Ultimate Guide To Getting A Haircut In Spanish (Men & Women)

Need to get a haircut in Spain or Latin America?

In this guide, I’ll run you through the most useful Spanish words and phrases you’ll need when going to the hairdresser or barber.

If there’s anything I’ve missed, drop a comment below and I’ll get to it.

For a list of great Spanish courses that cover this topic in more detail, see this list here.

Essential Spanish words and expressions for haircuts 💇

Let’s start with the most essential hair-related terms you will need to know, beginning with the most obvious:

How do you say “hair” (and “haircut”) in Spanish?

The word for hair in Spanish is cabello. However, you may also hear the word pelo, which is more commonly used in everyday conversation. Both words are generally used interchangeably, but cabello is sometimes used when referring to hair on the head specifically, while pelo can refer to hair anywhere on the body.

A “haircut” in Spanish is generally referred to as corte de pelo or corte de cabello. If you want to specify the gender, you can say corte de caballero for a men’s haircut and corte de dama for a women’s haircut.

Keep reading for other essential vocabulary and expressions when getting a haircut in Spanish.

Basic Spanish vocabulary for hair

This is by no means exhaustive, but here are a few of the most common descriptions for hair you’ll hear:

Now that you have some basic vocabulary for describing hair, let’s move on to the hair salon or barbershop nitty gritty.

Basic Spanish phrases for haircuts

At the very least, memorize these few phrases here.

Whenever you walk in the door of a hairdresser or barber, you’ll likely want to use one of these:

Me gustaría un corte de pelo.

I would like a haircut.

Me gustaría que me lavaran el pelo.

I would like a hair wash.

¿Podría recortar mi pelo?

Could you trim my hair?

Me gustaría cambiar mi peinado.

I would like to change my hairstyle.

¿Puedes peinar mi pelo?

Can you style my hair?

Start by using these requests the next time you’re at the salon or barbershop and read on for deeper dive into the vocabulary and phrases specific to hairdressers and barbershops.

Hairdressers and barbershops

Alright, now that we’ve got the basics covered, let’s go a bit deeper into the vocabulary you’ll need when you find yourself in a hair salon or barbershop.

Spanish terms for hair salons and barbershops

Hair professionals and their roles

Knowing the different roles in a hair salon or barbershop is important too.

Here are some you may encounter:

Verbs that you’ll need to get a haircut

These verbs are versatile and can be used in many different situations, but they’re absolutely essential in the context of getting a haircut.

It’s a good idea to memorize these verbs.

Other nouns you may need

Above I shared some basic nouns with you, but the following nouns are a little more advanced.

It’s also a good idea to learn these.

Making haircut appointments

Now, you have an arsenal of vocabulary to describe hair and navigate hair salons or barbershops.

The next crucial step is to be able to make appointments.

Let’s look at some helpful phrases for booking appointments, rescheduling, or cancelling when necessary.

Phrases for booking appointments

Here are some key phrases you’ll need when booking hair appointments.

¿Tiene una cita disponible hoy/mañana?

Do you have an opening today/tomorrow?

Me gustaría hacer una cita con [nombre del peluquero].

I'd like to make an appointment with [hairdresser's name].

¿Hasta qué hora están abiertos?

What time are you open until?

¿Podría venir el [día] a las [hora]?

Could I come in on [day] at [time]?

¿Está disponible [nombre del peluquero] el [día] a las [hora]?

Is [hairdresser's name] available on [day] at [time]?

Rescheduling and cancelling in Spanish

Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes, we need to adjust our plans.

Here are phrases to help you make changes to set appointments:

Necesito reprogramar mi cita.

I need to reschedule my appointment.

¿Puedo cambiar mi cita para el [día] a las [hora]?

Can I change my appointment to [day] at [time]?

Lo siento, pero tengo que cancelar mi cita.

I'm sorry, but I have to cancel my appointment.

With these phrases under your belt, you can make, reschedule, and cancel appointments in Spanish.

In the next section, I’ll go through explaining your preferences to ensure you get the haircut you want.

Explaining how you want your hair done

You’ve set and arrived at your appointment, and now it’s time to express what exactly you want from your visit to the salon or barbershop.

This can be quite a personal and detailed process (I can’t possibly cover every scenario). This should get you started in any case.

Length and style preferences

Sometimes, it’s easy to just point at a picture and say you want to look like that, but that’s not teaching you anything!

