The 2025 Korean perm for men trends focus on achieving a “natural yet styled” look that balances effortless charm with sophisticated appeal. You’ve probably seen it if you’ve scrolled past a Korean actor or K-pop idol and thought, “How does his hair look natural but styled?”
Here’s the thing: those gravity-defying, perfectly tousled locks that look like they just rolled out of bed (but in the best way possible) are the result of perm hairstyles. Actually, it’s mostly good stylists who know their way around a perm rod, but these male perms help create better styles and durable curls.
These Korean hairstyle trends go beyond perms—blending classic Korean-style men haircuts with modern texture and volume for 2025.
Understanding Korean Men’s Perms
Korean perms differ from traditional Western perms by prioritizing subtlety and natural movement. The key is creating curls that enhance your natural hair texture rather than completely transforming it.
There are also curls for shorter hairstyles to complement your face shape. Think of Korean men’s perm styles as giving your hair a little coaching rather than a complete personality transplant.
Real talk: Different salons might call these perms by different names (because apparently everyone wants to be special), but they usually fall into main camps like regular perms, digital perms, and iron perms.
When you book your appointment, bring a photo gallery—not just one shot from the front. Celebrity photos are basically hair catfishing, so understand that your perm will give you the foundation to recreate that look with daily styling.
Trending Korean Men Hairstyles in 2025
Leaf Perm (리프펌)
This is the perm that kicked off the Korean hair revolution for men in 2022, and it’s still going strong. Imagine your hair naturally falling to both sides from the crown, creating a parted style that mimics the way leaves split. The Leaf Perm has since become the go-to for men growing out their hair—a bridge between awkward growth phases and polished, longer styles.
Lightweight layering keeps the curls dispersed for that coveted fresh-air look, making longer hair feel intentional, not neglected. The result is soft, natural waves, not the frizzed-out chaos of an electrical socket mishap.
Key Features of Leaf Perm:
- Natural, soft waves that flow effortlessly
- Lightweight layering that complements leaf cuts
- Waves that start naturally from the hairline
- Creates a polished yet relaxed atmosphere
How To Style:
After shampooing, gently towel-dry and apply hair tonic evenly throughout. While blow-drying, lift the front hair upward and press down on the side hair as you dry. Finish with a small amount of curl cream to naturally enhance the volume
Recommended for:
- Oval faces
- Square faces
- Diamond faces
Sleek Perm (슬릭펌)
As the name suggests, this style keeps your hair smooth, shiny, and under control—like you just stepped out of a shampoo commercial. The sleek perm takes your classic sleek cut and gives it a little “stay-put” magic, so the style holds its shape even without a blow dryer.
The sleek perm has steadily gained attention since 2024 as more Korean male celebrities stepped out with perfectly smooth hair.
If you’ve got naturally straight hair, you might not even need the perm—just a good cut and maybe a light down perm on the sides to keep them in check. However, if you have curly or thick hair, the perm is essential. The top hair gets pressed down without losing body, while the front hair is tamed for a balanced, controlled appearance.
Key Features of Sleek Perm:
- Glossy, lustrous finish that catches light naturally
- Clean lines that sharpen facial features
- Weighted fall that adds sophistication
- Works seamlessly with straight-across bangs
- Maintains natural volume without bulk
How to Style:
After shampooing, towel dry and apply hair tonic throughout. Blow-dry with your head slightly forward, starting from the roots to create subtle volume. Use a flat iron if needed to direct hair in your desired direction for extra polish.
Recommended for:
- Faces with well-defined features
- Square face shapes
- Oval face shapes
- Long/elongated face shapes
Gail Perm (가일펌)
The Gail Perm plays up a 3:7 or 2:8 side part, adding root volume to the larger section while reducing or slicking back the opposite side with pomade. Side hair receives a down perm while the top gets curls tailored to your head shape.
It features bangs trimmed to eyebrow length with an overall light, rounded finish. It’s typically based on a two-block cut, creating a neat and trendy appearance with uniform top length. So, this is basically the Korean version of “business in the front, party in the… well, also front but with more volume.”
Rumor has it that the Gail Perm got its name from the Street Fighter character Guile. But if you look him up, you won’t see much in common—the actual inspiration for the Gail Perm was more about the overall visual vibe than a direct copy.
