Hair and Hairstyles in Traditional Chinese: 80+ Salon Words (With Pinyin)

An English-speaking yak teaches Traditional Chinese, pointing to a whiteboard that says Hair and Hairstyles in Traditional Chinese

Hair and Hairstyles in Traditional Chinese: 80+ Salon Words (With Pinyin)

頭髮與髮型(繁體中文)

Taiwan-friendly vocabulary, audio buttons, and example sentences you can actually use in a salon.

Want to talk about hair in Traditional Chinese without waving your hands like you’re directing traffic? This list gives you characters, pinyin (tone marks), clear meanings, and real-life examples for every word.

Use the 🔊 buttons to hear the Mandarin (zh-TW). Your stylist will still ask “just a little?” but at least now you can answer.

🦬
Yak Snark

The phrase “修一下” (trim a bit) is a tiny sentence with huge emotional consequences. Learn it. Protect yourself. Your hair deserves rights.

Quick Visual Cards: The 8 Words You’ll Use First

These cover the basics: what hair is, how it looks, and the top “I want this” styles.

頭髮
tóufǎ
hair
Daily-use word.
長髮
chángfà
long hair
Length-based style.
短髮
duǎnfà
short hair
Fast to dry. Fast to regret.
捲髮
juǎnfà
curly hair
Natural or styled.
直髮
zhífà
straight hair
Smooth lines.
瀏海
liúhǎi
bangs / fringe
The commitment zone.
馬尾
mǎwěi
ponytail
Classic tie-up.
丸子頭
wánzitóu
bun (topknot)
Neat or messy.

Salon-Ready Phrases You Can Copy-Paste

Short, polite, and super practical. Say one of these and you’ll instantly look like you know what you’re doing.

我要剪頭髮。
Wǒ yào jiǎn tóufǎ.
I want a haircut.
The “start here” sentence.
幫我修一下就好。
Bāng wǒ xiū yíxià jiù hǎo.
Just trim it a bit for me.
Your “please don’t go wild” line.
不要剪太短。
Bú yào jiǎn tài duǎn.
Don’t cut it too short.
Say it early. Say it again.
我想留長一點。
Wǒ xiǎng liú cháng yìdiǎn.
I want to keep it a bit longer / grow it out.
Length = emotional safety.
兩邊剪短,後面留長。
Liǎngbiān jiǎn duǎn, hòumiàn liú cháng.
Short on the sides, keep the back longer.
Great for undercut vibes.
剪到下巴這裡。
Jiǎn dào xiàbā zhèlǐ.
Cut it to around my chin.
Point + say this.
瀏海不要太厚。
Liúhǎi bú yào tài hòu.
Don’t make the bangs too thick.
Bangs, but breathable.
可以幫我打薄嗎?
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ dǎbáo ma?
Can you thin it out for me?
For heavy/thick hair.
要做層次。
Yào zuò céngcì.
I want layers.
Instant shape.
我想染棕色。
Wǒ xiǎng rǎn zōngsè.
I want to dye it brown.
Color goals.
我想燙捲。
Wǒ xiǎng tàng juǎn.
I want a perm (make it curly).
Perm, but make it cute.
今天只想修髮尾。
Jīntiān zhǐ xiǎng xiū fàwěi.
Today I only want to trim the ends.
Low-risk visit.
可以幫我洗頭嗎?
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ xǐtóu ma?
Can you wash my hair for me?
Yes, that shampoo chair exists.

Small but Useful: “Hair” Bits That Make You Sound Natural

In Traditional Chinese, “hair” is usually written as (not 發). And you’ll often hear measure words like: 一頭長髮 (a head of long hair) or 一撮頭髮 (a tuft of hair). Tiny words, big “I live here” energy.

Tap to practice:

More Hair Words (Grouped)

Everything below includes Traditional Chinese, pinyin, and an example sentence so you can use it immediately.

