Is there anything worse than faking a smile in the salon mirror? (Picture: Getty Images/Metro.co.uk)

It’s the day before your holiday and you’re sitting in front of the mirror in the hairdressers, waiting for your new look to be finalised. 

You booked in as late as possible so you could have fresh hair for the trip, but now you’re starting to wonder if that was a mistake.

‘Okay, all done!’ your hairdresser says, all smiles.

One glance in the mirror tells you all you need to know: this is not what you asked for.

And now, of course, you’re going to be stuck with it – because who in their right mind would dare tell their hairdresser they messed up?

According to Emi Jean McKenna, a hair stylist and founder of The Happy Place Salon, the main reason appointments go wrong is when the consultation hasn’t been thorough enough, which can be the result of the hairdresser rushing through it or the client not having a clear idea of what they want.

‘Consultation is key,’ Emi tells Metro.co.uk.

‘I would go so far to say the most important part of the whole appointment. 

‘One person’s idea of blonde may be another’s idea of bronde and one person’s idea of golden may be another person’s idea of copper.

‘Same goes with cut – I’ve had clients think that boob-length hair is short, so clarifying their definition of what they’re asking for is key.’ 

Should you tell your hairdresser you don’t like what they’ve done?

It can be earth-shatteringly awkward to tell a hairdresser you don’t like what they’ve done but, ultimately, you’ve spent your money and have to live with your hair until next payday at least, so it’s always worth letting them know.

That said, you need to work out whether they actually did a bad job, or if you’re just not used to your new look (or worse, are regretting your life choices).

‘Sometimes when you have a change you just need time to adjust and get used to it,’ says Emi.

If the application and finish is well-executed and what you’ve asked for has been achieved, she says, you might want to think twice before criticising your stylist. 

However, she adds, ‘if you feel it’s a bad job, and it is evidently a bad job, I think it is totally fair to express that you’re unhappy with the result.’

Plus, chances are, your hairdresser will be happy to rectify their mistake. 

‘Most hairdressers take pride in their work and want their clients to be happy,’ says Emi.

However, she says it’s unlikely you’ll get a refund, because doing hair takes time and products whether you like it or not. 

‘Cases when refunds are issued tend to be if there is an obvious huge mistake made, and if the hair is of a very bad standard,’ Emi says. 

How to tell a hairdresser you don’t like your hair

If you want to tell a hairdresser you’re unhappy with their service, good on you, you’re better than 99% of us. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

Don’t react angrily

First things first, don’t react in anger and be as respectful as possible 

‘It’s hard not to take these things personally as a hairdresser,’ says Emi.

‘It’s also important to know if your stylist is of a junior level, as acting aggressively can really shatter a junior hairdresser’s confidence.’ 

Take some deep breaths, you can do it.

Do communicate calmly – and be nice

‘The best way to react is to have an open and honest conversation,’ says Emi. 

‘Your stylist should behave professionally and understand that a miscommunication has been made.’

Explain that something has gone wrong and, if possible, you’d like to have it sorted out as soon as you can.

‘These things happen, and if the connection between client and stylist is good you can work together to achieve the outcome you want without upset,’ says Emi. 

‘It really does all come down to communication.’

If you don’t feel comfortable having the same hairdresser, that’s fine, too. Communicate kindly and the salon will likely get someone else to redo it for you.

Is there anything more awkward?