8 Korean phrases for the hair salon (just a trim, not too short)
Getting a haircut in a language you are still learning is one of the small terrors of living abroad. Korean salons (미용실) make it easier than most: stylists are used to photos, they will ask before doing anything drastic, and the vocabulary you need fits in eight lines.
Everything here is polite 요 speech, which is the right register with a stylist regardless of age. The notes mention the one thing Korean stylists do by default that you may want to stop.
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커트 예약하고 싶어요.
keoteu yeyakago sipeoyo.
I would like to book a haircut.
커트 is the loanword for a cut; 펌 (perm) and 염색 (dye) are the other two services on every price list. Most salons take bookings through Naver or KakaoTalk, but walk-ins are normal at a neighbourhood 미용실.
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다듬어만 주세요.
dadeumeoman juseyo.
Just a trim, please.
Literally: Only tidy it.
다듬다 is to trim or neaten, and 만 (only) does the protecting. 끝만 다듬어 주세요 (just the ends) is even more specific.
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너무 짧게는 말고요.
neomu jjalgeneun malgoyo.
Not too short, though.
말고 means 'not that one', and this is the line to add right after any cut request. Show the length with your fingers; stylists expect it.
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이 사진처럼 해 주세요.
i sajincheoreom hae juseyo.
Like this photo, please.
The safest way to get what you want anywhere, and Korean stylists are used to it. Expect an honest 머릿결이 달라서 (your hair texture is different) if the photo is unrealistic.
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앞머리 좀 잘라 주세요.
ammeori jom jalla juseyo.
Trim my bangs a little, please.
Literally: Cut the front hair a bit.
앞머리 is front hair, and bangs are popular enough that many salons do a quick 앞머리 커트 for a small fee. 좀 softens any request.
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숱 좀 쳐 주세요.
sut jom chyeo juseyo.
Thin it out a bit, please.
숱 is hair volume and 숱을 치다 is to thin with thinning shears. Korean stylists often do this without asking, so if you want to keep the weight say 숱은 치지 마세요.
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염색하고 싶은데 얼마예요?
yeomsaekago sipeunde eolmayeyo?
I want to dye it, how much is it?
-(으)ㄴ데 links the wish to the question in one breath, which is how Koreans ask prices. Dye and perm prices depend on length, so expect 기장에 따라 달라요 (it depends on length).
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마음에 들어요. 감사합니다.
maeume deureoyo. gamsahamnida.
I like it. Thank you.
Literally: It enters my heart.
마음에 들다 is the everyday way to say you like how something turned out. If you do not, 여기 조금만 더 잘라 주세요 (a little more here, please) is expected and nobody is offended.
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The shampoo is included and happens before and after the cut, so there is no need to ask for it. If you are offered 음료 (a drink) while you wait, say 네, 감사합니다 and take it; it is part of the service, and salons in Korea are judged on that attention as much as on the cut.