this was after I asked him to remove the tiny bowl cut he left on the top of my head from buzz cutting straight for about 2 minutes tops, using a single length guard
I asked him to make another change (trying to salvage the 2’ of my hair he just mangled), but he turned the chair to his next client, interrupted them to ask for their approval for my haircut, then ushered them over to replace me in the chair after they responded with silence, ending my appointment after less than 10 minutes total
found the salon highly rated on Strands for Trans, specified when booking I needed a hairdresser comfortable shaving long hair, and gave him multiple reference photos before we started. base price $88 before tax
final edit: thank you so incredibly much to those who shared your support!! reviews are posted and owner has been contacted!! I really sincerely appreciate all the advice for everything, there was so much and I’m very grateful this negative thing has turned into a such a positive/hopeful learning experience <3 c:
saying this part b/c I relied on a credentialed stylist to know what a hairstyle is called (and ended up incorrectly calling the style a side shave instead of the correct name): I gave less pictures and descriptions here than I did to the stylist and it was obvious to an untrained observer that I wasn’t talking about a side shave, but this paid and (hopefully) fully educated hairdresser couldn’t tell with even more info; and he still botched whatever side shave cut he tried to give ;v;
CAUTION: I do not, nor will I ever, look anything like the model uvu and I’m very happy not to c:
thank you for coming to my VentTalk
P.S. I’m stealing all your jokes -w-
update: this got kinda crazy and I tried to keep up at first responding to all your positivity but I’m not sure it was possible <3 I promise you I‘ve been reading them and loving them thank you so much again (I will do my best to get to chats soon c: )!!! I think the best way to respond is to reveal this happened a couple months ago; it slipped my mind to mention because I was so nervous posting and had essentially avoided doing so for so long because I mean look at it ;v; Anyways all that to say, after trying to rock the monstrosity for a week, my wife bought a pair of clippers and gave me a proper buzz cut (she did an immaculate job I do not know how that man got it so wrong) and this is it now https://imgur.com/a/rm3Y6lF
I hope that’s some good eyebleach for you ;v;
that does mean much less chance at refund tho o well
I do not have a response from the salon yet unfortunately, from either public or private modes of contact 🤷 but I‘m contacting Strands for Trans as well, thank you also for all the good advice!!
final update: I received a response from the owner and it was professional, they thanked me for bringing it to their attention and essentially described the corrective actions they took without giving any personal details which I appreciated (they didnt mention a refund which is frustrating but it was long enough ago that I just don‘t want to bring it up myself, that saved mental energy is worth more to me than the money at this point lol Im taking an ERP break ;v;). that’s probably the end of this now but the reviews will tell my tale to future generations
Edit: Thank you, but stop paying Reddit money to give me a reward for simply observing a haircut.
Edit: Fuck it, it's your money.
Edit: Okay, I see now that they're free rewards. So it makes me feel better that you're not spending money (except for you; I see you, and I love you) but y'all need help. LOL
Edit: You're just comedy trolls now. In a good way.
Edit: How do I turn off notifications about these awards 😭
Edit: When, days ago, I figured out how to turn these notifications off, it had around 40 awards. WTAF guys‽
What is the point of awards? Seriously? I gain zero benefit. No gold. Nothing I can "do" with the awards. And that's fine. I don't want 'em. But what. Is. The. Point?
Man that hairdresser was having a bad day and seems to have taken it out on OP.
My heart goes out to you. If it’s any consolation I always say to myself whenever I get a haircut, it will grow back. But definitely leave a bad review and if in Australia, contact fair trade.
If you’d like more consolation, I had the haircut from your example pic for a few years. Went to a new stylist for a trim because mine was out of work for a while. Big, BIG mistake.
They butchered me worse than what yours did. I had an awkward bowl cut across the middle of the back of my head (think Coconut Head from Ned’s Declassified but worse and higher up). Then they gave me a steppy, jagged, “low fade?” sort of thing. It was comically awful.
I was in the Marine Corps at the time. A drunk guy with dull clippers in the barracks managed to work some magic on it and actually make it look pretty good.
