What to Do If You Hate Your New Haircut
We all know someone who has a scary haircut story … or we have our own. You can take steps to avoid a bad haircut, but if you already have one, here’s how to fix it.
Be clear about what style you want
Help the stylist or hairdresser understand what you are looking for by showing them some examples. Chelsea Long, head of the Cosmetology and Hairdressing Group at the Cinta Aveda Institute , explains how this can make a difference:
The image can be of great help! One of the biggest problems I see is when the guest explains what he wants, and the stylist assumes that he understands, and it turns out that they both have completely different expectations from the service.
When choosing one or two photos, Long recommends keeping a few things in mind:
- Be Realistic : Heavily altered photos or professionally taken photos will be difficult to reproduce on your hair in real life. If you have a celebrity or friend that you draw inspiration from, search their social media accounts for selfies that you can share with your stylist.
- Highlight What You Like : Talk about what you like about the photos you bring. Whether it’s cut, length, or color in this lighting, being specific will take you and your stylist to the same page. You should also mention anything you dislike.
- Bring Multiple Angles : Try to bring photos that show style from both the back and the sides, as well as the front. You can even try to combine styles by applying different angles for different haircuts, but take your stylist’s advice on whether these combinations work.
Ask for a fix
If your haircut doesn’t turn out the way you envisioned, work with an original stylist or salon to fix it. You may feel embarrassed or angry and want to deal with it yourself, but this is not the best way. Long explains why you should remain calm when asking for fix:
Even as a professional, I cried over the stupid haircut! But honestly, when you get emotional, it’s hard to know what the problem is and the stylist or salon manager will defend themselves.
In addition to staying calm, there are a few other tactics you should use:
- Feel free to talk . If you know during a meeting that you are unhappy with your new style, please let the stylist know so that he can fix it as soon as possible. Long suggests something simple to start a conversation, like, “I don’t know about this color on me.”
- Try it yourself . If you return home and find that you don’t like your new style, try changing it to your liking. It may look different if you stick to your daily routine.
- Come back quickly . If after meeting you find that the style you have is not actually the one you asked for. Call your salon or hairdresser and let them know. Most places will offer you a solution within a week or two of your initial appointment.
- Don’t ask too much . Understand that stylists and salons are not responsible for repairing anything outside of their control. For example, if you change your hair color or choose a different length and when you see it on your head, you realize that this is not the best color for your skin tone or haircut for your face shape. Sure, a good stylist will advise you on what will look good, but if you insist on something specific and they please you, they can’t change it for free or refund your money.
Move on if you need to
If you’d prefer a refund over a fix because the salon or hairdresser didn’t fit, Long recommends that you report it directly to the owner or manager you’re talking to. There is no point in wasting your or their time forcing you to return to a salon or hairdresser where you are uncomfortable.