Don’t leave the salon in tears. These expert tips will show you how to fix a bad haircut and deal with your new 'do.
How to Fix a Bad Haircut—and Ensure It Doesn’t Happen Again
Updated on Oct. 21, 2024
The rush and resulting confidence you feel after getting a great new haircut or stunning balayage highlights can be unparalleled. But when that salon appointment goes sideways and you’re unhappy with the results? It’s a big, fat, emotional bummer. Pile on the fact that you may be uncomfortable expressing your discontent to your stylist (awkward!) and wondering how to fix a bad haircut once the damage is done, and the whole scenario can feel tricky and frustrating.
“Many people hesitate to voice their dissatisfaction about a bad haircut because they fear confrontation or don’t want to hurt the stylist’s feelings,” says San Diego–based lifestyle and etiquette expert Elaine Swann, author of Let Crazy Be Crazy: Then Politely Get What You Want, Get Your Point Across and Gently Put Rude People in Their Place. “However, addressing concerns respectfully is crucial for resolving the issue and ensuring a positive experience.”
Even though I’ve been covering the hair and beauty industry for more than 15 years, I know how hard it can be to navigate salon etiquette rules, not to mention deal with your newfound hairstyle problems. So Reader’s Digest spoke with Swann and three salon pros to help you learn what to do after a bad haircut. Ahead, you’ll find everything you need—from the exact phrases to use with your stylist to some smart style solutions to try while your hair grows out—so those bad hair days are a thing of the past.
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What to do after a bad haircut
It may be easier said than done, but don’t panic. First, assess what it is you don’t like about your new ‘do. If you got a cut, is it the actual cut, or is your hair simply styled in a way you don’t love? (Example: Maybe your stylist gave you poker-straight strands when you prefer beachy waves.)
If it’s a styling mistake, you can fix that when you do your hair on your own. But if it’s an issue with the actual cut or color, don’t hesitate to speak up, says Shantise Michelle, a celebrity hairstylist in New Jersey. Even better? Say something during the cutting (or blow-drying) process—when you first notice that things are going awry—rather than saving it until the end of the appointment. “It’s better to speak up right away,” says Michelle. “This can help prevent a bad haircut. Plus, it allows your stylist to do something before it’s too late.”
How to talk to your hairdresser
If you’re still in the chair and there’s a chance to fix the work, Swann suggests saying something polite like this: “I was hoping for [specific style, length, etc.], but it seems like we’re going in a different direction. Can we adjust this to ensure it aligns with what I had in mind?” This approach allows the stylist to correct a bad haircut or color before it’s too late and reassures you that your needs are being heard and understood, she says.
If you didn’t realize there was a problem you couldn’t fix until the end of the appointment or even after you got home, here are some pointers—and scripts you can use—to have that conversation.
Be honest but kind
Instead of saying that you hate your hair, try gentler language, which will avoid putting your stylist on the defensive. “Tell your stylist you are unsure how you feel about the cut,” says Cody Renegar, a celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles. This gives them a clue that all is not well, and they’ll likely ask some clarifying questions that will help you articulate the issue.
Plus, rather than criticizing the stylist, focus on what you don’t like about the cut or color, says Michelle. “I” statements are really helpful in this scenario. For example, instead of saying, “You cut the back too short,” try saying, “I’m concerned I won’t be able to put my hair in a ponytail.”
Get specific
“I hate it.” “This is so not me.” “I can’t walk around looking like this!” While those may be the thoughts running through your head, they aren’t super helpful in terms of info for your stylist. Instead, zero in on specifics whenever possible. Renegar offers these examples of how to get more specific: “The tone is a little ashy for me,” or “It’s too short to style in the way I imagined.”
These sorts of comments will help the stylist understand exactly how they missed the mark, and they’ll be able to make suggestions that could possibly improve how you feel about your new ‘do.
Make suggestions if you can
Obviously, if they took off too much length, there’s not much you’ll be able to do other than let it grow out, which can take a good six weeks. Layers are a different story: If your hair is feeling too heavy or bulky, see how they could fix a bad haircut by adding some face-framing layers. For existing layers that appear too choppy, California-based hairstylist Colleen Cronin-Torres suggests requesting that your stylist go back in and blend them while hair is dry.
Color can be tweaked too. If your highlights look too brassy, ask if a toner or purple shampoo would help. Too blond? Ask if your colorist can add lowlights. No one expects you to have the full answer, but making a few suggestions can get a conversation going and help you and your stylist work together to figure out a path forward.
How do you fix a bad haircut?
