English at the hairdresser's: describing the cut you want

At the hairdresser's, the most important thing is to say clearly which part of your hair you mean and how much change you want. “Just a trim, please” asks for a little off the ends, but “a little” isn't the same for everyone. That's why a good conversation at the hairdresser's is made of describing, showing and checking.

This guide covers booking an appointment, the basic haircut words, ways to make length concrete, a typical conversation in the chair, and how to politely ask for a fix when the result isn't what you wanted.

Booking an appointment

On the phone or at the desk, say the service first and then the day: “Hi, I'd like to book a haircut for Thursday, please.” If they ask about the time: “Have you got anything in the afternoon?” or “Is ten o'clock OK?” If you aren't sure what the service includes, ask: “Does that include a wash?” A wash and cut means washing and cutting; a cut and blow-dry means cutting and drying with a hairdryer. If you'd like a particular person: “Could I book with Aylin?” The person who cuts hair is a stylist or hairdresser; a barber cuts men's hair, and a hairdresser's is also called a hair salon.

Haircut words

How short?

“A bit shorter” and “not too short” are vague on their own; tie the length to something. “Just below my shoulders.” “About two centimetres off, please.” “I'd like to keep the length, just tidy the ends.” A photo helps a lot, but say what you like about it: “I like the shape, but I want it longer than this.” The stylist may show a length with their fingers and ask “About this much?” You might answer “A bit less, please” or “Yes, that's perfect.” Use the -er form for comparison: shorter, longer; never “more short.”

A conversation in the chair

Stylist: “So, what are we doing today?” Naz: “I'd like it a bit shorter, but not too short. Just below my shoulders.” Stylist: “OK. And the front?” Naz: “Could you keep the front a little longer? I like to tuck it behind my ears.” Stylist: “Sure. Do you want layers?” Naz: “Just a few at the back, please. Nothing too dramatic.” Stylist: “Got it. I'll take off about this much. Is that all right?” Naz: “Perfect, thanks.” Nothing too dramatic means no big change. Notice how Naz links every request to a place or a habit.

Chatting in the chair

While cutting, the stylist may start a bit of small talk: “Have you got any plans for the weekend?” or “Are you going anywhere nice?” You don't have to give a long answer: “Not really, just a quiet weekend. How about you?” If you don't feel like chatting, you can still be polite; giving a short answer and going back to your phone or a magazine is common. You'll find the general patterns of this kind of conversation in English small talk. If the stylist needs you to move your head, you may hear “Could you tilt your head forward?”

If it isn't quite what you wanted

When the cut is finished, the stylist usually shows you the back with a mirror and asks “How's that?” If something's missing, it's easiest to say so right then: “It's lovely, but could you take a little more off the sides?” or “The front feels a bit long. Could you trim it slightly?” To soften a complaint, say something positive first, then ask with could you. Describing the change you want works better than an accusing sentence such as “You cut it wrong.” When you pay, you can book the next appointment too: “Could I book my next appointment for six weeks' time?”

Hair or hairs?

When you mean all the hair on your head, hair is uncountable: “My hair is too long”, “I want my hair shorter.” Hairs means individual strands: “There are some grey hairs on my jacket.” A quick exercise: ask for shorter sides, the top unchanged and the fringe ending just above your eyebrows. A sample answer: “Shorter at the sides, please, but keep the top as it is. And could you cut the fringe just above my eyebrows?” To practise your own description aloud, tell the stylist what you want in the speaking activity at the end of this post.

The hairdresser's is one of many everyday situations where you book and ask for a service; you'll find similar patterns for cafés, the doctor's and hotels in the guide to everyday English phrases.

Frequently asked questions