Hair opinions? Unhappy

[Squeak1234]

I have never posted here before but really need some opinions!

I paid £135 (!) for a colour, cut and blow dry and treatment the other day. I’m really happy with the colour but was tired of my boring dull hair so asked for curtain bangs. I really wanted something face framing or that can go flicky.

I know my hair is really thin and I’m also not the best at styling but I feel really unhappy with how it’s turned out.

I’ve tried my heated styling brush, straighteners, rollers, you name it - and my hair still just sits there like in the pictures ive put on (I hope!). It just stays straight!!! I also put a pic of what I wanted to look like lol

I paid £135 so I wanted to feel transformed but I just feel like my hair just looks as dead and boring as it always does.

I obviously have spent a lot of money but I didn’t want to complain if I felt it’s just my fault (unable to style, thin hair etc) or if it’s actually been done badly, I can’t tell, because I’m very hard on myself usually.

Would really appreciate thoughts!

The cut looks fine to me (not an expert). Are you upset that it won't go flicky like on the model? Surely that's just your hair type? What did you want them to actually do differently?

Go and ask someone for a soft mullet (keeping the length). No seriously. Absolute wonder for those of us with flat hair if the stylist does it right (mine is wavy but super flat at the top). Gives all those layers at the top. Damn wish I could give you my stylist, he'd sort it for you.

Yeah I thought it’d be easier to actually style as bangs if that’s what’s been cut?

What are bangs?

Did it look good when you left the hairdresser? Maybe go back and ask them how to style it the same way?

I have fine hair like yours, and cutting it does not change its type. It still won't hold a style no matter what length each hair is cut to. The best hairdresser in the world couldn't do it 😆

Did the hairdresser style it like the model? I have tried everything to get bangs like that model too and my hair will not do it for me but my hairdresser can absolutely crush it every time! It's just skill I think... Have a look on Instagram or tiktok, how to style bangs, you'll get loads of videos/hacks!

Do you use any products on it? Something to help it hold shape when styled? My hair is pretty similar - no wave or shape at all - and I’ve only managed to get any curl or wave or anything when using something to hold it - but I’m no good in this space and always making it up.

Fine-haired person here. The woman in the picture has 5 times more hair than you and I. She probably also has natural curl which has been straightened. There is no way in hell we can achieve the same look on a fine straight hair. The only fringe that ever worked for me was a full, thick fringe. Unfortunately, cutting thick fringe also reduces how much hair you have left on the sides of your hair so only works with certain haircuts (like a short bob).
There is nothing wrong with the cut, it's just not the best for our type of hair.

ETA: to style the fringe like a model, you need to use a large round brush and roll the fringe back. Loads of product to give it hold as well.

Fringe

American term for a fringe.

When I had a fringe like this it separated and looked a bit like yours, I resorted to wearing it to the one side so it was thicker.

You could try a thickening product at the front, I like powders best as find the sprays can be sticky sometimes and make the hair separate more.

I would get it cut shorter and get a thick fringe cut. Mousse helps too or beach spray.

It looks nice to me and like you got what you asked for, now its time to practise styling.

I'd pop into the salon and ask for advice on what products they used and if you're lucky you may get a hairdresser offering to show you quickly (I think that would normally be a paid for service but as it would normally be covered at the original appointment, you may get lucky if the aren't too busy)

OP, I have similar hair to yours and currently have a similar cut. You need product! A good quality mousse makes all the difference. I have a Dyson but you can achieve the flick fringe with a round brush and hair dryer. You need to roughly dry until it’s just damp then add a palm full of mousse to you fringe only. You want it to feel sticky. Blow dry over a round brush up and away from your forehead, the brush should be above your forehead and not infront of.
I also find a really small amount of volumising powder at the root once dry really helps separate the hair and makes it look thicker.
Another tip, once styled, don’t just spray hairspray over it, it needs some movement. Instead, spray hairspray onto your finger tips and pinch the hair together at the root in the parting, pulling hair from both the left and right together into the middle. This helps keep a nice sort of sweeping curtain shape rather than the fringe just falling flat to either side of the face.
The main take away is you need products! And don’t be afraid to use lots of mousse. Got2b is a good cheaper brand but I don’t think any mousse I’ve tried beats the bed head brand.

Just as a grass is always greener point of view..... I think it looks great. My hair is so thick it always looks like a massive cycle helmet if I have it cut anything shorter than halfway down my back and I hate having long hair. So I have it short and helmet-like. I would love it to hang like yours.

Ah! Apologies OP I didn’t realise you were American.
I agree with trying some mousse. I find John Frieda very good.

Agree with others re fine hair limitations. I have a short fringe which works for me. I'd find a long one like in the pic annoying. But yeah, she's got loads more hair so it's never gonna look that way. As an aside, £135 is good for cut, colour, blow dry and a treatment so don't be feeling ripped off. That's a lot of salon time and activity. But still, it's never the same again after we've washed it and it's gone flat again, alas.

Get some velcro rollers. Put them in when it's almost dry, blast with heat then leave for an hour or so before taking them out.

Agree with @Theheckwhat cut looks fine. You need product. A good mousse and work it in at the roots. Then use a big round brush. Once dry and in the style you want you then need to cool the hair down by blowing with cold air to set the style. Then you can use a root powder for volume and fine spray to help keep style. It will never look as full as in the picture because you have less and more fine hair but you can get the style more or less.

your hair is thin whereas the model has thick hair
your hair is straight whereas the model has hair with more movement
your bangs are chin length whereas model has much shorter bangs
your bangs are shallow whereas model has very deep cut bangs

“I have an orange tree but despite showing the gardener my inspiration pic of an apple all I have been left with is this orange”

I think your hair looks good, cute. Your hair is not as thick as the model, you can’t expect miracles, work with what you have. Honestly I think it’s pretty but if you hate it then I think go for a more blunt cut next time.

thanks for all the advice, I’m not the most clued up in terms of styling etc so it’s all really helpful!

thank you so much @DappledThings it’s amazing how hard we all are on ourselves, I’ve been upset all morning about how bad I think it looks. I bet yours looks lovely too x

Cut looks ok but it was never going to look anything like how you wanted because the photos show a woman who has a lot more hair than you.

The stylist should have told you that it was not ever going to look like that and suggested other styles that would make your hair look more full.

Your fringe is twice as long as the models.
It looks like yours finishes at your chin whereas hers finishes at her cheekbones although it’s really hard to tell from your photos!