51 Childhood Hairstyles People Had Because Their Parents Refused To Take Them To The Salon

It makes sense that people get so emotional sharing these photos. According to acclaimed hairstylist Jawara Wauchope, for example, hair is a big part of our identity.

“You can tell through someone’s hair what they’re going through, what they’re dealing with, how they feel about themselves,” he says.

Wauchope goes a step further and says you can even make observations about the community by examining their salons. “I think it’s an ecosystem, especially a Black beauty salon.”

“It’s like you see so much in there. You go in there for hair, but you…leave with everything because everyone congregates there.”

Of course, that might not apply to DIY home haircuts, but it just goes to show how much meaning we tend to attach to hair in general.

While the kids in the pictures may not have had the chance to say no to their parents’ plans, some people choose not to go to the salon even when they can.

According to a recent poll of more than 13,000 adults in the United States, 13% are considering learning to cut their own hair.

A quick look at the demographic data shows that men and women are equally curious about DIY haircuts, while Gen Z leads the age groups in considering this option.

Those considering cutting their own hair are also:

1. TV Fans: Almost half (44%) of those who are thinking about cutting their own hair consider TV shows “important” in their lives, while just 21% of non-DIY hair-cutters say the same.
2. Eating Up the Bars: Those on the fence about cutting their own hair are three times as likely as those adamantly against it to eat snack, health, diet, or supplement bars.
3. Mindful of Fashion: Half of those contemplating a DIY haircut purchase designer items, compared to just 17% of non-DIY hair-cutters.
4. Have a Need for Speed: Interestingly, 56% of those considering the at-home haircut are NASCAR fans; just 20% of those in opposition to the idea say the same.

And if there’s ever a time to have a bad haircut, it’s in childhood, when the stakes are relatively low, and hair grows back pretty much just the way it was before. A YouGov poll found that only a minority of Americans experience hair problems “to a great extent,” but milder issues are widespread.

Thinning and shedding (11% each) are the biggest concerns that affect Americans to a great extent, but about a third report these issues to a lesser degree. Premature greying (11% great; 17% moderate) and bald spots or receding hairlines (10% great) also affect many adults. Everyday frustrations are even more common: frizz or damage (9% great; 15% moderate) and dandruff or dry scalp (8% great; 14% moderate) impact large numbers, though less severely.

And if you never experiment, you might never know what truly suits you and makes you feel confident.

Another survey of 2,000 Americans found that a whopping 58 percent feel their hairstyle is stuck in a rut — with women leading the charge over men: 66 percent of women feel their hair could use a major change, while 49 percent of men feel the same.

So think about it: maybe if someone has one of the worst haircuts in childhood, they won’t be afraid to switch it up later, and that early misstep could actually encourage creativity, bold choices, and a willingness to take risks with style well into adulthood.