TRUE BAD HAIR DAY TALES

Copyright 2008 by Nancy J. Cohen

READERS, this is your page.  You are invited to submit your hair care tips, stories about bad hair days, and other beauty lore for publication on this page.  The author reserves the right to select and edit entries.   Send your stories and tips to: Nancy J. Cohen's mailbox


I went to the hairdresser last Saturday and was looking forward to getting a nice cut.  I had been to the hairdresser before and it is an expensive salon.  The hairdresser did a really lovely hair cut for me last time.  My hair is quite wiry and thick and is past my shoulders and I am growing it long.  I wanted to have a bit more shape put into it and asked her to trim the bottom and put light layers into it.  However, she has thinned my whole head and cut more off the bottom than I wanted.  I have no weight in my hair now as it's been thinned and layered and therefore there is no body at all to my hair.  It just looks really frizzy in some parts.  I am just gutted.  It will take me at least 6 months for the body to thicken up and for it to look better.
Sometimes I just wonder if hairdressers really listen to us or whether they just do their own thing in any case.  Bit of a pest when we are paying a lot of money to get something a hundred times worse than what we had originally. Word of warning, never get your hair drastically cut or styled unless you have been to the stylist on numerous occasions and she knows your hair!
Hilary

Shortly after being married, I wanted to get a permanent to give some body to my genetically thin hair. Since money was tight, I used a coupon special from a local paper and went to a new salon. The stylist had very long sharp artificial fingernails, which dug into my scalp as she washed my hair  - then she put on the perm solution. OMG, what pain! I was too shy and intimidated to say anything to this older and somewhat aggressive woman. Of course, the perm looked terrible. And my scalp hurt for a couple of weeks!  If they were running the coupon special to get more regular customers, their tactic didn't work with me. I never went back there, and didn't get another perm for many years.  Susan

I survived beauty school and came out with only one bad haircut.... FROM MY INSTRUCTOR! No joke! It was horrible and looked like she took a weedwacker to the side of my head. I cried silently for days on end having to face her every day. Thank GOD for hair extensions!

Now as a hairdresser I always talk to my new clients while I’m cutting, explaining what I am doing and why. It helps to put them at ease. After I make my first cut I always hold my shears in front of the client and ask them "Is this length ok?" (By showing them the amount I just took off) I always tell them, "I can take more off, I just can't put it back, LOL." I do have a problem doing my specialty cuts, because my methods are unconventional, and it makes people nervous. My confidence conquers their fears. They always love the cut when it’s done, and return to me because no one else cuts the way I do. That is the true Beauty of the industry, NO two hairdressers are alike, no two haircuts are alike. And there is NO SUCH thing as a perfect haircut. If your hairdresser isn't confident in what she’s doing, be wary. Ask questions, don’t be afraid to speak up. I always tell my clients if there’s even ONE hair out of place in the cut, to come back and let me fix it. I don’t want my business going elsewhere and letting someone else chop it up.

And for the sake of sanity ladies, PLEASE don’t walk into a salon asking for Hi-Lights and a new style haircut when you HAVE to be somewhere important in an hour. It’s just not possible. Would you want your dentist to hurry through your cavity filling, or the car specialist rushing through your brake job on your car? Go to the salon on your day off, when you’re not rushed. Your stylist will thank you for it, and you'll probably have a much better experience.

Thanks for all the other great tips from other Stylists, you all have really been helpful. And to those who think some schools are better than others, guess what? Everyone takes the same State Board Exams and gets the SAME Licence. Some hairdressers have what it takes, and some just don’t. I’ve asked girls in town who cut your hair last, and it blows me away when they tell me they paid a $180 for their cut when I’m offering to fix it.

Best Wishes for a Good Hair Day.     Anonymous

I have been a hair colorist for more years then I care to mention. I can tell you some stories that have come my way with people who color their hair at home with "box color". We can not help you with your mistakes that you make at home with home hair color kits of any kind.The general public knows nothing of the CHEMISTRY behind hair coloring..so off you go to your local store and buy color according to the color on the box. You are asking for more problems then you ever dreamed possible when you use these products. People come to a professional hair colorist and they think we can't tell that a person has box color on their hair? All we have to do is touch it and we can tell. Some times all we have to do is wet it down and smell it and we can tell. I have had people tell me they haven't ever colored their hair...let me say this. We aren't stupid hairdressers. If you expect a hairdresser to "fix' your color mistakes, you are wrong because we can't. You have to be honest and tell us that you did color your hair at home and that you used a non-professional product. When a client comes to me and they have any traces of store bought color in their hair and expect me to fix it, I tell them to find another hair colorist to ruin your hair because you've already done a good job of it yourself.  Patricia

Hi Denise.  You have my sincere sympathy.  I also have thick and lots of it hair.  I do get my textured to give it volume and movement.  Did the stylist use a thinning shear that has a lot of little teeth?  I hate thinning shears!!!  I find using a texture shear with 14 teeth works the best on my hair.  I bought my own from an on-line supplier.  A texture shear with 14 teeth gives a better result than a thinning shear.  The thinning shear just thins and flattens the hair.  A good hairdresser can also texture using their scissors.  The cut I like best is a pixie cut then the texture shear used on it.  It gives the cut that piecey, sexy look.  I also like the funkiness of the cut.  I too cannot stand flat, shapeless hair.  Believe me your hair will recover.  I know it's hard going through it.  I've been there many times.  Just take care of yourself.  Pam

I forgot to mention on my previous post about using the Head and Shoulders on dry hair for 1/2 hour and then conditioning it.  I forgot to mention that for yellow AND orange brassiness, the very best conditioner I have found for that is the Loreal Color Vive (for highlighted hair), it comes in an orange bottle, and IT WORKS!!!  Best of luck to y'all!!! Debby

Hi again...just wanted to share a tip that I tried today that I read on another "bad hair" website. I bought some Head and Shoulders (the blue kind), and I massaged it on my dry hair, I left it on for close to 1/2 hour and washed it out and (of course) conditioned it, and the results were awesome. Wayyyyy better that any of the toners I've tried and definitely better than Clairol Shimmer lights, which made my hair even brassier. This is THE BEST my hair has looked since I screwed it up with a bad highlight job. The brassiness is barely noticeable, and the oranginess is almost completely gone. I'm going to continue to wash my hair like this until I decide if I'm going to try a professional colorist or try it again myself and leave it on for the 3 hours I used to have to do when I highlighted my black hair. This is highly recommended, no more toners for me, I can't believe how much better my hair looks by doing this simple procedure. Hope someone out there gives it a try, I'm sure you will be pleased with the results. Good Luck to y'all with any hair disasters you may have. I think we have all learned our hair can make or break our overall looks.  Debby

I sure could use a lot of moral support right now! One month ago I finally decided to get the angled bob cut I had been considering for over a year. I had long straight fine hair, but a lot of it. It was down past my bra strap, where it had been for the past 6 or 7 years. I am really manic about my hair care, so it was in great condition. So, I decided if I was ever brave enough to cut it off, I would donate it. At least if I hated it, I would have done something great for some one right? Well, the stylist put it in a pony tail and we decided I would do 8 inches for pantene instead of 10 inches for lock of love. Not as drastic for me. Well, she cut the pony tail of and says it is only 7 inches! Now,I can't send it any where! My hair was just past laying on my shoulders, slightly longer. So, I think great... at least it will grow back. So I tell her to cut it on a slight angle, no bunch of layers or stacking. I leave there with hair just under my ears, and layers in the back, that are 3 inches long. I have cried every day for a month straight. I thought I would have to be medicated to get through my days. I am 40 years old, and haven't had hair this short for 2 decades. My son is 17 and has NEVER seen me with short hair, until now that is! My heart was in the right place with best of intentions, but this has left me devastated beyond words. I found this site looking for a support system!  Anonymous

I read quite a few of the entries here. I cried for 2 hours last night. I, like so many others wanted a change! I have been going to the same stylist for over 3 years. She's been wonderful. I had medium length, dark blonde/lt. brown hair. Pretty thick and curly. After looking at several pictures, we decided on a shorter (right past chin length) style. She used a chemical straightener on it!  My hair is now plasterd to my head with a permanent part on the side. She had to cut it pretty short in the back and stack it because the hair wouldn't move and texturized it hoping that would help. Just made it even more flat and thinner looking. Does anyone know if this will get any better or am I doomed to "plastered helmet head" for a long time? It took me over an hour to do it this morning, couldn't even get my make-up on because of the tears.  Denise

I decided at my age of 49 it was time to make a change in my very black hair, so I decided to go with highlights (done at home of course), I've done it before in my younger years with perfect results, but OMG this time was major disaster. I had to do it twice, since the first time I got all the hairs underneath, so I bought another kit.....same thing, all my under hairs highlighted, but was barely noticeable other than the brassy reds and golds that chose to make themselves noticeable on the top hairs. No more caps for me!!! I have to spend more money at Sally's on Toners, shampoos, etc....I could have had this done professionally!!! I just wanted to mention that yesterday I was back at Sally's to try to Clairol Shimmer Lights, just got done using it, and it works great on the hair that has already reached the gold tone, but did nothing for the orange tones. This shampoo is violet based, and the more researching I did, violet based is pretty much for the yellowness....so back to Sally's I go tomorrow for a blue based shampoo. Just wanted to let you all know that the violet based Toners or shampoos will do nothing for the orange. Good Luck to you all on your own personal hair dilemmas!!!! Deb

I  came across your website and I truely feel sorry for terrible experiences people have had. I have a few tips through my 16 year experience that I would like to share...
1. NEVER let a stylist turn you away from the mirror while cutting!!!! This is THE MOST important tidbit. Stylists that are comfortable in their ability will NEVER do this. The only time it is acceptable is when your stylist hands you the 'hand mirror' and turns you around to confirm the length to cut the back. All cutting should be done with you facing the mirror.
2. Stylists should always do an in-depth consultation and repeat back to you what was heard. I use a picture book for all new clients for visual aide to make sure we are on the same page before I ever pick up the shears. Terminology for every cut is different to different people.
3. Always ask the price prior to service. Most services are charged seprately. A simple blow dry with nothing fancy could run you an extra 10 to 20 bucks.
4. A good stylist talks 10% and listens 90%...the floor should be yours and the stylist should keep the conversation on your hair and not her personal problems.
5. You will always find a good stylist if the stylist paid their dues in a chain salon for at least 1 to 2 years prior to going into full service. Chains salons give stylists the high volume of different hair types to get familiar with. In the four years that I worked in a chain salon, I cut over 16,000 heads of hair. That is experience.
6. Always tip! We do remember the ones who don't (sad to say). This is the honest truth. Chain salons usually pay either strickly by the hour @ $7-$8. No commissions or bonuses or minimum wage plus 20% if you hit a certain high level of productivity. Full service salons usually pay the stylist 40% and take 60% for themselves or charge a weekly booth rent of $150.00 or more. Stylists only make decent money when they own their own salon...but figure they then have rent, utilities, insurance etc. So tipping well (at least $5.00) is a must. It will be the difference between us fitting you in on a crunch or fitting in the good tipper. Trust me, a dollar tip is like leaving the waitress a penny for bad service.
7. A good stylist will bring you in for a free color consultation and patch test the day before the color service. If not, beware. Even if you have used the same brand of color for years, you could still have a violent allergic reaction.   Stephanie

