How To Grow Out a Bad Haircut Without Hurting Your Barber’s Feelings
Stay strong, king
Got a bad haircut and not sure what to do about it? In our first beauty guide of the year, we walk you through the dos and don’ts of growing out a bad chop.
There comes a time in every man’s life where he looks chopped—literally. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to try something new by a Pinterest photo your girlfriend has shown you, or you’ve caught mullet fever from your friends. Either way, you’ll have found yourself at the barber or the salon, wrapped in a cape, surrounded by hair, and shocked to your core.
“What happened to my hair?” you exclaim. Maybe something got lost in translation, or perhaps your request to your stylist for whatever they think looks best didn’t quite line up with your vision. Whatever it may be, you’re stuck with a cut you’re not in love with, and you’re not really sure what to do about it.
Well, fret not—while it’s not an ideal situation, it’s also not the end of the world. Lucky for you, hair grows, and that means you’ll be back to your dapper self in no time. All you’ve got to do is manage the growout in the meantime!
Ahead, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to growing out a bad haircut, from finding the right styling products to getting the lingo down pat for future appointments.
STEP 1: ASSESS THE SITUATION
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Is it really bad, or are you just not used to it? Sometimes, all it takes to get over a “bad” haircut is a little more exposure. If you’re used to rocking shaggy lengths, a clean crop may be a shock to the system. Just give yourself a little time to sit with your new look before you do anything drastic.
STEP 2: IDENTIFY WHAT BOTHERS YOU
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So, you’ve sat with your haircut, and you really do hate it. Okay! At least, from here, we can work on improving it. The key is to identify the specific aspects of the cut that you don’t like so that you can better communicate with your barber. Is it too poofy on top? Too short on the sides? Is it lacking texture?
Once you’ve figured out what looks wrong to you, go back to your barber and ask whether they can fix it. The worst-case scenario is you’ll just have to wait a few weeks for your hair to grow so that there’s more to work with. The best case? Your barber will be able to align your cut closer to your vision.
STEP 3: LEARN HOW TO STYLE YOUR CUT
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You may love your cut fresh out of the salon, only to find that you think it’s awful once you’ve washed the product out. Fortunately, the fix is simple. Just throw on a hat and rock that until it grows out.
If you don’t own any hats and you’re rocking a totally new look from your usual style, it’s worth asking your barber for a play-by-play of how to style your hair. As a general rule, they’ll have the best advice for your cut.
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However, if you’re determined to solve this on your own, there are a few products to look into that might help you as you experiment with your new styling routine.
For shorter cuts lacking in texture and volume, salt spray, mousse, pomade and styling clay can be invaluable tools. If the issue is too much volume and poofiness, then a heavier and stronger-holding moulding product like gel or wax might be a better option. For those looking for more polished styles, a hairdryer is a must—and if you want to go above and beyond with shaping and sculpting your locks, you can also consider investing in a curling iron or straightener.
Find BURO’s men’s hair picks below:
STEP 4: SHAPE YOUR HAIR AS IT GROWS
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Growing out a bad haircut doesn’t always have to come with an awkward phase! If styling isn’t masking the growout well enough, head back to the barbershop and ask for a shape-up. All you have to do is bring in a good reference photo for your ideal cut and clarify that you are trying to grow your hair out towards that specific goal. From there, your barber should be able to advise on the best way to get from point A to point B.
STEP 5: IF ALL FAILS, CHOP IT ALL OFF
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If you’ve gotten to this point in the guide and you’re thinking that none of this applies to you… well! The option to buzz it all off and start from scratch is always there. From there, you can go buck wild—bleach it blonde, paint in designs, buzz in patterns, the choice is yours! Ultimately, if you really feel like your hair is too far gone to fix, you might as well have fun with it.
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