Vocabulary
10 key words for this lesson
HAIRCUT
When someone cuts your hair to make it shorter or a new shape.
I'm going to the salon for a haircut today.
TRIM
To cut a small amount of hair to make it tidy.
Just a trim, please. Not too short.
DYE
To change the colour of your hair.
She dyed her hair blonde last summer.
HIGHLIGHTS
Thin parts of hair that are lighter than the rest.
I'd like some blonde highlights.
ROOTS
The hair closest to your head. It shows your natural colour.
My roots are starting to show.
WASH
To clean with water and soap.
Would you like a wash today?
BLOW-DRY
To dry your hair with a hairdryer.
I'll blow-dry your hair at the end.
SHAMPOO
A liquid soap for washing hair.
This shampoo is for dry hair.
CONDITIONER
A cream you put on your hair after washing to make it soft.
Conditioner makes my hair soft.
BANGS
Short hair at the front that hangs over your forehead. (UK: fringe)
She decided to get bangs.
Phrases
6 phrases and their meanings
I'd like a haircut, please.
Say what you want when you arrive.
"Hi, I'd like a haircut, please."
Just a trim, please.
Ask for only a little to be cut.
"Just a trim, please. I want to keep it long."
Can you cut off about two inches?
Say how much to cut.
"Can you cut off about two inches — five centimetres?"
I'd like to dye my hair a darker shade.
Ask for a new, darker colour.
"I'd like to dye my hair a darker shade of brown."
Could you touch up my roots?
Ask to colour the new hair growing near your head.
"My roots are showing. Could you touch them up?"
GET RID OF
To remove something you don't want.
I want to get rid of my dry ends.
In Action
Hear how these phrases sound in real B2B situations
“"Touch up" means to fix small parts. You can touch up roots, paint or makeup.”
Register
Understand when and how to use each phrase — formal, neutral, or informal
Videos
Watch these terms used in context
Dialogue
Read the dialogue and hover the blue words for definitions
Kira
HairdresserHi, I'd like to get a haircut today.
Of course! What would you like to do with your hair?
Something fresh. Maybe cut off about two inches and add some highlights.
Great! Would you like to touch up your roots too? They're starting to show.
Yes, please! And I'd like to dye my hair a darker shade, maybe brown.
Sure. I'll wash your hair first with a special shampoo.
Perfect. My ends are very dry. I want to get rid of them.
No problem. I'll use conditioner and blow-dry it at the end. Do you want bangs?
Hmm, not this time. Just the colour and a nice cut, thank you!
Exercises
Complete all three exercises to see your final score
Matching
Click a word, then click its correct definition.
Click a word on the left, then its definition on the right.
Words
Definitions
Fill in the Blank
Drag the correct words from the word bank to complete each sentence.
Sentence 1
I'd like a— — —, please.
Sentence 2
Just a— — —, please. Not too short.
Sentence 3
My— — —are starting to show.
Sentence 4
She— — —her hair blonde last summer.
Sentence 5
Would you like a— — —today?
Sentence 6
I want to get rid— — —my dry ends.
Tip: Think about the meaning of each word and what makes sense in the sentence.
Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer for each question about the dialogue.
1.What does "trim" mean?
2.What are "highlights"?
3.What do you put on hair after shampoo to make it soft?
4.In the dialogue, what colour does Kira want?
5.Does Kira want bangs?