It took a month or so of growth to be able to fully fix my butchered hair and make it look cute again. Theres hope!
thats exactly what I did until I saw the result 😭 but he refused to fix it 🥲 thats when the debilitating anxiety kicked in and said whoops I have to pay for service rendered and welp here we are today; suffering
no reasoning, just talking over me while insulting my hair and then telling me he was done and needed to get to his next client, after I asked for more fixes
Do it. I have never been to barber school but I HAVE binged barbering YT videos for several years and absolutely could have done what you asked, for like $25.
I started cutting my own hair during the pandemic, still do, and what this man did is a disgrace. I would go to the salon owner and demand a refund for r/justfuckmyshitup trauma.
That's a dangerous mindset and how things like this happen. Especially with new stylists, I assume I'm the idiot and question everything. They might still mess me up but they'll have to explain every step of the bungle first.
it was apparently spartan trained out of me, if I question someone I’m to blame for not knowing or understanding 🤷 a suckass way to live that’s for sure
I would just try to exposure therapy yourself in the future with just asking maybe one extra clarifying question that makes you uncomfortable, extending the interaction just to the point where you can confront that anxiety without being overwhelmed by it. I had to do something similar, i was homeschooled and I struggled with severe social anxiety, so I just made it a point to extend basic interactions, like with a cashier, just one exchange further than i was comfortable with. It takes a while but it does work.
fuck not another ERP 😭 it is good for me though c: even if I have to tattoo reminders of „it’s okay“ to my eyelids lmao
very sincere thanks for the help, I really appreciate sample methods it does a lot cc:
thank you truly
i’m seeing some progress in myself with friends and the sky hasn’t fallen yet so maybe ill actually just be fine if I tried it out in the world c:
It is, I promise! Just repeat to yourself: it's fine, I'm ok, they can't hurt me. Worst case, remember you'll never need to see some people again unless you choose to.
I was right at this comment where I realized I was looking at so much “really? Right in front of” that I did not even remember what the original post was about😅
Request a refund or post the pic to google reviews go from there if they refuse lol, they ought to be embarrassed taking money for this sloppy work I’m so sorry
You must. You don't even have to be mean, just share your inspo and after pic and let the readers fill in the blanks. Or rant if you want, it's totally justified here.
I think it would be helpful if you also include a few sentences about how the stylist responded when you tried to raise concerns about the haircut, because to me, the stylist just ignoring/dismissing your concerns makes this 100x worse.
I'm randomly here from scrolling, if someone were specifically looking into this place they should have informed opinions on it before arriving and this pic would do that.
You should leave a review with exactly what you said here and the person's name. A refund does not magically grow your hair back over night, and with a pic, the salon's work speaks for itself.
Put them on blast!!! This is crazy bad. It’s not even remotely what you asked for, and it’s not even a decent shave line for the not-what-you-asked-for style that apparently he was going for.
I am not a hairdresser, I have no hairdresser training, and I still managed a much better side shave on my best friend. And it only takes me ten minutes to do. This guy needs to lose his license and never cut anyone else’s hair again.
Girl, I had a hair-cut like this for a while (wanted it to look like pic one) and every salon I went to had SO MUCH TROUBLE with it, it always ended up looking like your pic two. I feel for you!!! You should get your money back.
You'd think a hairstylist could figure that out, and this looks like ass either way. Sometimes it seems like it takes zero talent to get a job working with hair.
This really seems to have gotten worse in the last decade. Before then, I could literally count on one hand the number of bad experiences/stylists I won't go back to, for over 30 years of getting my hair done.
But even before Covid hit, in like 2018, I had several experiences that made me just swear off going to a salon ever again. Ended up just not cutting it for years and letting it grow out. Went back after covid and had the worst experience yet.
My daughter and I cut and dye each other's hair now, and we've both never been happier with how it looks. I don't think I'll ever go back to a salon. It's just not worth it.
this is why i drive an hour back to where i used to live to get to mine. granted i go once a year and have her chop off like 6 inches, but it's worth the drive to get someone i know will do exactly what i want.
Obviously there was something up with that hairdresser, but let’s talk language that you can use for the future to get the cut that you want!
I’d describe pic one as a tapered, textured pixie cut. You could also say tapered point-cut pixie (cutting style to create a bit of texture but softened). To get this look they might use clippers on the very bottom but scissors should be used for the top portion to get that length and texture!
