Part 1
Anna: I’m looking for a new look. What sort of style do you think would suit me?
Stylist: Hmm. Do you usually wear your hair up or down?
Anna: I sometimes wear it up for work – a bun, or pony-tail – but usually down.
Stylist: That’s good: I think you have very nice hair – very luxurious – so you should show it off. I wouldn’t cut it too short either. Maybe we can give you a few curls, or make it a bit wavy, and add some volume so it isn’t too flat.
Anna: Ok, I’m tired of straight hair. But I don’t want anything that goes frizzy in the rain!
Stylist: Don’t worry. How about the colour?
Anna: Highlights, maybe, but don’t dye it: I don’t like it when my roots show.
Stylist: Ok, I think I know what you want.
ListenPart 2
Barber: Good afternoon, sir. What can I do for you?
Philip: Nothing too fancy: just a short-back-and-sides please.
Barber: Sure. How short do you want it?
Philip: Not too short; just make it so I don’t look too messy – I have a date tonight. Take a little off the fringe, and can you use clippers on the back?
Barber: No problem. Do you normally have a parting? Maybe a side-parting? And what would you like me to do with your sideburns?
Philip: No parting, and keep the sideburns. Maybe use the serrated scissors on the top.
Barber: You know your hair is thinning a little on top. You’ve got a bit of a bald spot.
Philip: Just cut my hair!
(later)
Barber: Is this OK?
Philip: Can I see the back please? (looking at back) Yep, that’s fine.
Barber: Do you want any product? Gel? Mousse?
Philip: No thanks. I’m a simple man with simple tastes.
Barber: I wouldn’t tell your date that…
Part 3
I’m not a fan of going to the hairdressers. I always feel like a bit of a fool sitting in the chair having someone trying to make me look good, and on top of this they always ask me questions about myself such as whether I am going on holiday this summer, or what I do for work. The worst part, however, is having to look at myself in the mirror. Things were a lot easier when I was young and my mum used to cut my hair for me.
NotesPart 4
Some facts about the hair on the human head:
• Children are born with all their hair follicles (we don’t grow more as we get older). A lot of these follicles are already ‘programmed’ to grow to as long as 3-feet.
• However, as people get older hair falls out quicker (for example, after 3 years rather than 7 years) meaning older people naturally have shorter hair. People also lose hair follicles as they get older, meaning there is less hair on the head.
• Every day the young human scalp makes about 35 metres of hair.
• Hair is actually ‘dead’ material, which is why it doesn’t hurt when it is cut.
• In the human body, only bone marrow grows faster than hair.
• Hair is mostly made of keratin, which is also present in fingernails and toenails.
• Hair is as strong as iron. Breaking a piece of hair needs about 60kg of force.
• The average head has 100 000 strands of hair, although people with blonde hair have more strands than people with dark or red hair.
• Caucasian people have the most variations in hair colours and styles.
• Male hair grows quicker than female hair.
• People usually lose 40 to 100 strands of hair each day.
• Hair loss is hereditary (as is the condition alopecia, in which the body attacks hair follicles, resulting in hair falling out or no hair growing).
• A person needs to lose about half of his/her hair before other people can notice.
• Dandruff is caused by dead skin cells. Skin cells die on every person’s head, but usually are brushed or washed away without anyone noticing. However, sometimes the body makes more yeast (which kills the skin cells), making more dead cells, which leads to dandruff.