MONLIS — Beauty Dictionary for Munich: How to Explain to Your Technician in English What You Need

You’re sitting in the chair, the technician points to your eyebrow and says something like «Möchten Sie die Form etwas schmaler machen?» — and you nod. Not because you understood, but because asking for the third time feels awkward. Twenty minutes later you look in the mirror and realise: it’s nothing like what you had in mind.

Sound familiar? Searches for a beauty dictionary Munich are growing fast — and the reason is simple: the language barrier in a beauty salon hits just as hard as in a supermarket or a doctor’s office, but the consequences are harder to undo. This article gives you a German glossary of terms for nails, brows, hair removal and skincare with English translations, ready-to-use phrases for your technician, and an answer to where in Munich you can skip the language barrier altogether.

Why the language barrier in a beauty salon is a real problem, not a minor inconvenience

A misunderstood request isn’t about embarrassment — it’s about results: the shape of your brows, the length of your nail, the intensity of a peel.

Translation company MK:translations surveyed Ukrainians living abroad and shared the results with Mind.ua in 2023. Company representative Yulia Ventskivska noted that “everyday situations” topped the list — and that category includes supermarkets, medical appointments and beauty salons.

The pattern is clear: wherever you need to explain something specific — not just point at a product on a shelf — language becomes a barrier. In a beauty salon that specificity is doubled. The technician asks about shape, length, colour intensity — things that are hard to convey with a gesture alone. And a misunderstanding doesn’t go unnoticed: you walk out with a result you can’t simply “change clothes” to hide.

Manicure & pedicure — German nail terminology with English translations

This beauty dictionary Munich starts with nails — because the nail studio is usually the first point of contact with Munich’s beauty scene. The core vocabulary covers around ten words that handle 90% of conversations at the reception desk and in the technician’s chair.

The most common mix-up is between Nagellack and Gel(lack). If you say just «Nagellack», the technician may offer regular polish, even though you meant gel that lasts longer.

There’s a nuance people often miss: the word «Nagelhaut» (cuticle) is used both when asking whether to trim it («Nagelhaut entfernen») and when simply describing the nail’s condition. If you hear it and aren’t sure of the context, ask: «Schneiden oder nicht?» (cut or not?).

More about manicure in Munich and pedicure services at MONLIS — where you can also book online straight away.

Brows & lashes — how to describe the shape you want

Brow shape is the hardest thing to explain with gestures, because the difference between “natural” and “sharp” often comes down to a fraction of a millimetre in the arch.

Want your brows to look natural rather than drawn-on? The most reliable approach is combining the word «natürlich» with a gesture: run a finger along your brow to show where the boundary should be. Technicians are used to this even without words. For a bolder, more graphic shape, «markant» or «betont» conveys the idea without ambiguity.

And just in case: remember «Stopp» — if the technician is taking off more than you expected, that word is understood immediately.

More on brow shaping and care on the eyebrow services Munich page.

Laser hair removal — key terms and important questions to ask

Laser hair removal Munich is one of the most searched topics among the international community. The main challenge here isn’t the vocabulary — it’s knowing which questions to ask before starting a course of treatments.

The difference between waxing and sugaring: waxing uses wax applied in the direction of hair growth and removed against it; sugaring uses a paste of sugar, water and lemon juice applied against hair growth and removed with it. The second technique is generally considered gentler for sensitive areas — face, underarms, bikini zone.

Skincare & facials — essential vocabulary

Talking about your skin condition is often harder than discussing nails, because it involves describing sensations, not just visible features.

Sensitive skin or an allergy to certain ingredients? The most important thing is to mention it before the treatment starts, not during it. Say «Ich habe empfindliche Haut» (I have sensitive skin) or «Ich bin allergisch gegen…» (I’m allergic to…) — then name the ingredient or show the label of a product you’ve reacted to.

Overview of skincare services on the MONLIS beauty services page.

10 ready-to-use phrases — say them or just show your phone

These phrases cover the most common situations — from booking to moments when something isn’t going as planned during the treatment.

• Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren. — I’d like to make an appointment.
• Sprechen Sie Englisch / Ukrainisch / Russisch? — Do you speak English / Ukrainian / Russian?
• Ich möchte Gellack, keinen normalen Lack. — I’d like gel polish, not regular polish.
• Bitte natürliche Form, nicht zu markant. — Natural shape, please — not too defined.
• Ich habe empfindliche Haut. — I have sensitive skin.
• Können Sie das bitte etwas kürzer / länger machen? — Could you make it a little shorter / longer, please?
• Wie viele Sitzungen brauche ich ungefähr? — Roughly how many sessions will I need?
• Ich verstehe nicht ganz, können Sie es bitte zeigen? — I don’t quite understand — could you show me?
• Stopp, bitte nicht mehr. — Stop, no more please.
• Kann ich ein Foto zeigen? — Can I show you a photo?

The last phrase is the most practical of all. Showing a reference photo works in any studio regardless of language level, and experienced technicians are used to this way of communicating with clients who aren’t yet fluent in German.

How to choose a studio in Munich where the language barrier simply isn’t an issue

A beauty dictionary Munich is a useful tool — but there’s an even simpler solution: a studio where the team speaks your language from the very first word, and the translation question never comes up.

MONLIS is a multilingual beauty studio in Munich serving clients in German, English, Ukrainian and Russian. You can discuss brow shape or nail type in your own language without any glossary to hand.

The network has three centrally located studios: Goetheplatz, Westpark and Karlstraße. Certified specialists, international quality standards, premium products — OPI, CND Shellac, Luxio — and over 10 000 satisfied clients.

Online booking is available 24/7 — choose your specialist, time and service without a phone call and without having to explain anything in German. Gift certificates from 50 € are available too, if you’d like to share this experience with someone else.

→ Book online at MONLIS — three studios in Munich

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not replace individual advice from a qualified professional. For any questions about your skin condition, contraindications or individual reactions to a treatment, please consult a doctor or certified specialist.