Every once in a while, you might get the urge to switch up your look. Perhaps you’re entering a new season in life or just closed the chapter on an old one. In either case, you may desire your outward appearance to reflect the changes in your life. For many women a haircut is a dramatic and immediate way to give themselves a makeover. However, the wrong kind of haircut can be disappointing and if really bad, can also take a toll on one’s self-image.
You’re staring in the mirror, tallying up all the months that it will take for you to recover the length you lost. Maybe you’re pondering how to get your twist out to frame your face the way you want it to. So, what do you do? Here are a few pieces of advice that have helped me survive the impatience that follows a regrettable haircut.
Accountability
If you had a hand in your present situation own up to it. Yes, there are poor stylists that should be reported to the manager or business organizations, but sometimes we quietly sit in a stylist’s chair and remain silent even when we know something isn’t quite right. Perhaps you cut your hair yourself, as a means to deal with a frustrating situation (break up haircuts anyone?) and now realize that you behaved rashly. Acknowledging why the mistake occurred won’t remedy your hair disaster. However, it will help prevent it from occurring again.
Strategy for growing it out
The reality is this: The hair is gone and it will take some time for it to grow back. There are no shortcuts. The question is: How can you wear your hair in such a way that will allow your hair to grow back strong and healthy, while helping you to feel confident about your appearance? You may decide to weave it up or try out a few wigs.
Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable with weaves or wigs but are willing to consider braid or twist extensions. Personally, there was a time I NEVER thought I would wear a wig. It wasn’t until I had major heat damage (due to my own negligence) that required a major cut, that I decided wearing wigs could be a fun, temporary way to express myself. After about 6 months I felt comfortable styling my own hair. You should do what YOU deem best. Don’t let “what others think” confine you to only a few styling options as you grow out your hair.
Plan a hair reveal
Get yourself excited about the progress that you’ll make over the next few months. Instead of dwelling on the regret of your hair mistake set a goal, even a specific date, in which you will reveal your hair. Now, I’m in no way suggesting that you have a formal hair coming out party like they do on those weight loss shows. For me, it was pretty informal. After several months of keeping my hair under half wigs and wearing protective pinned up hair styles, I lightly blew my hair out and wore a flat twist out. Believe me when I tell you that due to shrinkage my hair did not touch my shoulders but chile you couldn’t tell me anything! My hair was fuller and at that point, longer than it had ever been since I had initially gone natural.
As I continued my hair journey, I later set a goal for years down the road to reach waist length by the time I earned my doctorate. Last year on that humid May morning when I collected my degree I wore my waist length hair (coiled up due to humidity) with a big grin on my face. That hair set back years ago was a dim and distant memory at that point. You may choose to do something similar. Focus on a time in your life that you are looking forward to like a birthday, the start of a new job/school, etc. and set a realistic goal. Working towards that goal will make you less likely to dwell on regret and look toward the future.
How have you coped with a haircut that you later regretted?
