At the Hair Salon: 'Just a trim, please'

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TL;DR 🦄

💇 다듬어 주세요 [da-deu-meo ju-se-yo] — "Just a trim, please"

✋ 너무 짧게 자르지 마세요 [neo-mu jjap-ge ja-reu-ji ma-se-yo] — "Please don't cut it too short"

📏 이 정도로 잘라 주세요 [i jeong-do-ro jal-la ju-se-yo] — "Please cut it about this much"

🌀 펌하고 싶어요 [peom-ha-go shi-peo-yo] — "I'd like to get a perm"

❓ 머리 어떻게 해 드릴까요? [mo-ri eo-tteo-ke hae deu-ril-kka-yo?] — "How would you like your hair?"

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🎧 Iru Helper Note: Hear every phrase in this lesson spoken aloud and practice your pronunciation with the Iru Helper Widgets.

🌈 The Big Picture

At a 미용실 [mi-yong-sil] (hair salon), being specific is your best friend. 다듬어 주세요 [da-deu-meo ju-se-yo] means "please trim it" — a light, minor cut — while 잘라 주세요 means "please cut it," which can mean anything from a small trim to a big change.

다듬어 주세요 — "Just a trim, please" (minor cleanup)

5cm만 잘라 주세요 — "Please cut just 5cm" (specific amount)

When in doubt, under-communicate the amount and let the stylist confirm — 조금만 잘라도 될까요? ("Is it okay to cut just a little?") is always a safe opener.

🎭 다듬어 주세요 vs. 잘라 주세요: Trim vs. Cut

다듬어 주세요 is for small touch-ups — cleaning up split ends, evening things out, no major length change. 잘라 주세요 is the general word for "cut" and is used for anything from a few centimeters to a dramatic new style.

(minor) 끝만 다듬어 주세요 — "Please just trim the ends"

(bigger change) 어깨선까지 잘라 주세요 — "Please cut it to shoulder length"

If you're nervous about how much will be cut, pairing either phrase with a gesture — 이 정도 (about this much), holding your fingers apart — helps avoid surprises.

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

다듬어 주세요 [da-deu-meo ju-se-yo] — "Just a trim, please"

너무 짧게 자르지 마세요 [neo-mu jjap-ge ja-reu-ji ma-se-yo] — "Please don't cut it too short"

이 정도로 잘라 주세요 [i jeong-do-ro jal-la ju-se-yo] — "Please cut it about this much"

펌하고 싶어요 [peom-ha-go shi-peo-yo] — "I'd like to get a perm"

머리 어떻게 해 드릴까요? [mo-ri eo-tteo-ke hae deu-ril-kka-yo?] — "How would you like your hair?"

염색하고 싶어요 [yeom-sae-ka-go shi-peo-yo] — "I'd like to dye my hair"

앞머리만 잘라 주세요 [ap-mo-ri-man jal-la ju-se-yo] — "Please cut just the bangs"

사진처럼 해 주세요 [sa-jin-cheo-reom hae ju-se-yo] — "Please make it like this photo"

드라이 해 주세요 [deu-ra-i hae ju-se-yo] — "Please blow-dry/style it"

마음에 들어요 [ma-eu-me deu-reo-yo] — "I like it"

🛠️ Putting Together

A. Asking for a simple trim

A: 머리 어떻게 해 드릴까요?

B: 그냥 끝만 다듬어 주세요. 너무 짧게 자르지 마세요.

A: 네, 알겠습니다. 이 정도면 괜찮으세요?

A: How would you like your hair?

B: Just trim the ends, please. Please don't cut it too short.

A: Okay, got it. Is about this much okay?

✨ Grammar note: 이 정도면 괜찮으세요? ("is about this much okay?") is the stylist's way of confirming length before committing — a great cue to speak up if it looks like too much.

B. Showing a reference photo

A: 이 사진처럼 해 주세요. 앞머리도 이렇게 잘라 주실 수 있어요?

B: 네, 가능해요. 그런데 손님 머릿결이 좀 다를 수 있어서, 비슷하게 해 드릴게요.

A: 네, 좋아요. 부탁드려요.

A: Please make it like this photo. Can you also cut the bangs like this?

B: Yes, that's possible. But since your hair texture might be a bit different, I'll make it similar.

A: Okay, sounds good. Please go ahead.

✨ Grammar note: 비슷하게 해 드릴게요 ("I'll make it similar") is an honest, common response from stylists — hair texture affects how a style actually turns out.

C. Getting a perm

A: 펌하고 싶어요. 너무 곱슬곱슬하지 않게 해 주세요.

