Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of 'hair dyeing' is expressed through specific nouns and verbs. The most common way to talk about dyeing one's hair is using the noun 染髪 (せんぱつ) or the verb 染める (そめる). There are also terms for specific types of dyeing, such as gray hair coverage or bleaching.
Referring to the act or process of dyeing hair in general.
Formal noun meaning 'hair dyeing'. Commonly used in written contexts, such as on product labels or in official descriptions.
染髪は髪にダメージを与えることがあります。
Hair dyeing can damage your hair.
Nominalized phrase meaning 'the act of dyeing one's hair'. More conversational than 染髪.
髪を染めることは、日本では校則で禁止されていることが多いです。
Dyeing your hair is often prohibited by school rules in Japan.
Expressing the action of applying hair dye.
General verb meaning 'to dye'. When used with 髪 (hair), it specifically means 'to dye one's hair'. Can be used for any color.
髪を茶色に染めたいです。
I want to dye my hair brown.
彼女は髪を赤く染めた。
She dyed her hair red.
Loanword from English 'coloring'. Often used in beauty contexts, especially for fashion colors or salon treatments.
今度の休みにカラーリングしようと思ってる。
I'm thinking of coloring my hair on my next day off.
Phrase using the loanword 'hair color'. Common in casual conversation.
美容院でヘアカラーをしてもらった。
I got my hair colored at the salon.
Specifically covering or dyeing gray/white hair.
Noun meaning 'gray hair dye' or 'dyeing gray hair'. Very common product category in Japan.
母は毎月白髪染めをしています。
My mother dyes her gray hair every month.
Verb phrase meaning 'to dye gray hair'.
最近、白髪を染め始めました。
I recently started dyeing my gray hair.
Making hair lighter, often as a step before coloring.
Loanword from 'bleach'. Refers to the product or the process of bleaching hair.
ブリーチをすると髪が傷みます。
Bleaching damages your hair.
Technical term for 'decolorization' or 'bleaching'. Used in product instructions or professional contexts.
The verb 染める can mean 'to dye' in general (fabric, etc.). To be clear you mean hair, always include 髪を (かみを) unless the context is obvious.
In a Japanese hair salon, you can simply say カラーをお願いします (からーをおねがいします) to ask for hair coloring. For specific colors, say 〇〇色に染めてください (〇〇いろにそめてください).
脱色剤を使うときは注意が必要です。
You need to be careful when using a bleaching agent.