Why can’t I get a good haircut anymore?!

I go to high-end salons that charge at least $100 per haircut, and I have pretty easy, healthy, and manageable hair. I don’t ask for anything complicated.

Yet, every haircut I’ve gotten in the past two years has been atrocious, no matter how well I articulate what I want and show them pictures.

The latest disaster was two weeks ago, and now I hate my hair. I wanted just two inches trimmed and some well-blended, long layers—not choppy. Instead, I ended up with 3.5 inches gone and shaggy, short layers that fly everywhere. I hate it so much, and she was going to charge me $90 for this abomination because she was a master stylist. I complained to the owner in tears, and he reimbursed me, but now it will take months to grow this out, and I’m so angry.

This has happened to me at multiple salons. What am I doing wrong?!

A few years ago, I could walk into any medium-tier salon and get the haircut I wanted. With high-end salons, I would walk out with something I really loved.

Now I get anxiety before each haircut because none of them understand how much two inches is or that I don’t want shaggy layers like a teen boy into metal. I’m so done with salons. I’m going to have mermaid hair and learn how to trim the ends on my own.

I stopped going to salons and switched to a barber shop. I get charged $25, usually tip $10-12, and my hair turns out exactly how I want it every single time.

I wish I could do that, but my hair needs layers.

There are hair stylists in regular salons that use clippers and are licensed barbers. They’re quick and can give you any style you want. Layers too! They tend not to “get creative” and mess up your hair.

Same here, but I have a pixie cut. My friend used to cut my hair and she’s great with long hair, but $140 after tip for a mediocre pixie cut just isn’t worth it. The barber shop charges $35 plus tip and does a better job

I used to cut hair and always erred on the side of caution, but that was rare, lol. When I go for a haircut, I ask them to show me what 2 inches looks like to them, then I adjust their fingers. It’s all about perception. Many hair cutters love to go wild (most of them, anyway). I cut the front of my hair myself for this reason. Also, some cutters don’t understand layers at all—they cut into the hair instead of harmonizing it. Honestly, I think techniques were better 20 years ago.

Same here. I used to do hair 10 years ago, and I can’t seem to get a good haircut anymore. It feels like even a classic long layer haircut isn’t taught these days, let alone a proper blowout!

I once asked for invisible layers, and it was a disaster.

I have straight, fine hair, so any mistake is really noticeable. It seems like few stylists know how to cut women’s hair properly these days. I’ve been admiring 70s hairstyles like Dorothy Hamill’s and Princess Diana’s and would love to try a modified version, but I don’t think there’s a skilled stylist who can pull it off. It’s a shame because I really admire the skill and artistry it takes to cut hair well. It’s a perfect blend of technical skill and artistic talent, much like being a chef.