How to Fix a Bad Haircut

Whether you’ve finally decided to give bangs a try or are going in for a regular trim, getting a new haircut can change your entire beauty look. But if your stylist doesn’t exactly understand your vision or your attempt at cutting your own hair turns into a disaster, you’re more likely to be hiding under the covers than showing off your new ‘do on a girls’ night out. You know you have a bad haircut if you end up with uneven strands or a mane that simply doesn’t suit you, but identifying the disaster doesn’t exactly solve it. What do you do when you get a bad haircut? In the event of a haircut-gone-wrong, there are a few hair hacks that can come in handy. Below, we share how to fix a bad haircut, as well as four tips for preventing bad haircuts from happening in the first place.

BAD HAIRCUT HACK #1: GRAB SOME BOBBY PINS

When in doubt, a few bobby pins will be your best friend. Make sure to grab a pack that matches your hair color for a nearly seamless look. You can pin back overly short bangs, uneven strands, and any other imperfections until they grow out to your liking.

BAD HAIRCUT HACK #2: REACH FOR HAIR EXTENSIONS

Chopped your hair too short? Perhaps you or your stylist trimmed your mane just a tad too much, or you thought a bob haircut was the perfect idea—only to realize it totally doesn’t work with your face shape. Whatever the case, hair extensions are the perfect hair hack for fixing an unwanted short cut while you wait for your strands to grow back to your desired length. Head on over to our articles, 5 Tips for Styling Hair Extensions and How to Take Care of Hair Extensions, for the breakdown on this bad haircut fix.

BAD HAIRCUT HACK #3: SWITCH UP YOUR ROUTINE

A lot of the time, a new haircut can require new heat tools, hair care products, and hairstyles in order for it to look the way you want. If you’ve cut your hair shorter, you may notice your hair is more wavy than usual. If you’ve added layers, you may not know how to define them to accent your hair shape properly. (Hint: The secret is using a texture spray like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT High Lift Creation Spray). Short layers may require you to switch up your ponytail routine. You get the idea. Before you go into panic mode, consider switching up your hair care and hairstyling routine to accommodate your new ‘do.

BAD HAIRCUT HACK #4: THROW ON A HAT

When all else fails, throw on a cute hat to disguise your mane. You can also opt for a trendy head wrap if you’re a fan of vibrant hair accessories.

4 TIPS TO PREVENT A BAD HAIRCUT

Now that you know a few ways to address a bad haircut, you likely want to make sure you never have a bad cut again! Below, find four tips to help you avoid a bad haircut.

TIP #1: DON’T DIY IT

Our first rule to follow—don’t attempt to cut your hair yourself! No matter how many DIY tutorials you may watch, it’s best to leave the chopping to the pros. Cutting the hair on your own head is a challenge in and of itself, not to mention your lack of professional training.

TIP #2. RESEARCH YOUR STYLIST

It’s important to do your homework before getting a haircut. Research your stylist through reviews and word-of-mouth to make sure their skill set is fit for your desired cut. This tip is especially important if you’re going to a new salon.

TIP #3: USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Not only should you research your stylist, but you should also research their work. This is where social media comes in hand. Stalk their Instagram to view pictures of the cuts they’ve done. It’s useful to make sure that they’ve done a haircut similar to the one you’re envisioning, so you can have peace of mind that they’ve been there and done that before.

TIP #4: BRING INSPIRATION PICTURES

Of course, one of the easiest ways to avoid a bad haircut is to bring inspiration pictures with you to show your stylist exactly what you want. Stylists aren’t mind readers, and there are plenty of variations of different techniques. To try and guarantee you’re happy with the outcome, print out a few pictures, clip some from your favorite magazines, or save inspo to a haircut Pinterest board.

Phew! That’s a lot of bad haircut info. Ready to focus on the right haircut? Here are The Best Haircuts for Every Face Shape.