For Darla and Heather: Reading about your experience breaks my heart.  I have suffered the same experience. A bad razor cut and bleach job that led to me having to cut off hair I was growing for two years.  I went though hair hell, lost a lot of weight, stressed myself out and I too started having irrational thoughts.  I think it was something like post traumatic stress disorder.  Think of it, someone took something from you.  Ruining your hair can be very traumatic and anyone who says it's only hair, well let me take garden shears to your head then throw bleach on it.  Let's see how you feel after your hair is ruined.  Your hair is part of your appearance.  I believe the only thing I could do is cut it off and start over.  I had hair that at the most was half an inch.  I also have very thick hair.  It's no fun growing out.  People do look at you weird.  This is why I say those that say it's only hair, do not know what they are talking about.  It's also no fun when you know the cut you need and some "stylist" doesn't hear a thing you say and does their own thing on your head.  To top it off you have to pay for the mess and that only causes you to stress out more.  I wish there was some way to make the idiot stylist responsible for the bad job.   Please believe me it will get better in time.  Meanwhile give yourself some deep conditioning treatments and take some multi-vitamins.  I don't believe they make your hair grow any faster.  That's pre programmed.  But, I believe they help nourish your body from the inside out.  If you're healthy on the inside, it shows on the outside.  I am 40 years old and I hardly have any grays in my dark brown hair.  I will never color my hair again.  No highlights or ammonia based chemicals on my head.  I have learned to love what God gave me.  Please take care of yourselves and know you are not alone.  Pam 

  First, I want to say that this site has been fantastic for me as I go through my bad hair situation….
I moved to a small town. My hairdresser in Memphis was wonderful and I forgot that there are bad ones out there since she spoiled me. My hair was very long and healthy. It was almost all one length. My hair is fine but I had a decent amount of it and I just had caramel and blonde highlights woven into my brown hair.  I just figured I could call up just any ole body and they could handle some blonde highlights. It isn’t rocket science, right? Well, it must be. The first time I went to this girl, my hair was good. It looked great actually. I went back a second time and it seemed a little dry. I noticed that there were a few short pieces here and there but not bad. I thought I would go back for a touch up a few months later and I told her to be very careful because it seemed like I had some damage and to only do a few pieces. I guess I was still holding on to my first impression with her. She said she needed to do more than a few pieces but she would be extra careful….I told her that would be fine. She was young but her mom owned the salon and the salon was voted the best in town. This was a huge mistake to go back. She fried my hair. Fried it. It started breaking off within the next few months and I went ballistic. I got very depressed, lost a ton of weight, and it ruined my summer. All I could do is stand in front of the mirror and pick through it, finding the pieces that were damaged and looking at it. It took time for this breakage to happen, which was weird. It weakened my hair so much and so I was so afraid that I was going to end up completely bald. This was an irrational fear but I was terrified. I just wanted to lie in the bed and cry.  
    It has been eleven months. I have short pieces that are still growing out. I keep my hair in a pony tail every day when I go to work….some pieces still won’t go into a pony tail yet. I drive to Memphis every month or so to get my hair done. She has had to cut in layers and I had to lose quite a bit of length.
  I will never let anyone else do my hair again. I will never let anyone put blonde in it either. The small town hairstylist overlapped the color with the bleach so with every application, my hair got weaker and weaker.  I am just glad that some time has gone by…I am almost at a year. It has been very painful and I feel for girls who had to go through this, too.   Darla

I am a sophomore in college and had decided that I needed a haircut. I had also been pondering dyeing my hair a deep red for a while. I talked to people and everyone said that it would look really good on me. The problem is, I really liked the color I had (a golden strawberry blonde, my natural color) so I was worried. Anyway, so I was very stressed over my classes and I walked past my usual salon and decided "What the heck, you only live once!" and entered. First sign that I was making a huge mistake: The hairdresser made a very sad face when I said I wanted to dye my hair. She said I had such a beautiful color already, and that made me even more nervous than I already was (I had never dyed my hair before). Anyway, so I picked out the color, a nice natural looking red, natural looking was very important to me because part of my class was interviewing professional people and no one would take me seriously if I had purple hair. Anyway, so an hour passes and the hairdresser washes my hair and tells me how great I look and how I look like a movie star. When I look in the mirror, I freak. IT WAS BRIGHT ORANGE! It was like the color of one of those safety cones they put on the road. The hairdresser wouldn't listen to me and told me that it looked good. I was scared I was going to cry right there in the salon. Finally, she agreed to try again and I picked a much much darker red, hoping that I could fix it and still have red hair. Well, now I sit here, with a weird orange-redish-pinkish hair. Ugh! What was I thinking?! Now I just want my natural color back! This was such a huge mistake! I miss my old hair. Now I have to go through classes with this disaster of a haircolor. I guess I'll just have to pretend that this was what I wanted. Is there anyway to fix this, or do I just have to wait for it to grow out?  Also, the woman cut my hair and that looks really bad too, but a bad haircut I can live with (it'll grow out in a month) I cannot stand this hair. Every time I look in the mirror I feel like crying.   Heather

I am constantly changing my short hair - cut, color, you name it. My hairstylist has been with me for about five years and she's been wonderful every time I've changed things up, but stupid me, sometimes I just have to screw with it and ruin a good thing.
I've worn my hair the same for about a year now, which is an unusually long period of time for me to go without change: ultra-short with the front bangs very long - down to about my chin. Yesterday I decided to go asymmetrical with it and leave the long bangs angled down to my chin on one side. It looked great!
 
Then this morning I looked in the mirror and thought - hmmm, those bangs look really heavy, what with the left side being so short now and all. Perhaps a little trim with the thinning shears would help out (I bought a pair of thinning shears at Ulta years ago, and without fail I've screwed my hair up with them every time I've brought them out of hiding). I snipped at it a little bit right on the ends and went about my business, until several hours had passed and I looked in the mirror again and thought, ya know, it looks a little uneven down there at the ends, I should just snip it with those thinning shears about halfway up my head to even things out. Then I go and look in the bathroom mirror to check my handiwork (because I was not even smart enough to hack at my hair in a well-lighted place) and saw that I had two very distinct and blunt "layers" (using that word lightly) in my previously sexy, swoopy bangs. It looks sort of like shingles on a rooftop...after one or two more snips, thank God I at least had the wherewithal to throw the stupid thinning shears in the garbage and accept that, once again, I was going to have to endure a few weeks of "damage control" (i.e., barrettes) until those stupid shingles fill in and I can get my hairdreser to layer over the damage.
 
Fortunately, I've had sooooo many hair disasters over the years that I no longer get too worked up about them. Some have been the fault of hairdressers but most of them have been of my own making. Once I thinned such a horrible bald spot into my own head (those damn shears again) that I had to color my scalp with a magic marker every day for two weeks. And once I decided to shave my head into a super-close crop and didn't check to see if the guard was on the clippers and shaved a reverse mohawk into the top of my hair! It looked like I had an airport landing strip on top of my head (had to shave the rest off - practically BALD - but I had no choice).
 
Keep in mind, ladies, a few things that will help you get through the bad hair experience (and I KNOW how traumatic it is to keep reliving, in your mind, the beautiful hair that was...believe me, I took a picture of my fabulous new 'do just last night and now I'm having to stop myself from looking at it and, if not downright crying, at least sighing a lot and feeling real pissed off).
 
#1. As much as it may feel like it, you are NOT your hair. You are still wonderful, fabulous YOU even with a bad haircut. And even a bad hairdo looks better on a smiling face.
 
#2. You may think your hair is an eyesore, but honestly, most people don't notice your hair no matter what it looks like. And even if they do, they only notice it for a moment or so and then they move on. Most people genuinely do not care what your hair looks like!
 
#3. Hair grows, and it grows at about the same rate for everyone. My GI Jane crewcut went from mangy to manageable in about one month (albeit still damn short). Even if your hair is really, really horrible right now, in a month or so you'll at least be able to get it into a more manageable style, and it will keep changing by the month as it grows. So hang in there!  Cynthia

This morning I woke up with the excitement of knowing I was going to "beautify" my self by getting a cut and color! I was excited all day, as my hair dresser has never failed me or disappointed me yet..........UNTIL TODAY!  I entered the salon with a large picture of a GORGEOUS hairdo that I printed from the internet. I wanted the EXACT cut, but a browner color. The hair cut was below collar bone length in long, tapering layers (no blunt!!!!) with side swept bangs (not straight bangs).  Well....here I sit typing, with my BLUNT......SHOULDER LENGTH ......STRAIGHT ACROSS BANGS! I COULD SCREAM!   Instead of looking like a hottie.......... I look alot like DUDLEY MOORE!!!  No long tapering layers, but lots of short choppy layers that end in the middle of nowhere!I have put it in a pony tail, that looks OK, but I envisioned myself to be a thing a beauty......not the thing that my husband bursts out in laughter every time looks at!   
 All of these stories have done a couple of things for me
1) they have gotten me away from the mirror (where, in fits of anger, have gone mad......fluffing my hair and screaming)
2) have made me smile......that's a biggie (when all I want to do is cry......and get even with my hairdresser)
Hopefully, this will NOT happen again, but I will stay tuned to this site.......it made both me and my husband laugh-out-loud!   Aimee

So, I am an 18 year old female, and I just so happen to smoke. Well, last night I was sitting outside on my porch to respect my parents by not smoking in the house. Well, I used a match and leaned over to light it. All of a sudden I feel a burning sensation and see bright orange. MY HAIR HAD CAUGHT FIRE. I quickly put it out, and ran into the house not knowing what was going on, but I could smell the singed hair. I look in the mirror and totally freaked! My eyebrows are yellow, half of the lashes on my right eye are gone with yellow tips, and about an inch of my hair was signed. I looked like a CLOWN. And, the funny thing is.. I'm a natural medium brown. Well, I normally dye my hair dark brown every month, because it brings out my bright green eyes. I've done practically every color on my hair, except red! So, on this same night, I had JUST got done dying my hair "Light Auburn" (which didn't turn out as bright as I wanted because my hair was too dark, but I'm working on it) and I loved it! So, I was crying in hysterics. I took a shower, and my mom trimmed the singed hair, and I colored the ends of my lashes with mascara. I also colored in my right eyebrow with a brown liner. So, just know.. don't light a match so close to your hair! It was so traumatizing. Cassidy

