Anyone who’s ever experimented with their looks knows that mistakes can occur no matter what. That's why we usually turn to beauty salons where professionals do their magic. Whether we hope for a gorgeous hair color or a fabulous new cut, we can already imagine us confidently emerging from the salon and going out to conquer the world. But just as our previous features about makeup fails and tragic hair accidents proved, that’s not always the case.
Chances are, many of us have felt the horror of sitting in front of a mirror while watching our stylist completely disregard our wishes. And sometimes, the results of these beauty procedures are light years away from our expectations, leaving us utterly unsatisfied with our new look. If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. But if not, this new list compiled by Bored Panda will at least cause a genuine chuckle.
We have scoured the internet for some of the most bizarre, cringe-worthy, and downright tragic hair and makeup moments people have shared online. So sit back, relax, and get ready for some beauty disasters of epic proportions. Enjoy scrolling through this list, upvote the pics that surprised you most, and be sure to tell us what you think of them in the comments.
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What My Sister Asked For vs. What The Salon Did vs. What My Mom Did After The Salon Disaster
Didn't Think They'd Do The Arrow Too
This Is What Happened To My Client When She Went Into A Different Local Nail Salon Without Doing Her Research
I couldn't believe my eyes so I had to get a picture. She paid £35 for these.
Picture this: you do your research, choose a salon, and book a hair or makeup appointment only to swivel around in the chair and become overwhelmed with uncertainty. At first, you blame the lighting and believe it will look way better once you step outside. But deep inside, you know that something’s not right, and can’t help but feel disappointed (or even seriously appalled) by the result.
Sounds familiar? Well, no one is immune to experiencing these blunders. Whether it’s a tragic hairstyle, a color refresh gone wrong, or a makeup look that makes you look like you're from another planet, we don’t expect beauty and hair experts to make such mistakes. Yet, here we are.
Yes, Done At A Real Salon. And Yes, She Did Cry When She Saw It
$60 "Professional" Halloween Makeup. I Asked For The Photo On The Left, With Just A Little Fake Blood. On The Right Is What The Makeup Artist Gave Me
Are These Too Thick? I Can’t Tell If I’m Just Not Used To Them Or If This Is A Normal Application. I’m Not Thrilled With Them
When we give our faith, hair, and face to a stranger — and spend good money to do so — the last thing we want is to step out of there crying and wishing to go back in time to erase it all. Just think about the moment when you finally get to glance at the mirror hoping to see your fabulous self but instead, you’re met with someone who feels utterly unlike you. When it comes to makeup, you immediately notice the mistakes — too much foundation here, too little color there, and what is up with all this unnecessary contouring? Makeup that isn’t applied skillfully can immediately ruin our day and put a damper on our confidence. But luckily for us, there are experts who share advice on how to quickly patch up these mistakes.
The Hairdresser Had “No Idea” How This Happened
What I Asked For vs. What I Got
I really hope you got a refund. I asked for the same colour as you did, and the dude got it right with no issues. It was expensive, but worth it. But wow, major fail. I hope your hair wasn't damaged.
What Was The Makeup Artist Thinking With This Shade Match?
Makeup artist Daniel Martin, whose clients range from Meghan Markle to Jessica Alba, told Vogue that first and foremost, people are entitled to politely request a redo if they’re unsatisfied with the results. "As artists, we have to remember that we’re providing a service and we can’t take things too personally," he said. After all, makeup is subjective, so they should listen to your wishes.
If you’re one of those people who freeze in uncomfortable situations or avoid them at all costs, think about bringing an image of your desired look as a reference. Moreover, be crystal clear with the artist about your dislikes before they begin. "Hate the way you look with mascara on your bottom lashes? Cringe at the idea of contouring? Tell the artist directly, and your honesty will only aid in the execution."
What I Asked For vs. What I Got. $400 And I Feel Like An Idiot
Expectations vs. Reality: Curly Hair
What My Hair Looked Like - What I Asked For - And How It Turned Out
However, sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands. "At the end of the day, it’s only makeup and it can be fixed," Martin said and offered some sound advice to prepare you for any possible damage control in the future. First, "If you’re left with too much coverage on the skin and the finish on your face is too powdery, misting will break up the finish a bit. If you don’t have a misting spray, a wet paper towel pressed onto the skin will do the trick as well."
Then, if your artist somehow managed to make you look like a mannequin, Martin suggested, "If the foundation is looking too opaque and flat, I add a bit of radiance to the complexion by using a dry facial oil that won’t break up the powder that’s already on top of the skin. A facial oil used with a foundation brush will add the skinlike texture you want without the feeling of added weight."
What I Asked For And What I Got
Not the only one that I saw end up like that. My sister asked for a haircut like the one on the left and she ended up looking like the lady on the right. I think that less experienced hair stylists don't know that they shouldn't overcut too much when the hair is wet, because once dry it gains more volume and becomes shorter. She never asked for a shorter haircut after this travesty!
