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PhrasesAt the HairdresserLe radici mi sono cresciute.
B1

Le radici mi sono cresciute.

My roots have grown out.

Pronunciation

Stress 'RA-di-ci'. 'Cresciute' = cre-SHOO-teh.

When to use it

Say this when your natural hair colour is showing at the roots after a colour treatment. It's the most common reason for a salon visit among women who colour their hair.

What it means

'Le radici' = the roots (of hair). 'Mi sono cresciute' = have grown on me (reflexive past tense indicating the action affected you). 'Ritocco alle radici' = root retouch is what you'll need. 'Radice' singular, 'radici' plural.

Variations

Ho bisogno di un ritocco.

I need a touch-up.

Shorter way to say it.

Vedo già la ricrescita.

I can already see the regrowth.

'Ricrescita' = regrowth, common salon term.

Quanto sono cresciute? Circa due centimetri.

How much have they grown? About two centimetres.

Being specific about growth.

Mini Dialogue

— Le radici mi sono cresciute di quasi tre centimetri. — Vediamo. Sì, è ora di fare un ritocco. — Solo le radici o anche una rinfrescata sulle punte? — Faccia solo le radici. Il colore sulle punte è ancora bello.

— My roots have grown out by nearly three centimetres. — Let's see. Yes, it's time for a touch-up. — Just the roots or a refresh on the ends too? — Just the roots. The colour on the ends is still nice.

Cultural Note

The 'ricrescita' (regrowth) is an Italian salon staple. Many Italian women time their salon visits around social events — a wedding, a holiday, or a reunion — to ensure perfectly maintained colour. 'Andare dalla parrucchiera prima di Natale' (going to the hairdresser before Christmas) is almost a national ritual.