Mandarin Monday: Get the Chop With These Phrases to Use at the Hairdresser

Robynne Tindall, Contributing Editor | Oct 12, 2020 8:30 am | Add a comment | 5096 reads

We've all been there. Tired of paying through the nose for fancy "Western" salons, you decide to brave the trendy-looking salon around the corner, only to emerge with a mullet/buzz cut/unwanted bangs thanks to a miscommunication with the Chinese-speaking staff.

Of course, I say "we," but this has never happened to me because I have a pathological fear of getting my hair cut in China, guarding my increasingly split ends with a protectiveness usually reserved for a favorite child or treasured pet. Nevertheless, if you are planning to get the chop at a local salon, go armed with these handy phrases. Your hair will thank you.

When you enter the salon, the receptionist/staff might ask you:

Do you have an appointment? 你有预约吗？Nǐ yǒu yùyuē ma?

What would you like to do? 你今天想做什么？Nǐ jīntiān xiǎng zuò shénme?

To which you could reply:

I don't have an appointment 我没有预约 Wǒ méiyǒu yùyuē

Can I get a haircut now? 现在可以剪头发吗？Xiànzài kěyǐ jiǎn tóufǎ ma

Useful phrases before and during your haircut:

I want this style (pointing to a picture) 我要剪这个发型 Wǒ yào jiǎn zhège fǎxíng

I want to try a new style. Can you recommend a style that suits my face? 我想换个新发型。你能给我推荐一个比较称我脸型的发型吗？Wǒ xiǎng huàngè xīn fǎxíng. Nǐ néng gěi wǒ tuījiàn yīgè bǐjiào chēng wǒ liǎnxíng de fǎxíng ma?

Please don't cut it too short 请不要剪太多 Qǐng bùyào jiǎn tài duō

I want to keep the length 我要保留长度 Wǒ yào bǎoliú chángdù

I'd like to cut some layers/thin it out a bit 打薄一点 Dǎ báo yīdiǎn

Please trim the fringe 请修一下刘海 Qǐng xiū yīxià liúhǎi

I want some layers 我想剪的有层次感 Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn de yǒu céngcì gǎn

Cut it to here please (indicating a point on your head) 到这里 Dào zhèlǐ

I want to dye my hair 我想染头发 Wǒ xiǎng rǎn tóufǎ

I want a perm 我想烫头发 Wǒ xiǎng tàng tóufǎ

Please blow dry it curly/straight 我想吹卷／吹直 Wǒ xiǎng chuī juǎn/chuī zhí

Key vocab

Shampoo 洗发剂／洗发水 xǐ fǎ jì/xǐ fǎ shuǐ
Conditioner 护发素 hù fā sù
Scissors 剪刀 jiǎndāo
Hairdryer 吹风机 chuīfēngjī
Hair gel 发胶 fàjiāo
Hairspray 定型液 dìngxíng yè
Mousse 摩丝 mó sī
Wax 发蜡 fà là
Hair dye 染发 rǎn fǎ
Highlights 挑染 tiāo rǎn
Perm/curl 烫发 tàngfǎ
Curly hair 卷发 juǎnfǎ
Bangs/fringe 刘海 liúhǎi