Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
If you have ever had long hair or haven‘t changed your hairstyle in a hot minute, you might agree that it can become a security blanket, so it‘s often very hard to make that step and spice up things a bit. On the other hand, once you do it, it can be an immediate confidence boost. It‘s probably the main reason why people tend to experiment with their hair after major life changes.
Changing your hairstyle can elevate your looks to another level, but it has to be done by a professional hand—otherwise, it might go really wrong. Just think of all the quarantine hair fails we've seen or even experienced in the past few months of insanity. If you missed them, check out some of the most ridiculous and hilarious fails here and here. A carefully chosen hairstyle and color can complement your skin tone, face shape, and highlight your best features. The artists you‘ll see here definitely know what they are doing.
Scroll down to see some of the best transformations by the world‘s most talented hairstylists. Some of the before-and-afters might blow your mind―it’s amazing how a proper hairstyle can completely change the way a person looks! And feel free to take one look as inspiration next time you go to a salon!
More info: Instagram | Instagram | oneshot.behindthechair.com | Facebook | twitter.com | youtube.com
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Katherine Boag 5 years ago
Also makeup and a smile :) and a better angle on her face to catch the light
RELATED:
#2
NamiKoa 5 years ago
I love those curls! I guess people with straight hair always want curls and vice versa.
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago
I mean this is true, but it looks like she had naturally curly hair that they did something to, to define the curls. Not sure what tho
Load More Replies...
alwaysMispelled 5 years ago
Makeovers always do... I love the ones where people are frowning and then smiling, like no s**t they look happier in the after pic
Load More Replies...
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 5 years ago
Gorgeous! I love the curls and the eye make-up looks stunning on her.
These amazing transformations are brought to you by #ONESHOT Hair Awards held by Behind The Chair―the largest community in the world for salon professionals to explore education possibilities and draw inspiration. The annual contest has received over 1,000,000 entries in different categories in only 5 years. There are two overall categories hairstylists can submit to: “Big Shot“ for pictures shot in a professional studio setting and “Hot Shot,” which celebrates real and raw hairstyles done behind the chair. To bring it down to Earth, in this post, we have compiled a list of raw before and after pics of contest winners and finalists across the years. These transformations show the hottest hairstyles and color trends that hairstylists masterfully transfer to clients' hair.
#3
Gipsy Kings fan 5 years ago
I agree -- but in the "after" photo, she's also wearing makeup, has a tan, and has been photographed in a more flattering pose / from a more flattering angle.
Load More Replies...
Sinkvenice 5 years ago
It doesn't look like the same person but it's not due to the hair alone.
Imma Letchoofinish 5 years ago
Amazing what hair...makeup...lots of makeup....a stylist....and photoshop can do!
Lee Lauder 4 years ago
I'm sorry, but that girl's hair is hideous! Why does every stylist seem to think shorter is better? She looks like someone from Jefferson Starship circa 1978.
Steve Cruz 5 years ago
Looks like two different people. The transformed cut looks easy to care for.
#4
Kenna Cook 5 years ago
The thing is, is that in the first pics they don't smile and there's bad lighting, and in the second pics they are wearing makeup, smiling and have good lighting. Nevertheless they still look glamorous.
Most of us dream of that perfect hairstyle that will turn heads, and it shows. The competition has 118k followers on Instagram while Behind The Chair has 1.7M. Though not everyone is brave enough to rock edgy haircuts and vibrant colors, these accounts throw out so much content every day that anyone can find something they fancy and would find suitable for day-to-day life. Or maybe even inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and try something out of the box? Anyway, if we can take one lesson from the #ONESHOT awards, it would definitely be to put down the kitchen scissors when you are tempted to chop off your heavy locks and look for a professional who will take good care of you.
#5
Dorothy Parker 5 years ago
She looks great, but why change her fabulous hair color? Now burdened with frequent and expensive appointments.
