Living in China means you’ll eventually need to visit a hair salon — but the challenge isn’t the haircut itself. It’s explaining what you want in Chinese.
If you’ve ever feared walking out with the wrong hairstyle, you’re not alone! Many newcomers struggle with Chinese salon vocabulary, especially when describing length, style, or color.
This guide will teach you the must-know Chinese phrases for hair salons so you can confidently communicate with your stylist and never get the wrong haircut again.
✂️ Step 1: Know the Basic Hair Salon Vocabulary
Before you walk into the salon, decide what you want: a simple trim, a full wash-cut-blow-dry, or a total makeover. These essential words will help you explain it clearly.
Key Vocabulary
- 洗头 (xǐ tóu) – wash hair
- 剪发 (jiǎn fà) – haircut
- 吹干 (chuī gān) – blow dry
- 发型 (fà xíng) – hairstyle
- 刘海 (liú hǎi) – bangs / fringe
📖 Useful Sentences
我今天只想洗头和吹干。
Wǒ jīntiān zhǐ xiǎng xǐtóu hé chuīgān.
“I just want to wash my hair and blow-dry today.”
洗剪吹多少钱？
Xǐ jiǎn chuī duōshao qián?
“How much for wash, cut, and blow-dry?”
💇♀️ Stylist:
要吹直一点还是自然一点？
Yào chuī zhí yìdiǎn háishì zìrán yìdiǎn?
“Would you like it straightened or natural?”
👤 Customer:
自然一点就好，谢谢。
Zìrán yìdiǎn jiù hǎo, xièxie.
“Natural is fine, thank you.”
✂️ Step 2: Get the Length Right (The Most Important Part!)
Most haircut mistakes happen because of unclear communication about length. These Chinese haircut phrases will help you avoid surprises.
Key Phrases
- 修一下 (xiū yí xià) – just a tiny trim
- 剪短一点 (jiǎn duǎn yì diǎn) – cut a little shorter
- 打薄 (dǎ báo) – thin out the hair
- 剪到这里 (jiǎn dào zhè lǐ) – cut to here (point with your fingers!)
📖 Useful Sentences
稍微修一下，不要剪太短。
Shāowēi xiū yí xià, bùyào jiǎn tài duǎn.
“Just trim a little — not too short.”
我的头发分叉了，帮我修一下。
Wǒ de tóufa fēnchà le, bāng wǒ xiū yí xià.
“My hair has split ends, please trim them.”
🎨 Step 3: Coloring & Styling Vocabulary
If you plan to dye, straighten, or perm your hair, these Chinese salon terms are essential.
Key Vocabulary
- 烫发 (tàng fà) – perm
- 染发 (rǎn fà) – dye hair
- 染发根 (rǎn fà gēn) – dye the roots
- 颜色 (yánsè) – color
- 冷烫 / 热烫 (lěng tàng / rè tàng) – cold perm / hot perm
- 卷发 (juǎn fà) – curly hair
- 直发 (zhí fà) – straight hair
- 拉直 (lā zhí) – straighten hair
📖 Useful Sentences
我想染个颜色。
Wǒ xiǎng rǎn ge yánsè.
“I’d like to dye my hair.”
我想把头发拉直。
Wǒ xiǎng bǎ tóufa lā zhí.
“I’d like to straighten my hair.”
⭐ Final Thoughts: Master Chinese Salon Vocabulary & Always Get the Hairstyle You Want
With this essential Chinese haircut vocabulary, you can finally visit a salon in China without fear of miscommunication. Whether you need a trim, a blow-dry, a new color, or a complete restyle, these phrases will help you clearly explain exactly what you want.
Want to speak Mandarin confidently in real-life situations — not just in textbooks?
At SN Mandarin, we teach practical, everyday Chinese that helps you navigate life in China with confidence.
👉 Start your Mandarin journey today and enjoy smooth conversations everywhere — even at the hair salon!
