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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU? Hair disaster!

77 replies

Davegrohlsnewwife · 21/03/2018 19:33

My friend cuts hair as a mobile hairdresser. I asked her to cut some graduated layers into my long bob, and even showed a pic of what I wanted.

She cuts hair in her dinning room - no mirror - so I couldn't see what she had done until she had finished, and even then, it was a cursory glance as I went out the door.

However when I got home I was horrified! My hair looked like a mullet, the shortest layer is above ear level and looked like a chunk had been hacked off!

I ran to my local salon - the stylist there was quite amazed at the state of it, and showed me properly in the mirror what she had done to me. It had been hacked, chopped, razor ed - it looked like a toddler had done it! The stylist blended the layers properly but could do nothing about the length obviously. She advised it will be at least 10 weeks until it looks reasonable again.

I am so upset. I have to walk around like this. I don't know what to say to my friend. I see her daily on the school run and I can't trust myself to speak to her - i'll either cry or shout at her! I'm so angry at her, and part of me is questioning if she's done this on purpose. Is my reaction unreasonable? I honestly don't know how I can stay friends with her now Sad

OP posts:
PlateOfBiscuits · 21/03/2018 20:30

Oh dear... It looks nothing like the photo. I wonder why she cut the front so short.

The picture does have choppy layers though, not blended ones. That’s literally the only similarity I can see.

CuriousMama · 21/03/2018 20:30

Doesn't look good at all. I'm a trained stylist since the 80s although work in a different job now. No excuse to be out of touch. If you have the basic skills to cut hair then you can adapt for any style. She hasn't taken notice or isn't very good.

CuriousMama · 21/03/2018 20:32

Even though that's a messy style I guarantee it took a lot to achieve. Do you have any wave in your hair?

JaneEyre70 · 21/03/2018 20:32

Moral of the story is that no decent hairdresser does mobile.

It's a long way from the pic to your cut..... no wonder you're upset.

GreenTulips · 21/03/2018 20:33

That I said truly awful! I'd have cried buckets!

I've had a few bad hairdressers in my time - never again

What's it like now? It must be really short

Original poster
Davegrohlsnewwife · 21/03/2018 20:37

My other friend is as baffled by it all as me. She cuts a few of the mums hair, never known anyone to get this treatment! I just can't think how she thought this was okay. I understand that everyone has bad days - but she didn't even acknowledge it. She cut a fair amount off, but the salon cut the same amount again just in blending the layers in. I will have to straighten every day now as the top bits will stick up.

OP posts:
CottonSock · 21/03/2018 20:38

Similar happened to me. Except she took a huge section out of the side. It looked like two styles stuck together.
I emailed salon but no reply to my compliant. I never wanted to set foot in there again.
Never went back. I was friendly with girl that did it, but not mates so a bit different.

WinstonlovesJulia1984 · 21/03/2018 20:40

Can you wear some lovely hats until it grows out?? Smile

Serialweightwatcher · 21/03/2018 20:41

Can you show us post salon because I'm sure it looks much better now ... also I understand hairdressers can't make everyone's hair like a pic they are shown, but if they are unable because of thickness/length etc they should say before attempting imo

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 21/03/2018 20:42

It looks nothing like the photo, but I don't think you look ridiculous. You understandably hate it, but you don't have to hide -unless you wear a beanie for the school run?

It's not the end of the world, true, but it's heartbreaking when it happens to you. I would honestly experiment with multi use scarfs in my hair, or hats. You shouldn't have to, but you might like the look that gives you whilst you are waiting?

Original poster
Davegrohlsnewwife · 21/03/2018 20:43

Curious mama - I do have naturally wavy hair - hence the choice - but because the top is so short now, any wave turns it into a mullet so I will have to straighten my hair every day until it grows out - which is a pain as I was hoping for a less time consuming "do". The stylist in the salon offered advice, she was really good, but I am stuck with it.

OP posts:
Fleetwoodmacsexpants · 21/03/2018 20:44

It’s really ok. However I have given up on hairdressers and cut it myself then i only have me to blame. You could try purchasing a crea clip from Amazon and some good scissors and see how that goes once it grows a bit. X

UpstartCrow · 21/03/2018 20:46

It looks nothing like the photo, its very short at the front and there's one bizarre long bit. Ask for a refund plus the cost of the tidy up.

Namechangetempissue · 21/03/2018 20:48

It's not great is it ConfusedShock. I would be pissed off too OP. I would probably just never use her again and chalk it up to experience. If you genuinely think there was no malice in it and she has just fucked up I would keep the peace at the school gates and not bring it up.
Disagree about no good hairdresser is mobile though. My friend is award winning and worked for years at a top London salon and at London Fashion Week. She had children and found that a full time day job didn't fit, so set up her own business doing mobile work. She makes a really decent living with less stress and can work evenings and school hours as she chooses. She has a great rep and a full client list.

CuriousMama · 21/03/2018 20:49

I think you should get a shorter style tbh.

Original poster
Davegrohlsnewwife · 21/03/2018 20:50

I didn't expect to look exactly like that - I spoke about how this was the idea of the style I wanted. I understand about hair types etc - but I just can't get over the chunk missing at the front/side. I may be able to clip bits up - I 'll have to experiment. I think a glass of wine will make me care less about it - for tonight anyway!

OP posts:
CuriousMama · 21/03/2018 20:50

Total bulllshit about mobile stylists being no good. You get shit stylists in salons. A lot of mobile stylists do so for convenience and also make more money.

Chocywockydodahhhhhh · 21/03/2018 20:52

All mobile hairdresser are not awful, I have one that comes to mine and does it as she is a single mum so it fits in with taking and picking up her kids. She is fantastic

Snowsnake · 21/03/2018 20:52

Bloody hell.that looks nothing like the photo at all.poor you.

Alltheprettyseahorses · 21/03/2018 20:53

I don't think it looks that bad, but all that matters is that you're not happy. Great advice from CuriousMama to maybe go shorter - or would you be able to clip it back instead if you want to keep it longer?

Namechangetempissue · 21/03/2018 20:55

Good luck OP! Get some product in it, grab a bag of grips and get experimenting!!

Original poster
Davegrohlsnewwife · 21/03/2018 20:56

Curiousmama - I have a rather unfortunate "long" face shape that doesn't suit my hair being short (tried it when I was younger) - this is as short as I can go.

I would add a post salon pic - but I have been mucking about with it and it no longer looks like it did. I feel like bloody ken Dodd tbh! Grin

OP posts:
Chrys2017 · 21/03/2018 20:58

That is a complete hack job, not graduated layers in a long bob!

Snowysky20009 · 21/03/2018 21:03

In the nicest way possible- it looked terrible! Was she on the wine?

For those saying mobile hairdressers are terrible- not all are! Many I know worked in very good salons, but chose to go mobile to fit around their children.

IWouldLikeToKnow · 21/03/2018 21:06

If you tried using a sea salt spray and messed it up a bit the obvious step may be less obvious. It seems noticeable as it's so straight and groomed