B: 네, 자연스러운 웨이브로 해 드릴까요?

A: 네, 그렇게 해 주세요. 시간은 얼마나 걸려요?

B: 2시간 정도 걸려요.

A: I'd like to get a perm. Please don't make it too curly.

B: Sure, shall I do a natural wave?

A: Yes, please do that. How long will it take?

B: It takes about 2 hours.

✨ Grammar note: 자연스러운 ("natural-looking") is a useful adjective for describing the style of a perm or color — much easier than naming specific techniques.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

민수: 지은아, 머리 잘랐네! 미용실 다녀왔어?

[ji-eu-na, mo-ri jal-lan-ne! mi-yong-sil da-nyeo-wa-sseo?]

Jieun, you got a haircut! Did you go to the salon?

지은: 응! 그냥 다듬으러 갔는데 생각보다 많이 잘랐어 ㅋㅋ

[eung! geu-nyang da-deu-meu-reo gan-neun-de saeng-gak-bo-da ma-ni jal-la-sseo]

Yeah! I just went for a trim, but they cut more than I expected lol

민수: 그래도 잘 어울려! 마음에 들어?

[geu-rae-do jal eo-ul-lyeo! ma-eu-me deu-reo?]

Still, it suits you well! Do you like it?

지은: 응, 마음에 들어! 다음에는 "이 정도로 잘라 주세요"라고 정확하게 말해야겠어.

[eung, ma-eu-me deu-reo! da-eu-me-neun "i jeong-do-ro jal-la ju-se-yo"-ra-go jeong-hwa-ka-ge mal-hae-ya-ge-sseo]

Yeah, I like it! Next time I should say "please cut about this much" more precisely.

민수: 좋은 생각이야. 사진 보여 주는 것도 도움이 될 거야.

[jo-eun saeng-ga-gi-ya. sa-jin bo-yeo ju-neun geo-do do-u-mi doel geo-ya]

Good idea. Showing a photo would help too.

🧭 Speaking Tip

Hair vocabulary in Korean is highly specific, so don't worry about knowing every technical term — combine simple phrases with gestures and photos. 이 정도로 (about this much) + holding up your fingers, or 사진처럼 (like this photo), communicates far more clearly than trying to describe layers or angles in words.

If something doesn't look right partway through, it's okay to speak up gently: 죄송한데, 조금만 더 다듬어 주실 수 있어요? ("Sorry, could you trim it just a bit more?").

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ 잘라 주세요 when you only wanted a small trim

✅ 다듬어 주세요 — use this for minor touch-ups to avoid losing more length than expected

❌ Not specifying an amount and hoping for the best

✅ 이 정도로 잘라 주세요 (+ gesture) — always give a reference point

❌ Describing styles only in English terms (layers, bangs, undercut)

✅ 사진처럼 해 주세요 — a photo communicates better than translated jargon

❌ Staying silent if you don't like the result mid-cut

✅ 조금만 더 다듬어 주실 수 있어요? — speak up gently while there's still time to adjust

💇 새 머리 스타일, 자신 있게 말해서 마음에 들게 완성하세요! ✨

<summary>Try this exercise

Instructions: Choose the best phrase from this lesson for each situation. Tap "Answer" to check.

You only want a small touch-up, not a big change.

<summary>Answer

다듬어 주세요 — "Just a trim, please"

You're worried the stylist might cut off too much.

<summary>Answer

너무 짧게 자르지 마세요 — "Please don't cut it too short"

You want to specify an exact amount using a gesture.

<summary>Answer

이 정도로 잘라 주세요 — "Please cut it about this much"

You want curly hair from a perm.

<summary>Answer

펌하고 싶어요 — "I'd like to get a perm"

The stylist asks how you'd like your hair done.

<summary>Answer

머리 어떻게 해 드릴까요? — "How would you like your hair?"

You want to change your hair color.

<summary>Answer

염색하고 싶어요 — "I'd like to dye my hair"

You only want your bangs cut, nothing else.

<summary>Answer

앞머리만 잘라 주세요 — "Please cut just the bangs"

You show a photo and want your hair to match it.

<summary>Answer

사진처럼 해 주세요 — "Please make it like this photo"

After the cut, you want your hair styled/blow-dried.

<summary>Answer

드라이 해 주세요 — "Please blow-dry/style it"

You're happy with the result. What do you say?