If you’ve left the salon and still aren’t happy—and your stylist’s tweaks didn’t help—there are plenty of styling and home-care tricks to get you through the awkward stage. Here are a few to try:
- Do your own blow-dry. Sometimes just using your own drying and styling method solves the problem or makes bad haircuts less obvious.
- Switch up your part. “The placement of your part can make a huge difference,” says Renegar. It can add or decrease volume, change the way the layers around your face fall and so much more.
- Camouflage your layers with curls. If your stylist was overzealous with the layering, consider dumping your flat iron for a while—straightening hair will only draw attention to the layers, while adding loose waves can diffuse the situation. Just make sure to select a curling iron that’s at least one inch in diameter; anything smaller will give you tight curls rather than loose waves.
- Change your bang style. “For bangs that are cut too short, try brushing them to the side to create a side-swept, relaxed look for a few weeks,” suggests Cronin-Torres.
- Use hair accessories. Pushing back those overly short bangs with an on-trend knotted headband will give you a cute look while they grow out a bit. Hats, scarves and clips can also help, depending on the situation, as long as they’re stylish and in line with your look. In other words, they should just look like awesome accessories, not things meant to camouflage a mistake.
- Go in for regular trims. When fine hair is overly layered, ends can seem wispy and unweighted. Ultimately, a blunt cut is the answer, and you can speed up the end game by having your stylist trim the bottom every four to six weeks so hair becomes fuller again.
- Give it a couple of weeks. “Generally speaking, people get their hair cut every four to six weeks,” says Cronin-Torres. “Within this time frame, hair should relax and a bad cut can fall into a better place.”
- Consider extensions. If hair is simply too short, a few clip-in or tape-in extensions can get you through the grow-out period.
- Try a deep-conditioning treatment. If color is the problem, you may need to give it a beat before you make any changes to avoid compromising your hair. “You’ll have to wait at least two weeks, but it is even better to wait four to six weeks to minimize damage,” says Renegar. In the meantime, make sure your hair is in the best possible shape to accept more chemicals by using a hair-repair mask. Some stylists will even offer a comp conditioning treatment in the salon while you’re waiting things out.
Should you tip your hairdresser after a bad haircut?
Most of the time, yes. Admittedly, the issue of tipping your hairdresser after a bad haircut is a bit of a gray area, since the notion of what constitutes a “bad haircut” can be completely subjective. Here’s some guidance to help you assess your scenario:
- Look at the reason for the bad haircut. If, say, your stylist didn’t listen to you and just did their own thing, a tip is not in order. But if they tried to warn you against bangs and you still pushed them to do it and now you don’t like the result? You should probably tip.
- Consider efforts made to fix the problem. If your stylist did their best to make adjustments after you vocalized your disappointment, tipping is a good idea, especially since it likely involved extra time in their schedule.
- Gratitude is a good thing. “If the service has been rendered to the best of their ability, it’s important to acknowledge the time and effort spent,” says Swann. If you don’t want to tip the full 20%, going with a leaner-than-usual tip (like 10%) is a kind move.
How can you minimize the chances of getting a bad haircut in the future?
It’s all about communicating. If you’re worried that talking too much during the consultation phase of a cut is an etiquette mistake, don’t be! The right time to get on the same page about your desired outcome is before a stylist starts working on your hair. And don’t just talk about the things you want—talk about what you don’t want as well, advises Cronin-Torres. For example: “Please keep the bangs long,” or “Watch out for my cowlick here.”
Visuals can be really helpful as well, says Michelle, so go ahead and bring in photos of styles you like.” Don’t know exactly what you want? That’s OK too. Bring in a few pictures of ‘dos you’re considering, ask your stylist’s opinion and spend time talking about the pros and cons of each.
And finally, if you don’t understand something your stylist is describing, ask if they have a photo they can show you as an example. Same goes if they are using hairstyle terms you don’t know—simply ask them to explain what they’re talking about. “Effective communication will go a long way in ensuring your stylist delivers the desired outcome,” says Michelle. And that’s good for you and your hairstylist.
Additional reporting by Hillary Quinn.
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on how to fix a bad haircut, Bethany Heitman tapped her longtime experience as a journalist covering the hair and beauty industry. Then Jacqueline Whitmore, a business etiquette expert and hospitality consultant with more than 30 years of experience who owns the Protocol School of Palm Beach, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Elaine Swann, lifestyle and etiquette expert; email interview, September 2024
- Shantise Michelle, celebrity hairstylist in New Jersey; interview, 2023
- Cody Renegar, celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles; interview, 2023
- Colleen Cronin-Torres, hairstylist and owner of 1202 Hair Studio in California; email interview, September 2024
