International English Test Editorial Team·2 Jan 2024·3 min read
Going to a beauty salon is a must, especially for women, and it also provides a delightful way to pass a few hours.The beauty industry is extensive, and you can locate a quality beauty salon in any city.
I encourage you to familiarize yourself with key words today, enabling you to communicate your preferences effectively when visiting a beauty salon abroad.
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A cosmetologist provides services tailored to nurture the skin on your face and body.
Facial
Waxing
Laser hair removal
Spa body treatments
Wraps and detoxifying body scrubs
Non-surgical facelift
Certified and tested products
Beautician
Massage
Sugaring
Acupunctur
Hairdresser
Let’s begin by examining some words that will be useful for everyone, as we all visit salons or barbershops. One individual might require an intricate hairstyle for a significant occasion, while another may desire a straightforward haircut or wish to have their roots colored.
Hair salon – A location where both men and women go for haircuts and styling.
Hairdresser’s chair – The seat you occupy during your hair treatment.
In salon vocabulary a hairdresser is the stylist who typically cuts and styles hair for women, while a barber is the stylist for men. The place where a barber works is called a barbershop, whereas a hair salon is a location where both men and women go for haircuts and styling. Knowing these distinctions helps you choose the right place and describe the service you want.
Use the phrase I would like to get or I would like to have followed by the service. Common requests include a trim, a cut, a wash and cut, a wash, cut and dry, or a perm. For more detail you can say I would like to get my hair cut, streaked, styled, straightened, curled, layered, coloured or dyed, or bleached, depending on exactly what you want done.
A cosmetologist provides treatments that nurture the skin on your face and body. Useful terms include facial, waxing, laser hair removal, spa body treatments, wraps and detoxifying body scrubs, and a non-surgical facelift. You might also hear beautician, massage, and sugaring. Learning these words lets you explain which skin or body treatment you are looking for when you visit a salon abroad.
For nail and foot care the key terms are manicure, often shortened to mani, pedicure, shortened to pedi, and a floral manicure. You may also discuss nail length, nail shape, top coat, and nail polish or gel polish. Foot care terms include foot massage and foot mask, along with words such as nourish, callus, and fungus. To request service simply say I would like to get my nails done.
You can say I would like to get my hair coloured, or use the alternative word dyed, since both mean adding colour. If you only want to refresh the colour at the base of your hair you can ask to have your roots coloured. Related styling options you might request include streaked, bleached, straightened, curled, or layered hair, each describing a different way to change your hairstyle.
A trim means having only a small amount of length removed to tidy your hair without changing the overall style, which is ideal when you want a straightforward, low-key visit. A cut is a fuller haircut that can change the shape or length more noticeably. At the salon you can ask for a trim, a cut, a wash and cut, or a complete wash, cut and dry depending on how much you want done.
International English Test Editorial Team
ALTE Associate Member · UK English assessment provider · Est. 2023
