Beauty & Grooming

1. ʻOku ou fie hifi hoku louʻulu

   I'd like a haircut

   Usage

   Used when asking for a haircut at a salon

   Grammar Note

   "ʻOku ou fie" plus a verb means "I want to ...". To cut is hifi. Hair is louʻulu, and the possessive is o-class hoku because a body part is possessed (not a-class ʻeku)

2. Ko e siʻi pē ʻoku fiemaʻu — ʻoua ʻe hifi lahi

   Just a trim, please — don't cut too much

   Usage

   Used when requesting only a small trim

   Grammar Note

   "ʻoua ʻe" is the prohibitive, "do not ...". To cut is hifi

3. ʻOku ou fie faʻufaʻu hoku louʻulu ki he [lanu]

   I'd like to dye my hair [color]

   Usage

   Used when requesting hair coloring

   Grammar Note

   "ʻOku ou fie" plus a verb means "I want to ...". Hair is louʻulu and the possessive is o-class hoku. "faʻufaʻu" (to dye) has no settled form. fakalanu (to colour) also means "to rinse in fresh water"

4. ʻE lava ke u sio ki ha tohi ngāue fakamanatu?

   Can I look at a hairstyle book?

   Usage

   Used when browsing hairstyle options

   Grammar Note

   'E lava ke expresses ability/permission

5. ʻOku ou fie fakahū mo fakamālohi hoku louʻulu

   I'd like a shampoo and blow-dry

   Usage

   Used when requesting shampoo and blow-dry service

   Grammar Note

   "mo" is the conjunction "and". "ʻOku ou fie" plus a verb means "I want to ...". Hair is louʻulu and the possessive is o-class hoku

6. ʻOku mou ʻomai ha ngāueʻanga tā mei lalo?

   Do you offer nail art?

   Usage

   Used when asking about nail art services

   Grammar Note

   'Oku mou 'omai means "you (plural) offer"

7. ʻOku ou fie tā mei lalo gel / acrylic

   I'd like gel nails or acrylic nails

   Usage

   Used when specifying the type of nail service

   Grammar Note

   "ʻOku ou fie" plus a verb means "I want to ...".

8. Ko e hā ʻa e totongi?

   How much will this cost?

   Usage

   Used when asking about the price of a service

   Grammar Note

   Ko e hā is the question word for "what"

9. ʻE fuoloa fē?

   How long will it take?

   Usage

   Used when asking about service duration

   Grammar Note

   'E fuoloa fē asks about duration

10. ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ha faitoʻo ki he kili ʻo hoku mata

    I'd like a facial or skin treatment

    Usage

    Used when requesting facial treatments

    Grammar Note

    When the object is a noun, "to need / to want" is fiemaʻu — the desiderative particle fie may only precede a verb. "kiri" is the Māori word for skin; Tongan is kili. "fakahā" means "to make known, to declare", not to give a treatment; the word for treating is faitoʻo. The possessive is o-class hoku because a body part is possessed

11. ʻOku mingimingi / taʻemālohi / fakaʻuli / mafola hoku louʻulu

    My hair is curly / fine / thick / straight

    Usage

    Used when describing hair type to a stylist

    Grammar Note

    "ʻOku" marks a present state. Hair is louʻulu. The possessive is o-class hoku because a body part is possessed. "pakupaku" does not mean "curly" but "dry, parched, crisp", as in "pakupaku he fie inu" (parched with thirst) and "mā pakupaku" (biscuits). Curly is mingimingi ("ʻulu-mingimingi" = curly-haired, "fakamingimingi" = form curls)

12. ʻE lava ke ke fakamafola pe fakafukū hoku louʻulu?

    Can you straighten or perm my hair?

    Usage

    Used when requesting hair straightening or perming

    Grammar Note

    "pe" is the disjunctive conjunction "or". Hair is louʻulu and the possessive is o-class hoku for a body part. "fakamafola" (straighten) and "fakafukū" (perm) are uncertain; straighten is fakahika and curl (v) is fakamingimingi

13. ʻOku ou fiefia ʻaupito — mālō ʻaupito

    I'm very happy with the result — thank you

    Usage

    Used when expressing satisfaction with a service

    Grammar Note

    'Oku ou fiefia means "I am happy"

14. ʻE lava ke ke fakalelei ʻeku ngaahi kilikili?

    Can you shape or thread my eyebrows?

    Usage

    Used when requesting eyebrow shaping

    Grammar Note

    'E lava ke ke asks about ability

15. ʻOku totonu ke fakaʻahu kimuʻa?

    Do I need to make an appointment?

    Usage

    Used when asking if an appointment is needed

    Grammar Note

    'Oku totonu ke means "it is necessary to"

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