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9 Ways to Survive a Bad Haircut
Camouflage an unfortunate chop with new bangs, attention-getting earrings or clip-in extensions
(From left) Small tweaks can make a bad cut more manageable. Stars like Halle Berry, Sandra Oh and Hannah Waddingham have embraced short, long and wavy 'dos.
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Layers. Bangs. Pixie. Bob. Those words strike fear in the hearts of many women. I should know. As a beauty editor, stylist and personal shopper for women over 50, I’ve seen plenty of dramas where a snip went awry. Whether your experience was due to taking a chance at a new salon, a miscommunication with your usual stylist or a hasty DIY trim, the result is always the same: regret and horror just thinking about the grow-out to come, combined with a sudden urge to get extensions, buy a wig or wear a hat for a few months. Here’s how to turn a mistake into a magical move.
(From left) Find a celebrity with a cut you can emulate, like the styles on Hannah Waddingham, Kristen Wiig, Olivia Coleman or Christina Hendricks.
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1. Try a mental flip.
Keep an open mind. Maybe it’s not as bad as you think. Sometimes a change is just what you need to reboot your look and outlook. For example, not long ago, you might not have considered wearing wide-leg jeans, a boho midi dress or a striped boatneck tee. Now, they’re the universal favorites of women over 50. Check out celebrities’ hairstyles and find one with a haircut similar to yours. This will make you feel a little more confident and introduce an “If she can do it, I can” mindset.
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Then, find something to love (or at least like) about your new style. Maybe it’s the way bangs hide your forehead wrinkles and emphasize your eyes; how a swingy bob flatters a less-than-firm jawline and makes your neck look longer; or how layers give you a more contemporary look. Wash your hair at home ASAP to eliminate the salon vibe, and give the chop a week to settle. Once you overcome your initial panic, this may be all it takes to move forward.
(From left) Adding highlights, like the ones sported by Wendie Malick, or using products to enhance natural waves like Sandra Oh, Tamron Hall and Christine Lahti can vary the look of a cut.
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2. Get a second opinion — and maybe another haircut.
Before you say “no way!” … hear me out. Sometimes an additional modification can salvage a bad cut. For example, going a little shorter can turn an unwanted asymmetric cut into a chic bob. Snipping textured ends can make a bob look thicker; adding highlights gives the illusion of more hair and movement. Improve the grow-out by scheduling a session with your stylist to learn how to use your natural texture, products or tools to improve the cut’s shape and vary the look. (The salon where you got the cut should comp you for this.)
Just between us: Never let a stylist talk you into “taking a little weight off” by thinning your hair or cutting it with a razor — it’s a potential disaster for mature hair. Also, don’t let a new stylist cut your hair “wet” before seeing your usual style and texture when it’s dry. And if you have already been contemplating it, try a new hue. Making your hair color more prominent makes the cut less important and can put a positive spin on the grow-out.
(From left) Tiny trims can even up frayed ends. Cate Blanchett, Melanie Griffith and Halle Berry showcase beautiful bobs.
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3. Even out unwanted layers.
Even without touching the length, bringing in layers changes the shape and look of any haircut. Subtle layers can give your hair a tousled, modern look. But if you were expecting a bob with hidden “ghost” layers or just few long layers around the face and got a shag instead, it’s time to reassess.
Waiting for layers to grow out is easier if you keep trimming the bottom line and resist touching the other layers until they meet up. A trim should be subtle, as in “dusting the ends.” This salon term means taking an eighth of an inch off the ends to freshen them and avoid frays. Hair grows approximately half an inch a month, so give it three to four months.
(From left) Long bangs can rescue a cut. Robin Wright, Molly Ringwald, Martha Stewart and Sharon Stone opt for sideswept fringes.
AARP (Getty Images, 4)
4. Let bangs play a starring role.
If you already have bangs as part of your new bob, lob (a.k.a. a long bob), shag, crop or pixie, feel lucky. They actually make the grow-out more bearable by providing a flattering focal point. Adding bangs to a botched cut can often save it and ease the grow-out period. Those with a bob or lob benefit from adding a long, side-swept fringe. This is flattering for most women and blends into the rest of the hair without causing extra haircut stress.
A full straight-across fringe can give bobs and lobs a cool vibe and restore structure to medium-to-long hair that’s been layered. If your chop was super short? You can’t cut bangs, but a pixie can be softened with feathery tendrils at the hairline and nape, and around the ears.
(From left) Products such as Pantene's Pro-V Miracle Repair Keratin & Vitamin E Shampoo & Conditioner Set and Nexxus Hy-Volume Leave-In Cloud Foam Hair Mousse with Collagen Protein & Hyaluronic Acid can make hair look fuller and healthier.
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5. Emphasize volume and body with products.
You can’t replace length overnight, but you can give hair a fuller look with care and styling boosts. This is the perfect time to start a new regimen of body-enhancing shampoos, conditioners and styling products that add physical bulk to the hair shaft and strengthen it with ingredients like keratin, wheat protein, amino acids and panthenol.
