At the Hairdresser
Essential phrases for booking your appointment, specifying how you want your hair cut or styled, and giving feedback to your Italian hairdresser.
Key Phrases
Fammi un taglio facile da gestire, perché non ho mai tempo per asciugarli la mattina.
casualGive me an easy-to-manage cut, because I never have time to dry them in the morning.
Use with a hairdresser you know well to ask for a low-maintenance style.
Oggi vorrei solo fare un taglio per rimetterli in forma, ma senza esagerare troppo.
neutralToday I would just like a cut to get them back in shape, but without overdoing it.
A good standard phrase when you just need to tidy up your current style.
Mi piacerebbe cambiare completamente stile, lei che cosa mi consiglierebbe per il mio viso?
politeI would love to completely change my style, what would you recommend for my face?
Formal address, appropriate for a new stylist when asking for their professional opinion.
Spuntali appena, sto cercando di farli crescere quindi non togliere troppa lunghezza per favore.
casualJust give them a tiny trim, I'm trying to grow them out so please don't take off too much length.
Informal and direct, addressing the stylist with 'tu'.
Vorrei solo dare una spuntata, perché sento che le punte sono ormai piuttosto rovinate.
neutralI would just like a trim, because I feel the ends are quite damaged by now.
"Dare una spuntata" is the most natural Italian expression for getting a trim.
Li vorrei un po' più corti ai lati, ma potremmo lasciarli più lunghi sopra.
neutralI would like them a bit shorter on the sides, but we could leave them longer on top.
Useful for describing a very common haircut for men or short styles for women.
Mi piacerebbe scalarli un po' davanti in modo da dare maggior volume al taglio.
neutralI would like to layer them a bit in the front in order to give the cut more volume.
"Scalare" means to layer the hair, adding texture and movement.
Oggi facciamo dei colpi di sole per illuminare un po' il viso, che ne dici?
casualLet's do some highlights today to brighten up the face a bit, what do you say?
"Colpi di sole" is the standard term for highlights.
Vorrei rifare la tinta, stavo pensando a una tonalità che sia leggermente più chiara.
neutralI would like to redo my color, I was thinking of a shade that is slightly lighter.
Uses the present subjunctive ("che sia") which is typical for expressing preferences at this level.
Per la piega preferirei un effetto mosso e molto naturale, niente di troppo liscio.
neutralFor the styling I would prefer a wavy and very natural effect, nothing too straight.
"La piega" is the blow-dry or styling at the end of the appointment.
Dietro mi sembrano ancora un po' lunghi, potresti accorciarli ancora un pochino per favore?
casualIn the back they still seem a bit long to me, could you shorten them a tiny bit more please?
A friendly way to ask for adjustments while they are cutting.
La lunghezza va benissimo così, credo che non serva tagliarli ulteriormente ai lati.
neutralThe length is perfectly fine like this, I believe it isn't necessary to cut them further on the sides.
Uses "credo che" with the subjunctive to politely state that you are happy with the length.
Quant'è per tutto? Se per te non è un problema, io pagherei con la carta.
casualHow much for everything? If it's not a problem for you, I would pay by card.
Informal tone, commonly used when paying a trusted stylist.
Quanto le devo in totale per il taglio, il colore e la piega di oggi?
neutralHow much do I owe you in total for today's cut, color, and styling?
Standard polite way to ask for the bill at the till.