3 Makeovers for Disastrous Haircuts
“Bird’s nest” curls...a bungled big chop...lopsided layers: Three women with haircuts from hell get a divine intervention from master stylist Patrick Melville.
Photos: Carmelo Donato
Tangled Tale
The Backstory
“I got a fabulous long bob about a year ago, but I couldn’t afford to return to the salon where I had it cut, so I went somewhere else,” said Ruby Campbell, who works in guest services at Yankee Stadium. “That was my big mistake. Afterward, when I tried to wear it curly, the style took on a strange triangular silhouette. And in the back it looked like a bird’s nest.” Plus, her hair seemed to be growing up and out, Ruby added, rather than down, so she had to flatiron it every day, which took forever.
The Counseling Session
Ruby’s cut had a pyramid shape. So Melville layered her hair slightly at the crown to create a bit of volume at the top and angled it at her cheekbones, adding sweeping fringe. He took off only about one inch, except in the back, where it was too short. As Ruby’s hair grows, the shape will eventually be shorter around her face and longer in the back. “You can hide a million sins with a blow-out,” said Melville. “But with this cut, Ruby will be happy to wear her hair curly.”
The Happy Outcome
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime, gorgeous haircut. And I have the photos to prove it!”
Star Styler
Softening oil (such as Pantene Gold Series Intense Hydrating Oil, $8; drugstores) can be applied post-shampoo to moisturize and protect from heat styling if Ruby chooses to blow-dry her hair straight.
DIY Disaster
The Backstory
“I’d become bored with my chest-length style and decided to do a big chop,” said actor and singer Sami Henry. “I was going for a chic Tinkerbell vibe, but I wound up with a soccer-mom cut.” As the style grew out, Sami tried to fix it herself...with arts-and-crafts scissors (“I’m a do-it-yourself kind of person”). Lately, she’d been wearing it twisted back with jeweled bobby pins. “That’s the only thing I can do with it and still feel pretty,” she said.
The Counseling Sessions
A very short cut is the best way for Sami to accentuate her perfectly heart-shaped face, beautiful skin, and enormous eyes, said Melville. So he took off about four inches all over, snipping into the ends around her face and hairline to give the style a soft, feminine, and piecey look. Wanting to avoid severe lines, he created a little discreet wispiness on the ends, especially around Sami’s ears and at her nape, so the cut will grow in stylishly.
The Happy Outcome
“This haircut isn’t what I thought I wanted, but it’s so much better! I guess it’s a good idea to ask for help—because sometimes you just don’t know what’s best for you.”
Star Styler
Lightweight pomade (try Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Finishing Paste, $4.50; drugstores) can give dry hair texture when applied sparingly to the ends.
#YoutubeFail
The Backstory
“At some point, my hair had grown so long and frizzy, I felt like I had to cut it,” said Amber Renee Smith, a dancer. “But it was just before Thanksgiving, and I couldn’t get a salon appointment for a week.” All she wanted was a trim to make her hair look healthier, so she went on YouTube and found a video of a teenager— “I should’ve known better”—who simply pulled her hair into a high pony, leaned forward, twisted the pony, and chopped off three inches. “I did everything she did exactly,” said Amber, but instead of her instructor’s professional-looking result, Amber got uneven layers and one side that was significantly shorter than the other. “I’ve been wearing either a ponytail or a bun ever since,” she said.
The Counseling Session
“Fine hair like Amber’s can benefit from layering,” Melville said. But Amber had too many layers, not to mention wildly different lengths: One stopped at her ears; another reached down her back. Melville cut about ten inches off the bottom so it fell just above Amber’s shoulders, which gave the style movement and balanced the shorter length. Then he added a few long layers around her face. With a small-barrel curling iron, he created loose waves to give Amber a slightly undone look.
The Happy Outcome
“I feel so much lighter and sexier! Plus, all I have to do with this cut is blow it out and go.”
Star Stylers
Lightweight styling glaze (like L’Oréal Paris EverSleek Frizz Finish Serum, $10; drugstores) and a hit of volumizing spray (try Nexxus New York Diametress Lavish Body Gel Spray, $20; drugstores) applied post-shampoo can help polish the look.
