A bad haircut grows out in six weeks, but it's still worth avoiding. At the Friseur you'll need to say exactly how much should come off, and understand a few questions while your head is over the sink and your glasses are on the counter.
Nur die Spitzen, bitte, "just the ends, please", is the sentence every German hairdresser hears ten times a day. Here are the others: for booking, for the chair, for the barber, and for reading the price list on the wall.
Booking an Appointment
I'd like to book an appointment.
Ich hätte gern einen Termin.
Do you have anything free today?
Haben Sie heute noch was frei?
Can I come without an appointment?
Kann ich auch ohne Termin kommen?
For a wash, cut and blow-dry, please.
Waschen, Schneiden, Föhnen, bitte.
How long will it take?
Wie lange dauert das ungefähr?
I have an appointment at three.
Ich habe um drei einen Termin.
Practice these words
Ich hätte gern einen Termin.
Good to know: most salons work by appointment, booked by phone, online or in person. Barbers and chain salons often take walk-ins, and their windows say ohne Termin. Many traditional salons are closed on Mondays.
Saying What You Want
Just the ends, please.
Nur die Spitzen, bitte.
About two centimetres off.
Ungefähr zwei Zentimeter ab.
Not too short, please.
Bitte nicht zu kurz.
Shorter on the sides.
An den Seiten kürzer.
Leave the length.
Die Länge bitte lassen.
The same as last time.
So wie letztes Mal.
I'd like something new.
Ich möchte mal was Neues.
I've brought a photo.
Ich habe ein Foto mitgebracht.
Practice these words
Nur die Spitzen, bitte.
Tip: a photo saves a lot of words. So ungefähr, "roughly like this", with a picture on your phone, works better than any description, in any language.
Ab: in zwei Zentimeter ab, the little word ab means "off". Hairdressers ask Wie viel soll ab?, how much should come off, and expect an answer in centimetres.
Hair Words
hair
die Haare
fringe
der Pony
parting
der Scheitel
layers
die Stufen
ends
die Spitzen
roots
der Ansatz
highlights
die Strähnchen
curls
die Locken
straight
glatt
thin, fine
dünn
thick
dick
ponytail
der Pferdeschwanz
Practice these words
die Haare
Watch out: der Pony is the fringe, not the ponytail. A ponytail is der Pferdeschwanz, literally "horse's tail", or der Zopf for a plait. Ask for den Pony kürzer and you'll get a shorter fringe.
Haare is usually plural: Meine Haare sind zu lang. The singular das Haar is used in writing, or for a single hair in your soup.
What the Hairdresser Asks
What can I do for you?
Was darf es sein?
Wash and cut?
Waschen und schneiden?
How much should come off?
Wie viel soll ab?
Is the water temperature OK?
Ist das Wasser so angenehm?
Blow-dry or let it air-dry?
Föhnen oder lufttrocknen?
Shall I put some product in?
Soll ich etwas reinmachen?
Is it OK like this?
Ist es so gut?
Would you like something to drink?
Möchten Sie etwas trinken?
Practice these words
Was darf es sein?
Ist es so gut? usually comes with a hand mirror held behind your head. This is your last chance. Hinten noch ein bisschen kürzer, bitte is a perfectly normal answer.
At the Barber
A short haircut, please.
Einmal kurz, bitte.
Clippers on three millimetres, please.
Mit der Maschine auf drei Millimeter, bitte.
A fade on the sides.
An den Seiten einen Übergang.
Can you trim my beard?
Können Sie meinen Bart trimmen?
Just tidy up the edges.
Nur die Konturen nachschneiden.
Scissors on top, please.
Oben mit der Schere, bitte.
Practice these words
Einmal kurz, bitte.
Fade is used as it is, too: einen Fade is common in barbershops. Konturen are the edges around the ears and neck, and a quick Konturenschnitt between haircuts is often cheaper.
Reading the Price List
| On the list | What it means |
|---|---|
Waschen, Schneiden, Föhnen | wash, cut and blow-dry, the full service |
Trockenhaarschnitt | cut on dry hair, no wash, usually cheaper |
Kurzhaar / Langhaar | price by hair length, not by gender |
Damen / Herren / Kinder | women / men / children |
Ansatzfarbe | colouring the roots only |
Strähnen | highlights; the price depends on how many |
Pflege | conditioning treatment, an extra |
ab 25 € | "from" 25 euros: the final price depends on length and time |
Why ab? Many prices are starting prices. Long or thick hair takes longer, and colour is often charged by how much product is used. If you're unsure, ask before you sit down: Was kostet das ungefähr?
Paying and Tipping
Tipping at the hairdresser is common but not required. Most people round up or add five to ten per cent, and hand it to the person who cut their hair: Stimmt so or Machen Sie 40. If someone else washed your hair, a euro or two for them is a nice touch.
Keep the change.
Stimmt so.
Can I pay by card?
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
It looks great, thank you!
Sieht super aus, danke!
Can I book the next appointment straight away?
Kann ich gleich den nächsten Termin machen?
Practice these words
Stimmt so.