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Expectations are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s fun to imagine all the wonderful scenarios that might play out in real life. On the other hand, if your expectations are a tad on the unrealistic side, they can completely wreck your emotional state when you step down from your daydreams and come face to face with reality.

But what about fairly realistic expectations? Surely, if somebody advertises a product or a service, the customer can expect to get exactly what they pay for… right? Spoiler alert: oh, dear Lord, no! TikTok users have been uploading videos showing the huge differences between what they (un)realistically wanted and what they got. From clothes to dog haircuts and more.

People have been adding TikTok user Keelyknight aka Madeline’s audio (where she’s crying because of the nails she got) to their own videos, and we’ve collected some of the best ones for you to watch, dear Pandas. Have a look, upvote your fave vids, and be sure to let us know which ones were your favorite, why, and if you’ve ever been in a similar situation yourselves.

@kneelyknightThis was the worst experience I’ve ever had. #nails #help #foryou #foryoupage♬ original sound - Madeline

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Marianne
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That one's really bad! They should sue the hairdresser.

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Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure..spend thousands on a lawyer so you can get your $50 back.

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Earl Grey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

MORAL: Don’t take a photo of an obvious styling by a $700 high-end Hollywood boutique to your local $15 hair cutter and expect anything other than a disaster. The difference in the level of talent, experience and professional equipment needed to pull it off is like day and night. And this applies to a lot of these entries.

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MilaFi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a disaster, yes. However, I don't think this template would have worked as well with this person due to the shape of her neck and head. The models' neck is very narrow and shapes prettily upwards to the head. The other one has thicker neck and the head is longer in shape.

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Dre Mosley
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When someone goes to a skilled barber vs someone who didn't.

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Sarah watson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or when someone sees the pic on the left and goes down to the cousin they have who has just started beauty school that week to do it.

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Mikel
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Forgive me, but the girl with the nails, needs to seek therapy.

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Rannveig Ess
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If slightly miscolored nails is the "worst experience" this lady ever had, I envy her. Do your own damn nails then.

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Paradise
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The nails are pretty on both. One is just more summer, the other more spring.

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Thomas Turnbull
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if those nails of kneelyknight are the worst experience she's ever had she has lead a very sheltered like and is in for some big shocks in her future.

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Billy The Kid
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hairdresser certainly made short work of that. That is one hair raising experience! Hope she got a cut price on that.

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Nadine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The girl with the nails needs therapy. She could take the color off. If that's the worst thing she's ever been through, life has been easy. That's very selfish of her to act like her life is ruined.

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Emma Love
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A good barber with a steady hand and the right clippers could have done that.

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Id row
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The nails look similar. Reminds me of the severed arm from Dexter though.

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pebs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for her if this is really the worst experience she ever had...

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Wysteria_Rose
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had this happen to me. Not the exact design, but I wanted this diamond design (like scales and I was having a mermaid-themed summer) and oh my god, that poor hairdresser should have just told me she wasn't that skilled in undercut designs. I didn't even see it until I wore my hair up one day and a coworker was like, "Um, did you try to do it yourself?" She handed me a mirror and I flipped out. It definitely looked like I tried doing it myself.

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DetongLhamo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t get the fake nails one; they look. The same to me.

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yut lung
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

alas, not all have the power to not look like a thumb that was drawn on with this kind of haircut

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TheReader19
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They should have gone to a barber not a hairdresser. That style is barbering and you need special training g to do it

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Hafida
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a skill difference between a hairdresser and a hair barber people, the left pic is definitely made by a barber. The right pic, well I don’t know what the hell happened there

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Princess Toadstool
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of a news article where someone going in for a haircut got a pause button shaved in their hair

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When it comes to getting something we totally didn’t want, there are two aspects that you have to consider. The actual quality of the service and managing your own expectations so that you don’t end up being constantly disappointed.

The first aspect is fairly straightforward, even though it might not be easy to get around. If the product or service you’ve received doesn’t meet your standards of quality or what’s been advertised, then you’ve got to ask for a refund. Complain! Often and loudly.

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Amy Pattie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh no... it will look better once you bush it out but that ombré is atrocious

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Obviously, try to be as diplomatic as you can with your complaints—you’re dealing with other human beings after all. And it’s not always the person who’s registering your complaint who was responsible for what you got. So try not to make their life hell and they’ll be more likely to help you out.

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If a company has a genuine customer-first policy in play, they’ll take serious complaints, well, seriously. They’ll hear you out, offer you support, follow up on your complaint, and do whatever they can to make up for their mistake. But we all know that far from every company is willing to be so friendly and instead has a “profit comes first, collateral damage is all right” kind of mentality.

Consider seeking legal aid if the product was especially expensive or if you, your loved ones, or your pets suffered because of what happened. If somebody’s blatantly advertising something that’s clearly false as a way to make a quick buck, then you’ve got to do your part in putting an end to it.

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However, there’s that pesky second aspect when it comes to not getting what we wanted. And that all comes down to our expectations. Sometimes, what we want is so perfect, requires so much skill and craftsmanship, that not everyone can fulfill our orders. In those cases, what we envision and what the local craftspeople can provide simply don’t sync up. Or, to put it more bluntly, you get what you pay for.

#16

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Amy Pattie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t even fathom the thought process in thinking these were remotely similar. How to people get away with this?

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Don’t expect your nails to look like a model’s when you’re getting them done at a discount store at your local mall. Similarly, you can’t expect a newbie dog groomer to get the same results as a grandmaster with decades of experience: they’ll do their best but you simply can’t expect them to perform according to your imaginary expectations.

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In life, it’s best to do your very best to get the result that you want and then relinquish any and all expectations. You did your best. Well done! Now sit back and don’t fret, find something else to do. If you get what you want, fantastic. If not, no big deal—you’ll try again later. Maybe with a different tactic in mind.

Having low expectations is a healthy mindset, similar to the one where you’re encouraged to do good things for people without expecting anything in return. Life has a pleasant way of surprising us when we’re not desperate, needy, and whiny.

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Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny. We've got exactly the same. We chose the size we wanted though.

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PsychCentral explains that the first step in relinquishing unrealistic expectations is being able to spot them. Of course, that’s easier said than done because we may have had certain expectations for years and years. And a lot of it’s connected to our desire to maintain control over everything.

Some examples of completely unrealistic expectations include the beliefs that everyone should like you and that the world should be fair. We simply can’t have that kind of control over the world (well, unless we’re a superhero, the Emperor of the Universe, or a member of the Greek Pantheon).

#25

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Eva the Egg
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All you would have to do to get that sort of hair is go to sleep and wake up

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Kat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least there's still enough length to get it fixed. Must be awfully frustrating though.

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Similarly, if we’re constantly disappointed by results and not having our expectations met every step of the way, well, maybe it’s time to analyze them in detail. Spend the weekend looking at your belief structures.

#28

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Sandra
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Besides the fact it is not what she wanted... Is it only me or the hair looks burnt?

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#30

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Kat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well to be honest, it is difficult to get the same result if you have a totally different hair type...

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Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Give yourself permission to not have everything go perfectly. Embrace flexibility. That doesn’t mean giving up your high standards (quality is good stuff, people), but you have to be relatively down to earth. Otherwise, you’ll spend the rest of your life making wanted vs. got TikTok videos.