Worst haircut- short bob instead of medium waves - what to do?

[Anonymous]

I had shoulder length wavy brunette hair, showed the hairstylist this, and gave the description of beachy waves: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/53/5c/ae/535cae950acf1e8cb6e05327a86e4656.jpg

And got something closer to this, but actually shorter and uglier:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ac/e6/9c/ace69c6f2531645bc2884489defc1d8d.jpg

I did speak up in the chair; I said this looks way more of a "chic bob" than what I was looking for, I wanted something with texture and movement, she said, "No I just had to straighten it like that to cut it right, you'll see, you just have to style it," so she grudgingly put a few curls in it, and I acted happy but... Ugh I've been saving face thanks to a variety of hair clips, colleagues even complimented me on them, "So 90s!"

It's been a few weeks so my hair has has a chance to grow a tiny bit but I'm feeling increasingly resentful towards this hairdresser. I paid her $90 plus a $10 tip! For the worst hair cut I've had in my life! My mom used to cut my hair, I cut it a few times... It never looked this bad! It's a limp, sharp, terrible placement (like hits right at my ear/jawline) bob -- I have 3 kids 5 and under so wanted something fresher and easier to air dry and go and instead I'm messing with dry shampoo, mini hair clips, and I even trimmed a set of clip-in hair extensions that seem to at least provide a little life to the hairstyle... But what else can I do? I'd hate to be a grinch and complain, but can I really do that, like try to get a refund?

Thankfully I'm really low key so in life I don't complain about this but inside I'm so annoyed.
wanted more like

[Anonymous]

It’s too late to complain now. Just find someone else next time.

[Anonymous]

That first picture is really, really styled and not at all wash and wear. I’m sorry you got a bad cut - I’d be really grumpy too- but that first cut might not work with your texture. I agree to find another person at this point.

[Anonymous]

The first pic you linked is not “air dry and go”. That’s a major effort of blow drying, curling, texture spray and then setting it with hair spray. The “messy on purpose” cuts are always heavily styled. You can achieve that style with the second cut (altho it is shorter in length).

It’s time to break out the curling iron (or flat iron if you can curl with one) and texturizing spray.

And agree that a month later is way to long to wait for a refund.

[Anonymous]

Most women have had a way way too short haircut in their lifetime where the stylist blew it badly. I still remember my mullet from hell that took nearly a year to grow out. Like you, I quit that stylist and never went back.

I agree with pp that pic #1 is not so wash and wear. It also has really long pieces that almost reach her shoulders. Was the front of your hair that long to begin with? That stacked look in the back is hard to achieve and not all stylists can do it properly. And it's difficult to curl the back like that by yourself.

[Anonymous]

I am going to disagree that the style necessarily takes a lot of work. IF OP has reasonably thick wavy hair, the right cut allows that look to be achieved via isle of a microfiber towel (turbitwist is ideal) right out of the shower and then scrunching some curl gel in. No blow dry, curling iron, or flat iron necessary. IF capitalized intentionally….

I speak from my own experience with similar hair and a similar cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to disagree that the style necessarily takes a lot of work. IF OP has reasonably thick wavy hair, the right cut allows that look to be achieved via isle of a microfiber towel (turbitwist is ideal) right out of the shower and then scrunching some curl gel in. No blow dry, curling iron, or flat iron necessary. IF capitalized intentionally….

I speak from my own experience with similar hair and a similar cut.

The exact style that OP posted takes a lot of work. Those are meticulously styled waves. That of course doesn’t mean OP can’t make the cut look cute without heat styling. It’s just not going to look like the picture.

[Anonymous]

OP I wear my hair like the first photo you posted, but slightly longer. To achieve it I need to blowdry for volume, curl my hair with a wide barrel and then straighten the ends, and add texturing hairspray. I could probably combine the curl + straighten into one step if I curled with a straightener, but I've never had much luck there.

No haircut is going to make your hair look like that, it's the styling.

[Anonymous]

Focus on learning to style it. Take supplements like collagen. Let it grow. It is only hair. Use hats.

[Anonymous]

Also, you expressed your displeasure with a crappy tip. You already got her back.

[Anonymous]

OP- I saw that pic and asked for the same cut a few weeks ago. My hair was down to my collarbone and I had her keep it longer than the pic- so not quite the same issue, but she didn’t quite angle the cut right (like the back layers aren’t quite right). When I left, though, it was beautiful, but I haven’t t figured out how to curl it as nicely. So I literally just blow dry it straight. Nothing much to add except that I agree- it’s the styling that’s key here.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I get that the first pic has a lot of styling, but still I imagined I'd leave with something somewhat similar to it - I already had thick, wavy hair past my shoulders, and wanted it fresher and lighter. What I'm still so surprised by is how short she cut it - I can't even pull the longest pieces to touch my chin. I expected the longest pieces to be brushing my collarbone.
My hair used to be very full and curly - since having kids it's more just wavy - but with it this short you can't hardly get any wave, so it's just so opposite of what I wanted. It's so short it's just looking flat.

Anyway, yes, it's just hair, I will just be patient... I'm not a fan of hats but the little hair clips seem to help.

The lesson I'm taking away from this is to speak up more and sooner. And if a stylist talks the way she did (arguing with me that no, it just "looks short" because she had to straighten it) I'll stand my ground and complain before paying for anything.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry you got a bad cut. I recently had my hair cut shorter and different than I intended/explained and I was also annoyed at first but I have since gotten used to it. My hair is still much longer than what you described, so I can also pull it back in a ponytail/bun. I don’t have much to add other than I think you have a right to be annoyed and I would be too. It’s annoying how expensive haircuts are (I paid almost the same as you).

[Anonymous]

I actually love the second cut! Maybe it will grow on you, literally? But then I’m someone who loves short hair. I think nj it makes a lot of women look younger and less tired.

[Anonymous]

Sweetie, that's the same haircut. You need a curling iron to get those waves.