Even experienced stylists get bad haircuts and colors.  Everyone has a different idea of what should be done.  I once had to have 2 haircuts in the same day because of an inexperienced stylist. I wanted some layers in my bob and she made me look like the guy from the movie “Loser.”   If you aren’t sure who to go to, ask people who have a great hairstyle or color.  When you call the salon to make an appointment, make a consultation appointment first.  This way the stylist will be able to see your hair and get an idea of what you want, color wise as well.  As a hair stylist, it isn’t easy to get it perfect when the client is late, doesn’t really know what they want or the client’s vision for their hair isn’t communicated perfectly.  The last thing we need to is to be rushed and have a finicky client.  Those two qualities will always produce bad results.  If you are still nervous about someone new, ask to see some of their work (portfolio) and how long they’ve been doing hair.  Never be afraid to ask for a senior or master stylist.  It may cost more, but I’m sure your results will pay off.
Vicky

I had
long hair (bra strap length) with a lot of long layers all the way through. My hairdresser comes to the house so i made a appt to have it colored and cut as im off on my holidays in 10 days. She did the colour first (dark choc brown with black streaks) which i have to admit turned out really well.and then asked how i wanted it cut. My hair is naturally wavy so i usually just wear it in a ponytail after letting it dry naturally so as not to over style it. But when im going out i straigten it and flick it out at the sides, the shortest layers were just below ear level, so from ear level to bra strap it would flick out really nicely and i loved it and was forever getting compliments on how fantastic it looks when done.
I told my hair dresser i wanted a trim with no more than 1 inch taken off the length and asked if she could put me a long fringe in to give a little more shape around the face We were chatting as she cut and since we were at my house there was no mirror to see what she was doing. She then got a bit heated telling me about something one of her work mates had done. My husband walked in halfway through and said "God thats short" but i thought he was being his usual funny self so just ignored it. Finally shes done so i went to look in the mirror and OH MY GOD MY STUNNING hair is now about a inch above my shoulders and my layers are horribly short, from top of head to my ears its about a inch long, SO ive gone from long and layered to top heavy, helmet style MULLET!!!! (it gets worse) I coudnt speak so she nattered on as usual and left, but the thing is this woman sees me every day at school when we drop our kids off, she also sees me twice a month for girls nite out and she has cut it quite a few times SO WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE THINKING My mate called round today and was totally shocked and made me stand while she took a photo on her phone of the back of my head, well theres a huge chunk missing from the middle of the back, about 2 inches shorter than the rest and one side is about half a inch longer than the other. And in amongst all of it are some really long strands that are sticking out about a inch below the bottom. So not only have i got a blokes mullet cut its also missing chunks at the back Im so gutted  ive cried and cried! My husband and my mate have been great, shes phoned around and got hold of a hairdresser she knows whos going to come and look at it then have a talk with me about what she can do but she has warned me that chances are im gonna have to go very short, and my husband has told me that if i want i can get hair exstentions for the holiday regardless of the cost (£500+) And to top it all off i had to pick kids up at school and walked into my hairdresser, she did a double take and the look of shock on her face was a picture, she just mumbled hi then ran off!!! Im convinced she musnt have paid any attention to it while she was doing it or why would she look so shocked!!! So fingers crossed this new hairdresser mite be able to help if not its hair exstentions and im so upset My advice is make sure you can see what there doing and get them to show you how much they are going to cut off, and try not to let them talk too much as how can they concentrate on what they are doing? SUZIE

Recently, I needed hightlights. I had grown my hair to the middle of my back, it was blonde, thick and really beautiful. I went to the Salon at our Mall and asked for highlights and one inch off the back. The lady at the salon said my hair was so pretty but she "knew just what to do" and off she went to get the color and foils...she came back and started. It took her over 2 hours to get all the foil in my hair. While she worked she added a different color to my roots. Meanwhile, all the girls that were working that day were staring and watching. They didn't say anything, just watched..When she finally stopped putting color on my hair and stopped putting me under the dryer, she rinsed my hair and it was burned and YELLOW. I was hysterical. The girls that had been watching her then started telling me they knew she was messing my hair up, yet, they said nothing while she was doing it.. Finally the store manager came over and asked what she had put on it. She told him and then told him I was a red head when I got there, she had the nerve to argue with me. My hair was mixture of blondes. It was so pretty and what I had after she got finished was ruined hair. It had taken me years to grow it out to the point that it was. When the manager took me away from all the other customers to keep them from seeing the damage, he said it made him sick to his stomach. I showed him pictures of what my hair was like before I got there and cried the entire time he worked on it. I got there that day at 1:45. I did not leave until 8:15pm. He promised to fix m hair and put low lights in it so I could at least go to work the next day. About a month goes by and I need my roots touched up so I make an appointment. He bleaches my hair and it's too blonde so he added low lights and now my hair is GRAY. We picked out a picture of the color I wanted and guess what? Now he is telling me he just does not know what I want to do with my hair or what color I want. It would be nice if for the past 6 weeks I didn't have to hide from everyone but he's recently made it worse. I have lost 6 inches off the back and need 5 more taken off. The lady that did this was fired. She didn't need to be doing hair anyway. So, to get the gray out of my hair I have another appointment this Saturday; not sure if I should at this point but what else can I do?  Kari


Last evening I decided to hi-light my hair with a boxed product from the store.. I have frosted my hair for the last 30 years with great success.. Well, after I tried this new product on my dark brown, grown-out roots, I was
very disappointed when I washed the product out. It was gold and brassy. I was very upset, as my frosting is usually very light and evenly placed throughout my hair.. I was going to call my stylist when I thought I would ask about hair color disasters online..Needless to say, I ran across this site and read about using prell or dish detergent to tone down brassiness..I didn't have dawn detergent as suggested, but used ajax from under the kitchen sink!! I washed it and left it on the root area for a few minutes, rinsed it out and then proceeded to wash it again with prell..Might as well be really sure..HA.. Well, it worked!! My hair acutally looks really nice. It is more blonde and the gold brassiness is gone.. Be sure to use a really good conditioner when you are done washing it.. Your website helped me immensely..thanks to the good tips that some of your readers have left.. Hope this will help someone else..I am amazed that it really worked!!!  Sue

I just want to say sorry to all of you for the bad experiences you've had, I am a hairstylist and I've had some bad stories to tell about things that have happened to me, but I won't go into detail, don't want to relive the experiences.  I just wanted to share some very good advice for you.  Don't give up on us hairstylists completely.  If you see or know someone who's hair you like, ask them who does it.  NEVER AND I REPEAT NEVER let a stylist cut, trim, or shape up your hair until you have been to them a couple of times and seen some of their work.  Even if it means for a wash and blow-dry or a style.  The thing is hair isn't one size fit all, a stylist is more likely to style your hair, cut, or color it the way that you want if they know you hair.  Some people take meds or have used something on their hair that they sometimes forget to tell the stylist about which can and does effect the results of color (remember it is a chemical).  The best thing to do is have a consultation with the stylist (many do this for free) at least a day or two before you come in for your appointment.  I can't begin to tell you how many people go to the salon and expect some type of miracle, I have often made clients mad because I wouldn't bleach their hair, lol. But I'd much rather you be mad at me because I didn't do something than if I did it knowing that it would not come out right no matter what I or anyone did.
Bring in a photo and a friend, lol, they can see what your stylist is doing if you can't,lol <>Stay loyal to your stylist and tip them good,lol, believe me anything that you ask for will receive an honest opinion (if required) or it will be giving special attention. Remember most stylist don't receive the full amount of your service, we really do make our money through our tips,lol, just like you waiters and waitressesA Hairstylist's Viewpoint

I won't go into much detail about my hair story, as all we want to find out is HOW TO FIX IT, for those desperate ladies staying home because they have been ripped of their esteem, try FANCIFULL daily wash MOUSSE, yes, it is a daily wash, but let me tell you I am a different person each day when I use it, there is no Damage, no commitment, and it will NOT be another story added to this website when used. Be sure to get the mousse as the rinse has an overwhelming perfume smell and actually gives me migrains. You can buy the Mousse  via the internet or at Sallys Beauty Supply or the rinse at Walgreens or Walmart. I was also told from Sally's to try the Beautiful collection for a depositing color.  No peroxide or ammonia and washes out in 6 shampoos.   Anonymous


I really feel for people who trust a trained hairdresser with a pair of scissors. You tell them what you want, and they chop away, doing the exact opposite.I had healthy hair layered to my shoulders. I went for my regular trim at our salon, which you don't always get the same person, but their reputation for listening to what customers want is high on the list. But not in this case of mine. This guy started cutting. I noticed him using scissors, while holding the whole length of my hair at the back , and he began shearing the scissor down the hair shaft. I stopped him and asked what he was doing. He said it will add definition. When he showed me my hair cut  in the mirror, i could'nt see what he had done. I told him i cant see my hair, where is my long layers? And i felt the back with my hands and it was soo thin, it was awful. He had cut short the top layer, and sheared all the rest of my layers with curl off!!!!!! And my sides were long. I told him i did'nt like it, and it's too late you have cut it all off. I went home and washed my hair and evaluated it again. My hair looked sparse and thin, like i was sick. I cried and asked my friends what they thought. They honestly told me the truth, it looked bad. I went back 2 days later and showed the other salon workers there. They were so shocked at how the hair was cut. They apologised and tried their best to trim and even up the hair that was left. They told me it will have to grow back and thicken up. This man that cut my hair was a new employee, and the manager was informed, and he will be given the sack. So now i am left looking alot better than before, but i have to grow the volume back, and he has damaged my hair by the way he had sheared the hair shaft. So i had to invest in a descent moistursing shampoo and conditioner. I do ,thank God, have the option of wearing my hair up which looks good. But yes, i do feel for all you gals who have lost your locks due to someone who thinks they know better or less. I tell you what though, it's made me toughen up. I used to be too scared to say my peice and learn to say no to your hairdresser! Now after this disaster, i am a new women, and i am no longer afraid to stand my ground. All you gals you do the same, refuse anything that you notice that the hairdresser is doing differently, become familair with the cut routine. Don't be afraid to speak up if you notice something is not right, before letting them continue. After a few bad hair cuts and regrows, you soon learn enough is enough! Michelle
-------------------------
I'm furious with hairdressers who think they know better when choosing which hairstyles suit you. Fair enough, 
they are the professionals and know how to cut it so it falls in a certain way, but what they dont know is that
after you leave the salon, you then have to live your life as normal with what is probably a hideous haircut. I went
to the hairdressers yesterday and left fuming, which is what has provoked me to write this! So, I go into the
hairdressers yesterday for an appointment with my usual hairdresser who is about 25. Bear in mind that she has
gorgeous hair- really well cut and mantained. So, you would think she knows the importance of a good haircut.
Well firstly she sat me down and asked how I was getting on with my hair, whether I felt it was dry, looking at split
ends etc, and I told her that all I wanted cut off was 2 inches at most, but the main reason I came was to get my
layers re-done because they had started to blend in and make my hair look flat.

