Chopping Away: Surviving Bad Haircuts

“Am I cooked?”

At some point in life, we all face a bad haircut that leaves us second-guessing our decisions, looking in the mirror, searching for the right words to describe our new hair, and knowing we’ll have to face the next day with a haircut that everyone will notice. But what about this near-inevitable situation haunts even the most cautious of us? Why do we continue, time and time again, to fall victim to bad haircuts? To better understand this, several anonymous New Lifers were asked to share their thoughts and unforgettable experiences.

One student recalled asking for a ‘trim’ but ended up with four inches of hair chopped off, leaving her “six-year-old heart in tears.” Misunderstandings like this are common; what you envision and how the stylist interprets it can differ, as a simple word like “trim” can mean anything from having a slight touch-up to cutting off a whole chunk of your hair. You walk in with somewhat decent hair, maybe a bit overgrown, but end up looking half-bald or like Dora the Explorer with uneven bangs, all while “sitting there, trying not to panic, knowing it’s already gone wrong,” as another New Lifer remarked. And the result of the miscommunication? A cut that leaves you regretting every snip.

But why do we stay silent when things clearly aren’t going well? As one victim puts it, “You can’t really do anything about it; only pray for the best when the stylist looks like they could cut your head off if they want.” Another shared a similar experience, “You don’t want to embarrass yourself by saying it’s bad, especially when they’re holding the scissors, and there’s no turning back.” In that moment, the fear of confrontation often stops people from speaking up. When the inevitable “How do you like it?” comes up, honesty would be the awkward route, especially since the damage is already done, so you just smile and say it’s okay. 

After coming to terms with the unfortunate reality that is the haircut, many people find themselves trying to discover ways to style it. Whether it’s a desperate attempt to hide it or somehow make it look good, there’s not much a person can do. In times like these, trusted advisors tend to say, “Give it two weeks.” Whether this is genuine advice or a way to gaslight themselves, fortunately, hair eventually grows back and settles into something more manageable by the second week—most of the time, at least. 

So, whether preparing for the next haircut or recovering from a botched one, don’t worry too much, as it’ll grow out. A bad cut might bring embarrassment or frustration at that moment, but soon enough, it will return to normal—just in time for the cycle to begin again at the next trim.