50 Times People Exposed Their Worst Beauty Salon Experiences

We explored the web and uncovered some of the most unsettling beauty makeover mishaps.

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• September 17, 2024

When visiting a beauty salon, most people envision walking out looking exactly like the picture they brought along or with the style they carefully described. However, more often than not, the result can be far from what was expected.

Many have experienced moments of disappointment, frustration, or even shock when the final look doesn’t match the ideal image they had in mind. Whether it's a new haircut, a hair color change, or any other cosmetic service, the gap between expectations and reality can sometimes be startling.

When visiting a beauty salon, most people envision walking out looking exactly like the picture they brought along or with the style they carefully described. However, more often than not, the result can be far from what was expected.

Many have experienced moments of disappointment, frustration, or even shock when the final look doesn’t match the ideal image they had in mind. Whether it's a new haircut, a hair color change, or any other cosmetic service, the gap between expectations and reality can sometimes be startling.

Beyond unrealistic expectations, sometimes the problem lies with the stylist or salon itself. Not thoroughly researching a salon before making an appointment can contribute to unsatisfactory results.

Reading reviews, checking portfolios, or asking for recommendations are essential to ensure that the stylist’s expertise matches the desired outcome. Skipping these steps increases the risk of ending up with a hairstyle that is not only different from what was wanted but also tricky to fix.

Sometimes, poor reviews might signal red flags, indicating that the salon lacks the necessary skills or professionalism. Failing to consider this can leave a person in a worse situation than they started with.

While many people experience mild dissatisfaction, there are unfortunate instances where things go wrong. The internet is a whole of stories and pictures of beauty makeovers that have gone awry, often in cringe-worthy and comedic ways.

From botched haircuts to disastrous hair dyes, these cases highlight how risky it can be to trust the wrong professional with a makeover. Some people have even been left hiding under hats or avoiding social interactions entirely while waiting for their hair to grow back or the effects to fade.

These drastic examples serve as cautionary tales, reminding everyone to approach makeovers with realistic expectations and careful planning.

"Unrealistic expectations are created by photos shared online."

"Bad Nails For A Worse Price"

"This Was The Absolute Worst Haircut Of My Life. How Does Someone Stay In Business When Stuff Like This Happens? I Wish I Could Warn Future Customers"

"Should I Be Mad At My Nail Tech?"

"Asked The Barber For A Razor Part. Here’s What I Got"

"This Was Supposed To Be The Finished Product. This Amount Of Highlighter Is Completely Unnecessary, And The Makeup Artist Has Completely Changed The Entire Complexion Of This Client"

"I Feel Sorry For The Pretty Girls That She Has Done Dirty"

"Paid $42 For This Haircut"

"Nail Tech Did Gel, And They Look Like This. The Gel Underneath Is All Super Visible, And It Looks Sloppy"

"It’s Definitely Ugly, Right? Is This Bad Enough That You Would Ask For A Refund? I Paid 290 For It And Didn’t Tip"

"The Neck Does Not Match The Face"

"What I Asked For vs. What I Got"

"Worst Haircut Ever. My Hair Before Versus What I Asked For And What I Got"

"I've Always Wanted My Nails To Look Like Baraka's Teeth"

"My Hair Stylist, During My Appointment, Had Another Client And Left Bleach In My Hair For Over An Hour. Now I Have Chemical Burns, And She Has No Advice"

"A Haircut I Received From Sports Clips In Pennsylvania, No Refund"

"These Monstrosities. I Keep Waking Up In The Middle Of The Night, Thinking Maybe It Is A Nightmare"

"I Got My Nails Done For My Wedding. Had To Immediately Go Somewhere Else"

"Back When I Used To Model, This Was What A "Makeup Artist" Did For A Shoot"

"I Can See Why They're Low-Priced, They're Unfinished"

"Instagram Makeup Artist Trying To Add Back Natural Freckles"

"What I Asked For vs. What I Got. What Would Y’all Have Done If A Licensed Hair Stylist Did This? I Couldn’t Even Get It Corrected By Another Salon"

"This Nail Salon Is Gaslighting Me"

"Am I Being Picky? First Time Getting Acrylics, And It Feels Like The Shaping Is Off. They Seem To Get "Bulbous" Around The Tips"

"Asked For A Fade And Got This. One Side Is Kind Of Faded, The Other Isn't"

"I Paid A Local Makeup Artist To Do My Makeup For A Navy Ball"

"Asked For My Curtain Bangs To Be Trimmed"

"Soft And Subtle Glam, Sure"

"Should I Go Back And Request A Refund?"

"This Was My Worst Moment"

"Asked For Black Hair With Chunky Highlights. The First One Is Inspiration Pictures; The Second One Is The Outcome"

"Parents Got Me A Well-Known, Posh Salon Voucher For My Birthday, This Was The Result Of A €250 Dye Job"

"When The Stylist Says, "I'm Having A Tough Time With Your Hair Line"

"I Paid $300 For Light Pink Ombre Hair And Got This"

"The Top Photo Is The Nail Design I Asked For, And The Bottom Photo Is What They Did For $65"

"I Was Disappointed by The Hair Trial. It Looks like I Just Woke Up After Sleeping For 12 Hours With A Braid In My Hair"

"How Do I Ask For Better Layers? I Told The Girl She Could Go Up To An Inch And A Half For Layers, But It Looks Like She Just Cut At That Mark Instead Of Making It Look Cohesive"

"I Asked For 8 Inches Off"

"Hair Stylist Messed Up My Hair And Blocked Me"

"Asked For 3 Inches Off, She Cut Off 5 Inches. Come Home To Find Out It Isn’t Even Straight Or Even"

"Manicure Before My Wedding. The First Set Almost Had Me Bridezillaing, But To Be Honest, I Just Cried A Bit In My Car"

"I Can’t Stop Looking At It"

"Went To A New Barber Yesterday. Was Given A Bald Spot"

"What I Asked For vs. What I Got. I Told The Lady I Was Nervous, And She Thought It Would Be A Good Idea If I Didn't Look While She Did It And "Trust The Process". $300 For This"

"Are Good Acrylics Impossible? I’m Crying. Spent Nearly 3 Hours In The Salon. My Nails Look Awful. This Happens Every Time No Matter Where I Go"

"Makeup Artist Near Me"

"I Can’t Believe I Let Myself Leave The Salon Like This"

"I Asked For A Low Fade And To Cut A Little Off The Top If It Needed To Be Blended"

"Asked For Honey-Blonde Hair, Ended Up With Pink"

"What I Asked For vs. What I Got. All Nails Were Of Different Shapes And Sizes. No Fingers On Both Hands Matched"

"The Picture I Showed To My Hairdresser And The Haircut I Got. Not To Mention, He Layered My Hair To Bits, So Now It's Paper-Thin"

Communication is critical to avoiding these kinds of mishaps. Clear and detailed conversations with the stylist about what is realistic and achievable can bridge the gap between expectation and reality.

It is essential to be open to suggestions from the stylist, who can offer professional advice based on their expertise. This may include adjusting the desired style to suit individual features or recommending a more achievable variation of the original inspiration photo.

Proper communication reduces the likelihood of disappointment and ensures the stylist and client are on the same page.

Damjan