Haircut distress

[3boysNeedABiggerKitchen]

First world problem I know, but any advice gratefully received.

I am a mum of 3 with a full time job, so faffing with my hair is not an option. I'm a 'dry and go' girl.

I finally got to a hairdresser and had the grey dyed out and a cut last weekend.

The hairdresser recommended a Long graduated bob.

Lots of product, drying. straighteners etc and my hair looked amazing as I left and for the next few days. I have never had so many compliments. But I dreaded the first wash.

As I feared, once I dried it and wrestled (badly) with the straighteners, it looked faintly ridiculous. Kinks in the wrong places, flyaway hair, sticking out at odd angles and back to a bushy (but much shorter) mane rather than the sleek, straightened style I left with.

Can I go back and ask them to restyle or do I have to live with it until it grows back to the mane of old which I tie back every day and just looks tired.

Over £100, 3 precious hours and I'm gutted.

Buy a babyliss big hair. I am a convert.

Did you straighten it in sections? Pin it up and do it section by section. And do it slowly. Do you have decent straighteners and a good hairdryer? Good tools make a lot of diff

don't give up!

It's very difficult to work with a stylist who's not familiar with your lifestyle and capabilities. If you don't feel inclined to try to get to grips with styling products like the Babyliss or heated curlers, etc (which do take a bit of practice), why not go back and show them how it looks and ask them for some easy styling advice you can manage yourself using the products they recommend. it doesn't sound like it's the cut that's the problem.

Thank you ladies, it is probably more me than the cut as you say.
I don't wear make up and have an old hairdryer and tongs.
What does the babyliss big hair do? I need straight and sleek.
I try to do sections. I like the advice of going back to ask for tips on managing it. Thank you.
I probably need new straighteners. Any recommendations?

3 hours and a £100 is why I don't do this any more.

she spent most of the time styling it I guess? Ain't no one got that kind of time!

I do own a Babyliss big hair but a few years ago I learned that with my hair - naturally curly and er, exuberant - the best thing is to have it either with one layer or with none. At the moment I just cut a framing bit around my face.

I now cut my own hair btw it's much easier!

in terms of approaching the hairdresser - if you feel you were completely clear with them that you needed a style that didn't need time, then they have given you the wrong thing I think. When I went, I used to say "it needs to be as wash and go as humanly possible" and only one hairdresser ever got it right.

also I learned that as it's curly, it looks different at different growing stages. I only ever used £20 type hairdressers but now I don't even do that. if your hair is like mine - and from what you say about it looking shorter with your own styling effort, it sounds like it might be - then I think this style isn't for you.

what's the best way to grow it out or do you need a restyle? Or can you, or a steady handed friend, chop some off to make it more manageable - it might be too short for that already?

Sadly my hair is not curly, it has kinks and waves, but never looks straight or curly, just some kind of in-between mess.
I have only lived one hairdresser in my 45 years and she gave up to go travelling!
I've had layers, now have none. I know I am not a girly girl and I need to tie it back for the gym. I wish I was brave enough for a clipper cut like my sons! Not sure my boss and clients would be too enamoured with that though!

OP yes mine has kinks and waves and curls and generally it's own life and quite honestly on a rainy day it could do with a home of it's own to live in separately from me.

Babyliss Big Hair very helpful for that I find.

I'd be cold if I had a clipper cut

seriously, if you are buying new kit I'd try the Big Hair but I'm not a fan of straighteners. I go the gym, commute via Tube etc so wash hair daily and couldn't fry it with straighteners, I don't think it would cope.

but as I say, if you were clear with them you needed a wash and go style, I don't think they've done that, so you might have grounds for asking for a free restyle. Others will know better on here though, I haven't been to a hairdresser for years and probably never went to one as high quality as the one you went to, but I think after spending that money they should have been very clear on what you needed and what would suit your hair.

Get a Dafni brush. It works wonders on my kinky random hair. Just brush through a few times and bam.

The only straighteners I can use are GHD's. They work wonders on my hair. All the other types I've used leave it semi-straight but within no time the frizz returns.

Toothtrauma I stumbled on the brush online and wondered if it might be more my kind of thing. I'll have another look. Thank your

Look into a Brazillian blow dry as well. Sounds like its be perfect for this cut. It's like permanently straightened hair, mine lasts about 5 months. It's easier to dry and dries smooth and straight with no effort, it helps me look polished when really I'm a frazzled mess juggling life. I get mine done by a hairdresser who comes to my home, at less than half the price of getting it done at a salon. It's been AMAZING.

There are 2 types - one that lasts longer, but needs special shampoo and you cant wash it for the first 3 days and the other that doesn't last as long, but doesn't need any special product and can be washed the same day.

I've got frizzy, wavy not curl hair like yours it sounds and I found the tangle teaser hair brush made a massive difference

Ohladedah any chance you live in the southwest?!
You ladies are fab, thank you so much. Lots of options to look at.
I do not want to dazzle my hair with straighteners every day. I need to find a solution as it is about time my hair looked more polished and cared for.
I hope it is not too expensive trying various options along the way.
I'm off to look at the big hair, Dagon brush, Brazilian blowdries....anything else I should check out?

Babyliss Big Hair was a disaster for my wavy kinky hair. You need time and patience to master it. GHD platinum are kind(er) to your hair and will make it straight and sleek while you grow out the cut. A Brazilian blow dry is not a good idea if you have colour, it will strip it badly (don't believe what the hairdresser tells you).

Try the babyliss sheer volume. Use on dry hair (not blow dried, just wash and leave). It’s like a rotating hot brush so you get the sleek finish of straighteners but with bounce and shape. It’ll not be poker straight but it’s fab. And soooo easy and quick. I’m a convert.

South London I'm afraid.

Grow it and do mumsnet haircut yourself. I’m converted.

Yes, the big hair doesn't do poker straight and does initially make it seem fluffy, but gives hair more swing from the roots. The spinny brush did scare me to start with, but I gave myself an afternoon.and a YouTube video to master it. Dd has mad curly hair and it tames it into a soft curl. Wonder if it's just good on hair which is fine-ish but lots of it.

I’ve got a graduated bob and find it easy to style now after a lot of practice. My hair has a tendency to bush up also. The trick is to use serum on towel dried hair & sectioning. I do the back and undersides first then the top sides. Watch some you tube videos and have a good practice on the weekend. Once it’s styled i can get away with it for a few days just giving it a quick brush (unless it rains). Good luck

I’m a hairdresser and own a babyliss big hair I love it BUT I’ve recently bought a remmington keratin radiance Brush which I love even more.

The difference is with the babyliss you start using it when hair is 90% dry but the keratin radiance yunlast the hair dry them brush it through section by section. I usually go over mine the second (and third) day if needed.

Good luck

Yunlast- should read you blast

Could you show us a photo ?

This is it post first wash and after 2 goes with the straighteners. Managed to get the bulk out of it (very thick hair). But it just looks a bit crap!
Thanks for the support from so many of you.
I am looking at you tube and there is some good stuff on there. The huge dilemma is what 'tool' to buy to help manage it!

Same here, had a cut and blow dry at home,lovely lady, only charges £25, it was lovely when first done, but after washing it myself couldnt get it like she did, just cut too much of the bottom, thankfully its growing again, the crown part is good and gives a bit more lift, but i am used to it being a bit longer at the nape,and i can manage it easily

After spending ages researching all your recommendation, I'm going to give the babyliss big hair a shot...wish me luck, I am entering unchartered territory - styling me hair is a new think!
I have some heat protection spray and lots of you tube clips!