1) Hair parts, texture, and hair problems

TraditionalPinyinMeaningExample (ZH + pinyin)Translation (EN)Audio
頭皮
tóupí
scalp
我的頭皮有點乾。
Wǒ de tóupí yǒudiǎn gān.
My scalp is a bit dry.
髮根
fàgēn
hair roots
髮根長出黑色了。
Fàgēn zhǎngchū hēisè le.
My roots have grown out (black) already.
髮尾
fàwěi
hair ends
髮尾有點乾,想修一下。
Fàwěi yǒudiǎn gān, xiǎng xiū yíxià.
The ends are a bit dry; I want a small trim.
分岔
fēnchà
split ends
我有分岔,想剪掉。
Wǒ yǒu fēnchà, xiǎng jiǎn diào.
I have split ends and want to cut them off.
頭屑
tóuxiè
dandruff
最近頭屑有點多。
Zuìjìn tóuxiè yǒudiǎn duō.
I’ve had a bit of dandruff lately.
掉髮
diàofà
hair loss / shedding
我洗頭的時候掉髮很多。
Wǒ xǐtóu de shíhòu diàofà hěn duō.
I shed a lot of hair when I wash it.
髮量
fàliàng
hair volume (amount)
我的髮量很大,不想太蓬。
Wǒ de fàliàng hěn dà, bù xiǎng tài péng.
I have a lot of hair; I don’t want it too puffy.
髮質
fàzhì
hair texture/quality
我的髮質偏乾。
Wǒ de fàzhì piān gān.
My hair texture is on the dry side.
濃密
nóngmì
thick / dense
她的頭髮很濃密。
Tā de tóufǎ hěn nóngmì.
Her hair is very thick.
稀疏
xīshū
thin / sparse
我頭頂有點稀疏。
Wǒ tóudǐng yǒudiǎn xīshū.
The top of my head is a bit sparse.
柔順
róushùn
smooth / soft (hair)
我想讓頭髮更柔順。
Wǒ xiǎng ràng tóufǎ gèng róushùn.
I want my hair to be smoother.
毛躁
máozào
frizzy / unruly
下雨天我的頭髮很毛躁。
Xiàyǔtiān wǒ de tóufǎ hěn máozào.
My hair gets really frizzy on rainy days.
乾性
gānxìng
dry-type (hair/scalp)
我屬於乾性頭皮。
Wǒ shǔyú gānxìng tóupí.
I have a dry scalp type.
油性
yóuxìng
oily-type (hair/scalp)
我下午就會變油性。
Wǒ xiàwǔ jiù huì biàn yóuxìng.
By afternoon my hair/scalp becomes oily.
自然捲
zìránjuǎn
naturally curly hair
我天生自然捲。
Wǒ tiānshēng zìránjuǎn.
I’m naturally curly.
受損
shòusǔn
damaged (hair)
我的頭髮有點受損。
Wǒ de tóufǎ yǒudiǎn shòusǔn.
My hair is a bit damaged.
打結
dǎjié
tangled / knotted
我頭髮很容易打結。
Wǒ tóufǎ hěn róngyì dǎjié.
My hair tangles easily.
光澤
guāngzé
shine / gloss
我想讓頭髮有光澤。
Wǒ xiǎng ràng tóufǎ yǒu guāngzé.
I want my hair to have more shine.
蓬鬆
péngsōng
voluminous / fluffy
我想要自然的蓬鬆感。
Wǒ xiǎng yào zìrán de péngsōng gǎn.
I want a natural, voluminous look.
扁塌
biǎntā
flat (no volume)
我頭髮很容易扁塌。
Wǒ tóufǎ hěn róngyì biǎntā.
My hair goes flat easily.