My hair was about halfway down my back, a couple of inches below my bra strap. She nodded, and after it got washed
she combed it and began to cut. You know when you can feel the scissors pressing against your neck/back and can
tell it's being cut way too short? well i could feel the scissors pressing into the nape of my neck, and immediately
thought uh-oh. I left her to it, thinking she understood what I was telling her, and maybe this isn't the actual length
that she's cutting. By the time she had worked her way to the front of my face, I could've cried. My hair has hovering
just above my shoulders, and I looked like an 12 year old the way she had shaped the hair around my face. It sort of
flicked into my face, with the feathered bits gradually getting longer. My face shape is oval, so this style just
accentuated it and made my face look round and podgy- not very flattering at all. To add to this, it was a blunt cut
which I had specifically told her I didnt like. She said 'oh well when your hair gets shorter it gets less fine
towards the ends, and so it will look blunt. Oh, so that would explain why her hair, which has just slightly longer
than how she had done mine, wasn't blunt at all! I askedif she could do something to make the style look softer.
She got the pair of scissors out again and began to cut upwards, which softens the look but also takes about another inch
off the length. Bloody hell, I wished I'd left it the way it was. My hair now sits around my jaw line and I hate it.
It doesn't even go up into a ponytail, so there's no disguising it. My self esteem has plumetted and I won't ever be
going back to that salon. Abigail

DON'T  GET YOUR HAIR DONE PROFESSIONALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA.... I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE GETS THEIR LICENSE.  IT MUST BE A PAY OFF THING IN THE STATE!!  NO ONE KNOWS ANY NEW STYLE OR COLOURING OR WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT & YOU END UP COMING OUT WITH AN OLD LADY STYLE!! PLUS THEY ALWAYS THINK A "TRIM"  IS A MJOR HAIR CUT  & YOU END UP WITH VERY SHORT HAIR &  NO BANGS!!    Anonymous

These tips are for Karen.  Go to a salon and have reconstructor treatments done, those treatments will hopefully save your hair, I've heard positive things about the treatments. Go to the salon just for the treatments, I know you want your hair fixed now, but don't let anyone talk you into coloring just yet.  You need a hair color specialist,just because someone is a stylist doesn't mean they are good with color. I don't know if I can say the name of this product or person. Robert Craig has a web site with his hair color and products, you can even call him for advice. If not, then you need to look up a hair color specialist that does hair color correction. If you see a person that has hair you like,just go up to them and ask who does their hair, it's worth a shot to even ask if they color it. You could try a demi permanent color first to see if you like the color, if you do then you could have it done in the same color,but permanent.  I know what it is like to have your hair destroyed and what it takes to get it back to something that looks at least okay and presentable. I'm thinking it will take me at least three years to even begin to like my hair again, I know what it is like not wanting to go anywhere. Hopefully this will help you understand the base colors in hair color. If you have to much red , a green base helps get rid of red ,to much orange,then you need something with a purple base, to much gold(yellow) then blue base. If the hair is really porous and damaged then it can be very tricky to correct though even using the right bases. If the hair is bleached it is much more complicated,you will need to put back all the tones that where taken out. M.A.

I just recently went to the salon to get my hair touched up because the first day of my Sophomore year in high school is tomorrow. The woman who did my hair took an electric razor to the back of my hair (like the kind they use on men) and shaved the back entirely too short. I have about 6 inches of hair left all around, and I want to scream because I have to go to school tomorrow looking like that. I don't know what possessed the woman to take a razor to my hair when all I asked for was a quick trim.  Liz


Years ago I wanted to be blonde (naturally dark brown, curly hair), and, thinking I'd get a good deal from the local beauty college, I asked the student for a beige shade. I didn't know what she was trying to do but at least she didn't hide me from seeing it... however, she just kept telling me the colour would look better once it dried .. I had tiger stripes on the crown, and the rest was flaming orange.  K.

I went to [my hairdresser] and said I wanted high and low lights, with ash blonde tones.  NO GOLD at all.  This woman had total confidence and off she went.  After the foils were taken off I nearly fell off the chair.  My hair was soooo dark and you could hardly see a highlight through my hair.  I was so shocked.  She was as well, but covered it up by saying she would just put on a little toner, which would tone the hair down.  But kept repeating it looked wonderful/fabulous.  After the toner was taken off there was really difference.  She suggested she do a few more foils on the top of my head.  By this time I had been in this salon for 3 1/2hrs!  And I had a function to go to that night.  After those foils were taken off it was 6pm and I had to race off to get ready for my function....  still with the hair so dark.  She kept repeating that I looked fabulous.  Well at least one person did.  No-one else liked the colour of my hair that night.  On Monday after work I was back in the salon to say that everyone said my hair looked terrible, that the colour was not me, and that it looked very flat and dull.  She AGREED with me and said she would redo an overall colour and then put some high and low lights through the top.  Again I was there 3 hrs and this time all this gold showed through my hair.  Again she put a toner all over to try and tone down the colour, especially the gold that I hate and specifically asked not to have.  And again she kept saying how wonderful it looked, so much better.  Now in the salon all she has are a few down lights.

As soon as I got back to my own place I took one look in the mirror and burst into tears.  The colour was so horrible;  all this gold that I had specifically asked not to have.  Again the next day at work everyone said my hair looked terrible!  The hairdresser/owner has said that after a couple of washes the colour would fade and it would look lovely....  A couple of washes and it would fade!!!???  By now I have spent $350 and it is going to 'fade' after a couple of washes....  I phoned her and said I hated the colour and was still not happy.  She told me to wait a couple of days and then come back if I was still unhappy.  So a few days later I went back and again she starts on my hair.  This time I end up ORANGE, with a burnt scalp - and my hair so broken an dry it is falling out!  Before I left the salon she told me to see how I felt the next day and to give her a call.  I got home and my hair was so bad I could not even go out that night.  I spoke to her on the phone the next day and she suggested that I come in on the Monday after work and she would try again, that she did not know what was going wrong, and she could not find a colour consultant available to meet with me to sort out the problem.  Another miserable weekend in hiding.  Monday afternoon I arrived at her salon to be told by her that there was NOTHING she could do for my hair, that I was to find someone else to sort out 'my problem'.  She said she would give me a refund for all the money that I had spent....  Ask me if I got this money!  No way.  I have phoned this so-called hairdresser, I have written even saying I will take legal action if she does not refund me, have even had a friend who's a lawyer phone asking for the money.  Even went in there yesterday and was told to leave the salon and to stop 'hassling her'. How dare she!  This so-called hairdresser is running a business, is offering a service.  She should be totally held accountable for her actions.  Where is the fairness that I have to now find another hairdresser who will take on the mess of my hair.  And all the extra money that I have to pay to have my hair repaired and corrected to the colour I have chosen.  Has anyone got any pointers and help for me?
  Karen
Years ago I wanted to be blonde (naturally dark brown, curly hair), and, thinking I'd get a good deal from the local 
beauty college, I asked the student for a beige shade. I didn't know what she was trying to do but at least she didn't
hide me from seeing it... however, she just kept telling me the colour would look better once it dried ..I had tiger
stripes on the crown, and the rest was flaming orange. Anonymous
SHORT AND NOT SO SWEET .......as of 2 days ago I have  the worst hair I have ever had in my life and this even includes the Tonettes Home  Perms my mom put in when I was a child. I said a "light body perm and shape up my hair" that's all . I now look exactly like Buckwheat with light skin, same curl same cut. I just need 5 minutes alone with her hair that's all I ask. The woman doesn't need a license just a lawnmower!  From a reader

This is a tip that might help someone. Once I had this horrible short hair cut that I was growing out and I couldn't do anything with it. I would curl it and that made it look so much better, but the curl would not stay know matter what I did, with in half an hour my hair would look like a floppy mess again. I got desperate and bought so many different products hoping something would hold the curl. Nothing worked until I tried this shampoo called Wash N Curl. It seems like it works better on shorter styles if your hair is straight. You do have to curl it, I used hot rollers or a curling iron. I noticed that they have a Wash N Curl conditioner now. The shampoo sure did save me from walking around looking horrible.  I hope this helps someone.
  Anonymous

After reading a few comments, I would like to add my own tips for being a  "believable blonde"  Since my hair is naturally dark brown, I am well versed in the brassy, yellowish and red after-effects of bleaching. And I know how hard it is to correct. First of all- I agree that too many first-timers make the mistake of going 'too blonde' and it looks not only very fake, but very unheathy. Real blond hair has dimension and is rarely all one flat yellow color. However, I continue to bleach because I absolutely love the flexibility of being able to keep it light ( with a Fanci-ful toner ) <>OR darken my hair termporarily whenever I want with a harmless no chemical color like 'Clariol Jazzing' or the 'Beautiful' collection.  Sure, it washes out in a few shampoos, but there's no damage either. And I immediately notice how much thicker my hair looks after I darken it to a medium/dark blond.
 
Here's my tip....As anyone who has dark hair knows, the worst time is when you first bleach your re-growth and get that terrible bright yellowish bleached look. Often it may not match with the rest of your hair if you've been using a tonor or semi-permanent color.  So immediately after bleaching, towel dry the hair and after a few minutes apply 'Jazzing' in MOCHA. I know it sounds dark ( dark brown )....But after leaving it on for about 30 minutes and applying medium heat with a hair dryer....My roots looked totally natural, it always comes out a rich deep blonde with NO red or brassy highlights. Basically, like a natural blonde's roots would look.  And the best part is- It washes out gradually after a few days, and by then that horrific yellowish bleached look has usually oxidized, so you are left with a more natural shade of blonde.
 
