decolorar el pelo
/dekoloɾaɾ el pelo/from spelling rules
To bleach hair in Spanish is decolorar el pelo.
The phrase is used to describe the process of using chemicals to remove natural color from hair to make it lighter. While decolorar is the technical term for the bleaching process, you will often hear people use the verb aclarar (to lighten) in casual conversation to describe making hair a lighter shade.
Which one should you use?
The choice between pelo and cabello depends on the context: cabello is a more formal or professional term for 'hair' than 'pelo', often used in hair salons or beauty contexts. There is also a reflexive form, decolorarse el pelo, which is used when the person is performing the bleaching action on themselves or is the subject of the action.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase Decapar el cabello is commonly used to refer to removing color from hair with bleach.
How do you pronounce it?
/dekoloɾaɾ el pelo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word pelo shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'pile', which originally referred to fine, short hairs.
- The reflexive form decolorarse el pelo is used because Spanish grammar often treats body parts as things the body 'possesses' rather than using a possessive adjective like 'my' or 'your'.
- The word decolorar is used not only for hair but also for fabrics and clothes that have faded in the wash.
Examples in context
- Por favor, me gustaría decolorar el pelo para conseguir un tono más claro.Please, I would like to bleach my hair to achieve a lighter shade.
- Quiero aclarar mi cabello para obtener un color más claro.I want to bleach my hair to achieve a lighter color.
- ¿Te has decolorado el pelo? ¡Se te ve genial!Have you bleached your hair? It looks great on you!
- Me quiero decolorar el pelo.I want to bleach my hair.
- Quiero decolorar el pelo para ser rubia.I want to bleach my hair to be blonde.
- Es peligroso decolorar el pelo con tanta frecuencia.It is dangerous to bleach your hair so frequently.
- Ella va a decolorar el pelo en la peluquería.She is going to bleach her hair at the hair salon.
Example conversation
María asks Alejandro for his opinion on a new hair color.
- María¿Crees que me quedaría bien decolorar el pelo?Do you think it would look good on me to bleach my hair?
- AlejandroSí, María, te verías muy bien con el pelo claro.Yes, María, you would look great with light hair.
- MaríaTengo miedo de decolorar el pelo y que se dañe.I am afraid of bleaching my hair and having it get damaged.
- AlejandroSi vas a una buena peluquería, no habrá problema.If you go to a good hair salon, there won't be a problem.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