2) Hairstyles and cuts

TraditionalPinyinMeaningExample (ZH + pinyin)Translation (EN)Audio
辮子
biànzi
braid
我今天想綁辮子。
Wǒ jīntiān xiǎng bǎng biànzi.
I want a braid today.
雙馬尾
shuāngmǎwěi
pigtails (two ponytails)
她綁雙馬尾看起來很可愛。
Tā bǎng shuāngmǎwěi kànqǐlái hěn kě’ài.
She looks cute with pigtails.
半馬尾
bànmǎwěi
half-up ponytail
半馬尾很適合上班。
Bànmǎwěi hěn shìhé shàngbān.
A half-up ponytail is great for work.
公主頭
gōngzhǔtóu
half-up style (princess hair)
我想試試公主頭。
Wǒ xiǎng shìshi gōngzhǔtóu.
I want to try a half-up “princess” style.
盤髮
pánfà
updo (pinned up)
婚禮那天我要盤髮。
Hūnlǐ nà tiān wǒ yào pánfà.
I want an updo for the wedding day.
髮髻
fàjì
formal bun / hair knot
她把頭髮盤成髮髻。
Tā bǎ tóufǎ pán chéng fàjì.
She tied her hair into a formal bun.
包包頭
bāobāotóu
messy bun / “bun bun”
夏天我常常綁包包頭。
Xiàtiān wǒ chángcháng bǎng bāobāotóu.
I often wear a messy bun in summer.
中分
zhōngfēn
middle part
我想要中分,不要旁分。
Wǒ xiǎng yào zhōngfēn, bú yào pángfēn.
I want a middle part, not a side part.
旁分
pángfēn
side part
旁分會讓臉看起來更立體。
Pángfēn huì ràng liǎn kànqǐlái gèng lìtǐ.
A side part can make the face look more defined.
層次
céngcì
layers
我想剪一些層次。
Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn yìxiē céngcì.
I want to cut in some layers.
鮑伯頭
bàobótóu
bob haircut
我想試鮑伯頭,大概到下巴。
Wǒ xiǎng shì bàobótóu, dàgài dào xiàbā.
I want to try a bob, around chin length.
平頭
píngtóu
crew cut / buzz cut
夏天剪平頭很清爽。
Xiàtiān jiǎn píngtóu hěn qīngshuǎng.
A buzz cut feels refreshing in summer.
寸頭
cùntóu
very short cut
他想剪寸頭,越短越好。
Tā xiǎng jiǎn cùntóu, yuè duǎn yuè hǎo.
He wants a very short cut—the shorter the better.
油頭
yóutóu
slicked-back style
他用髮蠟做油頭。
Tā yòng fàlà zuò yóutóu.
He styles a slicked-back look with hair wax.
短瀏海
duǎnliúhǎi
short bangs
短瀏海很有個性。
Duǎnliúhǎi hěn yǒu gèxìng.
Short bangs have a lot of personality.
長瀏海
chángliúhǎi
long bangs
我想把長瀏海修順一點。
Wǒ xiǎng bǎ chángliúhǎi xiū shùn yìdiǎn.
I want to tidy my long bangs a bit.
剃兩側
tì liǎngcè
shave the sides (undercut)
我想剃兩側,但上面留長。
Wǒ xiǎng tì liǎngcè, dàn shàngmiàn liú cháng.
I want the sides shaved, but keep the top long.
八字瀏海
bāzì liúhǎi
curtain bangs
八字瀏海可以修飾臉型。
Bāzì liúhǎi kěyǐ xiūshì liǎnxíng.
Curtain bangs can flatter the face shape.
瀏海剪齊
liúhǎi jiǎnqí
blunt bangs (cut straight)
我想瀏海剪齊一點。
Wǒ xiǎng liúhǎi jiǎnqí yìdiǎn.
I want my bangs cut a bit straighter/blunter.
狼尾
lángwěi
mullet
他想剪狼尾,後面要有長度。
Tā xiǎng jiǎn lángwěi, hòumiàn yào yǒu chángdù.
He wants a mullet; the back needs length.

3) What you do to hair (verbs you’ll actually say)

