.
- Korean Hair Trends 2025: Short Bob
- Korean Hair Trends 2025: Bob Perm
- Korean Hair Trends 2025: “Foreign Baby Hair Colour”
- Korean Hair Trends 2025: Braided Styles
- Korean Hair Trends 2025: Shadow Perm
- Innovations in Korean Haircare
- The Role of AI and Personalisation in Korean Haircare
- What’s Next in Korean Haircare?
Korean Hair Trends 2025: Short Bob
A major trend expected for 2025 is the short bob featuring a tousled texture.
“It looks as if it has been cut with a sickle,” the team explains, featuring crooked bangs to maximise youthful charm. This cut, similar to a hush cut, is a favourite among women in their 20s and 30s. It pairs well with fashion trends like Y2K and geek chic.
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Credit: @jin_a_nana/Instagram
Nana, the Korean singer, actress, and model, is famous for her striking looks and daring style. She pulls off a haircut that perfectly blends edgy and stylish. Her choppy bob has uneven, textured layers that create a sense of movement and volume, giving it a laid-back feel.
Credit: @hannipham.njs/Instagram
Hanni from NewJeans caught everyone’s attention when she showed off her short bob in the Bubblegum music video. Her hairstyle features smooth, straight lines and a layered, airy vibe, mixing the trendy tassel cut with the hush cut for a fun and modern twist.
How to Achieve It
Best for: Those with straight hair or a shorter face. For curly hair, a straightening treatment may be required to keep the bob’s light silhouette.
What to tell your hairstylist: Request light layering along the face while preserving the hair’s texture.
How to style it: Use lightweight products, such as a water-based oil essence, to maintain the hair’s unique texture. “We love to use Goldwell Stylesign Straightening Balm,” they recommend, for a smooth, frizz-free finish with added heat protection.
Korean Hair Trends 2025: Bob Perm
A trendy option right now is the bob perm, which gives you those effortless waves starting from the roots.
The ‘rain perm’ method works wonders for adding some volume and flow to chin-length hairstyles. It’s a laid-back yet chic look that suits a variety of events.
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Credit: @kimtaeri_official/Instagram
Kim Tae-ri’s role in Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born has really caught people’s attention, especially with her off-screen short, wavy bob hairstyle.
This “bob perm” gives off a soft, natural vibe that brings in some nice texture and flow, perfect for a laid-back, feminine style. With her effortlessly stylish hair, she’s definitely setting the stage for this trend to be one of the biggest looks in 2025.
How to Achieve It
Best for: Normal, finer hair. This style might overwhelm those with too much volume.
What to tell your hairstylist: Ensure the stylist creates natural waves starting from the roots.
How to style it: For extra shine and reduced treatment time, they recommend Goldwell Structure + Shine thermal perm solution, ensuring the style stays voluminous and glossy. “Apply curl cream while drying and shape the curls by hand,” says the team.
Korean Hair Trends 2025: “Foreign Baby Hair Colour”
Hair colour trends are changing, and right now, the “foreign baby hair colour” is all the rage. This beige-blonde hue is crafted to be free of any red undertones, giving it a cool, ashy vibe that’s ideal for anyone who loves more subtle shades.
The team highlights the growing demand for this hue: “Goldwell Newance by Topchic permanent hair colour helps to achieve the desired ash brown colour,” they note, which is especially fitting for Asian hair.
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Credit: @aespa_official/Instagram
Aespa’s Winter wowed everyone in COSMOPOLITAN with her smooth, buttery beige blonde hair, perfectly showcasing the “Foreign Baby Hair Colour” trend.
This hue is ideal for anyone looking for a chic, contemporary style without the intense red undertones, giving her that enchanting, otherworldly feel.
Credit: @le_sserafim/Instagram
LE SSERAFIM’s Sakura has chosen a unique spin on this colour trend by going for a deeper, ashier mushroom-brown shade. When styled with loose waves, this hue brings a gentle and romantic vibe, making it perfect for casual outings as well as more sophisticated occasions.
How to Achieve It
Best for: Those with reddish skin tones, though bleaching may be needed for darker hair.
What to tell your hairstylist: Ask for a matte, “milk tea”-brown shade without red undertones.
