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

I'd ask what kind of drug this one is on but it's obviously all of them.

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

B : "What kind of hair do you want to follow?". This Person : " I have several candidates"

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

I need to know more about this one? Are the faces tattoos or shaved into the hair? Are all the faces the same person or are they different people? I'm more curious about this one than anything else.

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

It sort of looked like a really bad attempt to replicate Quirinus Quirrell but with Michael Jackson on the left and one of the Kardashians facing the back.

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

Are the faces well done tattoos or well done hairdressing?

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Mel in Real Life
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

is it just me or does his head seem a bit wide? It looks a bit like a basketball rather than the normal egg shape.

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Thomas Tremblay
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

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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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Slytherin_4_LYF
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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.