TraditionalPinyinMeaningExample (ZH + pinyin)Translation (EN)Audio
jiǎn
to cut (hair)
我想剪短一點。
Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn duǎn yìdiǎn.
I want it cut a bit shorter.
xiū
to trim / tidy up
可以幫我修瀏海嗎?
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ xiū liúhǎi ma?
Can you trim my bangs for me?
liú
to grow out / keep (hair)
我想把頭髮留長。
Wǒ xiǎng bǎ tóufǎ liú cháng.
I want to grow my hair longer.
to wash
我想先洗再剪。
Wǒ xiǎng xiān xǐ zài jiǎn.
I want to wash first, then cut.
chuī
to blow-dry
剪完可以幫我吹嗎?
Jiǎn wán kěyǐ bāng wǒ chuī ma?
After the cut, can you blow-dry it for me?
shū
to comb
我先把頭髮梳順。
Wǒ xiān bǎ tóufǎ shū shùn.
I’ll comb my hair smooth first.
bǎng
to tie (hair)
我出門前會把頭髮綁起來。
Wǒ chūmén qián huì bǎ tóufǎ bǎng qǐlái.
I tie my hair up before going out.
to tie up (hair)
你會紮馬尾嗎?
Nǐ huì zā mǎwěi ma?
Can you tie a ponytail?
jiá
to straighten/curl with an iron
我早上會用離子夾夾直。
Wǒ zǎoshang huì yòng lízǐjiá jiá zhí.
I use a straightener to make it straight in the morning.
tàng
to perm
我想燙自然一點的捲。
Wǒ xiǎng tàng zìrán yìdiǎn de juǎn.
I want a more natural-looking perm.
rǎn
to dye
我想把頭髮染成棕色。
Wǒ xiǎng bǎ tóufǎ rǎn chéng zōngsè.
I want to dye my hair brown.
piǎo
to bleach
漂完之後要好好護髮。
Piǎo wán zhīhòu yào hǎohǎo hùfà.
After bleaching, you need to care for your hair well.
挑染
tiāorǎn
to highlight (streaks)
我想做一點挑染,不要太明顯。
Wǒ xiǎng zuò yìdiǎn tiāorǎn, bú yào tài míngxiǎn.
I want some highlights, but not too obvious.
補染
bǔrǎn
to touch up dye (roots)
我只想補染髮根。
Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng bǔrǎn fàgēn.
I only want to touch up the roots.
退色
tuìsè
to fade (color)
這個髮色很快就會退色。
Zhège fàsè hěn kuài jiù huì tuìsè.
This hair color fades quickly.
定型
dìngxíng
to set / hold (hair)
我需要噴一點定型。
Wǒ xūyào pēn yìdiǎn dìngxíng.
I need to spray a bit to set it.
打薄
dǎbáo
to thin out (hair)
我的頭髮太厚,可以打薄嗎?
Wǒ de tóufǎ tài hòu, kěyǐ dǎbáo ma?
My hair is too thick; can you thin it out?
分線
fēnxiàn
parting line (hair part)
我的分線想換到中間。
Wǒ de fēnxiàn xiǎng huàn dào zhōngjiān.
I want to move my part to the middle.
吹整
chuīzhěng
blowout / style with blow-dry
可以幫我吹整得自然一點嗎?
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ chuīzhěng de zìrán yìdiǎn ma?
Can you blow it out in a more natural way?
造型
zàoxíng
styling / hairstyle (look)
我想做簡單的造型就好。
Wǒ xiǎng zuò jiǎndān de zàoxíng jiù hǎo.
I just want a simple style.

4) Tools and products (home + salon)