MCathenaE 5 years ago
Actually, no. This color will grow out naturally & look good for as long as she wants to go in between color services...
Load More Replies...
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
I've had very very long hair and cut it very very short a few times. Sometimes you just want it all off! She looks amazing with the new haircut... As long as she's happy with it, I am too!
Load More Replies...
🍿WhErE iS mY pOpCoRn🍿 5 years ago
I personally think the before look was better, you just have to style it how you like
LittleMissLotus 5 years ago
I like both, but I actually think her really long hair is super cool!
StrawberryParfait 5 years ago
She looked better before. All they needed to do was tidy up her gorgeous long hair.
#6
Teri Wadding 5 years ago
I am from the 60's and love long hair on men. But the styled cut looks soo good.
Beverly Sherlin 5 years ago
100% team before. Could have been trimmed but longer hair on men is just hot.
A new hairstyle is not only about aesthetics, it’s usually way beyond that―a way of finding self-love and needed confidence. Experimenting with your hair can help you express yourself and it can actually be a lot of fun. But the most important part―it grows back! This is why we love sharing inspiring before and after photos of hair transformations. Find more posts with epic hair makeovers you should look at here, here, here, and here.
#7
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
That looks really smart. This is proving over and over that long stringy straight hair looks good on NO ONE.
Katrin P. 5 years ago
That hair was long, but not stringy. And I love my long hair. I had it at chin length and it was a nightmare for me, always too hot, always in need of styling. Nah, never again.
Load More Replies... Gipsy Kings fan 5 years ago
Great move to cut off the too-long bleached hair. New style is great, but what's with the gray? Why not color her hair its natural black or very dark brown color? Asian women have such beautiful hair.
Sherri McLain 12 months ago
agree - I think it's another "women must be gray if they're a certain age" thing that looks good on almost no one. I do like the cut though.
Load More Replies...
Lorelai Kelly 5 years ago
I love all the long to short transformations,thinking I want to do it to my hair
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
TRY ON SOME WIGS! PROPERLYY CARED FOR LONG HAIR IS BEAUTIFUL AND CAN BE WORN IN SO MANY DIFFRENT STYLES.
Load More Replies...
#8
Kat Hague 5 years ago
This is a stunning change! Took years and years off of her. She's the winner
Randy Klefbeck 5 years ago
There is some light manipulation going on here. It isn't just the hair.
Load More Replies...
Nicola Barrett 5 years ago
My god!!! Speechless... She looks decades younger!! This has to be the best transformation I've seen.... I want this stylist to do me like this... I agree with Kate Hague, winner.. Xx
Nicole Tomme 5 years ago
Woah looks like mother and daughter! And of course a smile makes a huge difference. Funny how most before and after pics people use bad lighting, no makeup, bad poses and no smile in the before and then have better lighting, improved poses, makeup and smiles in the after. Even if you change nothing else of course the person will look better haha.
#9
Nicole Tomme 5 years ago
It looks like his hairline moved forward! Funny how the long straight hair made him look like he had a receding hairline (at least compared to the after photo).
Naima Ivansdóttir 5 years ago
the "before" hairdo wasn't doing much for him and didn't compliment his face shape and features. well done.
#11
ispeak catanese 5 years ago
*starts running over and beats you to him/her*
Load More Replies...
Johanne Trudeau 5 years ago
Beautiful before and gorgeous after... I'd like to know who this hairdresser is myself!!
#12
Paul Jordan 5 years ago
Now if only she was wearing those fabulous glasses with the coloured hair...
Load More Replies... 
Sandy Schairer 1 year ago
How does she see now without glasses? Taking pretty over necessity is silly.
#13
MrOwlAteMyMetalWorm. 5 years ago
You don't even know her. Why speak like this?
Load More Replies...
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
That's my haircut. Its soooooo easy. I have a little bit of wave (so does this woman), and whenever someone asks me how I do that with my hair, I tell them, "I combed it". That's all it needs. No product, no mucking around with a hair dryer...it takes less than five minutes.
