A recent video uploaded to the YouTube channel High of workers features hairstylist Cha Jong-hyun, also known as “Chacha”, the director of the artisichacha salon. In the video, he shared his journey to becoming a hairstylist for top Hallyu stars and talked about his experiences working with famous K-pop artists.
Cha Jong-hyun recalled how he started working with major idols. After starting as a freelance stylist on site and later becoming a paid stylist, he was given the opportunity to work with girl group KARA and later Wonder Girls.
He revealed that he worked particularly well with Sunmi during that time. According to the stylist, Sunmi’s famous long, layered haircut was his own creation, and the hairstyle became extremely popular along with the group’s hit songs and on-stage style. The trend has significantly increased its reputation in the industry.
His connection with BLACKPINK began when YG Entertainment contacted him with photos of trainees who needed a hair and makeup test. Interestingly, the images only showed the girls’ hair and shoulder lines while their faces were hidden. Cha recalled that even from those photos, their silhouettes were striking and those trainees would later debut as BLACKPINK members Jennie, Rosé, Jisoo, and Lisa.
Although Cha was initially selected as a hairdresser for the group, he explained that he could not start working with them immediately because he belonged to a different team than the makeup artists at the time. About six months later, however, Rosé contacted him and asked him to take care of coloring her hair. Subsequently, the other members, including Lisa, Jisoo and finally Jennie, also returned to work with him. Today he proudly said that all four members continue to trust him with their hairstyles.
The stylist also revealed that Rosé has kept her signature blonde hair for seven years. To keep the color consistent, she gets the treatment about once every two weeks. When Rosé is abroad, Cha also takes quick trips abroad, sometimes flying abroad for just a day to maintain her hair color.
One particularly interesting story involved the famous Jennie “antenna hair”, a hairstyle featuring two thin strands of hair framing the face that has become a major trend among fans. Cha explained that Jennie, known for leading trends, has always wanted something new and unique. After thinking about how to create a new hairstyle concept, he ultimately came up with the now iconic look.
However, creating the style wasn’t easy. According to Cha, the process took about two weeks because Jennie’s hair was naturally dark black at the time. Since the locks were in the front, sudden bleaching could cause them to break.
The stylist recalled that Jennie had jokingly warned him that if his hair broke during the process, he might “report it to the police” adding additional pressure to the task. To achieve the final result safely, Cha revealed that the small front sections of the hair needed to be bleached about eight times.
Sources: Daum
