Have you ever felt unsure about how to explain what you want at a Japanese hair salon? For learners of Japanese, booking an appointment and the initial consultation can feel a bit nerve-racking.
This article walks you through Japanese phrases you can use at hair salons in Japan, from booking to payment. You’ll find natural expressions for stating your hairstyle preferences and confirming the finished look—ready to use in real conversations.
Every phrase comes with romaji and English, so even beginners can feel at ease.
We’ll also introduce YOLO DISCOVER, a service that offers free beauty experiences where you can try these phrases in real life. Enjoy Japanese culture while practicing everyday conversations!
1. Is talking at Japanese hair salons hard?
2. Phrases by scene (from booking to payment)
3. Sample dialogues (practice with staff)
4. FAQ
5. Where to practice these phrases
6. Summary
Is talking at Japanese hair salons hard?
Common worries at your first hair salon visit
Many first-time visitors in Japan wonder:
“How do I make a booking?”, “Can I describe what I want in Japanese?”, “What if the result isn’t what I imagined…?”
If you’re not yet comfortable with Japanese, hair salon conversations can feel tense—especially because hair affects your overall impression. It’s natural to want to avoid mistakes.
It’s okay even if your Japanese isn’t strong
Don’t worry too much. Hair salon conversations usually follow familiar patterns.
With simple Japanese—like “Yoyaku shiteimasu” (I have a reservation), “Kono shashin no you ni onegai shimasu” (Like this photo, please), or “Mou sukoshi mijikaku shite kudasai” (A little shorter, please)—you can communicate well.
Even if you make small mistakes, most stylists will try to understand you. Stay calm and use short, set phrases.
Learn the phrases below and you’ll feel confident, even on your first visit.
Phrases by scene (from booking to payment)
We’ll follow the flow Booking → Arrival → Consultation → During service → Payment & thanks and share the most useful phrases.
Each phrase includes Japanese + Romaji + English. Feel free to read from your phone and say them as is.
Booking 📞
「予約をしたいのですが、今日あいていますか？」
Romaji: Yoyaku o shitai no desu ga, kyō aiteimasu ka?
English: I’d like to make a reservation. Are you available today?
「明日の午後にカットをお願いできますか？」
Romaji: Ashita no gogo ni katto o onegai dekimasu ka?
English: Can I get a haircut tomorrow afternoon?
「○○時に予約をお願いします。」
Romaji: ○○-ji ni yoyaku o onegaishimasu.
English: I’d like to book at ○○ o’clock.
Arrival & Reception 💁♀️
「予約しています。○○です。」
Romaji: Yoyaku shiteimasu. ○○ desu.
English: I have a reservation. My name is ○○.
「少し早いのですが、大丈夫ですか？」
Romaji: Sukoshi hayai no desu ga, daijōbu desu ka?
English: I’m a little early. Is that okay?
Consultation (state your preferences) ✂️
「この写真のようにしてください。」
Romaji: Kono shashin no yō ni shite kudasai.
English: Please make it like this photo.
「もう少し短くしてください。」
Romaji: Mō sukoshi mijikaku shite kudasai.
English: Please make it a little shorter.
「髪の色を明るくしたいです。」
Romaji: Kami no iro o akaruku shitai desu.
English: I’d like to make my hair color lighter.
「前髪をそろえてください。」
Romaji: Maegami o soroete kudasai.
English: Please trim my bangs evenly.
During the service 💬
「ちょっと熱いです。」
Romaji: Chotto atsui desu.
English: It’s a little hot.
「ちょっと冷たいです。」
Romaji: Chotto tsumetai desu.
English: It’s a little cold.
「しみます。」
Romaji: Shimimasu.
English: It stings.
「少しかゆいです。」
Romaji: Sukoshi kayui desu.
English: It’s a little itchy.
Finish check • Payment💳
「もう少し短くできますか？」
Romaji: Mō sukoshi mijikaku dekimasu ka?