#14
Gipsy Kings fan 5 years ago
Brilliant color, but it would require constant upkeep. If her hair was bleached and the color added, it's so unhealthy for the hair to keep using strong bleach on dark hair. She had BEAUTIFUL black hair that complemented her dark brown eyes and ivory skin. All she needed was a trim to give her hair more of a style.
Cristina S. 5 years ago (edited)
As someone who has had their hair like this for the better part of two years, I politely disagree. I have similar natural dark hair. My stylist bleached it all originally and applied the multicolor. It doesn’t require *constant* upkeep, it just depends upon how often you wash your hair. I’ll wash with a color safe shampoo for about 2-3 weeks then do a touch up at home with color depositing shampoo/conditioner or use a bit of Manic Panic (depending on the colors I need). A few weeks before my next stylist visit I just let the color wash out as fully as I can using normal shampoo. I also use a coconut oil spray on a daily basis. I go to my stylist every 3 months where she only bleaches my roots and uses a bleach-free color correct on the rest—if I’m changing colors. She will trim it, and also use deep conditioning treatments on my hair. My husband loves it BTW.
Load More Replies...
Paul Jordan 5 years ago
Whoa. Not really a fan of colour, but this I'll make an exception for. Fantabulous. Mucho.
#15
djinnjeannie 5 years ago
Do it! It grows back and if you real,y don’t like it you could wear a wig/hat/scarf for a while, but I’d bet you’d love it.
Load More Replies...
#16
Ren Karlej 5 years ago
Being feathered into the neck like that I know I would find uncomfortable. I liked her hair before tbh.
#17
Miss Cris 5 years ago
Amazing. But I'm worried about her hair's health after adding colour every week, as it didn't look too healthy before. I may be wrong, I hope I am.
Laura Powell 5 years ago
The pink is a deposit only vegetable-based dye. It will not harm the hair. The retouch on the bleach is only every 4-6 weeks. You are right though, her poor hair is pretty damaged.
Load More Replies...
Hollysmom 5 years ago
I believe it is just a lot of makeup professionally applied, and a professional photographer. Angles and lighting make a world of difference
Load More Replies... Jennifer Gould 5 years ago
Beautiful! There cannot be a lot of people who can pull this off but SHE is one of them!! Gorgeous!
#19
Marvin HoG 5 years ago
She went from gorgeous to vixen there! Jealous no amount of transformation could do that too me!
Load More Replies...
Sue Sanders 5 years ago
If the "cut off" hair hasn't been tampered with, hope she donated it to a cancer group.
Lynita Otero 5 years ago
Much better-and at your age you need it. Im 67yrs. At a "certain age"we need to start doing different things. And this looks very good on you.
#20
Miss Cris 5 years ago
Most transformation is the make up here. They look like two different women, both beautiful and interesting.
spirit wolf 5 years ago
But most importantly its happiness. That's what changed the look
Load More Replies... 
Jane Dorothy Warner 5 years ago
Hard to believe it's the same woman. Wonderful transformation.
Sylvia Faust 11 months ago
She is smiling and wears make up on the new pic. That is manipulative
#21
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
END RESULT IS RETTY BUT A LITTLE WORK ON THE FIRST ONE COULD HAVE BEEN JAWDROPING.
Garth Robinson 5 years ago
Mmm, I don't think she even looks that happy about loosing that gorgeous blond hair.
RitaGG 5 years ago
Yeah, her nose looks bigger in the "after" picture. How dare she! SMH.
Load More Replies...
Danielle Wigger 5 years ago
i love how her hair fades before. not saying i don't like the new one, but still.
Amy Gannon 5 years ago
This is bs. The shape of her nose is different!! If they’re going to “touch up” a pic, maybe don’t change everything.