Went To My Hairdresser With This Pic Today
Wanted A Simple Manicure For My Wedding In March. Right Is What I Got. I Was Upset But Also Couldn’t Stop Laughing
When it comes to eyebrows, one of the most common fears we have is to emerge from the chair and see that they’re way too dark for our liking. "If the brow is overly done, split tissue paper to a single sheet, place it over your brow, and buff on setting powder on top of it. This will soften the depth of the brow tone," Martin suggested. "If your edges are too 'fleek,' use a Q-tip dipped in cleansing water to soften them."
Spray Tan Tears Won't Go Away
First Pic Is What I Asked For, Other Pics Are What I Ended Up With
I tell ya what I want, what I really really want...... its not to look like second coming spice, fix this mess.
She Went To The Worst-Reviewed Makeup Artist In Her City
Well, that's what you get when you go to the worst reviewed salon!
While makeup disasters can swiftly be fixed with our own efforts, that’s not always the case with our hair. Of course, ending up with a hairdo you're unhappy with is far from an irreversible catastrophe. But if there’s a choice, we would all prefer to walk around with a haircut we’re actually satisfied with. To know how to do that, we previously reached out to Rob Jon, founder of The Brentwood Hairdresser, the most sustainable salon in Essex, UK. He explained to us in an interview the main reasons why tragic accidents occur and shared some advice on how to avoid receiving regrettable hairdos.
My Sister's Friend Got Her Nails Done By A “Professional” Nail Artist
This Has Been All Over My Social Feeds Lately. The Artist Has A Booking Site And Charges $85
Why do people keep saying drag queen? The queens I've seen do much better quality than this
Needed A Pick Me Up, But I Feel Like I Got Screwed Over At The Nail Salon. These Look Whack, Right?
"Haircut ideas are always based around what is fashionable," he told Bored Panda. "But what is fashionable doesn’t always suit your hair type, face shape, or lifestyle." Rob explained that bad decisions are often made when people try to keep up with the latest trends rather than opting for looks that actually suit them.
One of the best ways to be sure about your options is to listen to what your stylist has to say, Rob said. "We are professionals and will always act in the clients' best interest to make you look and feel as good as possible," he noted. Still, it’s best to appear in the salon already prepared. Rob suggested using Instagram or Pinterest or some kind of visual aid to try to steer your stylist in the right direction. Then, you can have a conversation with your stylist who "will come up with the perfect compromise to make your hair look on point."
When You Accidentally Go To The Worst Stylist In Your Country
Asked For Caramel Balayage, Came Out Looking Like A Tiger
Been there, done that. Highly recommend BLUE shampoo to tone down the orange.
My Sister’s Nails For A Wedding
But despite the best intentions and efforts from both sides, mistakes happen. "Tragic haircuts are often based on a lack of communication between stylist and customer," Rob said. So a good way to ensure you emerge from the hairdresser’s chair with desired results is to talk with your stylist before and during the process.
Setting unrealistic expectations is one more reason why regrettable haircuts occur, Rob added. Or they encounter inexperienced stylists who are "unable to manage clients' expectations and deliver something that is much more suitable to their lifestyle and the style that they are after."
"To avoid a bad haircut, my advice would be to use visual aids in the salon using pictures to describe not only what you like but what you don’t like," The Brentwood Hairdresser mentioned. "Also, be willing to accept the stylists' advice as they are simply trying to manage your hair in the best way possible."
Balayage Hair
What I Wanted vs. What I Got
To be fair, the left pictured person has multitudes more hair or extensions with tenfold then volume of the right pictured person.
My Little Sister Got Her Makeup Done For My 30th Birthday Party. She’s Really Good At Doing Her Own Makeup. However, She Wanted To Treat Herself And Went To The Salon
The Usual Hairdresser Disaster. My Usual Curl Pattern vs. After Styling By The Hairdresser After A Cut
Styling? I wouldn't dignify what was done to you with that term. I hope it's fixable
All I Wanted Was Bangs That Look Like Dakota Johnson’s. I Showed Her Multiple Pictures And This Was What I Got
It’s been over a year and they look fine now, but wow, I was suffering for a few months there.
The Haircut She Wanted vs. What She Got
My Best Friend Got This Done At Ulta Today
I Guess I Got What I Paid For With This Free Look. Asked Makeup Artist For Homecoming Makeup
A Sephora Employees Rendition Of A “No Makeup Makeup” Look. At Least Is Was Free
My Awful Eyebrows. Bad Microblading, Cheap Ink, Wrong Aftercare Directions. Now Look At Them
Reference Photo vs. What I Got
What I Asked For vs. What I Got - $450 AUD And 4.5hrs Later. I'm Going To Bed
Hair not lightened enough, toner mixed with too low of developer and processed too long. With 4.5 hours, they could have gotten her hair lifted high enough to do a purple wash then toned it to the specific color. This is laziness and ineptitude on the part of the colorist.
Nail Bar Experience In Indonesia
Expectation vs. Reality ($200 Later). Hairdresser Tried Telling Me It Was The Same Thing. Nope. Nope. No
Hairdresser Did Me Dirty
someone had absolutely ZERO experience with decolorization, and proceeded anyway. Shameful