English: Could you make it a little shorter?
「ちょうどいいです。」
Romaji: Chōdo ii desu.
English: It’s perfect.
「現金で払いたいのですが、大丈夫ですか？」
Romaji: Genkin de haraitai no desu ga, daijōbu desu ka?
English: I’d like to pay in cash. Is that okay?
「ありがとうございました。」
Romaji: Arigatō gozaimashita.
English: Thank you very much.
👉 Must-know Top 3 Phrases
・「予約しています。○○です。」 (Yoyaku shiteimasu. ○○ desu. / I have a reservation. My name is ○○)
・「この写真のようにしてください。」 (Kono shashin no yō ni shite kudasai. / Please make it like this photo.)
・「ありがとうございました。」 (Arigatō gozaimashita. / Thank you very much.)
Sample dialogues (practice with staff)
A typical Japanese hair salon flow is Reception → Consultation → Shampoo → Cut → Styling & Payment.
On your first visit, you’ll often fill out a short form with your name, contact, and hair concerns. It’s common to wash your hair before cutting or coloring, and many hair salons include basic finishing/styling at no extra charge.
Practice with the realistic steps below so you can feel confident on your next visit.
① Reception & first-time form 📝
Customer: 「予約しています。○○です。」
Romaji: Yoyaku shiteimasu. ○○ desu. / English: I have a reservation. My name is ○○.
Staff: 「ありがとうございます。初めてのご来店ですか？」
Romaji: Arigatō gozaimasu. Hajimete no go-raiten desu ka? / English: Thank you. Is this your first visit?
Customer: 「はい、初めてです。」
Romaji: Hai, hajimete desu. / English: Yes, it’s my first time.
Staff: 「こちらのシートにご記入ください。」
Romaji: Kochira no shīto ni gokinyū kudasai. / English: Please fill out this form.
② Consultation ✂️
Staff: 「今日はどのようにされますか？」
Romaji: Kyō wa dono yō ni saremasu ka? / English: How would you like your hair today?
Customer: 「この写真のようにしてください。肩くらいの長さで。」
Romaji: Kono shashin no yō ni shite kudasai. Kata kurai no nagasa de.
English: Like this photo, please. Shoulder length.
Staff: 「量は減らしますか？」
Romaji: Ryō wa herashimasu ka? / English: Would you like it thinned out?
Customer: 「はい、少しだけお願いします。」
Romaji: Hai, sukoshi dake onegaishimasu. / English: Yes, just a little, please.
③ Shampoo 💦
Staff: 「それではシャンプー台へどうぞ。」
Romaji: Sore dewa shanpū-dai e dōzo. / English: Please follow me to the shampoo station.
Customer: 「はい。」
Romaji: Hai. / English: Yes.
Staff: 「お湯加減はいかがですか？」
Romaji: Oyu kagen wa ikaga desu ka? / English: Is the water temperature okay?
Customer: 「ちょうどいいです。」
Romaji: Chōdo ii desu. / English: It’s perfect.
④ Cut ✂️
Staff: 「長さはこのくらいでよろしいですか？」
Romaji: Nagasa wa kono kurai de yoroshii desu ka? / English: Is this length okay?
Customer: 「もう少しだけ短くしてください。」
Romaji: Mō sukoshi dake mijikaku shite kudasai. / English: A little shorter, please.
Staff: 「顔まわりはどうしますか？」
Romaji: Kao-mawari wa dō shimasu ka? / English: How about around your face?
Customer: 「軽くしてください。」
Romaji: Karuku shite kudasai. / English: Please make it lighter.
⑤ Styling & Payment 💳
Staff: 「仕上げはストレートにしますか？巻きますか？」
Romaji: Shiage wa sutorēto ni shimasu ka? Makimasu ka?
English: Would you like it straight or curled?
Customer: 「ストレートでお願いします。」
Romaji: Sutorēto de onegaishimasu.
