Here's how you can survive a bad haircut

The joy of leaving the salon after a haircut is unparalleled. You feel confident, there is a spring in your step, and you can’t stop touching your freshly chopped locks or looking into every mirror you come across. After all, a good haircut complements your face and reflects your personality. However, if the result is anti-climactic and you end up with an unflattering haircut, you’re going to feel a wave of disappointment. 

But, even though it might feel like it’s the end of the world, it is not. There are several things you can do to mitigate the damage. The options listed below will let you get creative and play around with your hair, so you can carry off even the worse haircuts. 

Talk to your stylist and go a little shorter 

Telling your hairstylist you are unhappy with your haircut is a tad daunting. But, without those few minutes of confrontation, you’ll be living with a haircut that doesn’t make you happy. Honest and open communication is the key here. Think of it as resolving a disagreement between you and your partner. Calmly show the stylist the areas you aren’t happy with and come to a doable conclusion.  

For instance, if you feel like there are too many choppy layers, ask the stylist to go shorter. Your hair length should be the end of the first layer. Sure, you may lose some volume, but once it grows back (and it will, have faith) you’ll have a blank canvas to get the haircut you wanted. 

Work in some hair accessories  

Draw inspiration from Blair Waldorf and invest in some adorable headbands. Until you’ve grown out a bad haircut, accessories can help you make the situation a tad better. Not to mention, oversized claw clips and dainty little pearls are making a huge comeback, and they can be your sparkling little saviours. And if nothing works, you know a cute hat will always have your back. 

Switch up your hair products 

If your hair is falling in an unflattering way or the asymmetrical bob is making your hair look thin, using products that will add some volume might help. Try using a straightener or a curling iron with a volumising mousse to give your hair the bounce it is lacking from your new haircut. You need to make peace with the fact that your haircare routine will not be the same and you will have to make some tweaks to compensate for the monstrous haircut. 

Extensions to the rescue  

If your hairdresser got a little snip happy (or pulled a Pheobe Buffay and got the reference wrong) and you lost way more inches than you’d originally planned, extensions are a safe way out. If you don’t have any prior experience with extensions, don’t fret; you can always invest in clip-ons that will give you length and volume. These will also help to blend the bad haircut and experiment with a bunch of different looks! 

Style your hair in a different way  

Most of us have a set way of styling our hair. We’ve had the same side parting or fringes ever since we can remember. An undesired haircut is an opportunity to switch things up. Maybe try wearing your hair with a middle parting and let the choppy front layers frame your face or use a curling rod to add in some waves and soft curls to disguise the extra uneven layers. Once you have an open mind, possibilities will just roll in.