French Lesson 7 — At the Hair Salon

I. Les Services — What You Can Ask For

French	Sounds like...	English
une coloration	oon koh-loh-rah-SYOHN	color (🇧🇷 coloração!)
un shampoing	uhn shahm-PWEHN	wash / shampoo
un brushing	uhn bruh-SHEENG	blow dry
une coupe	oon KOOP	a haircut
une mise en plis	oon meez ahn PLEE	a set (curlers/styling)
des mèches	day MESH	highlights
un balayage	uhn bah-lay-AHZH	balayage (the word is French!)
un soin	uhn SWEHN	a treatment / conditioning
une frange	oon FRAHNZH	bangs / fringe

🇧🇷 Fun fact: Brushing is one of those English words the French adopted and made their own. They say it with a French accent and it sounds fancy — but it's just "brushing"! Same with balayage going the other way — English borrowed that from French.

II. Dire Ce Que Vous Voulez — Saying What You Want

✂️ The basics

French	English
Je voudrais une coloration, un shampoing, et un brushing	I'd like color, wash, and blow dry
Juste un shampoing et un brushing	Just a wash and blow dry
Une coupe et un brushing	A cut and blow dry
Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous	I'd like to make an appointment
Vous avez de la place aujourd'hui ?	Do you have availability today?
C'est combien pour une coloration et un brushing ?	How much for color and blow dry?

🎨 About the color

French	English
La même couleur, s'il vous plaît	The same color, please
Couvrir les racines	Cover the roots
Plus foncé	Darker
Plus clair	Lighter
Châtain	Brown / chestnut
Blond	Blonde
Brun	Dark brown / brunette
Roux	Red / auburn

✂️ About the cut (if you want one)

French	English
Pas trop court	Not too short
Juste les pointes	Just the ends
Un ou deux centimètres	One or two centimeters
Je veux garder la longueur	I want to keep the length
Dégradé, s'il vous plaît	Layered, please
Pas de frange	No bangs

III. Phrases You'll Hear & Need

The stylist will ask you questions and chat. Here's what to expect:

They'll say...	It means...
Qu'est-ce que vous voulez aujourd'hui ?	What would you like today?
Vous voulez couper combien ?	How much do you want to cut?
La température de l'eau, ça va ?	Is the water temperature okay?
Comme ça, ça vous plaît ?	Do you like it like this?
On passe au bac ?	Shall we go to the wash station?

💬 Your responses

French	English
Oui, c'est parfait	Yes, it's perfect
Un peu plus court, s'il vous plaît	A little shorter, please
C'est très bien comme ça	It's great like this
L'eau est trop chaude	The water is too hot
L'eau est trop froide	The water is too cold
C'est magnifique, merci !	It's gorgeous, thank you!

IV. Your Salon Visit — The Script

💇‍♀️ At the salon de coiffure You walk in. Bonjour first — always!

You

Bonjour ! Vous avez de la place aujourd'hui ? Hello! Do you have availability today?

Stylist

Bonjour ! Oui, dans une demi-heure, ça vous va ? Hello! Yes, in half an hour, does that work?

You

Parfait. Je voudrais une coloration, un shampoing, et un brushing, s'il vous plaît. Perfect. I'd like color, wash, and blow dry, please.

Stylist

Très bien. Quelle couleur vous voulez ? Very good. What color do you want?

You

La même couleur. Couvrir les racines, surtout. The same color. Cover the roots, especially.

Stylist

D'accord. On passe au bac ? Alright. Shall we go to the wash station?

Stylist

La température, ça va ? Is the temperature okay?

You

Oui, c'est parfait. Yes, it's perfect.

Stylist

💇‍♀️ ...color, wash, dry...

Stylist

Voilà ! Comme ça, ça vous plaît ? There! Do you like it like this?

You

C'est magnifique, merci ! C'est combien ? It's gorgeous, thank you! How much is it?

Stylist

Soixante-cinq euros, s'il vous plaît. Sixty-five euros, please.

You

Voilà. Merci beaucoup, bonne journée ! Here you go. Thank you, have a nice day!

⚠️ Tipping at the salon: Like restaurants, tipping isn't expected in France. But if you're happy with your stylist, rounding up or leaving 2-5 euros is a lovely gesture and always appreciated.

🔑 Walk-in vs appointment: Many French salons accept walk-ins (sans rendez-vous), but it's always better to call ahead. If you need an appointment: Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous pour demain matin (I'd like to make an appointment for tomorrow morning).

📝 Devoirs — Homework

Tonight: Practice saying your magic sentence out loud — Je voudrais une coloration, un shampoing, et un brushing, s'il vous plaît. Paste it into Google Translate and match the sound.
Memorize these two responses: Oui, c'est parfait (yes, it's perfect) and C'est magnifique, merci ! (it's gorgeous, thank you!) — they'll carry you through the whole visit.
Tomorrow: Walk in, say it, and own it. You've got this! 💇‍♀️

Leçon 7

I. Les Services — What You Can Ask For

II. Dire Ce Que Vous Voulez — Saying What You Want

✂️ The basics

🎨 About the color

✂️ About the cut (if you want one)

III. Phrases You'll Hear & Need

💬 Your responses

IV. Your Salon Visit — The Script

📝 Devoirs — Homework