Here are phrases to express your preferred hair length and style:

Me gustaría mantener mi cabello largo/corto.

I would like to keep my hair long/short.

¿Puede cortarlo más corto?

Can you cut it shorter?

Quiero mantener mi cabello del mismo largo, solo recorte las puntas.

I want to keep my hair the same length, just trim the ends.

Me gustaría capas.

I would like layers.

Quiero un corte bob.

I want a bob cut.

Me gustaría un corte degradado.

I would like a fade cut.

Specific requests and special instructions

Every haircut is unique and sometimes you may have special requests or instructions. Here are a few more:

Quiero que me adelgacen el pelo.

I want my hair thinned out.

Me gustaría mechas.

I'd like highlights.

¿Puede rizar/alizar mi cabello?

Can you curl/straighten my hair?

Quiero una raya al costado.

I want a side part.

Quiero flequillo.

I want bangs.

Now you’re well equipped to explain exactly what you want from your haircut or hair style.

Sample dialogues

Below you’ll find some sample snippets of conversations in Spanish.

Let’s look at a few scenarios and how those conversations might unfold in a Spanish-speaking hair salon or barbershop.

Conversation 1: Making an appointment

Hola, me gustaría hacer una cita para un corte de pelo.

Hello, I'd like to make an appointment for a haircut.

Claro, ¿cuándo le gustaría venir?

Sure, when would you like to come in?

¿Tiene alguna cita disponible este viernes por la tarde?

Do you have any openings this Friday in the afternoon?

Sí, tenemos una cita disponible a las 3 pm. ¿Le funciona?

Yes, we have an opening at 3 pm. Does that work for you?

Perfecto, nos vemos entonces.

Perfect, see you then.

Conversation 2: At the salon

Buenas tardes, tengo una cita a las 3 pm.

Good afternoon, I have an appointment at 3 pm.

Sí, por favor tome asiento. Su peluquero estará con usted en breve.

Yes, please have a seat. Your hairdresser will be with you shortly.

Gracias.

Thank you.

Conversation 3: Describing the haircut

¿Qué puedo hacer por usted hoy?

What can I do for you today?

Me gustaría un recorte, ¿y también podrías adelgazarlo un poco?

I would like a trim, and could you also thin it out a bit?

Claro, entiendo.

Sure, I understand.

Conversation 4: After the cut

¿Cómo se ve?

How does it look?

Me encanta. ¡Muchas gracias!

I love it. Thank you very much!

With these scenarios in mind, you should be prepared for a smooth and successful visit to a Spanish-speaking hair salon or barbershop.

Dealing with haircut problems

Now I’ve prepared you to have a great haircut experience in a Spanish-speaking environment, but it’s important to also address how to handle potential challenges or dissatisfaction.

It’s not always easy to express dissatisfaction, particularly in another language, but having the right Spanish phrases on hand can help you navigate these situations.

Expressing your dissatisfaction

If your haircut doesn’t go as planned, it’s important to express your feelings so the hairdresser or barber has an opportunity to rectify the situation.

Here’s how you might do that:

No es exactamente lo que quería.

It's not exactly what I wanted.

Está demasiado corto.

It's too short.

¿Podrías arreglar esta parte?

Could you fix this part?

Creo que está desigual.

I think it's uneven.

No estoy contento/a con el color.

I'm not happy with the color.

Asking for adjustments or corrections

Sometimes, a small adjustment can make a big difference.

Here are some phrases that can help you communicate what you need:

¿Podrías cortar un poco más de la parte de arriba?

Could you cut a little more off the top?

Creo que el flequillo está demasiado largo.

I think the bangs are too long.

¿Puedes hacer los lados más cortos?

Can you make the sides shorter?

¿Podrías alisarlo de nuevo?

Could you straighten it again?

Clarifying misunderstandings

These phrases can help you clarify your original instructions:

Quería capas, no un corte recto.

I wanted layers, not a blunt cut.

Pedí un recorte, no un corte corto.

I asked for a trim, not a short cut.

Me refería a mechas, no a color en todo el cabello.

I meant highlights, not all-over color.

Communication is key, even in difficult situations.

Put what you’ve learned here to use and go get a haircut

Haircuts are one of the best opportunities to practise Spanish.

Why?

Because you’re just sitting in a chair for an extended period with a native speaker who loves to chat! What better opportunity is there? 😊

Good luck, and if I missed anything, comment below.

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