The Good Life France team met a lady who came to France 6 years ago to live – she had been going back to London every few months to get her hair done because she didn’t know how to ask for what she wanted in French.
What is the French word for Hairdresser?
A hairdressers in France is called Coiffeuse (Hairdresser), Coiffeur is the general term for hairdressing or for a barber.
It seems that there are lots of ladies for whom going to the French hairdressers can be an issue – after all you can’t put the hair back after it’s been cut – at least not straight away or without a wig.
We talked with our friend who was scared to go to the hairdressers about what she wanted – in this case she wanted highlights – with foils. Everywhere she went she was reassured that the hairdresser did highlights – but using a cap, which she didn’t want. She really wanted “balayage” a method of more natural looking highlights with foil!
The lady we met needed to be more specific about her requirements and we put together some terms and words to help her – guess what, she now goes to a hairdressers in France – and she’s happy!
Click here if you want to know about tipping in France - including at the hairdressers.
Basic phrases for visiting the hairdressers in France
| Haircut | Une Coupe |
| Blow-dry or straightening | Le brushing |
| Colouring and highlights | Les couleurs et mèches, balayage (natural looking) |
| Setting or styling | La mise en pli |
| Haircare and treatments | Les soins et traitements |
Vocabulary for hair types, cuts and styles at the hairdressers in France
| Your hair | Voz cheveux (note: plural/masculine – always) |
| Fine | Fins |
| Thick | Épais |
| Dry | Secs |
| Normal | Normaux |
| Oily | Gras |
| Curly | Bouclés |
| Frizzy | Frisés |
| Smooth | Lisses |
| Permed | Permanentés |
| Layered | En dégradé |
| Layered on top | Dégradé sur le dessus |
| Short, layered look | Une coupe courte tout en dégradé |
| Cut short or long | La coupe courte ou longue |
| Fringe | Frange |
| Messy/just out of bed look | Indiscipliné |
| Highlights or streaks | Les mèches |
| Highlights with foil | Alu mèches |
| Two tone highlights with foil | Mèches alu deux ton |
| Hair Contioning Treatment | Une crème ou après-shampoing |
| Deep conditioning mask | Masque capillaire |
| Straightened hair | Un brushing raide |
Useful phrases for visiting the hairdressers in France
| I would like to have the colour touched up | Je voudrais avoir la couleur retouchée/refaire |
| Could you take a bit more off at the sides | Vous pouvez diminuer sur les pattes ? |
| It’s too bouffant. Could you flatten it down a little? | C’est trop gonflé, vous pouvez aplatir un peu ? |
| I would like it to look natural , a little messy | Je voudrais avoir look naturel, un peu désordonné |
| Is that possible with my hair type? | C’est possible avec mon type de cheveux ? |
| I only want the roots redone | Je veux seulement une coloration des racines. |
If only I had these phrases when I first came to France. I had shoulder length hair but I wanted a trendy cut, not too short. I was recommended a coiffure in the local village. She was on a mission and however much I tried to tell her what I wanted she knew better. As I was 60 and English she had a hairstyle in her mind and was not going to change it. I came out looking like the Queen. I tried to stop her back combing but she carried on regardless and when she got the hair lacquer out I said "NON non" but she still carried on regardless so I thought it was easier to let her do it. It cost 50€! The good news is I ran in to the next shop (Brocante) to brush out the "Queen" style and the lacquer and found an Armoire that I had been looking for so "every cloud….." and now 4 years later I have grown my hair and haven't been to a coiffure since.
I'm sorry Laura, I couldn't help laughing when you said you're bad hair experience led to a good brocante day! I must say, when I go to the hairdressers I do check them out before I go in as I've had some not so great hair dos too and if I'm not sure about it I write it down on paper before I go in to make sure tey get what I want and I go in the bigger towns too! Bon chance with the next visit, Janine