Just come back from the hairdresser, I'm so upset :-(

[ComeAlongPond]

I know it's pathetic, it doesn't really matter, etc etc. But I've just been to the hairdresser and my hair is awful. They asked if I'd mind if a trainee did it, supervised. I said it would be fine, but it wasn't. They mixed up the colour wrong, so where I was meant to just have a refresh of the lovely chestnut brown that I had on before, now it's a kind of brassy mousy blonde. And I loved the length, it was perfect, but needed a trim. I asked for an inch, they've taken off a good seven inches, because the trainee cut it wonky and kept trying to fix it instead of asking for help. And it's right across the wave, so now instead of being wavy it just sticks out

I'm going back next week and they're going to redo the colour at no extra charge and hopefully fix it. But there's not a lot that can be done about the cut, unless they take off even more which I don't want.

I know it's terrible to be upset about it, so vain, but it's really upset me and I keep crying My hair was the only thing I really liked about myself - I'm kind of short, too skinny, small boobs, funny teeth, tiny round head, but I had really nice hair and now it's short and horrible.

What's worse is I only went in because there's a special occasion next week that I wanted to look nice for, and now I wish I hadn't, it literally looked better with roots and split ends!

Sorry for the rant, I know it's a silly thing to cry about, but DP isn't back yet and he'll only say it looks lovely regardless.

Ohhhh. Sorry to hear that you're feeling awful about it - it is so demoralising, and I don't think chaps can really understand. How about buying yourself something lovely to compensate? Fab necklace or amazing scarf? To distract the eye from the hair woe? Or a new luxo lipstick or some gorgeous earrings?

Meantine, there is nothing so cheering as a bit of revenge! Name the fools who allowed a trainee to hack off 7 inches of your hair. You might save one other MN person from a similar misery. (I still haven't forgiven Enzo of Datchet for colouring my nice red hair into a slurry like mud brown in 2008).

It isn't a silly thing, really. I worked in a hairdressers when I was younger, my hair was just past my shoulders as I was growing it. One of the juniors offered me a trim - I left with cropped hair! I was so upset.

If you don't have any confidence in going back to the salon for a cut, is it worth going for a consultation anywhere else to see if they can do anything about the style?

Of course you're upset there is something about a horrible haircut that reduces even the most self confident women to tears. It's sort of stupid as your hair grows back and therefore it's not permanent.
I hope you didn't pay for this disaster. If you did, get your money back instead of getting it recoloured and take yourself off to a different salon and get them to fix it.
It is probably fine- you just might be shocked at how much they took off it.

I don't think anything can be done about the style, tbh - I think all that can be done is wait for it to grow. To be fair, in a couple of weeks the sticky-out bit will have grown back into its wave, but it took me 18 months to grow it to the length I had and I loved it The salon were really kind about it, and I do feel sorry for the trainee, but I really wish I'd just never gone.

In a few weeks it will look normal, as long as the colour gets sorted, but it's the length that's really upset me and I can only wait for that to grow back... it's not even truly short, it's below shoulder length, just to the top of my nipple, but it use to come down to the middle of my ribs and it feels like such a shock.

Thank you for being so lovely and understanding all of you, it makes me feel so much better.

Oh, it's really horrible when your hair doesn't feel right. Good that they're re-doing the colour, but I know that's only part of it.

It's good that the salon are being really kind about it - but actually - they're not the ones that should be being kind about it.

You are the one that is being really kind. They should be shaking in their boots.

If she was supposed to be supervised then how the hell did they manage to let her cut and re-cut and cut again to chop off 7 inches without stepping in to stop her a lot earlier if you had only asked for an inch to be taken off? If she didn't want to ask for help, it sounds like there was nobody actively supervising her which is what they had told you would happen.

And as for the colour - then they should have checked it much more carefully before they let her put in on your hair, so that you came out with something much closer to what you asked for.

I would have hoped that when a trainee screws up this badly they didn't charge you anything - and would fix it all at no cost either, plus maybe throw in something in recompense - a free cut from a proper stylist a few months down the line, or a free manicure and pedicure if they do them, something as a nice gesture to you. if you paid anything, I hope it was at very reduced trainee rates! How much did you tell them that you were gutted at what has happened to your hair?

Did you know they were going to ask you to let a trainee loose on your hair or did they spring it on you when you arrived? Also did you tell them that you were getting the cut and colour done because you wanted it to look special for an event you were going to? Were they really busy and just thought they would book you in with the trainee to get your money, or was there a stylist there supervising properly?

I would write them a letter or email to let them know how upset you feel as a result of their treatment - itemising all the points when they let you (and the trainee) down, such as poor supervision, poor checking of quality, culture where trainee feels unable to say that she has a problem and ask for help, even when things are going badly wrong, etc and say that although you are glad they are going to rectify the colour (will it be too late for your event by then?) you want assurances that they will be improving their systems for monitoring trainee cuts so that nobody else has to suffer. Do they act through a professional body or for a college - if so I'd complain to them too.

You've got nothing to lose - and they have a lot to lose, including their reputation. They need to improve their standards!

And I say all this as somebody who has walked out of a hair cut with wet hair that had one side longer than the other as the (supposedly qualified!) hairdresser couldn't get it level and it was getting shorter and shorter - albeit not 7 inches difference. I complained - and also then wrote a letter of complaint, citing that they realised there was a problem as they hadn't charged me the full amount, thereby admitting this. The salon was the cheapy one in Selfridges (about 20 years ago mind you!) so I also complained to Selfridges - and they gave me a free hair cut with their top stylist in their expensive salon, who sorted it out. So I do know what it's like and can sympathise - especially when you wanted it to look particularly nice!

