I have been growing my hair out for at least a year now and finally had most of it about chin-length with some light layering and bangs. I decided it needed a little trim and my normal person was not available, so I booked an appt with someone new. I told her I finally had it the length and shape I wanted - please just clean it up a little. I really couldn't see what she was doing in the back but never had a clue that she had just razored off the back to a length of less than an inch before I realized it. She did little to the front so now I have this ridiculous looking, unflattering way too short in the back cut. She cut at least two inches off the back. I feel miserable because I had worked so long to grow it out and my hair is my best feature. DH says I should go and complain and get my money back. I don't care about the money and it isn't going to bring back my hair. I don't know if I am rightfully upset or my hormones have just gotten the better of me. Just had to rag about it and get it off my chest. Grrrrr!!!!

[quote name='orngkat06' date='Nov 8 2008, 09:45 PM' post='249680']
I have been growing my hair out for at least a year now and finally had most of it about chin-length with some light layering and bangs. I decided it needed a little trim and my normal person was not available, so I booked an appt with someone new. I told her I finally had it the length and shape I wanted - please just clean it up a little. I really couldn't see what she was doing in the back but never had a clue that she had just razored off the back to a length of less than an inch before I realized it. She did little to the front so now I have this ridiculous looking, unflattering way too short in the back cut. She cut at least two inches off the back. I feel miserable because I had worked so long to grow it out and my hair is my best feature. DH says I should go and complain and get my money back. I don't care about the money and it isn't going to bring back my hair. I don't know if I am rightfully upset or my hormones have just gotten the better of me. Just had to rag about it and get it off my chest. Grrrrr!!!!
[/quote}

I agree with your husband I think you should go in there and demand your money back. Hairdressers provide a service and you did not receive what you paid for. As also being on the end of a bad hair cut I feel your pain. I had to learn the hard way that when my stylist was not available don't risk somebody else. On the positive side it is hair and it will grow back. I recently had a health scare and thankfully am okay and can laugh about my hair mishap. In the grand scheme of things my hair wad minor. Remember health is wealth!







r

Yeah, I know it's a ridiculous thing to worry about but my hair seems to be my trigger point as I go through perimenopause. It is just so ugly.

Hi Orngkat,
So sorry to hear about your bad haircut. I haven't been to a hairdresser in over two years. I trim and color my hair myself. I have had my hair cut like yours a few years ago. My hair dresser used some stiff stuff and spiked it out in back. It looked real cut for a while until it started to grow out again. I now wear my hair straight and shoulder length and no bangs. I can't stand hair hanging down on my forehead. Just remember, it will grow out. (((((HUGS)))))
MaryB26

I meant to say "real cute". My brain is not getting enough oxygen right now.
MaryB26

WHAT a bummer about a bad haircut, and I HATE it when people(usually guys, or very plain-looking, no-nonsense type of women)flippantly comment "It's only hair - it will grow back!" Yikes! I agree, you should definitely make a stink about this - this happened to a friend of mine too a couple of months ago.
Anyhow, I had a similar experience happen to me when I was in my 20's and had let my hair grow to just below shoulder-length, and just wanted an inch cut off to clean up the ends and give it some bounce and shape. Before I could say "boo-hoo" my hair was cut up to EAR LENGTH(NOT a good look on me). I was young then and was too shy to make a stink about this. I didn't let anyone near me with scissors for at least a year and a half. Needless to say, I went to a different haircutter after that experience.
Years later, I had an experience at another salon where my regular cutter wasn't there, but I had taken the trouble to come into town(since I lived 27 miles out in the country then) special that day, so I had to have someone else cut my hair. They cut it too short, so it's natural curl didn't show up very well.
In later years I've been fortunate though - haircutters that understand naturally curly hair - they are few and far between, and you usually have to pay more. It's worth it in my opinion, as curly hair when it is not cut right, looks awful! I love my present cutter, and his cuts last a long time too, saving me having to go back every 6 weeks - I can go a few months instead.

Ah yes, the bad haircut. I think we have all been there at one time or another. My problem is I want to grow out my bangs, but they look so bad when they're long that I keep caving in and cutting them back. My DD told me I have to just grit my teeth and do it...but it's hard when you feel like you look terrible. I want my very long hair all one length.