#22
Katinka Min 5 years ago
Yeah, this look only works on women who are breathtakingly gorgeous. Us normal peeps just look like Gulag prisoners
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
REMINDS ME OF MINE AFTR THE ANNURISMS.WAS HAPPY WHEN IT GREW BACK.
Thindy 4 years ago
I hope you are feeling better, that is a very tough recovery. Sending you love!
Load More Replies... Kira K. 5 years ago (edited)
i assume the pictures were either mirrored or taken from different cameras and not mirrored back
Load More Replies... #23
Spikey Bunny 5 years ago
Whether banks are in style or out of style doesn't matter... some people just look better with bangs!
Load More Replies...
Anja Schmidt 5 years ago
hope she didn´t get extensions - cute but expensive and uncomfortable!!
#24
Lynita Otero 5 years ago
Cute. But again, I don't get the grey. As I said earlier, I'm 60+. You have plenty of time to be grey. Find another color now. Don't hurry up the inevitable.
#25
Just JoLynn 5 years ago
I LOVE the make-up on this one, it draws you straight in to those beautiful eyes.
Sandy Schairer 1 year ago
The picture on the left looks like an interesting, smart girl I'd like to talk with. The glamorous version is the cookie cutter style. All girls are looking alike.
#26
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago
I agree but they totally used a foundation that was darker than her actual skin and too much bronzer/contour and it made her look weird
Load More Replies... 
#27
🍿WhErE iS mY pOpCoRn🍿 5 years ago
I love the after look but I personally think she looks older than in the before
Katinka Min 5 years ago
A bit but she also looks like a rock star rather than a tired mum.
Load More Replies...
Gabrielle Brom 5 years ago
A unique look and one that suits her beautiful jawline. Great color!
PhantomBuni 5 years ago
Age is perceived as wisdom people. Also, I’d dye my hair grey so I could make the grocery store people carry my bags
Sue Sanders 5 years ago
Not sure, but I think I'd have gone with some bangs. This is too stark, or something.
#28
Bama Belle 5 years ago
Love the upturn in the corners of her lips. Natalie Wood had that feature.
Nicole Tomme 5 years ago
They ruined her natural beauty with too much makeup. She looks like one of those department store manikins. But the haircut is flattering and probably her everyday look is very lovely with that new cut and color. Just less makeup. She doesn't need it.
Martha Higgins 5 years ago
The makeup makes her look like a babydoll but the cut and color are lovely.
#29
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 5 years ago
Really stunning- I love all the vibrant and contrasting colours. (Unicorn hair must be an absolute nightmare to maintain though. Do the colours start to bleed together after a while?)
Todd Hollfelder 5 years ago
As a stylist... you see that coming through the front door and run the opposite way. There's no simple way to retouch those colors. So, yes, they do start to bleed after a while.
Load More Replies... ispeak catanese 5 years ago (edited)
She looks great and she's no teen. But who cares, I'd stare in happy awe!
Amanda Sherland 5 years ago
This is so amazing. I actually said o my god out loud and scared my cat.
Just JoLynn 5 years ago
I don't understand how you can see her hair, I mean the lighting, angle, smile, clothes are all different.
Load More Replies...
Nicole Tomme 5 years ago
Not a huge fan of the yellow but the rainbow part is gorgeous against the black. It looks like she walked outside and a rainbow got caught in her hair.
Jane Dorothy Warner 5 years ago
Hopefully, my hair will be like this on Thursday, when I have it dyed prior to being all shaved off for charity. (Just thought people might think it more of a sacrifice to shave coloured hair than natural.)
GFSTaylor 5 years ago
This woman isn't a natural blonde or a teenager. And clearly you know nothing about modern hair colouring techiniques. Hair and be bleached, coloured and recoloured without lasting damage if it's done properly. So take your mean spirit and shove it.
Load More Replies... #30
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
What a weird world! Once you are old enough to have grey hair, you are supposed to dye it to look as though you do not (even though it is obvious) and when you are so young that you most definitely do not have a single strand of grey in the mane, eh, then you colour it all grey! Either way, it is both expensive and no good for your health. Does anyone know what the environmental cost is?