Ah you poor thing, I really sympathise.

I hope you didn't pay, they will fix it for free and throw something else in- free haircut or something. It's probably the best way to make you feel better.

Zipzap - They asked me on the phone when I booked the other day - I asked for a morning appointment and they said if I came in the afternoon it was their training time when they take people from the local college so would be cheaper but would take longer, but they were almost qualified and would be supervised the whole time. So I knew it would be a trainee, which is why I feel like it's my fault a little bit. But then, actually, there should have been better supervision, shouldn't there?

She didn't notice it was wonky until someone came over and told her, but by then it was too late. She was sitting in the wrong place or something? But it took her so many attempts to get it straight, in the end the supervisor came and did it for me, but the length had already gone.

I paid trainee rates, which is half price, so it cost £30 and they said the recolour will be free. I didn't say anything about the event - the next appointment is before that though, so hopefully it will be okay by then. I can always put it up if need be, as long as the colour's nice!

They did know I was upset I think, I was on the verge of tears in the salon but didn't want to blub all over them so didn't make too much of a fuss. I should have done really but at the time I was just glad they were going to sort out the colour.

I didn't realise you had paid for it.

I agree with others, definitely get back in touch with them tomorrow and ask for your money back as well as the free retouch.

OP, you should be getting a full refund, never mind the salon being 'kind' to arrange for a recolour!

They failed to properly supervise the trainee, they've ruined your hair. I think you are entitled to a full refund, a recolour to put the damage right AND by way of compensation, a free restyle once there is enough length in your hair to train it back to its' proper style. But at the very least, they should be giving you £30 back on top of the recolour.

Very angry on your behalf and sorry this salon allowed this to happen to you.
As zipzap has advised, a letter outlining the damage caused and request for recompense is probably the way forward. Might also be worth submitting some before and after photos.

Yes, definitely ask for money back. Could they put in some extensions or offer a blow dry ahead of your special occasion? I'd be absolutely furious and expecting them to bend over backwards to make it ok.

I'd also add that they should be fitting hair extensions for you if you so wish.

Oh I feel your pain, it's horrible when this happens I once came out of a salon looking like I'd fallen asleep on a babysitting job and been attacked by a small child with crayola safety scissors. The hairdresser had completely ignored my plea not to cut any layers into it and had chopped big messy blunt layers all over, I had to have it all cut out by another salon and ended up with much shorter hair than I wanted. I was young so didn't say anything as I paid then cried all the way home. It doesn't stop you feeling wretched now but at least it will grow back eventually.
I just hope it doesn't make you hairdresser phobic like me, I've had so many bad experiences (no idea why since my hair is long and straight so not complicated to cut) that I can only bring myself to go once a year now.

Once they have redone the colour tell them about the event you are going to and tell them you want to go in and have your hair put up/ styled for the event for free. Explain that you would normally have worn it down but due to their mistake you need it put up.
I had a similar thing happen years ago just before my Dds first birthday. We had 2 big events arranged for her birthday and then a wedding we were going o, I made the hairdresser do my hair for each event.

You should ask for the money back. If they take issue, threaten small claims.

Can't offer any advice other than has been already said......I feel so sorry or you and send you a virtual hug and a

Thanks all. I think you're right, I do need to make a bit more of a fuss. I'll send them an email later and say that having got home and taken a proper look, I'm really not happy and I'd like a refund. Will explain about the event too. Thank you all - you've made me feel a bit pissed off with them rather than so sad, as I was earlier, which is preferable!

DP's back too, I sent him a text earlier telling him what happened and he's come home with flowers and a mars bar, so that's improved my mood too!

Oh, and the worst thing of all, one of the supervisors gave me a thing to sign at the end (before she'd blow dried my hair, so I couldn't see the colour and it hadn't been cut yet) which was folded over, and when I unfolded it to see what it was it was a checklist saying 'are you happy with the service, are you happy with the outcome, are you happy with the communication' etc etc etc. She'd ticked all the boxes to say 'very satisfied' (I didn't sign it, I said I'd leave it until the end, and then in the kerfuffle of it turning out so terribly I forgot all about the form.)

You asked for an inch off and they cut seven??!

God you poor thing. I'd be seeing a solicitor I think.

I had a bad hair cut about a month ago. I did actually cry in the hairdressers. No offer of refund, just said I could go back and get it fixed. However like you they cut it too short so what's the point. I was surprised at how much it got to me, but it's the only way of treating myself atm. I wanted to compensate sleep deprived face with cheap practical clothes (as DSs cream just ruin's everything)

Oh and I meant to say, sorry to all of you who've had the same thing, it really does feel rubbish. I hope all your hair has grown back lovely!

Ask for your money back! And they won''t check they are members of the hair council www.haircouncil.org.uk/ this is the nearest the UK gets to regulation. If they are then you can complain through them.
Other posters are right - you should get some compo too. If you have any problems message me and I can sort something out for you. Good luck x

Zipzap is right.
This happened to me when I was 9- first solo trip to the hairdresser. mum marched back up there and they gave me a free recut and blowdry with the stylish I was meant to have in the first place. It's not a mistake you make twice.
ComeAlong, you must make a huge angry fuss and get it recoloured and recut by someone who knows what they are doing - for free.
Haircuts and medical procedures are two things in life that you want done by someone who really knows what they are doing...

It's perfectly fine to feel sad when you have had your hair cut seven inches shorter than you wanted! And a different colour to boot.

If your dh is anything like mine he probably can't tell the difference.