Q&A with Mujin Choi, Hairstylist to the Superstars of K-pop

Korean celebrity hairstylist Mujin Choi loves change, especially when it comes to hair. Having worked on the hair team for the globally popular K-pop group BTS since 2019, he has since become a world-renowned stylist in his own right for encouraging his celebrity clients to try new and daring styles and colors. Choi is the mastermind behind some of the most notable trends and hairstyles in K-pop.

Choi now works with a multitude of top K-pop idols at his own, brand-new salon, Faire by Mujin, located in the Gangnam area of Seoul. An ambassador for Korean haircare brand British M, hair health is one of the pillars of his career, as his superstar clients love to lighten and change their hair often.

We got a chance to ask him some of our most burning questions. Learn more about this innovative celebrity stylist in the Q&A below!

Q: What is it like to work with the members of BTS?

A: When I started my career, I saw famous hair stylists take care of celebrities' hairstyles or get their names in magazine credits, which made me dream of being like them. Currently, I am proud and happy to be working with BTS. I feel a lot of responsibility because many people around the world are now keenly interested in every creation that is made by my hands.

Q: Does BTS come up with their own hair trends, or do they follow the popular styles of the moment?

A: All the members of BTS have a lot of different ideas about hairstyles. So, we often discuss various hairstyles with one another, and we also make suggestions.

Rather than coming to an immediate agreement, we are often more likely to discuss for various reasons. We always look for the next best options until a point of agreement is found.

Q: What major BTS haircuts or color changes are you known for?

A: J-Hope had been wearing a favorite hairstyle and color, and I was anxious to give him a visual change. Around that time, covid lockdowns forced BTS to call off their concerts and instead, their new album "Butter" was released unexpectedly in 2021. I kept on persuading J-Hope into a new hairstyle with a short cut and very lightened color, which he'd never tried before. That was the first trial of getting him to think outside of box and luckily, he was very pleased with my suggestions and was very cooperative.

Q: Your new salon looks beautiful! Could you tell us about the concept, design, and function of the space?

A: I do want to convey the impression to hair stylists or clients that they may feel like they’re in my workroom rather than a hair salon. It’s similar to being in a painter’s art studio rather than a gallery.

Most hair salons in Korea utilize black and gray, tending to use metals. My salon also aims to express calm and chic sensations emanated from black and gray tones, and it is consistent with my own tone and personality. So, clients in my salon often say they feel calm and peaceful during their services.

Q: Do any other stars visit you at your new salon?

A: A host of celebrities come to my salon as regular clients, such as Taeyang (Big Bang, a K-boy band), Bibi (Female singer), Meenoi (Female singer songwriter), XG (Japanese Girl band), Gabee (dancer, choreographer), Honey J (dancer, choreographer) and Kim Hyeyoon (actress), etc.

Q: What are some of your favorite tips for maintaining hair health?

A: There are many clients coming to the salon to bleach their hair, including K-pop idols who are often dyeing and bleaching for frequent change. So, I was led to think over how I could give better care to their damaged hair and developed my own solution.

My recommendation is to apply a generous amount of leave-in essence onto both wet and dry hair as frequently as possible. I don’t recommend using a rinse-off type treatment after shampooing because it may hamper the hair essence from getting absorbed. I actually make it my rule to give this tip to my celebrities and customers in the salon.

Q: What are some of your favorite British M products?

A: British M Kombucha Shampoo gives softness and smoothness. I like it especially because it's a perfect shampoo for when you’re not using a rinse-off treatment after shampooing, as per the recommendation I just mentioned. Also, British M Sea Salt Spray is one of my favorites that I often use on photoshoots or filming sets.

Follow Mujin Choi on Instagram @hairbymujin. To learn more about British M haircare products, visit @britishm_usa or britishm.us.