TraditionalPinyinMeaningExample (ZH + pinyin)Translation (EN)Audio
梳子
shūzi
comb
我出門前會用梳子梳頭髮。
Wǒ chūmén qián huì yòng shūzi shū tóufǎ.
I use a comb before going out.
髮刷
fàshuā
hairbrush
用髮刷比較不容易拉扯。
Yòng fàshuā bǐjiào bù róngyì lāchě.
A brush is less likely to pull your hair.
髮夾
fàjiá
hair clip
我用髮夾把瀏海夾起來。
Wǒ yòng fàjiá bǎ liúhǎi jiá qǐlái.
I clip my bangs up with a hair clip.
髮圈
fàquān
hair tie
我的髮圈不見了。
Wǒ de fàquān bùjiàn le.
My hair tie is missing.
髮箍
fàgū
headband
我戴髮箍比較不會亂。
Wǒ dài fàgū bǐjiào bù huì luàn.
A headband keeps my hair from getting messy.
吹風機
chuīfēngjī
hair dryer
我洗完頭會用吹風機吹乾。
Wǒ xǐ wán tóu huì yòng chuīfēngjī chuī gān.
I dry my hair with a hair dryer after washing.
離子夾
lízǐjiá
hair straightener
我用離子夾把頭髮夾直。
Wǒ yòng lízǐjiá bǎ tóufǎ jiá zhí.
I straighten my hair with a flat iron.
電棒捲
diànbàngjuǎn
curling iron
我用電棒捲做大捲。
Wǒ yòng diànbàngjuǎn zuò dàjuǎn.
I use a curling iron to make big curls.
髮蠟
fàlà
hair wax
抹一點髮蠟就很有型。
Mò yìdiǎn fàlà jiù hěn yǒu xíng.
A little hair wax makes a big difference.
髮膠
fàjiāo
hair gel
髮膠不要抹太多。
Fàjiāo bú yào mò tài duō.
Don’t apply too much hair gel.
定型噴霧
dìngxíng pēnwù
hairspray
我需要定型噴霧,才不會塌。
Wǒ xūyào dìngxíng pēnwù, cái bù huì tā.
I need hairspray so it won’t fall flat.
洗髮精
xǐfàjīng
shampoo
我想換成溫和的洗髮精。
Wǒ xiǎng huàn chéng wēnhé de xǐfàjīng.
I want to switch to a gentler shampoo.
潤髮乳
rùnfǎrǔ
conditioner
潤髮乳要避開頭皮。
Rùnfǎrǔ yào bìkāi tóupí.
Conditioner should avoid the scalp.
護髮膜
hùfàmó
hair mask
每週用一次護髮膜。
Měi zhōu yòng yí cì hùfàmó.
Use a hair mask once a week.
護髮油
hùfàyóu
hair oil
吹完頭髮抹一點護髮油。
Chuī wán tóufǎ mò yìdiǎn hùfàyóu.
Apply a little hair oil after blow-drying.
頭皮水
tóupíshuǐ
scalp tonic
我想試試頭皮水。
Wǒ xiǎng shìshi tóupíshuǐ.
I want to try a scalp tonic.
乾洗髮
gān xǐfà
dry shampoo
沒時間洗頭就用乾洗髮。
Méi shíjiān xǐtóu jiù yòng gān xǐfà.
If there’s no time to wash, use dry shampoo.
熱保護噴霧
rè bǎohù pēnwù
heat protectant spray
夾頭髮前先噴熱保護噴霧。
Jiá tóufǎ qián xiān pēn rè bǎohù pēnwù.
Spray heat protectant before using an iron.
髮網
fàwǎng
hair net
表演時要用髮網固定。
Biǎoyǎn shí yào yòng fàwǎng gùdìng.
For performances, use a hair net to secure it.

5) At the salon (places, people, and stuff you’ll hear)

TraditionalPinyinMeaningExample (ZH + pinyin)Translation (EN)Audio
美髮店
měifàdiàn
hair salon
我在這家美髮店剪很多年了。
Wǒ zài zhè jiā měifàdiàn jiǎn hěn duō nián le.
I’ve been getting cuts at this salon for years.
理髮店
lǐfàdiàn
barbershop
他喜歡去理髮店剪平頭。
Tā xǐhuān qù lǐfàdiàn jiǎn píngtóu.
He likes going to a barbershop for a buzz cut.
設計師
shèjìshī
stylist (common in Taiwan)
我想指定同一位設計師。
Wǒ xiǎng zhǐdìng tóng yí wèi shèjìshī.
I want to request the same stylist.
造型師
zàoxíngshī
stylist (styling-focused)
造型師幫我吹整得很自然。
Zàoxíngshī bāng wǒ chuīzhěng de hěn zìrán.
The stylist gave me a very natural blowout.
預約
yùyuē
appointment / to book
我想預約明天下午。
Wǒ xiǎng yùyuē míngtiān xiàwǔ.
I’d like to book tomorrow afternoon.
價目表
jiàmùbiǎo
price list
請問價目表在哪裡?
Qǐngwèn jiàmùbiǎo zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the price list?
小費
xiǎofèi
tip
這裡需要給小費嗎?
Zhèlǐ xūyào gěi xiǎofèi ma?
Do I need to tip here?
推剪
tuījiǎn
hair clippers
兩邊用推剪推短一點。
Liǎngbiān yòng tuījiǎn tuī duǎn yìdiǎn.
Use clippers to make the sides a bit shorter.
剪刀
jiǎndāo
scissors
設計師用剪刀修得很細。
Shèjìshī yòng jiǎndāo xiū de hěn xì.
The stylist trimmed it very precisely with scissors.
鏡子
jìngzi
mirror
可以給我一面鏡子看後面嗎?
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yí miàn jìngzi kàn hòumiàn ma?
Can I have a mirror to see the back?
圍布
wéibù
salon cape
圍布可以拉緊一點嗎?
Wéibù kěyǐ lā jǐn yìdiǎn ma?
Can you tighten the cape a bit?

