Spanish · Shopping & services · Elementary

How to ask for a haircut in Spanish

Book first: “Quería pedir hora para cortarme el pelo”. In the chair you’ll hear “¿Cómo te lo corto?”. Say “Solo las puntas, por favor” for a trim, “Un poco más corto” for more, or “No me cortes mucho” to play it safe. When you like it: “Así está perfecto, gracias”.

Try it · about two minutes

You book a haircut and explain to the hairdresser exactly how much to take off.

Sound on: the hairdresser speaks Spanish. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

You call the hairdresser’s round the corner to book.
You
Quería pedir hora para cortarme el pelo.
I’d like to book a haircut.
Hairdresser
¿Para qué día y a qué hora?
For which day and at what time?
You
El miércoles por la tarde, si puede ser.
Wednesday afternoon, if possible.
Hairdresser
¿Te lavo el pelo primero?
Shall I wash your hair first?
You
Sí, por favor.
Yes, please.
Hairdresser
¿Cómo te lo corto?
How would you like it cut?
You
Solo las puntas, por favor.
Just a trim off the ends, please.
Hairdresser
¿Y por los lados?
And the sides?
You
Quiero un degradado por los lados.
I’d like a fade on the sides.
Hairdresser
Te queda muy bien.
It really suits you.
You
Así está perfecto, gracias.
That’s perfect like that, thanks.

Key phrases

Quería pedir hora para cortarme el pelo.
I’d like to book a haircut.
Hola, llamo para pedir cita.
Hi, I’m calling to make an appointment.
¿Cómo te lo corto?
How would you like it cut?
Solo las puntas, por favor.
Just a trim off the ends, please.
Un poco más corto, por favor.
A bit shorter, please.
No me cortes mucho, por favor.
Please don’t take too much off.
Quiero un degradado por los lados.
I’d like a fade on the sides.
¿Me arreglas la barba?
Could you tidy up my beard?
¿Te lavo el pelo primero?
Shall I wash your hair first?
Así está perfecto, gracias.
That’s perfect like that, thanks.

Good to know in Spain

At the hairdresser’s

1
Many salons work by appointment, so it’s worth booking ahead.
I’d like to book a haircut.
2
Say how much to take off before the first snip.
Just a trim off the ends, please.
3
Pay at the counter on your way out.
How much do I owe you?

Tú at the salon

At the salon

¿Cómo te lo corto?

How would you like it cut?

Formal

¿Cómo se lo corto?

How would you like it cut? (formal)

Hairdressers usually speak to clients as tú, and you can answer the same way.

Peluquería or barbería

A peluquería usually cuts everyone’s hair. A barbería mostly does men’s cuts and beards.

¿Me arreglas la barba?

Could you tidy up my beard?

More situations in Spanish

All situations in Spanish

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.