Hair care

Posted by MichikoNakamura Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:17:42 GMT

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Let's begin by reading this opening conversation:

Michael: Michiko, do you go to a beauty salon?
Michiko: I go to one near my work place. It's right around the corner from my office. The prices are reasonable and the location is convenient.

When you need to make an appointment at a beauty shop or barber shop, the easiest way is to use the telephone. You can use the phone to make an appointment at the doctor's or dentist's office too. If you need to make an appointment for a haircut you can use one of these sentences. Read these example sentences:

"I'd like to make an appointment for a haircut"

"I'd like to make an appointment to cut my hair"

Also, if you know the name of your hair stylist, you can ask for them by name. For example:

"I'd like to make an appointment with Sarah"

You may also want to perm your hair. Perm is short for permanent. In that case you would say:

"I'd like to make an appointment to perm my hair."

If you really like the way someone cuts your hair, you can ask for them again. So after you ask for an appointment, the receptionist will respond with the time and date for the appointment. Read this next conversation:

Michael: Hello, Gina's hair salon.
Gina: Hi, I'd like to make an appointment with Stacy to cut my hair.
Michael: All right. Hmmm. She's a little busy this week though.
Gina: What is the earliest available time?
Michael: We have an opening on Thursday, the 7th, at 2 o'clock. Is that OK for you?
Gina: Yes, that will be fine.

If you want to get your hair done as soon as possible, you can ask this question:

"What is the earliest available time?"

What would you say if you can't make it at that time?   Read this next
conversation:

Michael: We have an opening on Thursday, the 7th, at 2 o'clock. Is that OK for you?
Michiko: I'm sorry, I can't make it then. Do you have anything in the morning?
Michael: Yes, we do. How about Friday, the 8th, at 10 o'clock?
Michiko: That's great. Thank you.

So if you can't make it on the first time they give you, keep trying. If they don't have any time that you like, you can keep on trying to find a good time for you both.

For example, you can ask:

"Do you have anything in the morning?"

Read this example conversation:

Michiko: We have an opening on Monday morning? Is that OK for you?
Michael: I'm sorry, I can't make it at that time.
Michiko: How about Tuesday morning?
Michael: No, that's no good either.

Sometimes, people say "beauty shop" and sometimes "beauty salon".
At　other times, people say "beauty parlor".

Read this next conversation:

Michael: I'm going to wash your hair now. Put your head back. Is that OK?
Michiko: No, my neck is a little sore
Michael: There. Is that better?
Michiko: Yes, that's much more comfortable.
Michael: Is the water too hot?
Michiko: No, it's just right.

When you get a shampoo, you will have to go to a special chair next to a sink. At that time, you will have to lean all the way back.   The hairdresser also asked if the water was too hot.

Sometimes people go into the beauty parlor just to trim their hair. At other times, people want to cut off a few inches. It's up to the customer to tell the hairdresser exactly what they want.

Read these examples sentences:

"Could you cut off two inches please?"

"I'd like a trim please?"

If you have split ends, you can say:

"Just trim off the split ends, please."

Split ends are when the ends of your hair begun to split. This means that the hair is damaged. Now, what would you say to the hairdresser if you wanted them to cut only your bangs? Read these example sentences:

"Could your trim my bangs please?"

"Just trim my bangs, please"

"I'd like my bangs trimmed please"

If you are afraid that the hair stylist will cut your bangs too short you can say:

"Don't cut my bangs too short"

If you want to compliment someone on their hair, you can use one of these sentences:

"That's a nice haircut. Where did you get it done?"

"Your haircut looks good. Which barber shop did you go to?"

There are two popular ways to cut the back of your hair. You can taper the hair so that it gradually gets longer. Or you can have a block cut which means to cut the hair straight across.

Read these example sentences:

"Could you taper it, please?"

"Could you give me a block cut please?"

Now read this conversation at the barber shop:

Michiko: Hello, Michael. How would you like your hair cut today?
Michael: I'll have the usual trim. But could you cut the back a little shorter today?
Michiko: How would you like the back cut?
Michael: Could you taper it please?
Michiko: Sure can.

In this example, the barber knew the customer because she called him by name. The man wanted the same style of haircut. Read these example sentences:

"I'll have the usual trim"

"I'd like the same style I have now, but shorter"

Every barber is different so they might ask you different kinds of questions.   Read these example sentences:

"I usually part it on the right side"

"I part it in the middle"

"Could you part it on the left side please?"

Some people don't even go to the barber shop because they can have their hair cut at home.

Read this conversation where a Mother is cutting her little boy's hair.

Mother:Come here Johnny.   It's time for a haircut. I'm going to cut your hair.
Johnny: Oh, no. I don't want a haircut.
Mother: But you have to. If you don't get a haircut, you'll look like a hippie.
Johnny: It's not that bad.
Mother: Yes, it is. Now come here and stop arguing with me.
Johnny: Oh, all right.

You can always tell the barber if you would like to change something. For example, if you would like to cut it shorter or trim something.

Read these example conversations:

Michiko: I'm finished. What do you think?
Michael: Could you cut the back a little shorter.
Michiko: Sure, no problem.

Michiko: I'm all done. How do you like it?
Michael: It's great, but could you trim the bangs a little shorter.
Michiko: OK
Michiko: How's that?
Michael: That's great. Thank you.

Of course, if your hair is too short, there's nothing you can do about it. Read this conversation:

Michiko: How do you like it?
Michael: It's too short. I'd like it longer next time.
Michiko: But this length is very popular right now. You look very stylish.

Sometimes friends will try to comfort you by saying: "You'll get used to it." What they mean is that you can't change it so you might as well live with it.

In the case of a bad haircut, they might say:

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

or

"Don't worry, it'll grow back."