There's no getting around it: Heading to the salon can be nerve-racking. And for good reason! We've all had our share of frightening visits that ended in downright disastrous results. But the truth is, no matter how bad the dye job or lopsided the layers, your hair will grow back. So laughing about it later can actually be fun! In light of this fact, the Beautylish team is sharing their worst salon stories so you know you are not alone in your mane adventures. Have a terrible tress tale of your own? Share your story with us below!
Cinya B.
Last year, I paid a visit to a swanky New York City salon for a simple blowout. While there, the stylist suggested I get a slight trim because my shape was starting to look a little ragged. Although nervous (okay, terrified!) I agreed because I was months overdue. Big mistake. Even after several reassurances that he would cut my hair evenly, I ended up with a Victoria Beckham bob circa 2007! I had to wait weeks before I could hide the style in a ponytail. Since then, I retell this cautionary tale whenever I go to a new stylist, not only to justify my frantic fear of any sort of trim, but also so they know what look is an absolute no-no in my book.
Christina F.
When I was young, my mom always cut my hair. Snip, snip. All straight? All done. I think I was in third grade when my mom got a layered haircut and decided it would be a great idea to try this style on me. I ended up crying in my room all day. My mom thought it looked good, but I just didn't understand the concept of having my hair all different lengths.
Jasmine J.
I feel like I always have hair horror stories because I try new things all the time. My worst, however, was when I went to get a spiral perm when I was 15 (yes, I proudly rocked that 'do!). They let the chemicals sit on my hair for too long and it singed a big section of my bangs. For a pretty long time after that, I had random hairs in the front that would grow upward.
Ning C.
I went to a noted colorist (his name was on the door!) in New York City for some beginner highlights. He promised subtle caramel strands, but I came out with light blonde skunk streaks. The rest of my hair was still dark brown, so I ended up looking more Kelly Clarkson than Jennifer Lopez. When I told him it was too light, he said that was just because the salon was so bright and that I would like the color more when I got outside. Then he sent me on my way. Needless to say, the color looked even blonder in natural light, I was so traumatized by the experience that I never went back to that salon. After I worked up the courage to go to another place, I had all of my hair dyed back to dark brown and didn’t highlight again for years.
Tara L.
I decided to add DIY highlights using the balayage technique. So I painted on color all over the front of my hair. I didn't notice any difference right away, so I kept going until the front of head was almost blonde. I looked like some sort of weird lion with tawny gold and light brown patches. I called my girlfriend to help me out. We put a dark brown rinse over the top but it barely masked the damage, so I went the salon. Luckily, they were able to fix it, but I haven't colored my hair since.
Victoria S.
My worst experience began out of desperation. It was the day before my sixth-grade yearbook photo, and every salon was booked solid. All I wanted was a simple trim and blowout! So I called Supercuts for an emergency appointment. My stylist decided to translate “shorter layers” as “mullet”. I started crying as soon as I left the salon with my mom, and haven’t looked back since.
Wafi A.
I had virgin hair up until a few months ago. I was getting purple highlights and wanted to use temporary dye. I did not want my hair bleached, but bleach was put in my hair without my knowing. When my hair was covered with the stuff, the stylist slipped in the bleach and fell. She started to freak out, and as I was trying to help her, some of the bleach got onto my neck and started burning. The purple turned out way too light and it was the most horrifying experience! Thankfully, the purple faded to a bluish-green blonde. I now have mermaid hair, which I love.
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Dec 05, 2011
Katie K.
Nov 26, 2011
Hannah H.
I always cut my own hair because of too many mess ups at the salon, and the other day I noticed my bangs needed a trim before thanksgiving.... Lets just say I got way to cocky, and completely screwed them up!
Too short! They stick straight out! thank god hair grows out!
Nov 24, 2011
CoCo C.
More ribbons will be http://www.trimbowribbon.com.
Nov 09, 2011
Kayla N.
I have TWO horror stories!
The first was in 4th grade, my mom had gotten layers and began to straighten her hair, I wanting to do the same asked if I could have my hair cut in layers too. My mother being a stylish woman was more than happy to take me to the salon, we went to a SuperCuts and my hair ended up looking like a mullet, there is only one photo of me during this time because I refused to take photos until the look grew out.