I tried a whole barrage of different no-chemical colors ( and mixed combinations of colors ) and this is the one shade that worked the best consistently. I finally stopped just trying the 'blonde'  colors and went darker and darker until I got what looked most natural. Obviously this tip might work best for those with darker hair.  I find this simpler and better for your hair than applying and re-applying toners that contain ammonia and/or peroxide each time you re-touch your hair. Bleaching your hair is bad enough- try to keep the chemicals to a mimunum and your hair looks like healthier.   Alexandra
 
I would like to add some insight of my own. This has to do with stylists not listening to their clients. Please listen when a client tells you what works best for their hair. It's their head. If a client tells you the razor can't be used on their hair it's because they do not like the results. Please invest in the proper tools. It's very important to have different texture shears. I have thick, coarse hair. Believe me I know how it needs to be cut. After a proper shaping I like to add volume and lift and get the bulkiness out. I hate when stylists tell me a thinning shear with 30 teeth will do the same job as a texture shear with 14 teeth. Very different effect. The thinning shear only makes it flat. Men like the thinning shear. A woman wants volume, the proper texture shear provides this. I've also had stylist tell me adding texture with the scissors is the proper way to do it. Maybe, but not on my head. I know what works and what doesn't. I've lived with this hair for 38 years. A friend gave some good advice and told me to invest in my own texture shears. This way I know the right ones will be used. Please remember that it is the client that keeps you in business. Listen to the client and if you have ideas, discuss them with us. Don't do something because you want to create a "masterpiece." It would be better to try that with your own head.  Pam

Here's a tip for Trish. Use Prell shampoo or dish detergent on your hair,it will make the color fade out much faster. Be sure to use a good conditioner afterwards though,some leave in conditioner, like Infusium would be good to. This works on permanent hair color also. I know what you mean about hiding, I've been there.
Anonymous

Thanks for making me be able to find some humor in these stories.  As  I read them it makes me feel not so horrible for my own awful  experience.  I had recently had a color and highlight done that was really bland.  I decided I wasn't happy with it - it looked really blah, so I went back to the salon to have it done a richer color,  even showed magazine pictures of the color I wanted.  Well, now I  have gone from brownish tones to purple/mahogany color with black tips at the ends.  My children tell me I look like a "goth".  After crying over it, I went to another salon who said that if I was to fix  it right away that I risked hair damage.  So we opted for the healthier hair solution which means I have to wait several weeks with this hideous color on my hair.  I remain in hiding until then.   Fortunately, it is not a permanent color and will eventually fade.   No, our hair does not define who we are, but it is still an  enormous  part of our appearance and how we feel about ourselves.  Trish

My uncle is a hairstylist in Massachusetts. He's very talented (now) and knows his work well. He's been doing this for quite a few years...since at least 1989 or so. Now, as many know, the process of becoming a stylist involves practice...and oftentimes this practice imposes itself upon one's relatives. I was the victim of such an experiment.  I was living in Waltham. At the time, I had shoulder-length brown hair with some minor auburn highlights. I'd been known to perm my hair fairly frequently, and it was getting a touch on the dry side, but since my hair is baby-fine and flat otherwise, I thought it was needed. After all, nobody had mentioned "undercutting" or "razor cuts" to me!  I'd come to visit my parents to find my uncle working on my mother's hair. After a quick moment, my mother dove into her role as "Jewish Parent" and decided my hair needed work, and Ira was going to do it. I nearly froze and ran on the spot, because back then...if she decided my hair needed work, it didn't matter what style I wanted...she'd tell my uncle her thoughts, he'd nod to me, and boom. My hair was in the style she demanded...often far shorter than I wanted. Far, far shorter. It's the real reason I stopped letting him cut my hair (even though he thinks it's because of what happened next.)  You see, he'd gotten some auburn dye to improve my highlights. Oh, yes. She'd planned it in advance, can you tell? They pushed and pushed, and finally I caved. I sat down, and he got to work, pulling strands of my hair through that plastic cap of his, strand by strand. Problem is, his supplier didn't give him the dark auburn color highlights the box said it was. They'd givin him strawberry blonde. Time passes, and they clean out my hair...and he gasps and stares. My mother gasps and stares. I demand to know what's wrong, and they tell me.  "Maybe it will dry darker."  "Not dark enough," responds my mother. And she was right. My hair was brighter and lighter than Lucille Ball's ever was. I mean, it glowed. Bright. My uncle was mortified, but I thought it amazingly funny. I asked to keep it overnight, so I could show my friends.  The next day, I return, and he's there with solid brown hair dye, hoping to darken it. It worked...but only enough to make my hair the same copper as the Duracell Copper-top battery. Not a good color for me, either. But he thought that a good style could make it liveable until it wore off.  We waited a week, and then he goes to perm it. He washes it, he styles it, and I look at it, and run my hand through a part to get it smoother...and a clump comes out.  That was when I screamed and cried. It was the only clump that fell out, thankfully, but trust me...it took him years to live it down.  Marilyn

NEVER use bleach on hair that you have used henna on. You will be lucky if you have any hair left if you do. Always tell your hair dresser if you have used henna. They should know that you do not put chemicals on top of it.
Anonymous

This is for Andrea. Don't put anymore color on your hair. Go to a salon and get conditioning treatments,it may help your hair from being so gummy. I don't know if you like short hair,but maybe after your hair grows for a few months you can get a shorter cut.It sounds like the person that did your hair has no clue about different hair types and should not be doing hair. All the chemicals she put on your hair is just to much. Maybe after you get some trims you can darken your hair. I hope you try the conditioning treatments. My heart really goes out to you. 
Anonymous 

I write this as a comfort to anyone else who has experienced anything similar.  As we speak, my scalp, feeling parched and dry, painful with a couple of open sores, and very painful reminder of my first visit to a small-town hair salon hoping to be the beautiful natural blonde.  I have dyed my hair with Clairol Torrid's Flame red for years now, and only this past year began using Henna auburns.  I have always been curious about being a blonde, and went to a stylist who worked out of her home in a small town in Wyoming.  Despite her saying she had owned her own salon for 26 years, I should have backed away when she appeared rather clueless about hair.  Anyways, after attempting to get light blonde highlights, after sitting under a scalp-burning hair dryer for a little over an hour with bleach foils in (Matrix Color Graphics), I left with a funky punky city look- orangey/banana colored highlights in flame red hair.  I was going for the natural look, but came out looking like a punk.  I went back to the stylist 5 days later, and she decided to entirely bleache my head in a double-process.  She scheduled two other customers during that time, and sat me with bleach in my hair for 50 minutes, and then washed it out and put me under the heat for another burning 25 minutes while she cut another customer's hair.  I went back into her chair and she put an ash blonde haircolor and foils in.  The whole time hair was falling out in massive clumps, shedding like a cat.  My lap was covered in a thick layer of hair that broke (fell?) out during this process.  I am left with hair that has the consistency of glue if you roll it between your fingers, it takes 3 hours for it to dry, It has lost its elasticity and any curl.  I have a brillo pad for my hair.  It wa never thick, but it was healthy and below my shoulders.  Now it is a painful and scratchy yellow reminder of what can go wrong.  I know that I can't dye it dark right away, the thought makes me want to scream in pain.  But I also know that it will take at least a year to recover from this nightmare.  Hearing other horror stories really put it into perspective.  Needless to say, it made me even more anxious knowing how long it will take for this to grow out.  Ladies, you are not alone.
Andrea

I am a 14 year old girl...I had beautiful long hair that was red. I have an obsession with red hair I just love it. So I decided one day after midterms I would have of my two friends dye my hair RED. Not a good idea. I totally freaked out when I got out of the shower! it was the most horrible color ever! Not only was it ugly but it wasn't put on evenly and it had 3 different colors in it! My friends said I should dry it and then see what it looked like, so I did...yup still horrible so I just broke down and started bawling to make matters worse they tried to tell me how cute it was and how original it was! I called my mom she was mad at first then she became my savior she gave me all the numbers in town and round for hairstylists, but they were all booked for like 2 weeks and I couldn't wait that long! So I asked my most reliable hair dresser if my mom could fix it with a medium brown and she said it would work. But oh do i miss my red hair, I am never dying my hair outside a salon again!! Never trust your friends when it comes to your hair-- Kate


    I have miraculously sparkling healthy hair - it's naturally light ashen blonde with alot of white streaks and about 4 times a year I apply 1/2 and 1/2 the following to add gold tones to it and help make the white less noticeable;
Clairol Brass Busters 30D Flaxen Blond
Level 9/Base Blue-Violet
20 vol. Creme Developer
    I mix it in a ceramic bowl and apply it to the roots with a toothbrush and then after about 20 min. comb it gently down the hair slightly and leave it for another 20 min. Then I rinse it all out and use a really good deep conditioner.  Makes my hair pretty slippery and almost greasy looking for a day or two but that's okay.
    The first few days it looks a bit reddish but I use Freida Sheer Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner for the first week and the little bit of red drops out very quickly and the lovely golden tones remain.
    It is exceptionally soft and like super fine silky baby hair and you don't see any grow out because at the top of the head and the front it is mostly whitish now anyway.
    I don't use much hairspray and refuse to use mousse/gel/etc.  I rarely use a curling iron and mostly just use a blow dryer on cool with a round brush after my hair is halfway dry (which doesn't take long) and now and then I will use velcro rollers at the crown.
    I like to put on Redken Anti-Snap and wrap it in a cotton towel when I get out of the shower and then let it air dry halfway before I do anything and many days I just let it air dry and do nothing. 
    It is amazing to me why on earth people can not just work with what they have.  Sure I always wanted to look like Farrah Fawcett or Sigourney Weaver but it just ain't gonna happen!  I have tried perms before but every single time they either do not take or they go straight within two weeks so now I just let it be straight and sleek.
Michelle

I was invited to a TGIF dance with a special guy.  I wanted to look my best and managed to fit in a hair appointment just an hour or so before the big date!  The hair dresser (someone fairly new to me) decided to pile my hair on top of my head
 in tiny ringlets.  Each ringlet was put into place with a hairpin.  I literally had a 'head full of metal' when I left the salon!  That evening, while dancing, my prince charming was astonished to see hairpins raining from my hair dropping on me, him and all over the dance floor! Stiff, loopy curls popped out all over my head.  It was a real clown show.  I was mortified!  Eve

<>For the person that says these stories are pathetic. You are not in their shoes; you have no idea what they are going through. You are pathetic for trying to put down people that you don't even know. I guess that is what it takes for you to feel good about yourself.  All these people on here are not clumping all hair dressers into one. If they don't ever want their hair cut again that is their choice.Maybe they have had enough of hairdressers doing their own thing on their hair. The way you think is exactly why I don't trust most hair dressers . What you wrote just comes across as hateful and uncaring.By the way I have paid over one hundred dollars to have my hair done in an upscale salon in Newport Beach. Worst cut I have seen in all my day. What you pay for is not what you get. There are hairstylists who would disagree with you about the razor. My new hairstylist is  great and gasped when she saw that a razor had been used on my hair,my hair is not curly either. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I don't understand why hairstylists have to write in and try to put down people. These people are only telling what their hair stylist did to them. Anonymous

Omg, these stories are pathetic. I like how all of you are grouping every hairstylist in the world as one horrible person who can't
do hair. And the girl who "had to take medication"...wow, I've never been so embarassed for someone. As for all of you and your "razoring" issues, the only hair type that cannot be cut with a razor is curly hair because curly hair needs blunt edges or it frizzes out. I go to one of the best hair schools in the world, so yes I would know. It's all about communication. You need to communicate well with people who have hair you like and about their stylist and THEN AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, the stylist herself. Spend a little money and go see a good stylist and you might actually get what you pay for. Also ask them what school they went to.
It makes quite a difference, or even go to a really good school if there is one in your area. It only takes a couple of days to learn
how to cut hair so ask for an almost graduate. Since you are a grade to them as well as a client, they will try even harder to give
you exactly what you want. After each step of the hair cut, they have to get it checked by a licensed instructor who will fix any mistakes. I just find it incredible that you people are saying, "I will never let another hairstylist ever touch my hair again!" That's like saying your first grade teacher couldn't write her abc's, so you're never going to let another teacher teach you for the rest of your life. Drama drama drama. Honestly as a stylist, most clients have no idea what "long layers" or "stacked" or "razored" really are,
hence the importance of communication.


