I need a haircut but I am nervous about going to a Korean hair salon. How do I communicate what I want, and...

I was nervous too but Korean salons are actually great for foreigners! Here is what worked for me.

For communication, bring 2-3 reference photos from different angles on your phone. If you need to get specific about what you want, Papago or Google Translate works surprisingly well. The key phrase to remember is "사진처럼 해주세요" (sa-jin-cheo-reom hae-ju-se-yo), which means "Please do it like the photo."

For foreigner-friendly salons, Juno Hair is a popular chain where some staff speak English. If you want a more premium experience, Chahong Ardor in Gangnam is excellent. And pretty much any hair salon in Itaewon will have English-speaking stylists.

One thing that might surprise you is that Korean salons usually wash your hair before and after cutting, and styling is always included in the price. Many places also offer you coffee or tea while you wait, which is a nice touch. I'd suggest booking through the Naver app or KakaoHairShop so you can check reviews and photos of the stylists' work before you go.