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No one is immune to getting a bad haircut. As much as we all wish to confidently leave the salon feeling like we just stepped out of the cover of our favorite magazine, this isn’t always the case. We’re sometimes bound to quietly watch in horror as the hairstylist is chopping off our locks, leaving us with a hilarious hairdo gone way wrong. Then, we get this overwhelming urge to hide all the mirrors and stay indoors until our beloved strands grow back.

But since we don’t have time machines to take us back and erase it all, we can at least poke fun and have a good laugh at our cringe-worthy moments. This is where the 'Is This Your Client?' Instagram account comes in. With the tagline "No one is safe," it is dedicated to sharing the most tragic and unfortunate haircut accidents people have ever posted online.

We at Bored Panda have scoured their feed and wrapped up a collection of some bizarre, ridiculous, and seriously out-there pictures that are the perfect examples of what you should not be doing with your hair. So continue scrolling, upvote the ones that surprised you most, and be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments! Keep reading to also find an in-depth interview with Rob Jon, The Brentwood Hairdresser, where he shares advice on how to avoid receiving regrettable hairdos. 

Psst! If you’re in the mood for even more ludicrous hairstyle fails, check out our previous pieces here and right here.

No matter our expectations or hopes, getting a bad haircut is quite easy. I mean, just scroll through the 'Is This Your Client' feed and you’ll see proof right there. With over 154k followers, the creator of the page offers hundreds of painfully funny haircut examples that should make you feel slightly better about your own past accidents.

Of course, we're not the ones to deny that taste is a matter of individual choice. And even if you end up with a hairdo you're unhappy with, it's important to remember that it is far from an irreversible catastrophe. It’s hair, it will grow back, and you’ll get over the initial embarrassment fairly quickly. But if you ever walked around with terribly dyed locks or crooked bowl cuts, chances are that this experience got permanently carved into your memory, teaching you a valuable lesson on how to make better style choices.

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Nobody wants to receive a haircut they hate, and no hairdresser enjoys spending time and effort on a cut you’re utterly unsatisfied with. To make sure everyone’s happy after you step out of the chair, a few things need to be considered before your next visit. To learn more about them, we got in touch with Rob Jon, founder of The Brentwood Hairdresser, the most sustainable salon in Essex, UK.

"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 are trying to keep up with the latest trends rather than opting for looks that actually suit the individual.

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Since there are so many different lengths and styles, it can be confusing to know what cut would look naturally flattering on you. Moreover, you may forget to consider the time you’re willing to spend on maintaining your hairstyle every single day. Rob advised that one of the best ways to be sure about your options is to listen to what your stylist has to say.

"We are professionals and will always act in the clients' best interest to make you look and feel as good as possible," he noted. But as with everything in life, it’s best to appear in the salon already prepared. Rob suggested always 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."

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Robyn Denton
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell me you're exhausted without telling me you're exhausted.

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Robert T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell me you have unmanageable hair without telling me you have unmanageable hair!

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NicNor5560
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And this is why I no longer use those brushes in my hair, my daughter's hair, anyone's hair. Forbidden in my house until the end of times.

tjr avatar
T J R
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They should be forbidden from being made and sold. Save us all the trauma.

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Lsai Aeon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The end of the handle on the brush is chewed, either this person has a dog or some serious anxiety

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Sara W
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She probably f'up and gave up and is on her way to professionals.

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Seanette Blaylock
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some days just start off making it clear you shouldn't continue to participate in them.

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Izzy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the fact that she got a very sizeable round-brush stuck in such short, thin hair illustrates exactly how much those things are the literal devil. will reduce the most skilful of stylists to tears

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Izzy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

poor linda watched a round brush youtube tutorial & thought she finally found a way to make her ageing, thin, fine hair look voluminous & full

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Steve Ramaekers
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Happened to me with a comb in second grade. Girl playing with my hair rolled the comb up in it. Stuck. Teacher spent all recess working to try and get it out and save my hair while I sobbed bc I thought we were gonna have to cut my long hair.

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Littlemiss
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ouch! My cousin did that to me as a kid. Took forever to get the brush out.

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Lin F
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of Years ago, I blew my shoulder length layered curly hair dry with a very small round brush. I was hurrying to get ready for work, and the brush got hopelessly caught in my hair. I thought I would have to cut off my hair to get it out, but finally managed without losing any of it. Scary!

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Kari Lynn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's even knawed on the end of the brush handle! Her mind packed up and left.

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Clover
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one may not have been intentional, but why oh why would you actually go anywhere like that?