My comments are for Mariela. True we are not forced in any way to get a haircut. In fact we are paying, usually high dollar, for this service. The public wanting decent hair is what keeps a stylist in business. It would serve a stylist well to listen to the client. The client knows their own hair. We know what works and what doesn't. I have told a
stylist my hair could not be razored. Next thing I know she's starting to run the razor through my hair. I did stop her and her answer was most stylists don't know how to use the razor or when to replace it. Well, she made a mess of my hair. It took many cuts to fix that damage. You can say we are shallow for thinking so much of our hair. Personally
I don't feel shallow. Nor do I think anyone that lost their hair for any reason would feel shallow by wearing a wig. Our hair helps us feel comfortable. I know when I cut my hair off due to the bad razor cut or my most recent highlighting disaster I didn't like people calling me baldy or buzz. Those comments are downright cruel. Please don't make
any of us dealing with a bad hair situation feel any worse by saying this is our fault. Remember the stylist is supposed to be the professional. Pam I am so tired of hairdressers not taking responsibility for their mistakes. How can we SPEAK UP if we have no clue that the hairdresser is butchering us. A lot of times the hair is butchered in the back ,we don't have eyes in the back of our head! or they turn us away from the mirror . We don't notice the butcher job until it is too late. Often we don't notice until we get home and take a good look at it in our mirror. I really do believe there are a lot of TALENTLESS hairdressers out there,it's very hard to find a good one and good hairdressers don't try to blame the client when the hair doesn't look right.Here is some advice for hairdressers,most often then not the client does know their hair better then you do and knows what will and won't work,YOU need to listen and stop doing your own thing on your clients hair,nine times out of ten that will end in disaster. I am completely furious and tired of hairdressers mutilating and taking my long hair from me after spending YEARS growing it back out. This time not only was my length taken,but my thickness too.Here's some more advice -- Don't use the razor or thinning shears on your clients hair not unless you were asked to and if you are a good hair dresser you will know what type of hair texture you NEVER use them on. For hairdressers that are so tired of their clients that they are bitter,you need to stop doing hair because your clients hair will pay dearly for your bitterness.The clients are forced into a bad situation when they cannot see what the hairdressers is doing,plus if you're good, the hair shouldn't be ruined should it?  Melissa

I'm 16 and I have had a bad hair experience. It started When my naturally dark brown hair had started growing out from the coppery streaks that had been put in a month ago. I decided that I wanted to put new streaks in to cover up the re-growth. So I bought the Garnier high-lighting kit and had my friend help me highlight my hair. It was all going well after we applied through my hair once, but I thought that I wanted it a bit lighter. So I had the highlights applied a second time and after i had it blow dried I discovered that the top layer of my hair was a mess of ORANGEY coloured hair. I felt like crying. And so after I dyed my hair back to permanent dark brown, but the colour seems to be fading out and I don't know why. So now you can see the Orange-ness in my hair coming through. AND I DO NO WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL LOOKING LIKE THIS. EEeeek!  Sarah


I have been a hairstylist for five years now and if I told you my horror stories with awful customers you would really have something to cry about. First of all let me start by telling you that I too have a bad hair cut as I write to you. I too just had one of the worst color experiences of my life and have pictures to prove it. And last but not least I have alopecia which makes my hair fall out in round sections of my head leaving it completely bald. Imagine all of this and I'm a hairstylist! My biggest concern with what I have just read is that all of these women act as if they were forced into a bad situation. Call me crazy but if I feel uncomfortable with what's going on with my hair I'm going to say something before I have to run home crying. This just shows how shallow our society can be. Do we think that hair defines who we are? Let me tell all of you that if hair is what defines you or makes you a better person you have to take a good look in the mirror and reevaluate your life. Or if you are so disgusted with our profession you should learn how to cut hair, color and perm. That way you won't be subjected to our "evil" talentless hands. You may think I am bitter about the subject but how may people can just walk off the street into your work place and tell you how to do your job. It is not as easy as you think.  I want to give some advice to those of you who suffer from any bad services in a beauty salon. We can only continue to ruin your hair if you don't SPEAK UP!  Mariela


I was going to cosmotology school and working 2 jobs at the same time. I  had bleach blond hair, by touching the roots up every 2 weeks. I used a peroxide bleach with no ammonia since my hair was already medium golden -ash blond naturally. Well it came to be where I had to ride a bicycle 10 miles a day as well because my car broke down and I just went through a domestic violence divorce ( bad guy)...I was sooooo tired from working and school and biking it,
I hardly had time to do laundry across the street , and fit in time for sleep. ( I had to type up a schedule of my weekly activities) I just wanted to dye my hair because the roots were showing pretty bad, and thats not kool when u r in cosmo school ..... I fell asleep with the hair dye on for 4 1/2 hours.....thank god there was no ammonia in it. I would have probably been bald. I still had hair, but it was damaged and now it's growing out. My advice, if you're too busy to even get sleep , do not attempt to dye your own hair. HEE HEE. From a Reader


If this sounds like something anyone has gone through, please write to this site and give me advice.I had nice long hair.I decided to go to a salon and get a LITTLE BIT of a style done to my hair.I took pictures out of magazines of the hair style I wanted,I knew the style would work because I used to have it cut that way.I went to someone that I know and people I know go to him and highly recommended him to me.I have fine straight hair,but a lot of it. We talked about my hair type and he said that he cuts my type of hair all the time.The haircut I wanted was very basic,you know that style that is a couple inches below your shoulders with layers that start at your chin.Well, that is not at all what he gave me.My layers started too high ,like up to my ears,he left the back too long for the beginning short layers, making the bottom of my hair look thin,but to top it all off he used a razor on my hair,like half way up my layers,So all my hair looks thin.I NEVER allow anyone to use a razor on my hair,that is a HUGE NO NO on fine hair.The hair cut I wanted did not involve a razor at all and he did not have my permission to use it.I couldn't see what he was doing,So I had no idea of what he did.It's been seven months since this happened.I have worn my hair up this whole time because it cannot be worn down at all.The proportion of it is all wrong and my hair looks like a frayed rope, thin and stringy.When this first happened I tried curling it,but for some reason it would not even curl with a curling iron.I do not trust hairdressers anymore,they always ruin my hair,especially when it is long.I have no idea what to do with my hair.It has grown some,but the way it is growing out looks HORRIBLE.
I need to have it cut into a better proporton and try to get some of this razored part off. I already know that one trim will not even come close to getting rid of the razored part.I don't even call this a bad cut; a bad cut would have grown out by now,he mutilated my hair.I'm sure he can sleep good at night,but I haven't the entire seven months.I cannot even describe how angry I am . I have been so depressed over this that I had to take medication for depression and I have to take sleeping pills in order to sleep.What he did to my hair is unforgivable.Not only do I have to suffer because of this,but my husband does too.
I only go out of the house if I have to,otherwise I stay inside most of the time.He ruined my hair and my self esteem all at once.I'm not worried about having long hair anymore,all I want is something that will look at least cute and normal.Once I get my hair to look decent I am NEVER going to let a hairdresser touch it. They need to realize we are walking billboards of their work and when people ask, I do tell them who did this to my hair. 
Missy

I have coarse curly hair past my shoulders. For many years, I have been trying to grow it long - so I only take a tiny bit off the ends. My hair is naturally a chestnut color, but because I like it dark, I've been coloring it the darkest brown--a moisturizing type color that goes over my natural color. Because my hair dresser colored my ends each time I went in for a color, it started to look black. Some people thought it was striking (I have very pale skin), but others found it "goth" looking. When my roots started growing in this time, instead of coloring over them with the dark color, I decided I wanted my natural color to grow in but I didn't want to wait years for it to grow in. Boy, now I regret it. My hair dresser decided against taking all the color out of my hair and decided to go with highlights the color of my natural hair. Well, the first day, it seemed okay. I also got some layers in my hair. Now, three days later, my hair has turned about six different shades ranging from white-blonde to orange to brassy to brown. Ugh!! Not only that - but the bleach TOTALLY destroyed my beloved healthy hair. I have worked years and years, taking vitamins and putting oils on my hair to keep it strong and healthy (which isn't always easy with curly hair), now it's all destroyed in just a few hours. I'm so sick, I could cry. Now I have a big frizzy, dryed-out mess. The only comfort is that I can put lots of conditioning things in it - treatments, and oils, but it's so much work! I just want my old hair back.  Lila

I wanted to cry as I read those awful stories...I have been there!!  But.....I got some good tips here for everyone and I hope they help.
Hair Color.  Go to a search engine and type in "roots only".  You should pull up this website  www.hair-coloring.com.  You can purchase for a few dollars this plastic bottle with a large hollow comb on the cap.  You put your hair color (mixed) in the bottle, screw on the comb cap and and comb your scalp.  In less than 10 seconds (I am SERIOUS!!) you have done your roots.  I could not believe it.  NO OVERLAP.  You use less hair color.  The amount of roots you do is tiny compared to what you or a hairdresser would do.  After about a year you have much healthier hair.  I used to do my roots every 4 to 6 weeks and it was a big deal and always on my day off (yeah I lead such an exciting life). 

Blond Hair Color.  So you wanna be blond. I dont blame you!!  I love it and done right it looks beautiful on just about everyone no matter what your nationality or ethnicity.   One mistake I see women make is choosing a color too light!! The pictures on the box looks pretty but are not accurate for most of us.    Look around you at natural blondes.  They look light enough and really pretty.  Its like women are afraid no one will notice their blond hair unless it is really bleached but that is not true.  Blond comes in all colors, caramel, honey, bronze, ash, gold, strawberry etc. The first thing you should do is pick the darkest blond you can find.  Dont freak out if you think it is not light enough.  Wear it for a few days.  Ask your friends about it and notice who looks at you, plus it will lighten slightly in a few days as you wash it.  Still dont like it?  Dont bleach it lighter yet.  It should still be healthy and you can go to a reputable hairdresser, tell her you use a ONE STEP color on your hair and you want a few pale blond highlights put in.  This will look really natural.  If you truly want to go lighter, please just test on one strand and then see if that is what you really want.  P.S.  If you like the blond hair you got but think it is a little too brassy or yellowy, you can use toners on them, they last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks and give you that natural blond look.  They wont damage your hair if they are the ones that DO NOT use developer.  Just put 'em on and wait.  P.S.S.  Only color your hair all the way through one or two times.  After that you must ONLY do your roots from then on or you will wreck your hair.