Lynita Otero 5 years ago
Good God! WHAT is with this grey on everybody. I'm old-I HAVE to have grey. One day you will too. Find another color. For Pete's sake...
#31
Kim Lorton 5 years ago
This color really picks up her skin color and brightens her eyes! Accents her natural and lovely beauty!
#32
#33
Miss Cris 5 years ago
How can you see her colour? It's a nice instagram pic but it doesn't show the new hair and even less the transformation.
Load More Replies... #34
#36
Random Internet Person 5 years ago
Thank you, Captain Obvious. *rolls eyes*
Load More Replies... #37
#38
Ren Karlej 5 years ago
I agree - I don't want to be critical but I think the blonde blends a little too much. I love the new cut though.
Load More Replies...
Dorothy Parker 5 years ago (edited)
Stylist doesn't like red hair. I love her freckles. Beautiful, and a relief to see more her and less hair.
🍿WhErE iS mY pOpCoRn🍿 5 years ago
WOWWOWIWKEKWKWKWUNSNSMSM- I love the freckles and I think the before looked better on her
JessG 5 years ago
Such gorgeous hair! I would've cried having all that cut off :( Also, why change naturally red hair? Boo
Louloubelle 5 years ago
I have identical twins with the most gorgeous red hair. When the sun hits it, it looks like a sunset.
Load More Replies...
Jennifer Brown 5 years ago
AMAZING!!! Got rid of the 70's long hair and the blond totally brings out her freckles
#39
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 5 years ago
lord that would make my head feel so much lighter lmao
ispeak catanese 5 years ago (edited)
Where's Katherine's opinion when we need it? Could it be the lighting? The fitted pants, the makeup? The background, the foreground... ? *sigh*
#40
CB KittyValet 5 years ago
because she has makeup, false eyelashes and great lighting on the second. Oh, and a cool haircut.
Load More Replies... Jennifer Gould 5 years ago
WOW! Amazing how a hair cut can light up a person and make them glow :)
#42
Jennifer Gould 5 years ago
She is adorable but I prefer the before too! I bet the short cut looks nice straightened though!
#43
Heather Sharp 5 years ago
Is it just me or are they trying to make the befores look really bad so that the afters look really good ??
#44
averageperson 5 years ago
She looks so pretty in both. That's been said a lot, but it's especially true with this one.
#46
Elsker 5 years ago
so is his birthmark. i'd say one of the photo's was mirrored
Load More Replies... Cat Nip Gal 5 years ago
You dont have to point out the different things on each post!
Load More Replies...
#48
#49
#50
#51
#54
GFSTaylor 5 years ago
The professional make up and photography do a lot of that. The new hair colour works well too.
Load More Replies...
#55
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 5 years ago
funny how her eyes change from green to greyish blue -_-
#56
#63
#64
#67
#68
#71
#74
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Thin, straight hair. It will stay full and bouncy with great volume for about ten minutes.
#75
#80
Denise Ghilino 5 years ago
That's Amanda Stanton from several of "The Bachelor" shows!!!! Extensions much??? LOL
Ola Polowczyk 5 years ago
So what she has extensions? Doesn't hurt anyone and if she likes it, it's her business
Load More Replies...
#82
#85
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago (edited)
Proving that too much Photoshop makes you look unnatural
Load More Replies... #86
ispeak catanese 5 years ago (edited)
Oh mom. Please, no. I'm not saying wear a boring cut for a woman her age, but most people between the ages of 50 -60+ don't quite have this much hair.
Michelle Tolliver 5 years ago
I think the after looks amazing but I'm guessing f all that volume and length Are from extensions
#94
ispeak catanese 5 years ago
Makes her look much older which is kind of a drag. We're young-looking for such a short time in our lives.