So I had 3 inches taken off the bottom, and didn't touch the bangs. After a few weeks, though, they began to grow out and I get this awful part in the middle of my head (it's how I wore my hair when I was a little girl...long, with a part in the middle...and that darned part is tatooted onto my scalp.) It looks awful, and even if I gel it, mousse it, wax it, by the end of the day, the bangs are parted down the middle and I look silly. So, (you know what comes next) out came the scissors, I chopped the bangs back, and now I'm starting over.

Anyone else ever tried growing out bangs? How do you get through the inevitable phase of looking bad? I'd take any tips anyone has to offer.

(And I agree; you should go and get your money back!)

Sorry about the bad hair -cut !! Gosh .I've had a few of those in my time !!!
I have another hair issue this week..............I had my hair dyed (which I've done regularly for years ).and this time , as soon as they put the dye on my head started to itch, and then burn ......and after only 5 minutes I had to ask them to wash it out .Now I'm petrified that I have suddenly developed and allergy to the dye, and won't be able to colour my hair .Has this ever happened to any of you ??? .......and if so, how did you overcome it ????

ah, the hair issue! YES...It is so important that WE feel it looks good....we really don't care as much what others say it is how it makes US feel! I feel so sorry for you! I know it may seem trivial to some people but I really feel the same way, if I, ME thinks my hair looks good than I have a good day, IF NOT, I have a BAD DAY....I am not sure why we are so sensitive but somehow hair is just so tied and tangle to at least my feminity and maybe that is why!

I am not sure how to advise, but I might ask myself if it was worth the stress to take this battle on....if it is, go for it and get your money back....if it will only give YOU more stress to do that, than try to let it go....complain to EVERYONE who is will listen, that will help (at least helps me to bad mouth a bad cut! ) and then, if it is better for you in the long run...let it go....some battles are not worth it if it only makes you more stressed and for longer period of time.....good luck! Joan

In the end, I decided not to go back. Even worse about the cut was that I found a few strands that she missed that were two inches longer than everything else....a reminder. It was so short in back that the only way to remedy would be to cut the rest of it short and I didn't want to do that. Luckily, my hair grows fast but I am developing a real phobia of hair stylists. I take pictures, I describe and they still want to cut this yucky "light-bulb" shaped thing. If the razor ever comes out again, I am running. Even my regular stylist had started cutting it the way she wanted to rather than what I asked for. So I am back to square one and have decided that if I see someone whose hair I like, I will ask them where they get it cut. Strangely enough, some of the best cuts I ever had were at Supercuts.

Hi Twitchy,
Just wanted to reply about the reaction you had to the color. My mom just recently went thru the exact same thing as you. She's been coloring her hair for probably 20 years or so and the last few times she was having itching and some burning. Well, the last time she used the color it was so bad. Her scalp ended up peeling and itching horribly for days afterwards. She ended up choosing not to color it anymore and has since let it go gray. It actually looks really good! We were told that there are some natural hair dye products that you can try, but I'm not sure if they'll work. I know that Whole Foods sells natural hair color.

Good luck, I'm sorry that you experienced that! I wonder how common it is?

JBW

I can relate to all you have experienced. I was also starting to develop a phobia about going to the hairdresser, a bit like you feel when you go to the Dentist.

I had liked my last haircut but the hairstylist had moved interstate so I decided to ask someone whose hair style I liked, who their hairstylist was. I did this a couple of months ago in the supermarket. She had a great style and cut, just what I was wanting. I got the name and number of her hairstylist. On the day of the appt. I excitedly set off in anticipation of finally being in good hands and emerging with a flattering shorter version of what I had. Unfortunately I was talked into a Prince Valiant style bob and an uneven one at that. I was much happier with my BEFORE look but was really surprised at how uneven it was on one side with some longer strands hanging down. My Husband told me to go back and complain but I could not face that (remember the Dentist feeling) so I actually started to try and even it up myself. This was not very successful as the scissors were a bit blunt and I was making myself dizzy trying to look sideways in the bathroom mirror whilst holding up a small makeup mirror.

