Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on the K-pop side of the internet lately, you know that the "Face Genius" label isn't just a marketing gimmick. Cha Eunwoo is one of those rare human beings who could probably wear a paper bag and a mullet and still make it onto a magazine cover. But nothing—and I mean nothing—broke the internet quite like the Cha Eunwoo long hair era.
It’s weirdly polarizing. Some fans were practically begging him to keep the scissors away forever, while others missed the clean-cut "Boyfriend Material" look from his True Beauty days. But then, July 2025 happened. The enlistment news hit, and suddenly, those long, flowing locks were on the salon floor. It was a whole "end of an era" moment for the fandom.
The Evolution of the Flow
Early on, we mostly saw Eunwoo with that classic, polished idol cut. You know the one: perfectly trimmed, slightly voluminous, and usually a dark chocolate brown. It was safe. It was "clean." But as he moved into more mature acting roles and higher-fashion brand deals (shoutout to that Dior partnership), the hair started to creep down past his ears.
The Cha Eunwoo long hair look really peaked during his solo promotions and international fashion appearances in late 2024. He wasn't just growing it out because he was lazy. It was a deliberate, edgy shift. We saw him with soft perms, wet-look styling, and that "I just woke up looking like a prince" aesthetic that is notoriously hard for mere mortals to pull off.
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Why it Worked (And Why Some People Hated It)
The nuance here is in the face shape. Eunwoo has very symmetrical, sharp features. When his hair is short, his eyes and jawline are the main event. When he grows it out, the vibe shifts to something more ethereal and almost gender-neutral.
- The "Wet Look" Sophistication: At several 2024 events, his stylists used a lot of product to give him a slicked-back but textured look. This showed off his forehead—a win for the "Forehead Eunwoo" enthusiasts—while keeping the length at the back.
- The Soft Wolf Cut: This was the fan favorite. It featured layers that framed his face without hiding it. It felt less like a K-pop idol and more like a high-fashion model.
- The Maintenance Struggle: Kinda crazy to think about, but long hair on a guy with his schedule is a nightmare. Constant bleaching and heat styling for different shoots meant he had to be religious about hair treatments. If you're trying to replicate this, you basically need a high-end hair oil and a lot of patience.
The Great Chop of 2025
Everything changed on July 21, 2025. Eunwoo posted those bittersweet photos of his hair being cut for his mandatory military service. Seeing the long strands on the floor was a gut punch for the fans who had spent a year tracking every new inch of growth. He joined the Army Military Band on July 28, 2025, sporting a buzzcut that—predictably—still looked incredible.
People were literally sobbing in the comments. "THE HAIR IM@SOBBING," one fan wrote. But honestly? The buzzcut just proved the "Face Genius" title once and for all. Without the long hair to frame his face, his actual features were the only thing left to look at. Turns out, he doesn't need the "curtains" to look like a top-tier visual.
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How to Get the Look (While He's Away)
Since he's currently serving and sporting the standard military trim, fans are looking back at his 2024-2025 archives for inspiration. If you're heading to a stylist to ask for the Cha Eunwoo long hair style, don't just say "long hair." You'll end up with a mess.
- Ask for a "Leaf Cut": This is the technical term for that flowing, parted look. It’s longer on the sides and back but tapered enough so it doesn't look like a bowl cut.
- Get a Down Perm: This is the secret sauce of Korean men’s hair. It keeps the sides from sticking out like a porcupine while the top grows long.
- Invest in a Ceramic Round Brush: You need volume at the roots. Flat long hair looks greasy; voluminous long hair looks like Eunwoo.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think long hair is a "lazy" style. For someone like Eunwoo, it was actually more work than his short cuts. It required specific "gap-closing" styling to make sure his ears didn't look weirdly tucked and his neck didn't look too short. It’s a balance of proportions.
Looking Ahead to 2027
We’re currently in the waiting game. Eunwoo is doing his thing in the military band, and we’ve seen glimpses of him in uniform looking healthy and sharp. But the real question is: what happens when he gets out in 2027?
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Will he go back to the short, safe "Astro" look? Or will he let it grow back out into that legendary mane? Given how much the fashion world loved his long-haired Dior era, my bet is on the latter. He's matured, and that longer, rugged look fits a 30-year-old actor much better than the boyish styles of his 20s.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Stylists:
- Track the "Leaf Cut" trend: It’s still the most requested style in Seoul salons thanks to Eunwoo’s 2024 peak.
- Prioritize Scalp Health: If you’re growing your hair out to mimic his look, use a caffeine-based shampoo to keep the roots strong.
- Save the 2024 Dior Paris Photos: Those are the gold standard for showing a barber exactly where the layers should hit the jawline.
The long hair might be physically gone for now, but the impact it had on men's grooming trends in 2025 is still very much alive. Whether he’s rocking a buzzcut or a ponytail, Eunwoo remains the blueprint.