Visiting a barber (理发店, lǐfà diàn) or hair salon (美发店, měifà diàn) in China can feel intimidating at first if you don’t know the language, but with a few practical Chinese sentences, you can make the experience smooth, comfortable, and even enjoyable.
From booking an appointment to explaining your hairstyle preferences, learning the right phrases will help you communicate clearly and get exactly the haircut you want.
Greeting and Making an Appointment
When entering a hair salon or barber shop, politeness is key. Start by greeting the staff and explaining what you need.
你好，我想剪头发。 (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng jiǎn tóufà.) – Hello, I would like a haircut.
请问现在有空位吗？ (Qǐngwèn xiànzài yǒu kòngwèi ma?) – Excuse me, do you have an available slot now?
我可以预约今天下午吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ yùyuē jīntiān xiàwǔ ma?) – Can I make an appointment for this afternoon?
我想理发，也想洗头。 (Wǒ xiǎng lǐfà, yě xiǎng xǐ tóu.) – I would like a haircut and also a hair wash.
Using 请问 (qǐngwèn) at the beginning of your question shows respect and makes your request sound polite.
Describing Your Hairstyle Preferences
Communicating your desired hairstyle is crucial. You can use simple sentences to describe the length, style, or any specific details:
我想剪短一点。 (Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn duǎn yīdiǎn.) – I want it a bit shorter.
请不要剪太短。 (Qǐng bùyào jiǎn tài duǎn.) – Please don’t cut it too short.
我想留刘海。 (Wǒ xiǎng liú liúhǎi.) – I want to keep bangs.
两边剪短，中间留长。 (Liǎng biān jiǎn duǎn, zhōngjiān liú cháng.) – Short on the sides, longer in the middle.
我想染头发，颜色不要太亮。 (Wǒ xiǎng rǎn tóufà, yánsè bùyào tài liàng.) – I want to dye my hair, but not too bright a color.
If you are unsure about the style, you can show a picture and say: 这是我想要的发型。 (Zhè shì wǒ xiǎng yào de fàxíng.) – This is the hairstyle I want.
Asking About Hair Treatments and Services
Many salons in China offer hair treatments like shampoo, conditioning, straightening, or perming. Knowing how to ask about these services is very useful:
你们有洗发服务吗？ (Nǐmen yǒu xǐfà fúwù ma?) – Do you provide hair washing service?
可以做护理吗？ (Kěyǐ zuò hùlǐ ma?) – Can I get a hair treatment?
烫发需要多久？ (Tàngfà xūyào duōjiǔ?) – How long does a perm take?
染发多少钱？ (Rǎnfà duōshǎo qián?) – How much does hair coloring cost?
剪发和洗发一起多少钱？ (Jiǎnfà hé xǐfà yīqǐ duōshǎo qián?) – How much for a haircut and shampoo together?
Asking for the price before starting helps avoid surprises and makes communication smoother.
During the Haircut
It’s common to give the barber feedback during the haircut to ensure it meets your expectations:
可以再短一点吗？ (Kěyǐ zài duǎn yīdiǎn ma?) – Can you make it a bit shorter?
两边剪得不一样，可以修一下吗？ (Liǎng biān jiǎn de bù yīyàng, kěyǐ xiū yīxià ma?) – The sides are uneven, can you fix them?
不要剪刘海。 (Bùyào jiǎn liúhǎi.) – Don’t cut the bangs.
慢一点，我想看看长度。 (Màn yīdiǎn, wǒ xiǎng kàn kàn chángdù.) – Slow down, I want to check the length.
Clear communication ensures you leave the salon satisfied with your haircut.
Paying and Ending the Visit
After your haircut or treatment, you’ll need to pay and politely finish the visit:
请问可以刷卡吗？ (Qǐngwèn kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?) – Can I pay by card?
多少钱？ (Duōshǎo qián?) – How much is it?
谢谢你的服务。 (Xièxiè nǐ de fúwù.) – Thank you for your service.
下次再来。 (Xiàcì zài lái.) – I will come again next time.
Being polite and confirming payment options ensures a smooth and friendly experience.
Vocabulary
- 理发店 (lǐfà diàn) – barber shop
- 美发店 (měifà diàn) – hair salon
- 剪头发 (jiǎn tóufà) – to get a haircut
- 刘海 (liúhǎi) – bangs
- 烫发 (tàngfà) – perm
- 染发 (rǎnfà) – hair coloring
- 洗发 (xǐfà) – shampoo
- 护理 (hùlǐ) – treatment
- 长度 (chángdù) – length
- 服务 (fúwù) – service