I've worked out it will take about 8 months to a year before I will be tempted to have it restyled by someone else. It would be great to find someone that I was happy with so I'm hoping better luck next time.

"Strangely enough, some of the best cuts I ever had were at Supercuts." -orngkat06

Hi there! I just caught your username - are you the same orngkat over on the Simple Living Network message board?
Anyhow, about the Supercuts, I know two people who go there and have great haircuts, but they both have straight hair which is a lot easier to cut than curly, the way mine is! Plus it depends on who you get, even with having the straight hair, as there is such a big turnover at these places. Even guys aren't immune from getting a bad haircut - it happened to my husband one time when he got the wrong girl at the el-cheapo place he used to go to in Santa Fe when we lived in that area.
It's a bummer at any age to get a lame haircut, but at this time of life it seems even more so, as some other stuff might not be completely under our control, or that it takes a long time and serious commitment to improve(like one's fitness, body shape and skin treatment of sun damage). At least with our hair, we can make a quick change for the better, if all goes well, with a decent cut, and color still remains the fastest way other than plastic surgery to take 10 or more years off. No matter how tight the economy gets, I WON'T give up a good hair cut, as I skimp on lots of stuff anyway.

Oh, no! I can relate. Tears are welling up as I remember my last horrifick hair cut. I cried every morning before work for at least three months. It was impossible to style every single day.

I think we feel it's so important right now to have something about us look good - that when the one thing that makes us happy about ourselves (cute, controllable hairdo). It's more devastating than usual when hair-cut-disaster occurs.

My hair is waaaay down my back now and badly in need of a good cut and style. I saw this post and it brought back all the tears of the last tragedy. I have no one to go too... I'm so affraid!

And hey! I have no bangs (takes a good long time!) and I was just thinking of cutting and having bangs again!!!

Growing out bangs is incredibly difficult but so dooable! Here's how I did it! I recommend a chin length bob for about six months... Bangs will catch up in probably a year or so... Keep cutting length until bangs (layers) catch up. Took me probably two years for a complete one length look. (I had some wicked layers up top too). Just keep spraying them and tacking them back away from your face with a bobby pin or inconspicuous clip.

And finally, I agree! Go back! Not only get your money back, but have someone else do damage control (not that same chickey - she'll be mad and really make a mess).

I used to sing the praises about a local training institution! I would suggest to everyone to give it a go...until one day I came out - well I had a Tartan pattern on my head...no need for a tam. Green tinge with red...lovely....NOT. Thankfully they were able to fix it somewhat the next day but manohman it was horrible. I have resorted to doing my own hair ever since with no regrets. It's not that hard - honest. The secret is some good scissors and going slowly. I have "graduated" to cutting my sons', husband's and friend's hair. Been doing it now for almost 20 years.

I agree with the others about going back and getting your money back.

Hang in there - it grows!

Suzanne

Hi Twitchy,

It happened to me!!!! I colored my hair with a semi-permanent color for about 14 years when I started having itching, redness and burning that would last several days after coloring. I was about 44 when this happened. I tried a few different brands, but nothing helped. Finally after fooling with it for a year, I just quit. I cut my hair short and let the gray grow out. I really had no choice. It was a shock for a while, but I have grown to appreciate the beautiful silver and let the length grow. It's about chin length right now, but I usually have it shoulder length.

Now the worst part: I think the dye may have done some scalp damage. I cannot use any styling products at all. I can only use a few shampoos and they must be diluted to 1t./cup of water. Also, I need to oil my scalp before washing. So it you are having this problem, don't ignore it.

Good luck.
Bella

ARGHHH!!!! I just hate it when that happens!!


I do not think there is a woman alive who can not relate to .....'the bad haircut'

I once had a hairstylist who cut my bangs so short I had the 'Jane Wyman' look!! OMG I was devasted...Pssssttttt....I have bangs to hide my wrinkled forehead ....shhhhhh don't tell anyone

Another time I had a hairstylist who in his infinite wisdom decided to give me a perm....I have naturally wavy hair that I straightenned so with the perm I ended up looking like 'Rosanna Danna'....Nevermind

Like you I never did go back to complain to the hairstylist. I DID get a voodoo doll and stuck pins in it every night as I chanted the.....BAD HAIRCUT RANT.......was that wrong?

