(hair stylist) can take out his tijeras (scissors) and have at you. Showing how much The first thing to remember is that generally, in Latin America, we don't show the amount of hair we'd like cut by holding our thumb and forefinger a certain distance apart. Instead, hold your hand in front of you, with your palm facing in, and show the number of "fingers" (measure of length) you want to cut. Bonus: If it's one or two fingers, you now have an imaginary gun. Careful with that. Here are some more core terms you'll need to make sure you come out of the shop with a peinado (hairstyle) vaguely like you'd intended. And if you've decided that it's all just too much to bear, and you'd rather DIY it, here's what you'll need, at a minimum. brush: cepillo comb: peineta scissors: tijeras And a whole lot of suerte (luck). If it all turns tragic, and you'd like a song to sing (in Spanish) for the occasion, may I suggest this one from the Chilean television program 31 Minutos . It's called "Me Cortaron Mal El Pelo" (I got a bad haircut). Eileen Smith Eileen Smith is the editor of Matador Abroad. She's an ex-Brooklynite who's made a life in Santiago, Chile. She's a fluent Spanish speaker who can be found biking, hiking, writing, photographing and/or seeking good coffee and nibbles at most hours of the day. She blogs here . Archived Response to How to get a haircut in