And Cut!

The outcome of visiting a hairdresser is always uncertain. Will it be too short? Will the color be right? Will the style look good on me? Even armed with photos from multiple angles and a mouthful of hairdressing terms, there is no guarantee that you will properly convey your vision. Add a language barrier, alternative beauty standards, and different training methods and you will find yourself in a sinking ship. Here are a few of my experiences with German hairdressers!

Schneewittchen and a Case of the Uglies:

In fairytales, the leading female character is almost always beautiful. Schneewittchen (English: Snow White) with her fair skin, red lips, and dark hair is no exception.

Or so I thought.

At the beginning of my appointment, the hairdresser and I were discussing which color to dye my hair. A darker shade of brown has been my go-to color since high school. This hairdresser, however, was just not having it. She delicately reminded me that I am fair skinned (equivalent to a vampire or ill person) and that if I were to dye my hair such a dark color, I would resemble Schneewittchen. Her emphasis on the beloved character’s name made it clear; Snow White was hideous.

As I leafed through a magazine and waited for the dye to process, another client’s hair was ready to be rinsed. The client stood up and said to her hairdresser, “We don’t want the dye to sit too long. I don’t want to look like Schneewittchen!” As they exited to the wash stations, they cackled loudly about the idea.

So if a German tells you that you look like Snow White, it may not be the compliment you think is.

The Awkward Observer:

In Germany, the schooling to become a hairdresser begins at age 16. A student’s week is divided into gaining either practical, hands-on experience at a salon or learning theoretical knowledge and skills at a Berufsschule (English: trade school). While completing the three-year program, students are known as Azubis (English: apprentices) and can be seen in most salons answering telephones, fetching coffee for clients, and observing.

Since The German and I are tying the knot in just a few, short months, I recently had my bridal hair and make-up trial appointment. At the hairdresser’s station, I unpacked my photos and accessories and began to explain the ideas I had. Mid-sentence, I spotted an Azubi lurking just within the edge of my peripheral vision. Her unexpected presence startled me; I felt like the victim in a horror movie who discovered an unwelcome visitor in her home—silently following and watching.

For the entirety of the appointment, the Azubi stood three feet away—just within my sight—and observed the hairdresser’s work. While curling and braiding, the hairdresser made conversation as if the Azubi wasn’t even there. Despite reminding myself that observation is a necessary part of any training, the whole situation just felt so bizarre to me.

Gravity Defying Hair:

After dying and cutting is complete, hairdressers commonly style a female client’s hair as well. In the US—in my own personal experience—my hair is blow-dried and then straightened or curled. In Germany, however, the blowout dominates styling. This is a process in which a round brush and blow-dryer are used to give hair volume and a slight curl.

During my semester abroad in Germany, I was desperate to have my ends trimmed and therefore, just made an appointment at a nearby salon. The cliental of this particular salon turned out to be 65+ years of age and therefore, its hairdressers had mastered the art of the “Grandma ‘Fro”. At the end of my appointment, my hair had so much volume that it felt like my hair was just levitating around my head.

Despite a few unexpected experiences, the handful of haircuts and overall advice which I have gotten from German hairdressers have been good. If you will be getting your hair done while abroad, remember that language isn’t the only thing that changes from country to country!