How to ask for a haircut in Spanish: barber vocabulary that works
Barbershop · Santos Tattoo & Barber ·
Start with «Quiero un corte de pelo» (I want a haircut), then add the sides, the top and the finish: «por los lados más corto, arriba un poco más largo, con degradado». Show a photo, point with your fingers and say «un poco menos» if you want less taken off.
The sentence that opens every haircut
You only need one sentence to start: «Hola, quiero un corte de pelo». It means hello, I want a haircut. If you also want the beard done, add «y arreglar la barba», which means and tidy the beard. Barbers in Castelldefels are used to visitors, so don't worry about your accent. A simple «Buenos días» or «Buenas tardes» when you walk in is always welcome, and «gracias» at the end finishes it nicely. If you booked through Booksy, you can also say your name and the time: «Tengo cita a las cinco». The barber will take it from there and will probably start with a question like «¿Cómo lo quieres?», which just means how do you want it. That is the moment to use the phrases in the next sections.
Sides, top and back: the words you need
A haircut is basically three zones, and Spanish has a clear word for each. The sides are «los lados», the top is «arriba», the back is «atrás» or «la nuca» for the neck. Add a size word and you are done: «corto» is short, «largo» is long, «más corto» is shorter, «más largo» is longer. So «Por los lados corto y arriba más largo» is the classic short back and sides with length on top. «Las patillas» are the sideburns, «las orejas» the ears, and «el flequillo» the fringe or bangs. If you want it very short all over, you can say «todo corto», and if you want only a clean-up with the same length, say «solo igualar», which means just even it out. If you aren't sure how much to cut, say «quítame poco», take a little off. It is always easier to cut more later than to put hair back.
Fade, scissors, clippers: asking for the style
The word for a fade is «degradado», and many barbers also just say «fade», because the English word is used everywhere now. To say how high it goes you can use «bajo», «medio» and «alto», which are low, mid and high. «Un degradado bajo» is a low fade. If you want the sides cut with clippers, say «con máquina». If you want them with scissors, say «a tijera». For the clipper guard, Spanish barbers use numbers: «un uno», «un dos», «un tres», and the bigger the number, the longer the hair left. If you don't know your number, don't guess: show a photo and say «como este», like this one. Two or three photos from different angles save a lot of words. If you want a sharp line at the front, ask for «los contornos marcados», or say «sin marcar» if you prefer a softer, natural edge.
Beard words and small corrections while you sit
For the beard, «la barba» is the beard and «el bigote» is the moustache. «Perfilar» means to shape the lines, on the cheeks and neck, without taking much length. «Recortar» means to trim and shorten. So «Solo perfilar» is the cleanest request if you like your length, and «Recortar un poco» if you want it shorter. While the barber works, a few short phrases help: «un poco más» is a little more, «un poco menos» a little less, «ya está bien» that's good, and «déjalo así» leave it like that. If something doesn't feel right, say «¿Puedes mirar aquí?», can you look here, and point to the spot. If you want to see the back, most barbers show you with a second mirror and ask «¿Te gusta?». «Me gusta mucho» means I like it a lot, and it is the best sentence to end with. Nobody expects perfect grammar, only that you are clear.
Where to practise: Santos in Castelldefels
If you want to try these phrases for real, you can book a haircut or beard trim at Santos Tattoo & Barber, Carrer Arcadi Balaguer, 76, in Castelldefels. Book through Booksy or write to us on Instagram, @santos_tattoobarber. You can speak Spanish, mix in English or just show your photo: all three work. We see people who live here all year, people who come every summer and people who are here for a week, and we are used to working out what you want even when the words don't come. If you are learning Spanish, tell the barber, and he will probably speak a bit slower. Bring the photos, say your sides, your top and your finish, and use «un poco más» or «un poco menos» as you go. The haircut will come out the way you imagined it, and you will have used real Spanish in a real shop.
Frequently asked questions
How do I ask for a haircut in Spanish at a barbershop?
Say «Quiero un corte de pelo», then describe the sides, the top and the finish: «por los lados corto, arriba un poco más largo, con degradado». Show a photo and use «un poco más» or «un poco menos» as the barber works.
How do I say fade in Spanish?
The word is «degradado», though many barbers also say «fade». Add «bajo», «medio» or «alto» for low, mid or high: «un degradado bajo» is a low fade.
What do I say if I only want a trim and not a big change?
Say «Quítame poco» (take a little off) or «solo igualar» (just even it out). For the beard, «solo perfilar» means shape the lines without losing length.
Where can I get a haircut in Castelldefels if my Spanish is basic?
At Santos Tattoo & Barber, Carrer Arcadi Balaguer, 76, Castelldefels. Book on Booksy or message @santos_tattoobarber on Instagram, and bring photos of the cut you want. Basic Spanish, English or just pointing all work.