11 Korean hair trends that will be huge in 2021

A few soft bends with a curling wand or flat iron coupled with a relaxed attitude are all you need to pull off this dreamy look seen on singer IU. Prefer heat-free styling? Apply a dime-sized amount of curl mousse to damp locks and scrunch.

Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung turned out to the 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) serving some seriously heavy bangs. To cop her lash-skimming ‘do, blow-dry your bangs with a round brush to create lift and add body.

Want to spice up your one-length long haircut? We have just the right thing for you: face-framing layers. Seen on Red Velvet’s Joy, this hairstyle involves cutting your hair in varying lengths to define and frame your features. If you want to create the illusion of a slimmer and sharper visage, ask for long, face-framing layers that start just below the chin.

(Here are “14 Face-Framing Hair Colours To Upgrade Your Look“)

A Korean Odyssey star Lee Se-young proves that bobs and bangs are indeed 2021’s hottest hair trend. This layered hairstyle is great for adding shape to thicker hair, while retaining the volume.

(The “12 Bob Hairstyles Inspired By Your Favourite Korean Celebs“)

If you’re looking for a haircut that will make a statement, Goblin actress Kim Go-Eun’s micro bangs is the perfect ‘do for you. Baby bangs are wispy or blunt bangs that are usually a couple of inches above your brows. It’s a great way to make any haircut look more edgy, and open up your face.

This beautiful pastel purple hue spotted on K-pop idol Ji-yeon will require a round or two of bleaching before pastel purple hair dye is applied, so we definitely recommend going to a professional rather than DIYing the colour at home. Pro tip: before you bleach your tresses, prep your hair two weeks in advance by cutting back on heat-styling and applying an oil through your ends as often as possible.

2020 brought back the chunky highlights trend that was super popular in the early 2000s, and we’ll still be seeing a lot of them in the new year — but in a more muted version like this one on Korean actress Lee Yu-bin.

Korean celebs like SNSD’s Taeyeon tend to go for ashy undertones regardless of whether they are going blonde or silver. The cool shades are flattering on Asian skin tones because they cancel out the yellow and red tones. They also help to cancel out redness that Asians tend to have in their dark hair so any dye that is applied can look more lively.

Brunettes can have fun too. Brunette hair might have the reputation of being a basic hair colour, but it’s far from boring. There are different ways to elevate your mane. Sandara Park’s rosy brown mane has become a popular pick. It’s a low-maintenance option that adds depth to brown tresses.

Extensions are a great way to get through that awkward stage of transitioning from short to long hair. As far as possible, try to get extensions that are similar to your natural hair texture.

On the other end of the spectrum, we’re seeing Korean celebs such as Oh Yeon-Seo going back to their natural jet black hair to eliminate complex maintenance and regular trips to the salon. Bonus tip: apply leave-in conditioner to moisturise and add incredible shine to your tresses.

Read Next

13 must-know beauty tips from Blackpink's Lisa, Jennie and other Asian celebs

11 Korean celeb-approved hair tweaks to elevate your WFH style in seconds

Nail these 6 classic hairstyles, from half-up to topknot