When I moved to Seoul from Ohio at 22, I thought I was ready. I had watched K-Dramas. I liked Kimchi. I had a dream. Reality hit me like a grandmother’s elbow on the subway. I got kicked out of a spa for wearing a bikini. I got fined for throwing away a banana peel. … Read more
In NYC, a haircut costs $100 and takes 3 weeks to book. In Seoul, a haircut costs $20 (or less), includes a head massage, and makes you look like a K-Drama star. Korean hair technology is years ahead of the rest of the world. They have perms for everything—roots, bangs, and even the sides of … Read more
In America, my skincare routine was simple: Wash face with a harsh scrub, dry with a towel, done. In Korea, skincare is not a routine. It is engineering. You’ve heard the myths. “Koreans use 10 products every night!” “You need snail slime on your face!” So, you walk into Olive Young (the Korean Sephora/CVS hybrid), … Read more