6) Hair color words (so you don’t accidentally order “surprise”)

TraditionalPinyinMeaningExample (ZH + pinyin)Translation (EN)Audio
髮色
fàsè
hair color
我想換一個髮色。
Wǒ xiǎng huàn yí gè fàsè.
I want to change my hair color.
黑色
hēisè
black
我想回到黑色。
Wǒ xiǎng huí dào hēisè.
I want to go back to black.
棕色
zōngsè
brown
棕色比較自然。
Zōngsè bǐjiào zìrán.
Brown looks more natural.
灰色
huīsè
gray
我想染偏灰色的感覺。
Wǒ xiǎng rǎn piān huīsè de gǎnjué.
I want a more gray-toned look.
金色
jīnsè
gold / blonde
金色需要比較多保養。
Jīnsè xūyào bǐjiào duō bǎoyǎng.
Blonde needs more maintenance.
亞麻色
yàmásè
ashy beige / “linen” tone
我想染亞麻色,偏霧感。
Wǒ xiǎng rǎn yàmásè, piān wùgǎn.
I want an ashy beige tone, more matte.
霧感
wùgǎn
matte/ashy “misty” finish
我不想太亮,想要霧感。
Wǒ bù xiǎng tài liàng, xiǎng yào wùgǎn.
I don’t want it too bright; I want a matte finish.
補根
bǔgēn
touch up roots (common salon wording)
我只需要補根就好。
Wǒ zhǐ xūyào bǔgēn jiù hǎo.
I only need a root touch-up.

Optional Variants (Taiwan vs elsewhere, and common “pairs”)

Same idea, different wording. Useful when you’re watching videos, reading menus of services, or talking to friends from different places.

What it isTraditionalPinyinNotesExample (ZH + pinyin)Translation (EN)Audio
Bangs (Taiwan writing)
瀏海
liúhǎi
Common in Taiwan.
我想修瀏海。
Wǒ xiǎng xiū liúhǎi.
I want to trim my bangs.
Bangs (other writing)
劉海
liúhǎi
Same pronunciation, different character choice.
有些地方也會寫成劉海。
Yǒuxiē dìfāng yě huì xiě chéng liúhǎi.
Some places also write it as 劉海.
Shampoo (Taiwan)
洗髮精
xǐfàjīng
Very common in Taiwan.
我買了新的洗髮精。
Wǒ mǎi le xīn de xǐfàjīng.
I bought a new shampoo.
Shampoo (another common word)
洗髮水
xǐfàshuǐ
You may hear/see this too.
他說這款洗髮水很香。
Tā shuō zhè kuǎn xǐfàshuǐ hěn xiāng.
He said this shampoo smells great.
Stylist (Taiwan default)
設計師
shèjìshī
You’ll hear this a lot in salons.
我想找設計師討論髮型。
Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo shèjìshī tǎolùn fàxíng.
I want to talk hair style with the stylist.
Stylist (another common term)
髮型師
fàxíngshī
Also means “hair stylist.”
這位髮型師剪得很細心。
Zhè wèi fàxíngshī jiǎn de hěn xìxīn.
This hair stylist cuts very carefully.
To tie hair up
綁 / 紮
bǎng / zā
Both are common. Use whichever feels easier.
我今天把頭髮綁(紮)起來。
Wǒ jīntiān bǎ tóufǎ bǎng (zā) qǐlái.
I tied my hair up today.
Measure word: “a head of hair”
一頭(頭髮)
yì tóu (tóufǎ)
Natural way to describe hair as a whole.
她有一頭長髮。
Tā yǒu yì tóu chángfà.
She has a head of long hair.
Measure word: “a tuft”
一撮(頭髮)
yì cuō (tóufǎ)
For a small bunch/tuft.
地上有一撮頭髮。
Dìshàng yǒu yì cuō tóufǎ.
There’s a tuft of hair on the floor.
🦬
Yak Snark

If you learn just two things: 不要剪太短 (don’t cut it too short) and 只想修髮尾 (only trim the ends). Congratulations, you’ve unlocked “adulting at the salon.”