How To Deal With A Bad Haircut (Without Going Back To Your Stylist)

Bad haircuts: They happen to everyone eventually. Whether your stylist had an “off” day or that daring cut didn’t quite turn out how you’d hoped — hello, weird bangs or limp layers — these hairstyle hacks will get you looking your best again. Scout’s honor. Because the only thing worse than walking out of the salon with a style you hate is the waiting period you must endure until your hair grows back. And yes, while your hair will eventually grow back (if your cut being too short is the problem), the hair experts know that there are a ton of styling hack and accessories you can use so you don’t even need to make a return visit to the salon if you don’t want it.

Just remember — don’t freak out. There’s no beauty challenge that a bit of hairspray and some expertly placed pins can address. A bad haircut cannot steal your thunder when it comes to your overall look. So no matter what hair issue you’re facing — from wonky bangs to uneven layers — the expert hairstylists are here to offer some sage advice and have you looking chic and feeling confident once again.

Read more: How To Fix Cakey Makeup In 9 Easy Steps

The Problem: Uneven Bangs

The Solution: A Deep Side Part

No matter how bad your bangs turned out, a deep side part is an easy way to hide them. Having trouble getting them to stay? Create the part on wet hair and blow-dry in place. Set with a medium-hold hairspray and secure while you finish getting ready. Remove pins before you run out the door and you're good to go.

The Problem: Too-Short Bangs

The Solution: A Chic Headband

If you're trying to hide the front pieces of your hair, you can never go wrong with an eye-catching accessory. Brush hair straight back before sliding on a headband or place it directly over the part. Invest in a few headbands and switch up your hairstyle from loose beach waves to sporty updos and your hair will be back to normal before you know it—all without getting bored of looking the same every day.

The Problem: Limp Layers

The Solution: Give Your Hair Texture

You might be tempted to remedy bad layers by straightening your hair in an effort to blend the ends together–but this causes hair to fall flat and actually makes the layers more noticeable. Instead, work with the natural texture of your hair–or if yours is straight, use a curling iron–to hide the appearance of layers. Add a texturizing paste to the ends to give your hair more body and seamlessly blend the ends together.

The Problem: Disproportioned Layers

The Solution: Chic Updos

Layers that have too much space between them can easily end up looking like, for lack of a better description, an (unintentional) mullet. Here's the perfect opportunity to add some polish to your beauty routine. Try a chic chignon or ballerina buns and nobody will be the wiser.

The Problem: Uneven Part

The Solution: The Trendy Center Part

Believe it or not, playing with a new part in the stylist chair can ruin your look. If you get home and realize your part just doesn't look as good as you thought, try a sleek center part. Split hair down the middle and use a high-shine pomade to keep hair in place all day. There's no better (or more edgy) way to make the best of a bad situation.