One example is the Pantene Pro-V Miracle Repair Keratin & Vitamin E Shampoo & Conditioner Set ($19, cvs.com), a duo that takes the guesswork out of finding a perfect match. Give your scalp TLC with a circulation-stimulating massage every time you shampoo to encourage growth. Use the fingertips on both your hands or a massage brush to gently apply pressure while making small circles. Be sure to detangle wet hair with a wide-tooth comb both in the shower and afterward to avoid snags and breakage. Start at the ends (not the roots), working upward an inch at a time.
Update your styling kit to include a hydrating mousse like Nexxus Hy-Volume Leave-In Cloud Foam Hair Mousse with Collagen Protein & Hyaluronic Acid ($16, target.com) for allover volume, and a next-generation no-residue dry shampoo like Dove Dry Shampoo Volume & Fullness ($9, walgreens.com) to revive lift between washes.
(From left) Invest in high-quality styling products like John Frieda's 4-in-1 Styling Set: Hair Dryer, Flat Iron, Curling Wand and the Heated Brush and the Aria Beauty Mini Blowdry Brush in Rose Gold.
AARP (Target, CVS)
6. Rethink your styling routine.
Changing your hair texture or styling routine can provide a transitional fix regardless of length or style. For example, if you typically wear your hair blown smooth, try waving or curling it to disguise unwanted layers or bangs. Hot tools and rollers are useful shape-shifters. Shorter hair may respond better to a hybrid brush-dryer like the Aria Beauty Mini Blowdry Brush in Rose Gold ($50, cvs.com), or a smaller round brush than usual for use with your regular blow-dryer.
Or you might switch from a nozzle attachment to a diffuser to encourage texture and body in naturally wavy or curly hair, or splurge on a multi-tool dryer with attachments for blow-drying, curling and straightening, like the John Frieda 4-in-1 Styling Set- Hair Dryer, Flat Iron, Curling Wand and Heated Brush ($100, target.com). Alternate heat styling with heat-free options like soft rollers (that can be slept in overnight) such as the Conair Heatless Roller Set ($15, walgreens.com), no-heat velcro rollers and even retro pin curls set with bobby pins as an alternative to hot tools. Use them on damp, freshly washed hair to build in waves, body or curl.
7. Commit to making your hair healthier.
Regardless of how many hair-growth vitamins and gummies you take, it will be four solid months until you see a major difference. Use this time to encourage stronger, glossier, thicker hair by changing your diet and hair care routine. Make sure you get adequate protein, vitamins C, D and E, zinc, iron, and omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids to boost hair health. Foods like fish, avocados, beans, whole grains, eggs, sweet potatoes, nuts, berries and olive oil are a good start and beneficial for dry, thin or damaged hair in need of rehab.
8. Get hair extensions.
For those who had long hair until Edward Scissorhands showed up and are now left with a bob or lob, extensions can ease the pain. No-commitment clip-in extensions like LUXY 12” Seamless Dimensional Cream Blonde Clip Ins ($225, luxyhair.com), which are human hair and come in 12-, 16-, 20- and 24-inch lengths and shades like dark brown balayage and light gray; or clip-on bangs like the synthetic Hairdo Clip In Bangs ($31, hairdousa.com), are for one-night-only situations like an event or party.
Salon extensions, on the other hand, are more costly, depending on length, texture and method. Extensions aren’t just about length — you can add shorter extensions to a bob or lob to increase volume in thin or fine hair or to restore length to a drastically shorter cut, but this requires enough length to attach the extensions for a seamless look. Fusion extensions (also known as keratin extensions) are the category I hear about most from women over 50. A stylist uses heat to bond the new hair to your own and provide a smooth, natural look. Worth every penny, they last around three to six months and offer peace of mind while your “bad haircut” grows out. They start at around $2,000, depending on length and quality, so be sure to go to an experienced stylist/specialist who has a knack for style, can provide a seamless color match and understands thin, delicate, weak or damaged hair over 50 as well as sensitive scalps.
(From left) Bold earrings like Universal Thread Stackable Geometric Beaded Drop Earrings in Green, Ettika Swirl Pearl Earrings and J.Crew Shell Earrings in Shiny Matte Gold can divert attention from a less-than-flattering style.
AARP (Target, 2; J. Crew)
9. Count on big earrings.
Last but not least, opt for eye-catching earrings. There’s a reason many celebs wear large hoops and statement drops. They’re attention grabbers that distract from hair bloopers. Opt for lightweight styles with star power, like Ettika Swirl Pearl Earrings ($75, target.com), Sunkissed Sterling 14K Gold Over Silver Pearl Hoop Earrings ($67, kohls.com) and J.Crew Shell Earrings in Shiny Matte Gold ($30, jcrew.com). Haircut? What haircut? Believe me, all you’ll hear is “Love your earrings!”
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