Haircut question

[Steingletscher]

I'm going to get my first haircut in China soon. Back in the States I would always get a Taper Fade, cut down to on the top where my hair begins to become curly. Though I can't have the Mexican barber I would always go to, but I want to know how to say the style that I want in chinese.

[skylee]

Show the barber a picture of what you want.

[liuzhou]

Show the barber a picture of what you want.

Then sit back while he/she does what he/she wants.

[skylee]

Makes no difference whether you tell them the name of the haircut or show them a picture. They would just do what they want.

[liuzhou]

Is there an echo in here?

[ChTTay]

My experience is usually "I want my hair cut very short" ... they barely trim it ... i say "shorter" ... trim ... "shorter" .... trim "even shorter" etc

The time I showed them a picture I got the funkiest haircut I've ever had (nothing like the picture)

[liuzhou]

Never mind, if you are not satisfied with your coiffure, they usually offer alternative satisfaction.

[count_zero]

I have the exact opposite problem to chTTay. If I ask them to cut a very, very small amount off the fringe they take off 80-90%.

These days I say "千万不要太短! 太长的话我明天再来一次" - under no circumstances take off too much! If it's too long I can come back again tomorrow! That seems to work ok.

The main thing is to get someone who knows how you like it then keep going back and hope they don't get a better job.

[Mindmaxd]

Hair style 发型 fa4 xing2

[liuzhou]

Hair style 发型 fa4 xing2

I think we probaby got that bit. But walking into a Chinese hairdressing establishment and asking for a 'hairstyle' isn't going to get you very far, is it?

[jkhsu]

A bit off topic but related:

Most of the barbers in China tend to use a straight razor (for men) to trim your sideburns during a haircut. Personally, I don't think it's sanitary to share public straight razors, regardless of whether I'm in China or anywhere else. Therefore, I always tell the barber ahead of time that I don't want to use the straight razor. I just say "我不要用刮胡刀" and point to my sideburns and jaw area.

[frankwall]

Definitely show the barber what you want - its the safest option. And really put emphasis on the fact that you don't want to be bald.

[liuzhou]

Definitely show the barber what you want - its the safest option.

In what way?

Be sure to hold up two fingers in a V sign or they won't realise it's a photograph. They will then tell you how handsome you are. Then cut your hair exactly as they please.

[frankwall]

In what way?

It worked for me when I was travelling abroad - it certainly is a better option than going in there with nothing. At least they shall have a rough idea and leave some hair on your head at the end of the experience.

[liuzhou]

It worked for me when I was travelling abroad

Welcome to China! They will look at your photo with great interest and still do what they want to do!

The number one concern in selecting a hairdressing option in China is not what photo you show them. The only thing to check is that they do, in fact, possess scissors or other hairdressing technology.

Most don't.

[WestTexas]

Huh, I'd always thought I was the only person who had horrible problems with Chinese barbers.

Yeah, they will give you whatever haircut they think looks good. Honestly I generally just go get my head shaved, let it grow for like 3-4 months, then go back and do it again, as this looks better than the monstrous hack job they usually do.