Hair Horror Stories: What NOT to Do (According to Stylists)

We’ve all been there—one impulsive decision, one bad YouTube tutorial, and suddenly you’re in full hair crisis mode. From tragic box dye disasters to at-home trims that ended in tears, our expert stylists Mariah, Jennifer, Alaina, Adi, and Sofia have seen it all. Here are their most unforgettable hair horror stories—and what you should do instead.

Mariah’s Box Dye Catastrophe

“I had a client come in with jet-black hair, desperate to go blonde after a DIY box dye job. She thought bleaching over it once would magically give her icy platinum locks. Instead, she ended up with patchy, bright orange roots and splotchy dark spots everywhere else. It took four sessions and a ton of K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair to bring her hair back to life.”

Lesson: Never try to lift box dye at home! Always see a professional if you want a major color change.

Fix-It Product: Kenra Clarifying Shampoo – Helps remove color buildup before a color correction session.

Jennifer’s Bang Trimming Trauma

“A client came in wearing a hat, which is never a good sign. She had attempted to trim her bangs using kitchen scissors (yes, the ones used for food prep). The result? Uneven, way-too-short bangs that shot straight up. She was devastated and had an event the next day.”

Lesson: Cutting your own bangs might seem easy, but precision is key. If you must DIY, use professional shears and start longer than you think you need.

Fix-It Product: Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray – Helps control frizz and style regrowing bangs into something manageable.

Alaina’s Perm Gone Wrong

“A client decided she wanted ‘effortless beach waves’ and bought an at-home perm kit. The problem? She left the solution on way too long and ended up with fried, frizzy, overly processed hair that felt like straw.”

Lesson: Chemical treatments should always be done by a professional. Over-processing can lead to serious breakage that takes months to repair.

Fix-It Product: Wella Fusionplex Intense Repair Mask A must-have for restoring strength and elasticity to damaged hair.

Adi’s “Oops, I Over-Bleached” Nightmare

“A client tried to go platinum at home using multiple rounds of bleach in one night. She ended up with brittle, gummy hair that literally stretched like taffy when wet. I had to give her an emergency chop to save what was left.”

Lesson: Bleach is powerful! Overdoing it can lead to irreversible breakage. Always space out bleaching sessions and use bond-building treatments.

Fix-It Product: Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil – Helps repair and strengthen over-processed hair.

Sofia’s Hair Extension Disaster

“One client ordered cheap clip-in extensions online, but instead of blending, they looked like a bad mullet. Even worse, she used the wrong heat setting and melted the synthetic strands!”

Lesson: Invest in high-quality, real-hair extensions and consult a stylist for a proper blend and installation.

Fix-It Product: Moroccanoil Treatment – Keeps real extensions smooth, hydrated, and frizz-free.

Final Words of Wisdom

Hair experiments can be fun—but not when they go horribly wrong. If you're unsure, always consult a professional to avoid a hair disaster. And if you do find yourself in a nightmare situation, the right products (and a talented stylist) can help get your hair back on track!

Got a hair horror story of your own? Share it in the comments!