If your hair is brassy after a while purchase Clairol Shimmer Lights blue shampoo.  Leave up to five minutes for it to soak in if you need to.  The longer you leave it on, the cooler it gets.  If it gets too blue or greyish looking, purchase   Shimmer Lights Gold Shampoo.  Use alone, or mix with the blue in equal or unequal parts and experiment until you get the color you want or use toners.
 
Hairbreaking.  
1.  If your hair is long enough, every night before you go to sleep, put it up in a ponytail with a cloth hairtie, or do a braid or do two pigtails.  Dont make it tight, it should be very comfortable. Do this religiously!!!
2.    Use a satin pillow case
3.    Go as long as possible without using shampoo.  Use super hot water to wash your hair or only wash the bangs or the top of your scalp.  This was so weird at first but I found out I could actually do this and my hair looked good!!!  You will probably not go as long in the warm weather. 
4.    Put hair in ponytail and just wash top of scalp in sink.
5.    Get a blow dryer that has a NO HEAT setting (I mean zero heat) and use that exclusively.  Yes it takes longer but it is worth it!!!! You can get that blow dry look.  After your healthy hair grows in, every once in awhile when you are in a rush you can use heat.
6.     When you hair is damp or almost dry, put in velcro rollers.  Yes it does take longer (go do something glamourous like laundry while you are waiting) but it is so worth it to have beautiful undamaged hair.  I love making my hair all puffed up and big knowing that I did not use a speck of heat.  Be patient for results.  As your healthy hair grows in you wont see it for a few months. 
7.    Colored hair can be very stretchy when wet.  If you go to get a haircut, insist the hairdresser cut it dry or wash it but let it dry almost completely.  Why?  Because she will tug on it and pull on it as she cuts it and it will seem even but as it dries, it will contract and look shorter and crooked. 

First I would like to say that I have had a couple of bad hair cuts but not in years now. I went to get my bangs and hair trimmed. I went to this same place a couple of months ago and had the side swept bangs cut. I loved them, great job. Well tonight I went in at 7 they close at 8. That is a whole hour, well I sat there for 45 mins, then they called my name. I sat down in the chair and the girl ask me what I wanted done, of course I said TRIM my bangs and explained to her how the other girl told me to tell anybody else that cut my bangs how to do it, she said ok yea I know how to do that. So she proceeded to cut. I want you to know she then had the nerve to say to me, Oh you didn't tell me you had a cow lick!!!! Excuse me, nobody told me that I did, anyways. I looked in the mirror, and to my dismay, the girl had cut the shorter side of my bangs about 2 milimeters from my hair line!!!! What on Earth was she thinking. I don't know how to fix this. I guess I will start wearing headbands. Poor me, heartbroken hair
I have never written in to any magazine, web site, newspaper with a review, opinion, or question. Now I want to post a billboard advertisement warning women with long hair to watch out. Hair stylists do not like long hair. They will try to cut your hair short no matter what you tell them. I do not know why. When I go in a salon for a trim I always watch them cut my hair. I have had to stop several stylists after asking 'show me what you are cutting'. They are always about to cut six inches or more when I've asked for one or two inches. After I stop them they always insist they should cut off more. Don't be afraid to walk out; you will never regret it but you will more often regret that you didn't.  Anonymous

After 2 years of talking about getting a spiral perm, I finally broke down and did it. From the moment I walked into the salon the hairdresser argued with me, saying my hair was dyed when it was not. She told me the best perm for me would be a spiral perm at 80 dollars. I was happy at the price considering alot of smaller less known places quoted me over 100 dollars because of my excessively long hair. I told her I wanted big curls, not small kinky ones..she told me blue rods would be best..i figured she was the stylist and she knew best. I sat down in the chair, and read the latest Cosmo while she did her magic. She tugged and tattered my hair until my scalp was sore and then applied the lotion, which promptly ran down my face and into my ears. She then walked away and begain to ignore me, which i was fine with as I just wanted to read anyway. She returned about 30 mins later and hurried me to the washing station where she washed the solution from my hair. She spent a good 10 mins then talking me into buying their shampoo brand because it would put the moisture back in. I said I already used Paul Mitchell shampoo and their brand conditioner but she wouldn't let it go. Finally she took the rods out, and I got to see my hair....I thought at first the curls were too small..but I shrugged it off, paid and left. I went shopping for a jacket afterwards and all through the store people were staring at me. I thought it was because my hair looked that good! noooopee! I got to a mirror and noticed my hair was up to the ceiling, poodlefied and frizzy. Not to mention my naturally red hair was now a light strawberry blonde.  I nearly broke down in tears, but I couldn't help but laugh instead. I'm sure that's what stopped me from crying. I decided since I walked around so long like that, I might as well grab some haircare products to try and tame it while I was there.  I applied and applied and applied..my hair finally looked decent..but I awoke to the same poodle mess the next morning. NEVER ever again will I get a perm. I should have just been happy with the moderately wavy locks I had.  From a Reader

I have been in the same situation that Sally is in.My suggestion is don't torture yourself by looking at your old lock of hair.(I also did that.) Give the lock to someone in your family or something.Now for recovering your bleached hair.Get conditioning treatments at a salon or try hot oil treatments,you can get those in the beauty supply store or maybe even the market .Keep trimming your hair,if you keep it in a layered style that will help remove the bleached hair faster.I know that you said you do not want to put color on your hair ever again,but as your hair grows out the contrast will be to much.I would suggest using a demi semi permanent color on the bleached part so that it will at least blend with your natural color.Don't put the color on your new growth.I would get allot of trims before putting any color though.Be careful with the base color to.Try gold or red base.No green, blue, violet or ash base.Don't worry about your natural color looking black.It will look lighter as it grows out.I doubt if your natural color has changed.It just looks dark compared to the lighter color.Hair grows about half an inch a month.Most of the bleached part should be off in about ten months if you keep trimming.The demi semi permanent colors are not as harsh on hair as permanent color.They do fade,but so does permanent color.  Missy
 
Since I was a child ( I am now 43 ) I have always had brown straight waist length hair which everyone went mad over & always told me not to touch or spoil with hair dye, perm etc. Oh how I wish I'd listened! Two years ago after a fit of depression I hacked off my waist length hair & cut it into a short layered style ( I'm good at cutting my own hair! :-) Anyhow, I looked good & if I'd left it at that I woulda been o.k, but I decided to be a platinum blonde...I bought the kit but something went drastically wrong resulting in most of my hair being washed down the plug hole breaking off in the mid back of my head to within a centimeter in some areas of my scalp! I also went blonde alright, big brassy blonde...anyhow I managed a style where I could comb back the front sections of hair to cover the broken area & I wore it like this for around a year...not content with one disaster I decided to dye it again & this time it turned out a ginger shade! I went to get some advice from the hairdressers & they told me to use an ash toner which I did & it went to areasonable, bluish tinted blonde. Over time the blue tint disappeared & the end result was a rather good pale blonde...however over the next six months my roots have grown back & I have noticed instead of the brown hair I use to have it is now black for whatever reason! Anyhow, even after all these mistakes, not to be outdone I decided to get a decent job done at a proffessional salon instead of relying on my lack of expertise at home...how wrong can you possibly be??? The result is the 2-3 inch of roots that I wanted bleached in some places are white & I mean just like the snow! I have patchy gingery places & the blonde where there is any is a kinda greyish to it, it is also slightly frizzed in places which will be a nightmare when I have to wash it...I sit at home & wonder why...especially as I was beginning to think that my dark hair really wasn't so bad at all...I'm finished with the bleach & my hair looks like a mop...I recall days not so long ago that I had waist length chestnut hair & I could weep...when I cut it off that time I kept a hank of it just to remind me of how my hair looked..sometimes I get it out & feel it & wonder at it's natural beauty & I can't in a million years wonder how I did what I've done to the hair that everybody wanted as their own..I will never have it again, the chemical process has even changed it's natural colour from chestnut brown to black...I will never dye my hair again...it is even beyond tears...Sally, England.

My hair is natural medium brown and I had blonde highlights.  I went to a salon because I wanted to go all over blonde.  I told the stylist this and he said ok and went to go mix the color.  I was sitting in the chair and he was doing somebody else and I was noticing that the ends of my hair were still the same dark color and the top was turning this neon orangey gold color.  He came over and was like " Oh, thats weird."  He tried to put a toner on it and it just turned a color I would describe as the crayola color marigold at the top with the ends still being darker with blonde highlights.  I told him I did not like and he said he didn't think it was brassy at all.  I went home and my 10 year old sister was asking me why I died my hair red.  I was irate that I was allowed to leave the salon looking the way I did.  I called and the manager said he'd fix my hair for me.  When I sat down in the chair I told him what the problem was and when he got finished he said he thought it looked good but unfortuantely my hair is now just a lighter brassy red-blonde color. It looks hideous and unatural to me .  I spent all my money at that stupid place,  I can't afford to go anywhere else now, and I'm definately not going back there.  I'm ashamed to even leave the house now and I not sure what to do about this mess I have right now.
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I think I may have the answer for Betsi.Stripping the hair is when color is being removed.Sounds like the hairdresser used a dull razor on your hair.Using a razor is called texturizing.If your hair was dry and not wet then that would probably hurt.Also texturizing thins the hair out.Any technique done on your hair should never hurt. Melissa

Has anyone had their hair 'stripped' by the beautician as a cutting process in order to thin it? How is that supposed to work? I can't find out anything that explains what I just went through. Rather than using thinning shears, it sounded and felt like she was sawing on it with the edge of a seashell ! Wowser, it hurt! I couldn't see what tool she had in her hands because it smarted so that I had tears in my eyes. The process changed the shape of my style that we'd agreed to for 4 months and I don't like the new shape. Now it's been a week since she 'stripped' it and I still wake up with a headache and stinging scalp. Every shampoo I try burns. Was she trying to get rid of me as a customer? I've gone to her 4 times and always gave her a tip (20%). I'm not an ideal subject because my head is big and I had alot of hair, but I kept it short. Well, thanks, just writing this out helps me see I'd better not go back. Betsi



