Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Truly awful haircut...what to do?

70 replies

SoloMumJustMuddlingThrough · 09/09/2025 20:45

I took my 18 month old for a haircut today. It was in her eyes and bothering her and needed to be done. I only asked for the fringe trimmed, just to take it out of her eyes.

The hair dresser was lovely, he was so gentle with her and patient but my daughter would not stop moving. She was terrified. She was shouting "scary, not a big one!" at the top of her voice and flapping her arms around. I don't blame the hair dresser at all but the result is truly terrible. I mean, this is probably the most uneven fringe cut I've ever seen. There's a chunk missing on the side, long pieces hanging over her eyes and its completely wonky.

I don't know what to do. I can't leave it how it is, but I don't want to traumatise my daughter any more. (She appears to have some hypersensitivities, which I am keeping a close eye on).

Would I be unreasonable to take her back into the hairdresser's tomorrow to see if they can fix it? I should add, I am absolutely devastated. She had perfect curls before and now because of the big missing chunks it's going to have to be a micro fringe.

OP posts:
ObtuseMoose · 09/09/2025 20:47

Don't take her back to a place she was terrified, why would the result be any better? It'll grow.

CasualDayHasGoneTooFar · 09/09/2025 20:47

Is she bothered by it?

Just trim off the worst bits. It will be fine

Slinkyminky22 · 09/09/2025 20:48

Wait till shes sleeping and try and neaten it?

CrowMate · 09/09/2025 20:48

Trim yourself and use clips. I wouldn’t go back.

Echobowels · 09/09/2025 20:49

It's French.

Barnbrack · 09/09/2025 20:50

Slinkyminky22 · 09/09/2025 20:48

Wait till shes sleeping and try and neaten it?

Yep!

Fleetheart · 09/09/2025 20:50

it will grow- sooner than you think

Bollihobs · 09/09/2025 20:51

Well they say the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome so....... What would be different about tomorrow at the hairdressers rather than the disaster that was today?

Wouldn't it be better for you to cut it, especially if it's only a fringe. I think even I could cut a fringe. You could wet it down to get it even use some clips maybe and then snip a bit, distract your DD snip a bit etc.

LapinR0se · 09/09/2025 20:51

Clips are your friends here. Jolies barrettes !

Orangebadger · 09/09/2025 20:53

Cut it yourself. Why take her back to somewhere that she was so distressed in. Also she is only a baby, her hair will grow fast, just trim the fringe, give her something to watch/ play with while you do it, get the hair out of her eyes, really other than that it does not matter what it looks like.

anotherlonelynight · 09/09/2025 20:54

18 months is very young for a haircut - I’d have just clipped it back….wait until she’s asleep and hair give it a trim enough to neaten it

MissyPants · 09/09/2025 20:54

My advice? Hair grows, I said this about my hair recently, had it cut and I didn't like it as I thought it was too short, but it's grown a good 2 inch since, problem solved. It will grow 😀

SoloMumJustMuddlingThrough · 09/09/2025 20:55

Here it is.

Truly awful haircut...what to do?
OP posts:
pizzaHeart · 09/09/2025 20:56

CrowMate · 09/09/2025 20:48

Trim yourself and use clips. I wouldn’t go back.

This ^

BMW6 · 09/09/2025 20:57

Chill, it's only a fringe and it'll grow out soon.

My niece lopped off chunks of her hair using paper scissors! Looked odd for about a month but so what! She wasn't remotely bothered nor was her Mum once she stopped laughing.

MissyPants · 09/09/2025 20:58

Just seen the pic, defo trim it yourself, but for the mean time yes it will be very short.

pizzaHeart · 09/09/2025 20:58

Just saw your photo - Trim yourself as much as you can and then clip her fringe to the side.
It’s really difficult with such a little one, we bought hairdresser scissors and cut DD’s hair ourselves at this age.

BMW6 · 09/09/2025 20:59

Just seen the photo, just trim the extra long bits yourself.

I've seen much worse!

ADifferentDay · 09/09/2025 20:59

If hair cutting is hard, it might be worth buying the special hair cutting scissors from boots and cutting her fringe yourself while she is asleep in future.

A the moment I think you just need to cut off that really long bit in the middle and it will be fine. Just make sure to do it when she is asleep.

SoloMumJustMuddlingThrough · 09/09/2025 21:00

I've never cut hair before (not even my own)! I think I'm going to have to try though. Hairdressers are skilled people! I have now idea what I'm doing 😅

OP posts:
SkaneTos · 09/09/2025 21:01

Practise at home, playing hairdresser. Comb her hair, spray it with water, comb it again. She will be more prepared for the next hair salon visit.

In the meantime, cut her hair/fringe yourself. It will be fine! Good luck!

Imagineallthepuppies · 09/09/2025 21:01

Echobowels · 09/09/2025 20:49

It's French.

Genuinely in love with you.

It’s modern.

CatMummyOf3 · 09/09/2025 21:01

If you take her back tomorrow, she will be even more terrified than today!
Either tidy it yourself (or ask another family member/friend she is comfortable around), or just use clips or mini scrunchies to keep it out of her eyes.

ADifferentDay · 09/09/2025 21:02

If you google "hairdressing scissors amazon" you will see what the proper hair dressing scissors are like. They are much sharper so it is easier to cut the hair without bothering the child.

The little stick that sticks up from the top of one of the finger rings is really really useful. I can't tell you why but it really helps to keep the scissors steady in your hand.

My ds is also sensitive and I have always cut his hair.. It's much much easier.

Theunamedcat · 09/09/2025 21:02

You paid money for that cut? I wouldn't trade skittles for it

I was expecting you to have exaggerated