These places aren’t spas, per se, but each of the facilities below is designed to help you look and feel your best.
The Best Barbershop: You might be surprised to learn this, but “cool” barbershops aren’t all that common in Seoul, which is known for its well-groomed men. That’s because Korean culture often celebrates fitting in as opposed to standing out, and many of the men have one of two commons styles: Long boy-band type cuts (in which they go to a salon), or classically short (and safe) businessmen cuts (in which case they go to a traditional barbershop). If you want something edgy for your own short/medium length, though, then the destination is obvious: The Noble Hands, run by a trio of barbers who keep ahead of the latest trends.
The Best Head Spa: Hair and scalp spas can have as many as 15 steps in their “hair treatments”, from scrubbing to steaming to nourishing, and it’s a leisurely experience worth the detour. Book a spot at Junohair Myeongdong for a scalp analysis with complimentary shoulder and body massages, stem cell serums, and a bonus trim if you need one, too.
The Best Longevity Clinic: Medical tourism is booming in South Korea, and it’s not uncommon for foreigners to book treatments there to save money compared to prices back home. Not to mention, some popular K-beauty treatments aren’t even available in the States but are helping fuel the buzz—like the famous “salmon sperm facial” or Rejuran, which helps boost collagen production, radiance, and skin resilience (just be ready for over 700 injections in your face, albeit with a quick recovery). Yeah, I tried it, and like every other beauty editor, I did it at Labelle Clinic in Cheongdam… and I’d go back to Dr. Hwang there on every subsequent visit, too. Their menu of quick facials, peels, and boosters has me mulling over my next visit, though I may opt for something with less than 700 injections next time around. Maybe a nice laser peel…
The Best Hospital: Look, you can go to a lot of places around the globe for different treatments and assessments, so what’s top form in Seoul? Right in line with their skincare-obsessed public, there is a focus on anti-aging and holistic wellness. You can book any number of exams and assessments at Chaum Life Center, from full-body audits to food therapies—and one main attraction is their “gray-zone” anti-aging exam, which helps pinpoint where you are on the spectrum between “fully healthy” and “unwell”—that big nebulous gray zone, for which an audit can uncloud certain mysteries about your aging process, and how you can do so more gracefully. This type of visit requires much more planning ahead and should take center stage for your visit, so don’t plan it like you would a Botox session or head spa appointment.
Credit: robbreport.com