Number 2, I tried to bleach my hair on my lonesome, chunks fell out I ended up having to dye it back to black and on top of that the hair I had been growing out for two years had to be chopped off.
Nov 09, 2011
Alexandra G.
In middle school I had blunt bangs and wanted them gone so I cut them off. I ended up looking like a rooster! Lol my sisters still make fun of me for it! And also in middle school I wanted my hair lighter so I used sun-in. I used too much color on my roots and ended up with a big orange spot! Lol I have a lot of hair horror stories but those are the worst! I love my hair now haha I have left it natural and let it grow really long...so now I will probably leave it alone!!!
Nov 07, 2011
Rebecca-Emily L.
I was in europe for the first time, and i had brought my hair straightener and a cheap converter that my parents had bought me. my second day in brussels, i plug in my straightener. I didn't check the heat, thinking it'd be fine. as I start fixing my bangs, i see smoke and smell an odd burning smell... i pull the straightener away and half by bangs have melted onto the straightener! apparently the converter wasn't appropriate for hair-styling tools. i went the rest of the three week trip with chunks of hair missing, i had to cut out even more when i found horrid singed bits. to say the least i cried while my boyfriend at the time just laughed at me about how ridiculous it was.
Nov 07, 2011
April F.
i'd have to say my worst hair experience was in college. i had gone to a local salon for a cut and style. i didn't think anything about it because i was wearing my hair relaxed at the time and no other stylist had any issues dealing with my hair. this stylist however had absolutely no clue how to deal with African American hair in any state what so ever! by the time she was done with my hair i looked like one of the supremes, and not in a good way. plus the stylist tried to charge me extra because she had to blow dry my hair. for some reason it wasnt included in the price of the cut which i thought was so stupid. why would you send clients out with wet hair?!?!?! i let her know that i wasn't happy with what she had done so she only charged me for the cut, which i don't think i should have been charged for either because it was absolute dreckitude. i had to go home and re wash and restyle my hair. now i never ever let anyone wet my hair to cut it and i always always have pictures handy.
Nov 06, 2011
Krystyn C.
I've been fairly lucky with my hair. My mother was a hair stylist and always cut and colored me and my sisters' hair. One of my sisters even decided to be a hair stylist and I love the way she cuts my hair. I always feel like a Victoria Secret Model when she's done with my hair.
My horror story is what happened to my hair on my wedding day. I had gone to a high end salon that did my friend's hair for her wedding. Since her hair looked great, I thought that I had made the right choice. I went in for my first trial run and had several pictures to go over with my stylist. We finally agreed on one that would work for my hair texture, length, veil, etc. The first run went okay. The second trial run, went better and looked almost exactly as I envisioned it; a low chignon with a little volume and loose wispy bangs framing my face.
When I went in on the big day, she couldn't do the style for some reason. I sat in the chair for three hours, as she twisted, pulled, heated, and hair sprayed my hair. She even had another stylist help her get my hair up. Finally, I couldn't take anymore of it, my hair looked awful, my scalp was bleeding down my neck from the numerous bobby pins that were in my hair. I started crying in the salon on top of all that. My hair looked like a beehive and was so dry and damaged looking and I was now late.
I drove home to where my fiance was getting ready with his groomsmen and bawled. He was so sweet and told me it'd be all right and that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. He called my mom and sister and drove me to the wedding hall. They arrived and managed to salvage my hair. We were late to our wedding and my hair wasn't perfect. I ended up loosing clumps of hair from the bobby pins, which my new husband, gently pulled out of my scalp the next morning.
Nov 06, 2011
Krystine M.
Nov 06, 2011
kitty c.
As a junior in hs I went to my regular stylist and asked for an a line bob with bangs. I even brought in a picture! Instead, the moron gave me a carol brady style mullet. There was no fixing it. I rocked it like it was on purpose but absolutely hated it every minute until it grew out. Never went back; got my a-lines done at great clips until I moved to a new town and made the nerve wracking decision to try a new salon. I love my stylist now and haven't had my hair messed up since!