Episode 9: The Haircut

Hi there, and welcome back to Classes with Cass—the podcast where you learn English through stories! I’m your host, Cass, and today’s story is about something simple… but sometimes scary: getting a new haircut.

In this episode, you’ll hear everyday English words related to hair, salons, talking to someone new, and making a small but brave decision. You can follow along with the transcript at classeswithcass.com.

Alright, are you ready for today’s story? Let’s begin!

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Sofia stood in front of the mirror, brushing her long brown hair. It was dry at the ends, hard to style, and always tied up in a messy bun.

“It’s too much,” she whispered. “It’s just hair… but I feel like it’s taking over my head.”

She had been thinking about getting a haircut for months. But every time she almost made an appointment, she stopped.

“What if it’s too short? What if I hate it?”

But today, something felt different. The sun was shining. The air was warm. She looked at herself and said, “Enough. I’m doing this.”

She put on her sunglasses, grabbed her phone and wallet, and left her apartment.

As she walked down the street, she passed her usual salon—but kept going. She wanted something new. A fresh start.

That’s when she saw it: a little shop with large windows and green plants in the window boxes. A white sign above the door read:

Scissors & Sunshine – Walk-Ins Welcome

It looked friendly. Soft music played inside. A hairstylist was laughing with a customer. It didn’t feel fancy or scary. It felt… nice.

Sofia took a deep breath and opened the door.

A woman with short curly hair and big silver earrings greeted her.

“Hey there! Welcome to Scissors & Sunshine! I’m Jada. Do you have an appointment?”

Sofia shook her head. “No. I was just hoping you might have time for a walk-in.”

“You’re in luck,” Jada smiled. “One of my clients just cancelled. I’ve got a chair open. Come on in!”

Sofia sat down and looked into the mirror. Her hair looked even messier under the bright lights.

“So, what are we thinking today?” Jada asked, putting a cape around Sofia’s shoulders.

“I want a change,” Sofia said slowly. “But not too dramatic. Maybe a trim… and I’ve been thinking about bangs, but I’m not sure.”

Jada nodded. “No problem. We’ll go slow. A trim to clean up the ends, and soft bangs—nothing too short. You can always go shorter later.”

“Okay. Let’s do it,” Sofia said, trying to sound confident.

Jada smiled and got to work.

As she sprayed Sofia’s hair with water and picked up the scissors, she asked, “So, what do you do for work?”

“I’m a freelance editor,” Sofia said. “I fix grammar mistakes and edit books.”

“Oh, so you’re the one who makes everything sound good!”

Sofia laughed. “That’s the goal!”

They chatted as Jada worked. Sofia learned that Jada had two kids, loved painting on the weekends, and used to be afraid of cutting bangs too.

Jada carefully cut the ends, shaping soft layers around Sofia’s face. Then she took a small section of hair in the front and cut the bangs gently.

“Bangs,” she said, “are just like life. If you mess them up, they grow back.”

Sofia smiled. “That’s a good way to think about it.”

When Jada was finished, she turned the chair so Sofia could see herself in the big mirror.

Sofia gasped. “Oh wow… I look… different.”

“In a good way, I hope?” Jada asked.

“In a really good way,” Sofia said. “It’s still me. But fresher.”

“You pull it off beautifully,” Jada said. “And the bangs suit your face.”

As Sofia paid at the front desk, another customer looked over and said, “Your haircut is so cute! I was just thinking of getting bangs too.”

Sofia laughed. “Go for it. It’s not as scary as it seems.”

On the walk home, Sofia passed her reflection in shop windows. She paused. The wind moved her bangs just a little. She brushed them back and smiled.

It was just hair—but it felt like more.

It felt like confidence.

Like change.

Like the start of something new.

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Let’s go over some helpful words from today’s episode. These are common words you might hear or use when getting a haircut:

Hair & Salon Vocabulary:

• Salon – A place where you get your hair cut or styled.

• Walk-in – When you go to a salon without an appointment.

• Appointment – A set time to meet someone (like a stylist).

• Trim – A small haircut, just to clean or shape the hair.

• Layers – Hair that’s cut at different lengths to give it shape.

• Bangs – Short pieces of hair in the front that cover your forehead.

• Cape – The cloth you wear over your clothes at the salon.

• Snip – The sound scissors make when they cut.

• Pull it off – If you “pull it off,” it means you look good with something new.

Try saying these sentences out loud:

• “Can I get a haircut today?”

• “I’d like a trim and maybe bangs.”

• “I’m not sure if I can pull it off.”

Now think about a time you did something new. Maybe it was a haircut, a trip to a new place, or speaking in public. What did you try? How did you feel before—and after?

Thanks for joining me on today’s episode of Classes with Cass! I hope you enjoyed Sofia’s haircut journey and learned some everyday English along the way.

Remember—change can be scary, but sometimes it’s exactly what we need. Whether it’s a haircut, a language class, or a new habit… go for it. You just might feel lighter.

Until next time—keep learning, keep practicing, and maybe visit your local salon soon.

See you soon!