English: Straight, please.
Staff: 「ありがとうございました。お会計はあちらです。」
Romaji: Arigatō gozaimashita. Okaikei wa achira desu.
English: Thank you very much. Please pay over there.
Customer: 「とても気に入りました。ありがとうございます。」
Romaji: Totemo ki ni irimashita. Arigatō gozaimasu.
English: I really like it. Thank you.
💡 Tips
・Photo + short phrase works best when explaining your style.
・During services, say exactly how you feel: atsui (hot), tsumetai (cold), shimimasu (stings), kayui (itchy).
・Stylists are often used to international customers, so small mistakes are fine.
FAQ
Here are answers to common questions about salons in Japan. Read these to feel even more confident before your visit.
What if the style isn’t what I expected? 🤔
If you explain politely, hair salons will usually adjust it for you.
・「もう少し短くできますか？」
Romaji: Mō sukoshi mijikaku dekimasu ka? / English: A little shorter, please.
・「顔まわりを軽くしてください」
Romaji: Kao-mawari o karuku shite kudasai. / English: Please make around the face lighter.
・「この写真に近づけてください」
Romaji: Kono shashin ni chikazukete kudasai. / English: Please make it closer to this photo.
I don’t know color/perm terms—what should I say? 🎨
Showing a photo is the fastest. If you prefer words:
・「明るめ／暗めにしたいです」
Romaji: Akarume / Kurame ni shitai desu. / English: I want it lighter / darker.
・「赤みを少なくしてください」
Romaji: Akami o sukunaku shite kudasai. / English: Please reduce the redness.
・「ゆるめにパーマをかけたいです」
Romaji: Yurume ni pāma o kaketai desu. / English: I’d like a loose perm.
Worried about rescheduling or the price? 🗓️💴
It’s fine to ask—politely confirm and you’ll be helped.
・「予約を変更できますか？」
Romaji: Yoyaku o henkō dekimasu ka? / English: Can I change my reservation?
・「合計はいくらですか？」
Romaji: Gōkei wa ikura desu ka? / English: How much is the total?
・「カードは使えますか？」
Romaji: Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka? / English: Do you take cards?
If I can’t catch what they say or can’t express myself? 🗣️
Keep calm and use short requests—“one more time,” “slowly,” or “please write it down.”
・「もう一度お願いします」
Romaji: Mō ichido onegaishimasu. / English: Please say it again.
・「ゆっくり話してください」
Romaji: Yukkuri hanashite kudasai. / English: Please speak slowly.
・「紙に書いてください」
Romaji: Kami ni kaite kudasai. / English: Please write it down.
Where to practice these phrases
Enjoy beauty experiences for free 💇♀️✨
The best practice is to use these phrases in real situations. But visiting hair salons often can be expensive.
That’s why we recommend YOLO DISCOVER—a project where residents from overseas can try free beauty experiences in Japan. You’ll find chances to use practical Japanese across hair, makeup, and skincare settings.
Try these phrases today 💬
Why not use “Maegami o soroete kudasai” (Please trim my bangs) or “Mō sukoshi mijikaku” (A little shorter) right away? Practice Japanese and feel great at the same time.
Join YOLO DISCOVER and practice Japanese the fun way!
*Sign in or create an account to view available experiences.
Summary
The essentials for Japanese hair salons
You don’t need complicated Japanese. Short, clear phrases work best—“Kore ni chikazukete kudasai” (Make it like this), “Mō sukoshi mijikaku” (A little shorter), “Yukkuri hanashite kudasai” (Please speak slowly).
Photos and romaji help a lot. What matters most is speaking up with confidence.
A small step builds big confidence
Even a little Japanese goes a long way and makes hair salon visits enjoyable. If you’re worried, start with the phrases in this article.
Back to scene-based phrases / Practice with sample dialogues
Produced by: YOLO JAPAN Editorial Team (lifestyle info for foreign residents)
Last updated: October 2025