Have you ever left the hair salon satisfied with your new haircut, only to get home and find it actually looks weird?
You’re not alone! This is a common complaint stylists hear from clients after a haircut. There are many possible reasons why your hair may appear bad after a cut.
Let’s break down the reasons why hair looks bad after a haircut. We will also answer some common questions regarding this issue.
Why Do Haircuts Look Bad At First?
Hair tends to look bad after a haircut because of the fresh bluntness of just-cut ends, but several other reasons might also contribute to why you’re not a fan of your new do.
Learn why you might not feel satisfied with your fresh haircut when your hairstylist turns you around in the salon chair:
Fresh Cut Hair Doesn’t Lay Right
Hair that doesn’t lay right is expected when you get a haircut involving layers or bangs, but any kind of cut can result in feathered hair that doesn’t fall as it should.
New layers can take time to get used to and settle in place. If you’re not accustomed to having layers, it can take time for them to blend with your existing style and to fall into place correctly.
If you didn’t get layers or bangs, but things still don’t look right, think about the ends of your hair. Hair ends are often split or damaged, which thins the shaft and leaves the very ends wispy.
When these damaged ends get cut off, they become blunt and thicker, taking up more space and creating more volume.
After a few days, your freshly chopped ends will settle after heat, styling, and washing.
Sometimes it is even simpler than that, says senior stylist Emma Baxendale of The White Room salon in Guernsey: you just have not met your own version of the cut yet. “Often people find that they prefer it once they have washed, styled, or worn it in the way that they’re used to, rather than when it’s fresh out of the salon. This is totally fine. Everyone likes their own version of it.”
Using New Products
Your stylist may have used different products than you usually use at home, which could affect your hair’s appearance.
If this is the case, try re-washing and styling your hair at home using the products you know and love. You might see a different result and like how it looks!
Using New Tools
Perhaps your hair stylist used tools (such as a flat iron or curling wand) that you don’t typically use yourself.
If you wear your hair naturally straight and the stylist added beachy waves, the shock of the style might be distracting you from the cut itself.
Instead of using fancy new tools, try styling your hair with your favorite devices at home and give your haircut a second chance.
Negative Feedback Loop
When we don’t like something about our appearance (our haircut in this instance), it can create an emotional feedback loop where we focus on what we dislike instead of focusing on the positives.
If you’re already nervous about the cut going into the salon and you think it won’t look good on you, there’s a good chance you’ll feel that way at the end of your appointment.
Breaking out of this negative feedback loop and anxiety can help us appreciate new haircuts more quickly.
Rather than act on a haircut you’re unsure of, only make a significant hair change when you know you’re ready and feel confident it will look good on you.
If you feel yourself falling into a negative feedback loop after getting a haircut you thought you wanted, remember: most of the time it is only you seeing the flaw. You may fixate on one part you don’t like while everyone else sees an elegant, stylish cut. It’s easy to self-doubt when you’re unsure, and hair always grows back.
Poor Cutting Skills
If your barber or hairdresser doesn’t have the proper skills, your haircut will be noticeably bad.
If you can spot an outline that is too high above the hairline, small sprigs of hair sticking up in the crown part of your head, or a style that only looks good with gel and pomade, chances are the stylist didn’t have the necessary skills to perform a nice haircut.
Ask plenty of questions before getting another haircut from anyone else in the future! It’s also a good idea to check reviews of stylists before going in for a cut so you know who is cutting your hair and how experienced they are.
Wrong Hair Part
When a stylist parts our hair differently than what we are used to doing ourselves at home, we can look strange to ourselves.
If you ever feel that way, just part your hair the way you prefer when styling it at home and then spritz it with hairspray to keep it in place all day.
Blunt Ends
Blunt ends can make a fresh haircut look bad and appear heavier than usual because there isn’t any layering or blending of shorter strands within longer strands of hair, giving lift and volume to hairstyles overall.
To fix this issue, ask for layers next time or try adding some texture product throughout the ends of your locks for more body & movement! Your stylist wants you to be happy: going back and asking for more layering is totally fine, and a good stylist will be glad to accommodate you.
Bad Match With Your Face Shape
Not every hairstyle works with every face shape. Some styles are better suited for specific face shapes than others!
Consult your stylist before any significant changes because they can tell whether certain styles suit your face shape.
You Don’t Look Like the Inspo Pic
Another culprit of haircuts looking bad at first could be unrealistic expectations.
We often bring inspiration pics into salons expecting our results to look exactly like what we found online. Pick images as close to your own length and texture as possible for a realistic outcome: a short textured bob photo will not translate from mid-length hair, especially if the model’s hair is finer or thicker than yours. And remember that nearly all of these photos are heavily styled by professionals, so be prepared to style it yourself at home.
Try bringing several examples to your next appointment and discuss options with your stylist beforehand to set expectations.
Why Do Haircuts Look Better After A Few Days?
Haircuts look better after a few days because freshly-cut hair has blunt ends that don’t blend easily or lay flat at first. The more layers your haircut has, the more drastic the difference will be.
After a few days, the blunt ends begin to settle into their new homes with help from washing, products, and heat styling. Your hair will start to adjust to the new, lighter weight of its strands, and things will look more natural after three to five days.
When Should You Get Your Haircut Before An Event?
You should get your haircut at least 3 to 5 days before an event. Waiting a few days will let your hair settle and give you enough time to make adjustments if necessary.
After a haircut, especially if a significant length has been removed, the hair may feel different. This change is often due to the altered weight and distribution of the hair. This is known as hair being in shock after a haircut.
For instance, someone with long hair who goes for a much shorter style might find their hair feeling lighter and possibly behaving differently when styling.
This hair shock can last up to a week. After this period, your hair will settle naturally, and your cut will look its best. That’s why most haircuts look their best 5 to 7 days after the cut.
If you want to be on the safe side, we recommend cutting your hair 8-10 days before your event.
If something doesn’t look right on the day of your appointment, having a few days before the event will give you time to return and get your hair fixed without feeling rushed.
How Often Should You Get a Haircut to Look Good?
It’s also important to consider how often you should get a haircut, depending on your hair length. This can impact whether your hair looks good after getting it cut.
Short-Length Hair
For short-length haircuts (think pixie cuts or men’s short hair), Emma books her short-cut clients in tighter than most guides suggest: “4 to 6 weeks tends to be better, as shorter cuts take more maintenance and start losing their shape quicker as they grow out.” Staying on that interval also removes split ends before they travel up the shaft.
Medium-Length Hair
For medium-length haircuts (bobs or shoulder-length styles), aim for eight to 12 weeks between trims. For shorter bobs, Emma tightens that window: “Shorter bobs tend to go for the 6 to 8 weeks mark to keep blunt lines and the desired length.” Going too long between trims could leave hair looking awkward, and trimming too frequently could take off too much length.
Long Hair
For long hairstyles (past shoulder-length), 12-16 weeks between trims should do the trick! Some people with long hair push it even longer, getting a haircut once or twice a year.
Many people book cuts too often when they are trying to grow their hair, which is one step forward and two steps back. Keep your hair in good condition to minimize split ends, and stretch the gap between appointments; a trim every three to four months is plenty.
Wrap Up
Hair tends to look bad after getting a haircut because the ends are so freshly trimmed they’re still blunt, causing the hair to lay differently and without the weight it previously had.
Poor cutting skills and choosing a lousy inspiration picture can also be culprits. Other reasons may also play a role, such as using the wrong products, tools, or hair part.
Minimize risk by choosing the right stylist and cut, and scheduling your haircut a little before any special event to ensure it looks the best.
