Phrases for hair salons

A hair salon is usually called 미용실 (miyongsil). You will also hear 헤어숍 (heeosyop, hair shop). A place that mainly serves men with short cuts and shaves is an 이발소 (ibalso) or 바버숍 (babeosyop, barbershop). To find one nearby, ask 근처에 미용실 있어요? (geuncheoe miyongsil isseoyo?), meaning "Is there a hair salon nearby?"

Give the day, time and service in one sentence: 내일 오후 3시에 커트 예약하고 싶어요 (naeil ohu sesie keoteu yeyakago sipeoyo), "I'd like to book a cut for 3 p.m. tomorrow." If you want a specific stylist, add ○○ 디자이너님으로 예약할 수 있어요? Many salons also take bookings through apps or messengers, which can be easier than calling.

다듬어 주세요 (dadeumeo juseyo) asks the stylist to tidy the ends while keeping most of the length, much like asking for a trim. If you want a noticeably shorter cut, say 많이 잘라 주세요 (mani jalla juseyo). For the lightest touch, say 끝만 살짝 다듬어 주세요, "Just trim the ends a little."

Use parts of the body as markers. Say 어깨 길이로 잘라 주세요 (eokkae gilliro jalla juseyo) for shoulder length, 턱선까지 for jaw length, or 귀가 보이게 해 주세요 to show your ears. You can also use numbers: 3센티만 잘라 주세요 (sam senti man), "Just cut 3 centimeters." Showing a photo makes it even clearer.

Bangs are 앞머리 (apmeori), so say 앞머리 잘라 주세요 (apmeori jalla juseyo). For bangs that touch your eyebrows, add 눈썹 길이로 해 주세요 (nunsseop gilliro hae juseyo). Thin, airy bangs that let the forehead show through are commonly called 시스루뱅 (siseurubaeng, see-through bangs), a term most stylists recognize, especially with a photo.

Yes, both mean a perm. The Standard Korean Language Dictionary lists 파마 (pama), which comes from the English word permanent, while salon menus often say 펌 (peom). Either works: 파마하고 싶어요 (pamahago sipeoyo), "I'd like a perm," or 펌 하러 왔어요, "I came for a perm." Your stylist will understand both.

Salons commonly call hair straightening 매직 (maejik) or 매직 스트레이트 (maejik seuteureiteu). A version that leaves the ends gently curled under is often called 볼륨매직 (bollyum maejik). If you are unsure, simply say 머리를 펴고 싶어요 (meorireul pyeogo sipeoyo), "I want to straighten my hair," and the stylist will suggest an option after checking your hair.

염색 (yeomsaek) means coloring or dyeing your hair, while 탈색 (talsaek) means bleaching, lifting color out to make hair lighter. Very bright shades sometimes need bleaching first. Coloring only the new growth is 뿌리 염색 (ppuri yeomsaek, root dye), and you can ask for it with 뿌리만 해 주세요, "Just the roots, please."

드라이 (deurai) means a blow-dry: drying hair with a dryer while shaping it into a style. If you only want styling without a cut, say 드라이만 해 주세요 (deuraiman hae juseyo), "Just a blow-dry, please." Many people book a blow-dry alone before an event or photo shoot. It comes from the English word dry, but in salons it means the full styling.

Staff usually say 머리 감겨 드릴게요 (meori gamgyeo deurilgeyo), "I'll wash your hair," then ask 물 온도 괜찮으세요? (mul ondo gwaenchaneuseyo?), "Is the water temperature okay?" Answer 네, 괜찮아요 if it is fine, 조금 뜨거워요 (jogeum tteugeowoyo) if too hot, or 조금 차가워요 (jogeum chagawoyo) if too cold. Short answers are perfectly fine.

Hair stylists are usually called 디자이너님 (dijaineonim, "designer") or 선생님 (seonsaengnim). Some salons use job titles such as 실장님 (siljangnim) or 원장님 (wonjangnim, owner or head). Following whatever title the staff introduce themselves with is most natural. If unsure, 디자이너님 sounds more polite than calling out 저기요 (jeogiyo).

숱 (sut) means the volume or thickness of your hair, and 숱을 치다 means thinning it out. When your hair feels heavy or puffy, say 숱 좀 쳐 주세요 (sut jom chyeo juseyo), "Please thin it out a bit." If your hair is fine, warn the stylist with 숱이 적어서 너무 치지 말아 주세요, "My hair is thin, so please don't thin it too much."

A hair part is 가르마 (gareuma). Say 가르마를 왼쪽으로 타 주세요 (gareumareul oenjjogeuro ta juseyo) for a left part, or 가운데 가르마로 해 주세요 for a center part. If you always wear your part on one side, mention it before the cut so the stylist can shape the length to suit that side.

Show the picture and say 이렇게 해 주세요 (ireoke hae juseyo), "Like this, please," or 이 사진처럼 하고 싶어요, "I want it like this photo." To limit it, say 앞머리만 이 사진처럼 해 주세요, "Only the bangs like this." If the stylist says it may not look identical because of your hair type, talk through the closest option together.

단발 (danbal) usually means hair cut somewhere between the chin and the shoulders, similar to a bob. 숏컷 (syokeot, short cut) is short enough to show the ears or nape. Hair below the shoulders is 긴 머리 (gin meori) or 장발 (jangbal). These ranges vary from person to person, so a photo helps avoid surprises.

Say 머리가 많이 상했어요 (meoriga mani sanghaesseoyo), "My hair is quite damaged." For split ends, say 끝이 갈라졌어요 (kkeuchi gallajeosseoyo). If the stylist asks 클리닉 받으실래요? (keullinik badeusillaeyo?), they are offering a hair treatment. If you do not want one, a polite 오늘은 괜찮아요, "I'm fine today," works well.

묶다 (mukda) means tying hair back, as in a ponytail. 올리다 (ollida) means putting it up, such as in a bun or updo. 풀다 (pulda) means letting tied hair down. You can say 머리 묶어 주세요 or 머리 올려 주세요 at a salon. In dramas, 머리 풀었네? ("You let your hair down?") is often a compliment on a new look.

Point to the exact spot and phrase it as a request: 조금만 더 짧게 해 주실 수 있어요? (jogeumman deo jjalge hae jusil su isseoyo?), "Could you make it a little shorter?" or 여기만 조금 더 다듬어 주세요, "Could you trim just here a bit more?" Gesturing in the mirror helps. It is easier for both sides to speak up during the final check rather than afterward.

왁스 발라 드릴까요? (wakseu balla deurilkkayo?) asks whether you want styling wax applied to finish the look. Say 네, 발라 주세요 for yes or 아니요, 괜찮아요 (aniyo, gwaenchanayo) for no thanks. You may also hear 에센스 발라 드릴까요? for hair essence or 스프레이 뿌려 드릴까요? for hairspray. Mention any sensitive skin in advance.

People often say 감사합니다, 수고하셨어요 (gamsahamnida, sugohasyeosseoyo), thanking the stylist for their work. If you love the result, add 마음에 들어요, "I like it," or 다음에 또 올게요, "I'll come again." Staff usually reply 안녕히 가세요 or 또 오세요. To book again, ask 다음 예약도 할 수 있어요?