Korean Hair Trends 2025: Braided Styles
Finally, braided styles are set to soar in popularity. “Braids offer a variety of looks depending on the technique used,” the team shares, noting their rise on red carpets and social media.
This trend is popular among people wanting to spice up their long hair. Braids, whether they’re basic or elaborate, bring extra depth and texture to different hairstyles, making them a top choice for women in their 20s and 30s.
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Credit: @jennierubyjane/Instagram
Braids are totally back in style, and BLACKPINK’s Jennie is at the forefront of this trend. While performing in Macau, she rocked some high, playful braids that really channelled those Chun Li vibes. This look is super fun and youthful, making it a great way to spice up a laid-back outfit.
Credit: @m.by__sana/Instagram
For a sweeter take, TWICE’s Sana sported lower braids in a ponytail, adorning them with delicate ribbons. This subtle yet charming style is perfect for those wanting a feminine and elegant twist to their hairstyle.
How to Achieve It
Best for: Those who don’t have too many layers.
What to tell your hairstylist: Make sure the hair ends are not too heavy to maintain a clean, polished look.
How to style it: Goldwell Stylesign Texture range is the team’s pick for at-home styling, ensuring ease and versatility.
Korean Hair Trends 2025: Shadow Perm
Men’s styles are also getting a refresh, with the shadow perm taking the spotlight.
This subtle perm adds volume to the hair, creating waves that flow from the roots. “It’s ideal for those seeking simple styling solutions,” the team points out, as it works well with trendy Y2K fashion or more classic looks.
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The shadow perm is still a hit, all thanks to actor Lee Dong Wook, who made it famous back in his Goblin days. This hairstyle features soft waves starting from the roots and adds some nice volume, striking a great balance between casual and polished.
Credit: @xdinaryheroes_official/Instagram
Xdinary Heroes’ Gaon has recently put a new spin on the classic look by combining his shadow perm with a copper hue for the K-rock band’s latest mini album, LIVE and FALL. This contemporary take on the traditional perm demonstrates how the trend can be adapted to fit various styles and personalities.
How to Achieve It
Best for: Individuals with narrow or broad foreheads, longer face shapes, and low-volume or thin hair.
What to tell your hairstylist: Combine this perm with a side down perm to make styling more manageable.
How to style it: Use Goldwell Dualsenses Curly Twist range to maintain lively waves.
Innovations in Korean Haircare
The team says that the haircare scene in Korea really keeps up with the latest trends.
Even though creating brand-new treatments can be tough, there’s a noticeable shift towards improving the services we already have, like head spa treatments.
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At places like LEEKAJA | Global Myeongdong, which sees 80% of its customers coming from abroad, they’re using high-tech hair diagnostic programs to provide personalised head spa treatments.
“It’s critical for manufacturers to answer the trend by developing scalp treatment products to support the service flow,” they explain, referencing the importance of integrating scalp health into services like Kerasilk Scalp Care.
These innovations extend beyond the salon chair, with brands looking into developing shampoos and treatments based on precise scalp diagnostics. In this landscape, technological advancements such as state-of-the-art diagnostic systems are revolutionising personalised haircare.
The Role of AI and Personalisation in Korean Haircare
As AI starts to pop up more in salons with features like hair colour simulations, the LEEKAJA CREA team is taking a careful approach.
“AI simulations can serve as a reference,” they acknowledge, but the expertise of a professional designer is still invaluable when considering factors like head shape, face shape, and skin tone.
Personalisation is becoming more prevalent, with smart devices helping stylists tailor services to the individual’s hair needs.
“Today’s smart consumers have complex and specific needs,” the team notes, and this shift is driving the rise of customised haircare solutions that cater to diverse scalp and hair conditions.
What’s Next in Korean Haircare?
Looking ahead, the LEEKAJA CREA team predicts a surge in hair loss care products, driven by the growing number of individuals affected by hair thinning.
“Hair loss products are being developed with user-friendly packaging,” the team highlights, making care more convenient through spray types and roll-on applicators.
Tech improvements like ionisation and heat management are boosting the performance of haircare tools, and as people get smarter about hair health, high-end products are becoming more popular.
Looking ahead to 2025, Korean hair trends are poised to change the beauty game, mixing innovative tech with tailored services. Which trend are you excited to try?