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The Backstory
“I got a fabulous long bob about a year ago, but I couldn’t afford to return to the salon where I had it cut, so I went somewhere else,” said Ruby Campbell, who works in guest services at Yankee Stadium. “That was my big mistake. Afterward, when I tried to wear it curly, the style took on a strange triangular silhouette. And in the back it looked like a bird’s nest.” Plus, her hair seemed to be growing up and out, Ruby added, rather than down, so she had to flatiron it every day, which took forever.
The Counseling Session
Ruby’s cut had a pyramid shape. So Melville layered her hair slightly at the crown to create a bit of volume at the top and angled it at her cheekbones, adding sweeping fringe. He took off only about one inch, except in the back, where it was too short. As Ruby’s hair grows, the shape will eventually be shorter around her face and longer in the back. “You can hide a million sins with a blow-out,” said Melville. “But with this cut, Ruby will be happy to wear her hair curly.”
The Happy Outcome
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime, gorgeous haircut. And I have the photos to prove it!”
Star Styler
Softening oil (such as Pantene Gold Series Intense Hydrating Oil, $8; drugstores) can be applied post-shampoo to moisturize and protect from heat styling if Ruby chooses to blow-dry her hair straight.
DIY Disaster
The Backstory
“I’d become bored with my chest-length style and decided to do a big chop,” said actor and singer Sami Henry. “I was going for a chic Tinkerbell vibe, but I wound up with a soccer-mom cut.” As the style grew out, Sami tried to fix it herself...with arts-and-crafts scissors (“I’m a do-it-yourself kind of person”). Lately, she’d been wearing it twisted back with jeweled bobby pins. “That’s the only thing I can do with it and still feel pretty,” she said.
The Counseling Sessions
A very short cut is the best way for Sami to accentuate her perfectly heart-shaped face, beautiful skin, and enormous eyes, said Melville. So he took off about four inches all over, snipping into the ends around her face and hairline to give the style a soft, feminine, and piecey look. Wanting to avoid severe lines, he created a little discreet wispiness on the ends, especially around Sami’s ears and at her nape, so the cut will grow in stylishly.
The Happy Outcome
“This haircut isn’t what I thought I wanted, but it’s so much better! I guess it’s a good idea to ask for help—because sometimes you just don’t know what’s best for you.”
Star Styler
Lightweight pomade (try Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Finishing Paste, $4.50; drugstores) can give dry hair texture when applied sparingly to the ends.
#YoutubeFail
The Backstory
“At some point, my hair had grown so long and frizzy, I felt like I had to cut it,” said Amber Renee Smith, a dancer. “But it was just before Thanksgiving, and I couldn’t get a salon appointment for a week.” All she wanted was a trim to make her hair look healthier, so she went on YouTube and found a video of a teenager— “I should’ve known better”—who simply pulled her hair into a high pony, leaned forward, twisted the pony, and chopped off three inches. “I did everything she did exactly,” said Amber, but instead of her instructor’s professional-looking result, Amber got uneven layers and one side that was significantly shorter than the other. “I’ve been wearing either a ponytail or a bun ever since,” she said.
The Counseling Session
“Fine hair like Amber’s can benefit from layering,” Melville said. But Amber had too many layers, not to mention wildly different lengths: One stopped at her ears; another reached down her back. Melville cut about ten inches off the bottom so it fell just above Amber’s shoulders, which gave the style movement and balanced the shorter length. Then he added a few long layers around her face. With a small-barrel curling iron, he created loose waves to give Amber a slightly undone look.
The Happy Outcome
“I feel so much lighter and sexier! Plus, all I have to do with this cut is blow it out and go.”
Star Stylers
Lightweight styling glaze (like L’Oréal Paris EverSleek Frizz Finish Serum, $10; drugstores) and a hit of volumizing spray (try Nexxus New York Diametress Lavish Body Gel Spray, $20; drugstores) applied post-shampoo can help polish the look.
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