Salon Etiquette: What to Do if You Hate Your New Haircut

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We’ve all been there: sitting in the salon chair with a brand-new cut and color you hate, wondering — after the hours and money you’ve spent on it — how to fix the situation while sparing the stylist’s feelings and hard work. Awkward.

According to a Byrdie article on salon etiquette, there are a few things you can do: Speak up, go back later, go somewhere else, or try your own hand at a solution. All viable options, sure, but we wanted to see what Philly experts had to say, so we went straight to the source.

Edmondo Blando, owner of Rittenhouse’s Salon Vanity, recommends you speak up. After receiving a cut or color you don’t like, politely tell your stylist that it’s not what you were looking for. Be specific about what’s wrong — and don’t feel uncomfortable. At the end of the day, stylists just want their clients to be happy, and they won’t take it personally if you’re polite about it. From there, you can choose to have your current stylist fix it, or see someone else to get the result you want.

If you can’t muster up the courage to say anything while you’re sitting in the chair, it’s okay to go back and ask for it to be fixed. (Most cut and color fixes are even complimentary!)

Moral of the story: It’s better for you — and the salon — if you speak up.

Do you have a beauty, shopping or style question you want answered? Need shopping tips? Email egoulet@phillymag.com!