#95
Sinkvenice 5 years ago
Woah there, steady on blowdryer. Can she fit through doors? :-) It's a really nice colour.
#96
Sinkvenice 5 years ago
I've heard a rumour, now don't quote me on this, but I heard a rumour that hair grows back! I know I know, it's bananas! ;-)
Load More Replies... 
#98
#100
Randy Klefbeck 5 years ago
For all of these, it isn't just hair that is the transformation so I am not real excited about the title. If you are advertising the hair then you need to be honest and only show the hair and not a total makeover. If it is about a makeover then label it as such.
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
bryguy 5 years ago
Each of these people have had extensive makeup work done for their post-haircut photo. I would say this thread is for total make-overs, not just a haircut
KoalaOfDragons 5 years ago
And photoshop. Let's not forget lots and lots of photoshop
Load More Replies... Ben Smith 5 years ago
Hairstyles.....plus professional makeup, lighting and photography. There is quite a bit more than hair going on here.
BorPand8 5 years ago
@meepmeep I don't think you can. We just have to downvote it into oblivion, I guess. I looked at it's profile, too, and there doesn't seem to be any way to report the profile either.
Load More Replies...
Diana Warburton 5 years ago
I love how in the new pictures everyone has on full makeup and their hair is pushed forward for fullness
Anica Cvetkovic 5 years ago
Too much photoshop in the after photos. No need for that. They are all beautiful already.
Katherine Boag 5 years ago
Some pretty drastic changes in hairstyle, sure, but sometimes they seem determined to take the worst 'before' shot possible. Bad lighting, frowning/sad, hair covering face...
Cat 5 years ago
I appreciate a good haircut and I appreciate more of a haircut that doesn't require the maintenance only a diva can afford
Helen Haley 5 years ago
Maintenance or 45 minutes to fix your hair in the morning.
Load More Replies...
ShareMusic 5 years ago
I'd be much more impressed if the make-up, outfit, background and pose were identical and only the hair changed.
Debra Klein 5 years ago
agree with most comments......definitely much more that simple haircuts transforming these people......most of the haircuts are very flattering though and a change for the better.
bryguy 5 years ago
Each of these people have had extensive makeup work done for their post-haircut photo. I would say this thread is for total make-overs, not just a haircut
KoalaOfDragons 5 years ago
And photoshop. Let's not forget lots and lots of photoshop
Load More Replies... Ben Smith 5 years ago
Hairstyles.....plus professional makeup, lighting and photography. There is quite a bit more than hair going on here.
BorPand8 5 years ago
@meepmeep I don't think you can. We just have to downvote it into oblivion, I guess. I looked at it's profile, too, and there doesn't seem to be any way to report the profile either.
Load More Replies... Diana Warburton 5 years ago
I love how in the new pictures everyone has on full makeup and their hair is pushed forward for fullness
Anica Cvetkovic 5 years ago
Too much photoshop in the after photos. No need for that. They are all beautiful already.
Katherine Boag 5 years ago
Some pretty drastic changes in hairstyle, sure, but sometimes they seem determined to take the worst 'before' shot possible. Bad lighting, frowning/sad, hair covering face...
Cat 5 years ago
I appreciate a good haircut and I appreciate more of a haircut that doesn't require the maintenance only a diva can afford
Helen Haley 5 years ago
Maintenance or 45 minutes to fix your hair in the morning.
Load More Replies... ShareMusic 5 years ago
I'd be much more impressed if the make-up, outfit, background and pose were identical and only the hair changed.
Debra Klein 5 years ago
agree with most comments......definitely much more that simple haircuts transforming these people......most of the haircuts are very flattering though and a change for the better.
You May Like “Coolest Thing I’ve Ever Seen”: 50 Times People Made Something Amazing Out Of Wood (New Pics) 30 People Draw Their Dreams And Others Offer Their Explanations
Justinas Keturka
Akvile Petraityte 🇺🇦
Related on Bored Panda
