Hairdresser English - Vocabulary

In the UK where do you go for a haircut?

Men and women have many options to choose from. Many places that cut hair will call themselves
a:

Hairdressers
Hair Salon Hair
Studio

As far as I am aware there is no difference between these examples. The only

Barber Shop (Men Only - includes facial haircare)

This is often referred to as simply - The barbers. Who works

there?

You will initially meet the receptionist and then you will meet the person who will be doing your
haircut:

Hairstylist (or stylist) / hairdresser (ranked by Junior or Senior) – a person who cuts men’s
or women’s hair.

Barber – a person who cuts men’s hair.

Arriving

Most salons require you to have an appointment. Once you arrive for your appointment you will
book in with the receptionist. They will normally take your coat and hang it up for you, then they
put a protective cape around you and take you to your chair (which faces a big mirror). You will
then be offered a drink (Tea, Coffee, or Water) and a magazine to read while you wait.
Most visits will involve washing your hair. They will shampoo and condition your hair. At this
point you may be asked if you want extra treatments applied to the hair, these will come at an extra
charge.

Your hair

When referring to ONE SINGLE hair then we use an article. (countable) For example:
-There is a hair in my food. I found a grey hair.

Please be aware that the word hair is usually used without article when it refers to all the
hairs on one's head in general. (uncountable) For example:
-Brown hair is very common in my country. I would like you to wash hair and sweep the floors
today.

But if we are referring to more than one hair, a few hairs, then it takes the plural form. For
example:
-He was excited to discover four hairs had grown on his chin.
-You have a few stray hairs growing on your neck.

Let’s discuss the areas of the head.

Forehead - The front of your head above your eyebrows. Scalp - The skin

covering the head (excluding the face). Crown - The very top of the head.

Nape - Back of the neck.

Hairline - Line where the hair starts on your forehead.

Fringe - Hair that covers the forehead

Parting - The split of hair on the top of the head, some people have a centre parting and others
have a side parting.

Sideburns - The area of hair in front of your ears.

Beard - Hair on the chin and lower cheeks.

Moustache - Hair on the upper lip.

Equipment used

Hair stylists have lots of equipment, the common items that you should know the names for
are as follows:

Hair dryer - For drying wet hair.

Scissors - For cutting hair by hand.

Clippers - Electric hair cutters (used on very short hair).

Trimmers - Electric hair cutters, designed to get closer to the skin. Used for beards,
sideburns, edges, etc.

Razor - A blade used to cut the hair as close to the skin as possible. Usually used by a barber.

Straighteners - Irons for the hair, they make hair straight using heat.

Curling tongs - Curl hair using heat.

Hairbrush - Brush used to smooth the hair.

Comb - (pronounced with a silent B) a strip of plastic, metal, or wood with a row of narrow
teeth, used for untangling or arranging the hair.
Products used to keep the hair in place;

Gel, Mousse, Wax, Hair spray.

What to ask for

Asking for something in the hairdressers is the same as asking for anything, you start your sentence
with “I would like”, or “I want” and then you simply need to know what it is you want. It helps to
do some research and take in a few photos to show the stylist what you want so that they have a
clear idea. In most cases you will want one or a combination of the following services: Cut, Colour,
Styled (or restyled).
Let’s have a look at these services in more detail.

Haircuts

Bob - A classic short hairstyle where it is cut above the shoulders in a blunt cut with typically
no layers. This style is most common among women.

Trim - Just a little hair cut off to reduce the length.

Layered - Many different lengths cut into the hair to give it shape and volume.

Feathered - Fine layers

Short back and sides - General term for having the hair shorter around the back and sides.

Number … all over - If your hair is cut using clippers then you may know which length you
prefer based on the number / grade of the clipper guard. A number 1 all over is much shorter than a
number 3 all over.
Undercut - Very long and thick on top. Very short lower down.

Fade - Gradual changing length of hair.

Shaved head - Shaved extremely short all over.

Buzz cut - Short all over.

Crew cut - Short like a buzz cut but a little longer on top.

Mohawk - long hair on the top of the head which is styled straight up and held in place with
holding product.

Colours

Usually referred to as having your hair dyed (as they use dye to do the colour), you will be
asked whether you want permanent or semi permanent colour.

An all over colour colours all your hair, but there are other options. You can have strips of hair
coloured instead, referred to as highlights and lowlights. Highlights involve lightening hair and
lowlights involve darkening hair. In order to add highlights or lowlights the stylist will use foils or
a cap.

When taking the hair lighter all over you may hear the term bleaching
the hair.

Style

Perm - Makes hair curly

Wash & blow dry Braid -

Plait the hair

Cornrows - A style of braiding and plaiting the hair in narrow strips to form geometric patterns on the scalp.

Extensions - Artificial or human hair is attached to the natural hair in strands.

Weave - Artificial hair is braided / woven into the natural hair.

Quiff - Lots of volume in the front part of the hair.

Comb over - Hair is swept sideways across the head. Sometimes used by those who have
problems with hair thinning on top.
Slicked back - All the hair is scraped backward from the forehead and fixed in place with
holding product.

Spiky hair

Afro - Mass of tight curls that stands up / sticks out around the head. Sometimes simply called
a ‘fro’.

Shiny hair

Bald - No hair on the head.

Bun - The hair is wrapped into a ball like shape and fixed normally at the back of the head.

Top knot - Similar to a bun, a knot of hair on the top of the head.
Beehive - Backcombing or teasing with hairspray to style hair on top of the head so that the size
and shape is suggestive of a beehive, hence the name.

Wavey

Bunches / Pigtails - Hair is tied up on each side.

Ponytail - Hair is tied up at the back.

Dreadlocks - Dreads or Locks created by matting or braiding strands of hair.