I currently see a hairstylist who thought when I told her... 'just a trim please' translated that to "take off 4 inches please".....I don't know if it is because of my age or menopause or because I just can not take it anymore.......but I told her "IF YOU EVER CUT MY HAIR THAT SHORT AGAIN I HAVE VOODOO DOLLS WITH YOUR PICTURE ON IT SO LISTEN UP!! She told me that 'my hair NEEDED to be cut short to get rid of all the 'dead ends' . I told her 'hair by it's very nature is 'dead' ....I digress.....

She is a fabulous colourist but I told her I no longer trust her to 'cut' my hair so I have the owner cut my hair now. I also physically 'show' her what *I* mean by an inch.......I show her the tips of my hair and tell her this is how much you are to cut ==== NOT THIS MUCH ===================

I have ended up just colouring my own hair and cutting it myself now.

I have NO faith in hairstylist anymore.....none whatsoever. They seem to do what THEY want not what WE want.

I am on such a roll of ranting this morning.......I think I just sacred myself!!



Dottie

You wanna know how to tell if you have a bad haircut. People look at you with a squinty-eyed gaze and say "It's not THAT bad." If that's the best they can come up with, you know it's gotta be terrible.

I can so relate. I got a cut so bad once that when I went to another salon to see if it could be salvaged, it took THREE visits to get it to look normal again. Thank heavens my hair grows fast. I haven't been to a salon for a haircut since 2000 - my 40th birthday. My hair is long and mostly one length, so I've been cutting it myself. Wash it, put it in a low ponytail and then another ponytail holder at the length I want to cut, and snip away. And it looks surprisingly OK. Saves money too.

Hi Ladies,

I think I will put my 2 cents in on this. I am a hairstylist and salon owner. I live in this world. I think that cutting hair and styling takes skill and talent ( it really is an art). Being in this business and knowing how hairdressers can be, I would NEVER trust going to someone I didn't have a referral for.

My suggestion, if you are out and about town and see a women with a great cut or color, ask them who does their hair. This is how I get lot's of business. People recommend me to others.

At places like supercuts, you can find a good stylist, but usually they are (in my area anyway), beginners. They come out of school and go work for the chop shops. So you really take your chances. If you find a good one, then only request her and do not settle for someone else, you could be sorry in the end.

Seems like many of you are down on us poor hairstylists, but let me tell you, I work very hard and put in long hours to get where I am at. I think that if you find a good stylist, you will be amazed at how wonderful your hair could look.

Another thing that I think is true, if you look at the stylist and her own hair looks bad, walk away! I think a stylist should look trendy and care for her/his appearance.

Juliann

Hi Juliann -- absolutely no offense to the stylists of the world. I'm sure many of them are awesome...the one who fixed my bad cut was great, just too expensive for me to continue to go to her. I think that being a stylist is like being a car mechanic -- many people think that having an interest in doing something means that you automatically are good at it. Lots of bad car mechanics out there, and it takes lots of trial and error to find a good one. I've known women who wanted to be stylists who could barely operate a knife and fork, let alone a pair of scissors or clippers.

One complaint I do have about stylists though is that if you tell them what you want, many of them either don't listen to what you say or get offended, like your suggestions are somehow stifling their creativity. For my infamously bad cut, I brought a photo of a style I wanted...one that I was confident would fit my hair type...told the stylist what my hair was like, how talented I was with various hair appliances, and I STILL got a bad cut. Yes, it looked like the picture...until I got home and washed the 1/2 gallon of hairspray out of it. He had apparently just glued down the parts that he had messed up.

Keep up the good work, Juliann. We need some people out there to give stylists a good name.

Thanks Webalina,

I think there is so much involved with cutting hair. Each stylist learns from different schools and classes that they take. It really does take "years" of experience to learn different cuts and about hair textures.

I think the reason that many stylists don't listen and just do the cut they want to do, is because they just don't know HOW to cut the style you are asking for, again it's down to experience and talent. But I also realize that you can't please everyone all the time. Sadly we have to have some thick skin.

Juliann