I couldn't agree more with Stephanie: "I don't know what it is about hairdressers----they see someone with beautiful long hair and they think
now that would be fun to really CUT." I'm 15, from the US, and I've had some awful hair moments. Ever since I was 11, I've started shaking when I get near one of those places. My most recent one was probably the onethat pissed me off the most. It happened almost exactly a year ago, October 9, 2004. My hair was curly, dark brown (to this day, I've never highlighted or coloured it) and below my tailbone. I loved it. I was going to get my hair styled for homecoming and I was nervous and kept reassuring myself, she won't cut it. I went into the place and the lady, Jennifer, had me sit down. She looked at my hair in utter disgust and combed it all out while my mom went toget an early dinner for my brother. She kept making sighing sounds like this was putting her out in a major way. From time to time, she would make rude comments. Another stylist walked past and said, wow, what long hair. Jennifer actually smirked at me in the mirror. I had bangs I'd been growing out for awhile and she asked "what are THESE?"I told her they were bangs I was growing out and she snorted. Then my mom come back and rather than asking me what I want to do, Jennifer says, "...Mom, what do you want to do with....this?" My mom just looked at me. Finally, at Jennifer's insistence, I agreed to get 3 inches cut off. I was facing a mirror and I suddenly noticed that my WET (keep in mind it's curly) hair was being cut to two or three inches below my shoulders. I just numbed myself up and didn't think about it. But, as stupid as it might sound, that experience was traumatizing. My mom paid 120 bucks for that little cut, but it ruined my freshman homecoming. I cried for the next 3 days. I haven't gotten my hair cut or trimmed professionally since, and now it's almost to my waist again. I just decided to do it myself from that point on. But I can't believe the number of rude and condescending hairdressers I've come across. Granted, there must be manyreally good ones, but I've had some bad experiences. This site made me feel a lot better, cause I see I'm not alone with this. Thanks, guys. Sophia
*****
Of course there are two sides to every story…The hairdresser who has had clients lie to her, who have botched up their own hair or demand certain things against advice. But there is my story of a disaster of a month ago which could have been avoided by good professional advice and better hair practice (after all we rely on the professional advice of hairdressers)!

My wedding has been planned for the past two years (for Dec this year) my bridesmaids and myself have been growing our hair for most of that time for the long flowing locks look to go with the theme of the wedding.  I have always been complimented on my lovely hair, but felt my hair needed a bit of curl for the wedding and if I got a perm now it would still have a nice wave by the time Dec comes.

Well I requested a consultation with the hairdresser who assured me that (when I told her I home coloured my hair and asked if my hair was sutiable for a perm) that it was strong hair and the perm would look lovely and that she would charge me $140.  So I went ahead and had to perm.  I felt the apprentice had left the solution on for too long I was forgotten most of the time and also the apprentice was not thorough in washing the solution off - especially the underneath bits.  Well when they were taking the rods out my hair was breaking off so they had to cut some off (that upset me!).  They gave me a complimentary card for a treatment and told me to come back next week.  I said I wanted to go home and let it dry naturally - well by the time it dried naturally it dried into a big dried out fuzz ball sticking straight up into the air!  I did not sleep all night and first thing in the morning I went back to the salon in tears.  They gave me a free treatment - said it looked overprocessed and I went back four times (free treatments) in all with no improvement, each time they had to cut more hair off/or it just broke off - most of the underneath hair had to be cut off at the scalp!  I have been too embarrassed to be seen in public or work and could not sleep so eventually had to go to the doctor and get sleeping tablets.  I have spend hundreds of dollars with "fixing protein products etc" which hasn't helped much.  Other hairdressers tell me when the hair is damaged to this extent the best thing is to cut it all off.  I have postphoned my wedding as I have lost my confidence and feel I would have an unhappy wedding day looking like this.  I have considered a wig that may be the next option.  I have not been back to the original hairdressers as I cannot face it, but have written a letter of complaint to them.  SAD LADY
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After reading about 1/2 of the entries on this site, I decided I had to write. I've been a hairdresser for about 22 years.
While there were a few people who were not happy with what I did with their hair over the years, many more were elated
that someone listened to them. My mistakes were mainly from failure to communicate, and were mainly the results of my
customers insisting that I do something that I actively did not advise, and often warned against. For example, when
someone says she wants her hair "thinned out", she is usually asking me to use channel shears, which WILL create
shorter layers that WILL stick out. This is a physics issue. If you remove hair held down and straight due to
the weight of the strand andgravity, the hair will stand up and get poufy. I cannot violate the laws of physics
any better than the next person. If I explain why I don't want to "thin" the hair because I know the customer
will not like the effects, they tell me that everyone else always does it, so I should too. At that point, I will
again say that I advise against it, but they are paying for my service, and they are in charge. Most of the time
they are glad that I didn't, and the few who demand wish they had not. Please do not ask us to thin hair that you
do not want layered. We can't do it.

As for chemicals of any kind, your hairstylist is always blamed when your perm or color doesn't turn out the way you want.
I cannot tell you how many times I have KNOWN that some chemical was put on a head of hair and the customer turned cartwheels denying that anything had been done. I have managed to wriggle
out of making bad situations worse by taking test strands of hair that had something in it, processing it, and showing
the end results to the customers. I had a little girl and her mother lie to me about a home perm done the DAY BEFORE,
on foam rubber rollers, burning the girl's head, and they LIED to me about the perm. I only got out of doing another perm
because I refused to do another perm over the girl's burnt scalp. Customers, three things: think physics before you
get your hair cut, always ask for a test strand BEFORE a chemical service, and be careful what you ask for on the grounds
that you may just get it. And, also think, dear customers, that many good stylists with sound reputations (like me) leave
hair dressing for better paying jobs because you expect us to not only cure your appearance boredom, but also to solve
all of your self-image issues,improve your relationships, get you a better job, and take ten pounds off of you.
That's a lot of power you give us. We are only human. What you ask us to do is greater than what you pray to your
Higher Power for. Drue-Marie

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One day i went into the hair salon with hair down to the middle of my back. My hair is curly so it takes a really long time to grow.
I told my hairdresser to take half and inch off my hair and give my bangs a trim because i was growing them out. I wasn't
facing a mirror so i had no clue what was happening after she had styled it she showed me my hair. It was at the middle of
my ear and one side was 2 inches shorter then the other it was awful.
  Aly
Okay girls, we all have our story or stories in some cases.  I started reading these (some of you made me feel better) and must confess, "I too, have been victimized by a hairdresser."  WHY is it that you can take a picture to a person who seems so confident that they can do anything only to end up wondering how they ever ended up in the business?! I'm 36 and love to keep my hair trendy.  I made the decision to go a shorter for a change in looks.  Did I ever get a change.  I am now the proud owner of a spiked mullet (which is impressive because I have curly hair).  This wasn't a good style when it was in style.  On me, with a square jaw line and high forehead, its tragic!  What is even worse is that I knew she was going to screw it up and I watched her do it and let her.  How can two people look at the same picture and come away with such different interpretations.  We even talked about my jaw line and forehead.  I always leave my bangs long and in fact ask for longer layers so it softens the look.  I would love an opportunity just once to give back to the hairdresser what she gives in a bad haircut.  You know- Our turn to take the scissors, have her sit in the seat with her back to the mirror, and just go to town.  The truth is a bad hair cut is an emotional trauma.  Your identity is shaken.  Yes hair grows back- but mine grows slow and by that I mean ssllllooooooowwwwww.  I did leave her shop crying.  Some things I will start doing to ensure that this doesn't happen again- 1. Show a picture ask what needs to be done to achieve the look.  If we disagree move on. 2.  If the hairdresser is trying to cut my hair at the same time she is working with another client RESCHEDULE! Multi-tasking may be the mode of operation for today but not at the expense of my hair.  3.  If she seems like she is having a bad day she probably is and your head will inevitably take the brunt of her inner turmoil.  It's not worth it to me.  4. Return to this website to remind myself of my new resolve.  I have promised myself this is THE LAST TIME I will deal with a bad cut.  Cherie
Hello I'm 16 years old. This story happened last month when i decided to dye my hair blond. So i went to my mother to dye 
my hair. After an hour she finished. When i looked in the mirror it was great, but i decided i wanted it a bit brighter,
so after my mom went to sleep i went to the bathroom and took the color brightener cream. I ignored the instructions
(big mistake) and put like half of the cream and then waited for ten minutes and washed my hair without noticing
the change. The next day when i woke up i was late for school and paid no attention to my hair. At school my colleagues
looked strange at me but i didn't know why, so i went to the bathroom and immediately i looked into a mirror
then i almost fainted . MY HAIR WAS COMPLETLY GREY !!!!! And it is long, beneath my shoulders so it can't go unnoticed.
This was the worst day of my life! Angela
I love your site.  I want to tell you of my experiences.  In early 2003, I started growing my hair out from a bad razor cut.  I have thick, course hair the has to be shaped right in order to grow it out.   I just would have the very ends trimmed to blend with the sides as they grew out.  Earlier this year I went to a "stylist" for a trim.  I told her to point cut the layers and add some texture with the texturizing shears.  I told her my hair could not be razored.  Next thing I know she is taking her razor to my hair.  She tells me most hairstylist don't use a sharp enough razor that is why my ends were frayed looking before.  I was like I know my hair.  Why I didn't just jump up and run I don't know.  Well it took a few hair cuts to get rid of the wirey look to my hair.   I found a stylist that gave me a cute cut and I though why not add some hightlights to my brown hair.  Caramel was the color I was looking for.  I came in a week after this cut for my appointment.  She was doing someone else at the time.  This person had a bad color job she needed fixed.  Well I wanted highlights using color.  I thought she would do this.  I see her brushing on a white paste.  I thought this has to be bleach.  She brushed this on my hair using foils and then put me under a dryer for like 40 minutes.  My hair came out brassy blonde on top and dark everywhere else.  It also felt like straw and my scalp hurt.  It made me sick to look at it. I didn't want this person touching me again.  I have been through so many "stylists" within the last five months trying to fix this.  Needless to say, I'm at the same place I was two years ago after the first nasty razor cut.  I can not sleep or eat.  My husband is very supportive and has been a doll.  I just want my hair back.  I take hair vitamins and I pray a lot.  Why does hair consume us like this?<>  Thanks for letting me vent.  Pam

I am sitting here with my hair in a bun because,YES! I had ANOTHER bad haircut that makes me want to cry . I have had stylists do really bad things to my hair, not just ridiculous cuts, but horrible color also. I have a few tips and suggestions. FIRST TIP - If you have already put a darker color over your hair that has either been lightened or bleached, and it came out a gross color, use Prell shampoo or Dawn dish detergent on it until it fades. MAKE SURE you use a really good conditioner everytime you use the Prell or dish detergent. TIP- u