I was going on my fourth month living in China and was due for a haircut. The only problem was that I didn’t speak fluent Mandarin. How does one get a haircut without speaking? I browsed the internet looking for answers and advice on getting a haircut. While I was searching I was running across advice saying “beware, don’t get your hair cut in China” and personal horror stories. I was determined that I wasn’t going to be one of them.
I have 6 secrets to share with you so that you too won’t have a horror story but a successful hair experience in China.
1. Make sure you study some Mandarin that covers salon terminology.
2. Many of the expat women I spoke to explained to me that if you want a risk free experience then you should get a simple hairstyle. (Meaning no layers and no thinning.)
3. Chinese salons cut more off than you tell them. So if you want 1 inch cut off they will cut 2 inches. If you want only a “little bit, little bit”, they will cut 1 inch.
4. If you have thin hair make sure to say no thinning. Thinning is a common practice in China, because many of the Chinese have thick hair.
5. Bring a picture of the haircut you want and make sure it’s the same color or they might color your hair too.
6. If you are not fluent in Mandarin than bring a trusted friend with you to translate. For example, I brought my friend Vicky. She was amazing.
April Maura’s Hair Salon Vocabulary in Mandarin-
- Don’t cut too much. [Ba(2)yao(4) jian(3) tai(4) duo(1)]
- I want this cut. [Wo(3) xiang(3) jian(3) cheng(2) zhe(4) yang(4) de.]
- Please just trim a little off. [Wo(3) zhi(3) xiu(1) yi(2)xia(4) tou(2)fa.]
- *(The most helpful word.) Very little [Yi(4) dian(3)]
- Don’t cut layers. [Bu(4) jian(3) ceng(2) ci(4) de.]
- Just cut bottom. [zhi(3) jian(3) di(3) xia(4) de.]
- Okay [hao(3) de]
- No [bu(4) hao(3)]
- Okay wash my hair. [hao(3) de xi(3)tou(2)]
- Too cold [tai(4) leng(3)]
- Too hot [tai(4) re(4)]
A picture below of my Chinese haircut. (Note I asked for a trim “a little bit” and had one inch cut off. Afterwards, Vicky treated me to chestnuts roasting on an open fire. 
I hope my 6 secrets to a successful haircut help you while you live or travel China. If you have anymore advice on a haircut in China or abroad please leave advice below for other fellow expats.