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Jennifer Brown
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ok...now to be fair...I have had one of these brushes stuck in my hair before and it freakin sucks!! Maybe she's going to her hair dresser to help get it out

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Crybaby 222
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you try to put your hair up but your arm gets tired and says "Not today" so you just give-up....

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Kay Westley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It appears she has a love/hate relationship with her hair brush. Tired of fighting good and evil so just leave it in and go about your day.

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Laura Ferber
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That person picked a fight with her hair and lost. oh goodness! What if her kid did it to her??

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Slap Shot
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve had this happen but at least I stayed home till I got it out!

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Claire Armstrong
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh God, I can actually empathise with this. Remember those hot styling brushes that everyone seemed to have in the eighties that were the same style of brush as the one above? Not the kind of styling brushes you get now. Anyway I decided to use mine on my own hair when I was about 10 and, well long story short, my mother had to actually cut it out of my hair. Thankfully I had rolled the hair around it in such a way that the bit that had to be cut was underneath. I never used one again!

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Katherine Heasley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the time back in the '80s when I got a curling iron brush stuck in my hair. We had to leave for a family friend's wedding, so my sister spent the whole drive working it free. Not my best hairdo ever.

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Holly Benedict
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the wrong brush for that kind of flip but at that length, how are you tangled?

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Karen Guy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kinda like sticking a hair pick in an afro. I guess this is the straight hair version.

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Aliz Coursey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd say, judging by the chew marks on the handle, that the dog tried to brush her hair.

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Mandy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have all been there with those dang round brushes!!!!

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Lorna Anne Skinner Emmons
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been there. The one time I had long hair and let my 5 year old brush it for me.

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Kris “ADHD_Carrier” Dudoich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like the product of an exhausted and exasperated mom coupled with stubborn hair

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Powerful Katrinka
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hair is bad enough, but what on earth has she been doing with the brush handle? Either she's been gnawing on it, or pounding in nails.

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But despite the best intentions from both sides, unfortunate mishaps are sometimes unavoidable. Then, you find yourself walking out of the salon already experiencing a damper on your confidence, hoping the ground would swallow you up until you regrow those lost curls. But the good news is that there are plenty of ways to prevent you and your precious barnet from ever ending up on this list.

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"Tragic haircuts are often based on a lack of communication between stylist and customer," Rob explained. 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. Just think about how much confusion happens simply because we fear voicing our thoughts, concerns, and doubts. Speaking up and being crystal clear about your expectations will go a long way and will prevent you from feeling uncomfortable in the near future.

Another reason regrettable haircuts occur is clients having unrealistic expectations, 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."

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"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."

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Elaine N
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

he looks like his kid just did his hair... looked in the mirror... and said "anyway..."

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When it comes to adding color to your hair, Rob recommends having a pre-booked consultation before the big day. "This also solves the problem of a skin test which is a requirement," he added. As it turns out, having a skin test before a hair coloring appointment is extremely important. The stylist can then take a better look at your situation and provide you with better care. Patch testing hair color allows hairdressers to check whether you are allergic to any of the products or colors and make sure the session runs smoothly.

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While it is a simple process that only takes a couple of minutes, you need to keep an eye on that area to see whether you're experiencing any irritation. According to a blog post from Tierney Salons, you should do a hair color skin test at least 48 hours before the appointment. This is the time it takes for your skin to show any kind of reactions, allowing your immune system to properly respond. "Within or after 48 hours, if you have redness, swelling, irritation or burning sensations in the patch test area, this means that your skin has reacted to the product," meaning stylists won’t go ahead with that particular color.

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Robert T
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excuse me, love, but you've got a ladder in your knickers. Also, you appear to have some kind of dog on your head.

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But when we don’t see any signs of potential health issues, we walk into the salon hoping to have a great experience and leave rocking a fabulous new look. "When it comes to getting the most out of your trip to the hairdressers, the best advice I have is to listen to your stylist, arrive on time, be polite and realistic with your expectations. And remember, after-care is key. You simply won’t achieve the same look if you do not purchase the recommended products and take advice on how to style your hair in between visits to the salon," Rob concluded.

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Caro Caro
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn't a fail. I would laugh if I had seen this. Easter theme perfectly executed.

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dee dee
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tragic. Cut it away, start fresh. And stay away from bleach!

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Huge goth
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ahhhhh I saw someone with one of these hairstyles the other day

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#42

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Slytherin_4_LYF
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They both aren't even Britney... well they could very well be but they are not wearing the same shirt so obvi it's not taken at the same time so I'm going to go with they are 2 different people

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dee dee
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my, no. Oh no. Such beautiful hair, ruined. This is just rude.

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Camilore
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This hair is so healthy! A bad haircut is just a bad haircut, it’s temporary

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Note: this post originally had 131 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.