South Korean actress Song Ji-hyo (송지효) has frequently sparked discussion over her styling in recent years. Most recently, her casual hairstyles ignited controversy, even prompting her long-time styling team to publicly 'complain.' A video of their discussion has since garnered significant fan attention.
Recently, Song Ji-hyo invited her long-standing hair, makeup, and styling team to appear on her YouTube channel for a chat, where they discussed her personal fashion and styling habits.
During the discussion, Song Ji-hyo’s hairstylist, upon seeing her hair casually clipped up with a claw clip, couldn't help but offer a wry smile. “I really want to burn that claw clip!” the stylist exclaimed. “It’s fine at home, but please don’t wear it to work. When you go out, I really hope you’d dress up a bit. Even for filming YouTube, please look a little prettier!”
The makeup artist echoed the sentiment, expressing a desire to apply body makeup for Song Ji-hyo in the summer. “These days, everyone even applies foundation to their hands and feet,” the artist noted. However, Song Ji-hyo immediately refused, jokingly stating, “If you dare to put highlighter on me, we’re breaking up.”
After repeated persuasion from her team, Song Ji-hyo finally made a slight concession, saying, “I’ll try to use claw clips less often, but please don’t keep telling me to stop using them entirely.” Unexpectedly, in subsequent videos, she continued to appear with her hair styled with a claw clip, reigniting the discussion.
Many fans expressed their dissatisfaction after watching the video, noting that her frequent appearances with casually tied-up hair and overly casual clothing seemed to indicate a lack of seriousness towards her work. They also worried it might negatively impact her styling team’s professional image and portfolio.
Netizens commented, “This isn’t just one person working; it’s an entire team. Even if you don’t like to dress up, to the staff, Song Ji-hyo is their work and their resume.” “Even regular office workers tidy themselves up before leaving home. It’s truly hard to understand why an entertainer would act this way.” “We know you have your own principles, but we hope you can let go a little and consider everyone’s opinions.” “No one is asking you to dress like an idol, just to maintain a basic professional image.” “There should be a limit to being casual.”
This isn't the first time Song Ji-hyo's styling has become a talking point. In 2021, she abruptly cut her long hair and debuted a very short hairstyle. However, the messy and unkempt look drew significant criticism at the time, with many even blaming her styling team for 'ruining her beauty.'
Song Ji-hyo later clarified that the short haircut was not the styling team's decision but a spontaneous act after drinking, when she impulsively picked up scissors and cut her own hair. She admitted, “After drinking, I suddenly got emotional and cut my hair myself.” She also publicly apologized to her staff, who had been unfairly criticized, hoping that the public would no longer misunderstand her team.