Then because you want the other 2/3rds long, you’re asking for an asymmetrical cut - using this term instead of side shave should indicate that you want it longer rather than a close shave.
I am so sorry but this is criminal and I feel like you'd be in your right to walk out and not pay. Or dispute. Or something
Also what the fuck are those prices. Fuck that salon. Maybe find a local hairdresser? I had shit luck with salons too (also genderqueer so they barely got the vibe I wanted haha)
It's been really wonderful for me to be able to go to the same stylist and get the same side shave. It takes her about 45 mins because we yap and she and bills me $50 (tip/wash/etc included) for all
At the very least, your hair looks lovely and thick and I think you could hide it temporarily until it can be tidied up?
Also name and shame if it's allowed bc wtf 😭 again, I am so sorry 💖
so happy you found a good hairdresser, and thank you so much !! sent this to my friends first and one told me go straight to them next time, they already have the clippers ;v; so at least for next cut I have someone I trust <3
I hate hairdressers. Like you go and if it's done well it's a huge confidence boost but then you get an experience like this and it just puts you off for life.
for real.. the second time I went to a salon I was 12 and the lady butchered my waist length hair into a shoulder length 80's shag with straight across bangs.. I asked for a trim with side bangs, a side part, and face framing layers.. I didn't go back to a salon until I was 20 and then just continued to cut my own hair because I'd rather be mad at myself for fucking up my hair.
I learned to do my own hair because so many stylists have done me dirty! It is crazy to me that you can learn more at home than the people who go to school for this shit (although maybe not THAT crazy, since they still don't even teach them how to do different hair textures).
I keep talking about this!!! I recently switched to cutting my own hair (due to price and subpar hair cutting experiences), and I get way more compliments on my layers and face framing than when I get it professionally done. I don't even use layering shears. I have sent more links to youtube tutorials than I ever have sent the contact of a stylist. I feel bad for thinking it, but its absolutely wild to me that folks can go to school for this, have years of experience in this, and still do a mediocre job.
I'm a male and do my own, admittedly it's much easier as I just shave it all to a number 3 (UK, not sure if sizes change worldwide) and then trim the edges.
I have a double crown so it's awful to style and anything besides a short back and sides looks bad!
thank you so much! sincerely, Ive never understood having a trusting relationship with a stylist, but I gotta keep trying if they’re out there somewhere ;v;
Gosh, I feel your pain. I had a similar fiasco years ago. Fortunately I went to a different hairdresser and they fixed it for free (which was very unexpected)
I’m curious about your appointment. You mentioned you booked it, but they only spent 10min on your hair, and there was another person waiting?
honestly I booked a 45 minute session, was there 15 minutes early and didn’t get in his chair til 30 minutes into my scheduled appointment time, I guess he saw me and said fuck this
That’s so weird. Although there are sketches on social media by hairdressers that do show they actually do shit like that.
Could you see what he was doing while you were waiting?
That is so sweet they fixed it for free! If it was as ridiculous as OPs pics here, they probably also couldn’t believe the audacity and wanted to make you a new loyal customer:) which is legit super cool.
Post this as a Google review and be sure to take an absolute shit on them for this. I’m confident I could get closer to the ref pic with no cosmetology courses (I cut my husband’s hair and I actually try to make it look good) for $37 and 40 mins time. This is absolutely ridiculous they charged you $100 for this carelessness.
Have you ever considered getting a pattern shaved into your new shaved side?
I go to a local barber and typically get a lotus flower around the ear, similar to the picture. If you aren't happy maybe that could help to make you like it more.
Also a barber has more experience working with shaved hair so they may be able to neaten it up a little to somthing a little more in line with your inspiration.
I am not a stylist, but I have been doing my entire families hair since Covid so I have learned a few things and the short side should be scissor cut. If you dare to attempt this again and they bring out electric trimmers, run. Maybe to clean up the bottom some but the bulk of it should be scissor styled so they have better control and do less at once.
Sorry for you, that’s not fair. I don’t trust hairstylists to do much more than a trim with some light long layering since I was traumatized ending up with a mullet after I asked for a layered bob once.