<summary>Answer

마음에 들어요 — "I like it"

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Vocabulary Box

미용실 — hair salon

자르다 — to cut

다듬다 — to trim

펌 — perm

염색 — hair dye

앞머리 — bangs

머릿결 — hair texture

길이 — length

드라이 — blow-dry/style

마음에 들다 — to like (lit. "enter the heart")

Pitfalls 💡

다듬다 = trim, 자르다 = cut (bigger change)

Always give a length reference (gesture or cm)

Use photos instead of translated jargon

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Want more reps? Before your next haircut, practice saying 다듬어 주세요 and 이 정도로 잘라 주세요 out loud while holding your fingers apart!

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🎯 Practice Hub — At the Hair Salon

Walk into any 미용실 with confidence! These three exercises cover basic requests, describing what you want, and full conversations. Use the Iru Helper Widgets to listen and repeat.

Exercise 1 — Basic Requests 💇

A. How do you say "Just a trim, please"?

<summary>Answer

다듬어 주세요

B. How do you say "Please don't cut it too short"?

<summary>Answer

너무 짧게 자르지 마세요

C. How do you say "Please cut it about this much"?

<summary>Answer

이 정도로 잘라 주세요

D. How do you say "I'd like to get a perm"?

<summary>Answer

펌하고 싶어요

E. How do you ask "How would you like your hair?"

<summary>Answer

머리 어떻게 해 드릴까요?

F. How do you say "I'd like to dye my hair"?

<summary>Answer

염색하고 싶어요

G. How do you say "Please cut just the bangs"?

<summary>Answer

앞머리만 잘라 주세요

H. How do you say "Please make it like this photo"?

<summary>Answer

사진처럼 해 주세요

I. How do you say "Please blow-dry/style it"?

<summary>Answer

드라이 해 주세요

J. How do you say "I like it"?

<summary>Answer

마음에 들어요

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Quick Reference

다듬다 — to trim

자르다 — to cut

펌 — perm

염색 — dye

앞머리 — bangs

Exercise 2 — Describing What You Want 📏

A. Tell the stylist you just want the ends trimmed.

<summary>Answer

끝만 다듬어 주세요.

B. Say you want it cut to shoulder length.

<summary>Answer

어깨선까지 잘라 주세요.

C. Show a photo and ask if they can do bangs like that too.

<summary>Answer

이 사진처럼 앞머리도 잘라 주실 수 있어요?

D. Ask for a natural-looking perm.

<summary>Answer

자연스러운 펌으로 해 주세요.

E. Say you don't want it too curly.

<summary>Answer

너무 곱슬곱슬하지 않게 해 주세요.

F. Ask how long the perm will take.

<summary>Answer

시간은 얼마나 걸려요?

G. Mid-cut, politely ask for a little more to be trimmed.

<summary>Answer

조금만 더 다듬어 주실 수 있어요?

H. Say the stylist's suggestion sounds good and to proceed.

<summary>Answer

네, 좋아요. 그렇게 해 주세요.

I. After it's done, say you really like it.

<summary>Answer

정말 마음에 들어요.

J. Ask for it to be blow-dried before you leave.

<summary>Answer

드라이도 해 주세요.

📚

Cheat Sheet

끝 — ends

어깨선 — shoulder line

곱슬곱슬하다 — to be curly

자연스럽다 — to be natural

얼마나 걸려요? — "how long does it take?"

Exercise 3 — Full Conversations 🗣️

A. Sit down at the salon. The stylist asks how you'd like your hair — say "just a trim."

<summary>Answer

다듬어 주세요.

B. Add that you don't want it too short.

<summary>Answer

너무 짧게 자르지 마세요.

C. The stylist asks for a length reference. Show with your fingers and say "about this much."

<summary>Answer

이 정도로 잘라 주세요.

D. Midway, you decide you also want a perm. Ask if that's possible today.

<summary>Answer

오늘 펌도 할 수 있어요?

E. They say yes. Specify you want a natural wave, not too curly.

<summary>Answer

자연스러운 웨이브로, 너무 곱슬곱슬하지 않게 해 주세요.

F. Ask how long the whole process will take.

<summary>Answer

전체 시간은 얼마나 걸려요?

G. After the perm, the stylist shows you the result. Say you like it.

<summary>Answer

마음에 들어요!

H. Ask them to blow-dry it before you leave.

<summary>Answer

드라이 해 주세요.

I. Thank the stylist and say you'll come back next time.

<summary>Answer

감사합니다. 다음에 또 올게요.

J. A friend asks how your salon visit went. Say it turned out better than expected.

<summary>Answer

생각보다 훨씬 잘 나왔어!

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Cheat Sheet

전체 — overall/whole

웨이브 — wave

결과 — result

다음에 또 올게요 — "I'll come again next time"

생각보다 — "more than expected"

🎉 잘했어요! Walk into your next 미용실 visit ready to get exactly the look you want!