What to Do If You Hate Your Haircut.
It happens to almost everyone at some point. You sit in the chair, describe what you want, watch your stylist work, and then look in the mirror at the end and feel a quiet sinking feeling. It’s not what you asked for. It’s not what you wanted. And now you have to live with it for the next few weeks while it grows out.
Knowing what to do in that moment — and afterwards — makes a real difference. Here’s an honest guide to navigating a haircut you’re not happy with.
Should you say something before you leave the salon?
Yes, if you can. This is almost always the most effective course of action and the one most people avoid because it feels awkward. But a good stylist genuinely wants to know if you’re not happy — both because they want to fix it and because the feedback helps them understand where the communication broke down.
You don’t need to be confrontational about it. A simple “I’m not quite sure this is what I had in mind, could we look at it together?” gives your stylist the opportunity to make adjustments before you leave. Small changes — a little more length taken off here, a different finish there — can sometimes make a significant difference to how you feel about the result.
What if the stylist has already made an irreversible change?
Sometimes the issue isn’t something that can be fixed in the same appointment. If more length has been taken off than you wanted, or a fringe has been cut that you didn’t ask for, there’s a limit to what can be done immediately. In these situations the focus shifts to making the best of what’s there rather than trying to reverse something that can’t be reversed.
In these cases the most useful thing your stylist can do is show you how to style what you have in a way that works. A good stylist will do this without being asked. If they don’t, ask them directly. How do I manage this while it grows out? What products would help? How long before it reaches a length I can work with?
How long will it take to grow out?
Hair grows on average around half an inch per month, though this varies between individuals. If you’ve lost significantly more length than you wanted, it can take several months to get back to where you were. This is frustrating but worth keeping in perspective — a haircut you hate feels more permanent than it is.
In the meantime, there are often ways to work with what you have. Styling products, a different parting, or a small adjustment from another stylist can sometimes transform how you feel about a cut that initially felt wrong. It’s worth exploring these options rather than simply waiting for it to grow.
Should you go back to the same stylist?
This depends on what went wrong. If the issue was primarily a communication breakdown — where you didn’t describe what you wanted clearly enough or the stylist didn’t ask the right questions — going back and trying again with better communication is a reasonable option. Most stylists will make adjustments or offer a complimentary appointment if you raise the issue promptly and politely.
If the issue was more fundamental — if the stylist clearly didn’t understand your hair type, made decisions without consulting you, or dismissed your concerns during the appointment — then going back is unlikely to produce a different result. In that case, finding a new stylist is the more sensible approach. Our post on how to overcome hair appointment anxiety might also be worth a read if the experience has put you off booking again.
How do you find a stylist who will get it right?
This is the more useful question and it’s worth thinking about carefully before your next booking.
Read reviews carefully. Not just the star rating but the content. Look for reviews that mention specific services similar to yours and pay attention to whether reviewers mention feeling listened to and consulted properly.
Book a consultation before a full appointment. A consultation gives you the opportunity to assess whether a stylist listens, asks the right questions, and gives you honest feedback before any scissors are picked up. Any salon worth booking with will offer this for free. Our post on all you need to know about a hair consultation explains what a good one should look like.
Be specific about what went wrong before. When you book with a new stylist, tell them what you didn’t like about your last haircut. Not to complain about the previous salon but to give your new stylist the information they need to avoid making the same mistake.
Ask questions during the consultation. What would you recommend for my hair type? What do you think will work best for my face shape? A stylist who gives thoughtful, specific answers is a stylist who is actually engaging with your hair rather than running through a standard process.
What can you do differently next time?
The most common reason haircuts go wrong isn’t stylist incompetence. It’s a breakdown in communication on both sides. A few things that make a genuine difference:
Bring reference images but be clear about what specifically you like about them. Is it the length? The texture? The way it frames the face? A reference image without that context can be interpreted in multiple ways. Our post on how should I ask for a haircut covers this in more detail.
Be honest about your lifestyle. If you tell your stylist you spend time on your hair every morning when you don’t, the cut they give you will be designed around a routine you won’t follow. The more honest you are about how much time and effort you’re willing to invest, the more practical and suitable the result will be.
Say something during the appointment if something feels wrong. Not at the end when it’s too late, but during. If you’re watching length come off and it feels like too much, say so. A good stylist will stop, check in with you, and adjust.
Come and talk to us at Wisteria Avenue, Abingdon.
If you’ve had a bad experience at another salon and you’re looking for somewhere that takes consultation seriously and listens properly before picking up the scissors, come in and talk to us. A free consultation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Book online at wisteriaavenue.co.uk/bookings, or call or WhatsApp us on 01235 534705 — Tuesday to Saturday.