Key Features of Gail Perm:
- Perfect face line definition
- A sleek, half-parted hairstyle with structured top and downed sides
- Combines subtle root volume with natural directional curls
- Long Gail perms create soft impressions
- Short Gail perms deliver chic, sharp looks
How To Style:
After shampooing, towel-dry your hair so it’s just damp. As you blow-dry, your part will naturally fall into place following the perm. For the section you want to fall forward, hold the dryer above your head and blow-dry the hair forward. For the other side, aim the dryer from the front and blow the hair backward so it stays close to your head.
Recommended for:
- Oval, diamond, and long faces
- Fine hairs that benefit from volume
- Faces with longer lower sections
See-Through Az Perm (시스루 애즈펌)
If Korean men’s perms had a “most likely to succeed” award, this would win unanimously. The Az Perm has been the reliable friend of Korean hair trends for years—it simply works for almost everyone. Word on the street is that the Az Perm got its name from the Korean fashion brand ASCLO, with the style inspired by the looks of the brand’s male models.
The Az Perm naturally parts the front hair while adding volume throughout. It partially reveals the forehead area naturally while creating soft curves throughout the hair, making faces appear smaller. Typically styled with 7:3 or 6:4 parts and featuring C-curls or S-curls that flow naturally.
The See-Through version leaves about two finger-widths of space at the forehead to prevent a stuffy appearance, creating a lighter, flowing front section with a soft curve.
Key Features of Az Perm:
- Lightly divided part line at mid-forehead with naturally flowing curls
- Universally flattering—works with any face shape
- Easy styling and great for first-time perm users
- Longer-lasting than regular perms
- Adds volume and elasticity to limp hair
How To Style:
After shampooing, towel dry and apply essence throughout hair. Focus blow-dryer airflow on the front roots for volume, then lightly shape waves with fingers.
Recommended for:
- Oval/elliptical face
- Diamond faces (prominent cheekbones or jawlines)
- Long face shapes
Regent Perm (리젠트펌)
This is for guys who want their forehead front and center. The Regent Perm lifts your front hair upward, creating that clean, sophisticated look that says “I have my life together and great hair products.”
The name actually comes from Regent Street in London, where youth in past decades embraced Elvis Presley’s swept-back style. The Korean Regent Perm draws from this classic look.
This style adds curls to short top hair for enhanced fullness, essentially adding an iron perm to a regent cut for hair correction.
Shadow Perm (쉐도우펌)
Consider this the grandfather of Korean perms—the original that established the entire movement. The Shadow Perm creates those Instagram-worthy S-curve waves that appear to flow like shadows across your hair.
Rather than strong curls, it focuses on natural curls flowing throughout, creating a soft, lovely, and sophisticated atmosphere without appearing artificial.
You’ll need at least 10 cm of hair all around for this style to work best. The bangs should be long enough to cover your eyebrows, so give yourself time to grow them out before getting the perm. If your hair is too short, the curls won’t form naturally from the roots, and you’ll lose that soft S-wave effect.
Key Features of Shadow Perm:
- Shadow-like S-curl waves flowing naturally and three-dimensionally from the roots
- Alternating S-curls and C-curls for unique styling options
- Creates lovely and gentle atmospheres
- Perfect for those preferring dandy and warm, soft styles
- Longer-lasting than regular perms due to distinct curls
How To Style:
After shampooing, simply towel-dry lightly and let it air dry for a naturally vibrant look. For days when you want more definition, shape the curls with your hands when hair is about 30% damp, dry with low heat, and finish with hair curling essence.
Best for:
- For hair that’s thin or lacks volume
- For square face shapes
- For long face shapes
Takeaway: Korean Hairstyle Haircuts Worth Trying This Year
Here’s the thing about Korean perm for men—they’re not a magic wand that’ll transform you into a K-drama lead overnight. But they will give your hair the kind of intentional messiness that makes people wonder if you have a personal stylist hiding in your bathroom cabinet.
Each of these Korean men hairstyles offers a different route to that same goal of elevated natural texture:
- Leaf perm
- Sleek perm
- Gail perm
- See-Through Az perm
- Regent perm
Korean hairstyle perm trends have cracked the code on something most of us struggle with: looking put-together without actually trying that hard. These perms create the groundwork for that polished-but-natural vibe, and Korean-style men haircut options work because they’re designed around real hair doing real hair things—just with better direction.
Choose a Korean hairstyle that plays nicely with your face shape and hair texture. Two guys can walk out with the ‘same’ perm and look completely different—your stylist consultation is basically your insurance policy against hair regret.