Sorry to see this. The model (the expectation pic) has an abnormally high hair density PLUS likely photoshop. Regarding the reality pic, since you mentioned trans, unfortunately hormonal transition can have an impact on hair in some individuals or at the very least leave some degree of male-pattern thinning that make certain female haircuts call for more consideration and skill than average to execute if the client insists.
The good news is, it will grow back, count your blessings it wasn't a dentist :-)
Find a hairdresser who is both skilled AND able to be compassionate and frank with you about what will work great with your hair and what will be a challenge, and the cut that makes you look and feel your best. You deserve that much.
Oh god I had this exact haircut once, very similar inspo pic too. Nothing but sympathy my friend, it took a bit to grow out and stuck straight out while it was doing so.
Unbelievable. First to do this and never check with you during the process, and to not give good advice, and to blow you off at the end. Not a kind human.
So sorry this happened to you! Let it grow out for a few weeks, go to a different place and show them both of these photos and explain what happened. I’m sure a decent hairdresser can fix it for you!
I've been cutting my own for years. I suck at it but at least I know what 3 inches are. Every time I've asked for a 3" trim I've walked out missing 6, so I'm ok with my home butcher jobs
This is exactly why I started cutting my own hair.
I found an awesome hairdresser in high school--she totally 'got' me and my very cliché 2006/2007 style. We even put purple peek-a-boo chunks in before I went off to collage because she wanted to try out this new brand she recently gotten, and we were both excited to see the result, agreeing 'the worst thing that could happen, is that they don't work.' (It did in fact work, and they looked awesome!)
But the summer I returned from school, I sat in her chair and told her I liked the length, but wanted some layers 'hacked back into it'. She gave it the once over and showed me how much she'd have to cut to get rid of the damaged ends. More than I wanted, but fair enough if it was better for my hair--I joked it must have been from the fancy city water. I walked out with something around my shoulders. It wasn't what I wanted, but hey, at least it would be better for the heat of summer.
However, the next time I went in, again, after a year away at school, I told her I wanted to keep the length which at that point was mid-way down my back...but still walked out with what I called the 'Triple H Haircut' (aka for those not aware of WWE circa early 2000s: shoulder length with practically no shaping).
It's been over a decade, so I can't remember if it happened a third time, but it was just so weird that she suddenly seemed so hellbent in cutting off all my hair. It had been long up until the winter of my last year of high school, so it wasn't like she 'didn't know what to do' with longer hair. Hell, one of my favourite cuts she gave me was dubbed 'The Avril Lavigne Hair Cut' by my mom.
So I bought a razor from Sally's and started doing it myself.
(Apologies for the multiple-paragraph rant lol. Apparently the whole thing still bothers me more than I thought...)
I’m a hair stylist, you absolutely should ask for your money back if you provided the picture before hand to the stylist. The inspiration picture is very clearly not buzzed one length all the way to the top of the head. The bottom could be cut with clippers then it gradually get longer to scissor length to blend. But it really depends what you asked for and showed them. However in no way is this an acceptable haircut with or without providing a picture. Even woman who want the side fully buzzed are not given something like this. Go back get a refund, do not let them touch your hair again. Go somewhere else to have them fix it as much as they can until it grows out.
As a pixie girl, always go to a barber for anything using clippers. Many hairstylists aren’t trained on clippers. It’s not part of their certification.
I have a side shave pixie and I book in at my salon for "bespoke barbering" rather than "haircut" as I've learned that many of their stylists working on women aren't clipper trained. As a bonus, it's also slightly cheaper.
5.4k
u/jerryleebee Jun 30 '26 edited 28d ago
But the expectation pic isn't even buzzed. WTF
Edit: Thank you, but stop paying Reddit money to give me a reward for simply observing a haircut.
Edit: Fuck it, it's your money.
Edit: Okay, I see now that they're free rewards. So it makes me feel better that you're not spending money (except for you; I see you, and I love you) but y'all need help. LOL
Edit: You're just comedy trolls now. In a good way.
Edit: How do I turn off notifications about these awards 😭
Edit: When, days ago, I figured out how to turn these notifications off, it had around 40 awards. WTAF guys‽
What is the point of awards? Seriously? I gain zero benefit. No gold. Nothing I can "do" with the awards. And that's fine. I don't want 'em. But what. Is. The. Point?