How to Fix a Bad Haircut

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Need to fix a bad haircut fast? With these practical tips, you can still look your best whether it’s for a job interview, a wedding, or a date.

I’ve had to fix a bad haircut on numerous occasions—once because a barber left my hair too short after following my ill-advised instructions, and more than a few times because I’d tried to cut it myself. And then there was the time when a friend claimed to be able to cut hair but actually couldn’t, as it turned out.

In the aftermath of such incidents, few of us can sit around waiting for our hair to grow back. We have jobs to go to, and there may be an important event coming up where we’ll need to look our best.

Maybe that was the reason for getting a haircut in the first place.

What you need now are workable ideas.

Obvious Fixes for a Bad Haircut

Within seconds of seeing yourself in the mirror with your new bad haircut, you probably thought of shaving your head, buzzing it, or donning a hat or cap. These are simple solutions, but not for every man.

Shaving and Buzzing

You won’t want to shave or buzz if your head is of an awkward shape. And if you’ve always taken great pride in your hair, being without it all of a sudden is likely to draw unwanted attention.

Personally, I at some point discovered that I look better without hair than with. But seeing yourself bald or cropped for the first time can be a shock.

Later in this post, I’ll tell you how a buzzcut or complete baldness can be less painful in case these are your only options.

Hats and Caps

As for headgear: personally, I’m not a hat man, so wearing one would tell the world that all is not well. Apart from that, I could hardly sit in the office wearing something on my head.

But if your occupation and lifestyle allow for it, then of course, it is a perfectly viable solution.

Wear a Wig: A Less Viable Fix for a Bad Haircut

In case the idea crossed your mind, an off-the-shelf wig will inevitably look like a wig. This is far worse than a bad haircut.

Hairpieces for men are especially tricky; to appear natural, they must be custom-made for a perfect fit and color match, followed by expert trimming and styling. The entire process could take weeks, by which time your hair will be back to normal anyway.

What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It

Let’s now explore the various ways a haircut can go wrong and a somewhat broader range of fixes.

Your Hair Is Too Short

Back when a barber cut my hair too short, it seemed to throw off my proportions. I suddenly had a face that was too big for my hair, and my mustache looked as though it had doubled in size.

But the cut in itself was good.

I normally wore my hair swept back with a side part, but being so short, it was now too springy to stay in place.

It meant I’d have to try something different.

For definition and dimension, I applied a demi-permanent dye (something like Just for Men) in a tone close to my own. The idea was to intensify the color rather than change it.

Styling products can have a similar effect; go for clays, putties, and pastes.

Combing my hair forward in its natural direction of growth allowed it to remain in place. This also reduced the perceived size of my face.

I didn’t want obvious bangs (called a “fringe” in British English), so I used my fingertips to push the hair back at the root along the front for a more relaxed look.

Bangs/Fringe

This is a mistake many of us make: you trim your own bangs and end up with a bowl-like effect.

First, try combing it back. Or push it off your forehead with your fingertips as described above and apply product for better blending.

If that doesn’t work, seek the help of a barber. He may be able to feather your bangs and trim the rest of your hair to match.

An Unwanted Buzzcut

Maybe you’ve tried to trim your hair with clippers and inadvertently given yourself a buzzcut. Or was buzzing intended as the fix for a bad haircut?

To make it seem as though you have more hair, try darkening it, but by no more than one nuance. Again, do this with a demi-permanent product like Just for Men.

Go to a barber once every seven to 10 days to get the sides and back trimmed to give you more shape. You should have something resembling a crew cut after a few weeks.

If this is too long to wait, I recently encountered of a fortified shampoo and conditioning system called F.A.S.T. by Nisim, which is said to accelerate hair growth. I can’t vouch for it personally, but there are some very positive reviews on Amazon.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

A Badly Cut Nape

A scruffy or Uneven Nape

If a DIY buzzcut has left you with a scruffy nape, or if it’s been cut crookedly, straighten it out with masking tape and a trimmer.

I actually do this on a weekly basis after buzzing my hair (or what’s left of it).

Depending on length, comb the hair downward, align the tape parallel to your natural hairline, and trim along its lower perimeter. This will give you a sharp, squared nape.

A Nick in Your Nape

If there’s a nick in your nape, fill it in with eyebrow pencil. But make sure the filled-in area is high enough not to come into contact with your collar.

Uneven, Patchy, or Over-Thinned Hair

This may occur if you’ve allowed a wannabe barber or hairdresser to cut your hair. These people usually have all the necessary equipment, including thinning shears. Blunt, uneven layers and areas that are noticeably thinner than others are the result.

If the haircut is very bad, you’ll have to get a barber to fix it. In case he has to cut it shorter than you’d like, see my advice above.

Otherwise, try changing your part and applying texturizing products to blend and thicken thin areas. A dry shampoo like Batiste may also add volume where needed—if you don’t have one, cornstarch will also do the trick.

If your remaining strands no longer cover a bald patch due to over-thinning, remedy this with scalp concealer and shake-on hair fibers. I’ve also tried fiber sprays but find them messy to apply—a shaker is cleaner and more exact.

A Bad Fade or Taper

I once tried to give myself a taper, but it resulted in baldness above one ear. The only thing to do was create the same pattern above the other ear for symmetry and fill in with eyebrow pencil.

To do this, draw around the perimeter of the bald area, etch a few strokes within this, then blend with your fingertip. A scalp concealer would also do the trick, but you may still need a pencil for the edges.

If your fade or taper appears choppy, only a barber can help. But you could try darkening as an emergency measure; color is always good for blending and unifying.

In case of harsh lines instead of a smooth transition, try a matte pomade or wax for a softening effect.

On a positive note, five to 10 days of growth usually fixes a bad fade or taper—at least to the extent that it will be less noticeable.

Fix a Haircut That Is Wrong for Your Face Shape

The right cut will make a round face seem longer and more angular, soften a square or rectangular face, and balance the proportions of a diamond or triangle face.

A cut that is wrong for your face shape will have the opposite effect. For example, a diamond face may appear too wide, and a rectangular face too long.

To improve balance, experiment with different styling techniques:

• Change your part to shift the focus.
• Push your hair back or comb it forward to adjust proportions.
• Try a messy or textured look—this is especially advantageous for round faces.

A strategically styled beard, mustache, or sideburns may also help, as could glasses.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

When Shaving Is Your Only Option

If shaving turns out to be the only possible fix for your bad haircut, it won’t look good if you’re pale or pasty.

Or maybe you’ve been in the sun, and shaving has left you with a white scalp and tanned face.

Self-Tan

To overcome this, use a self-tanning product. Bronzing towels give the most even results according to my experience.

Apply overnight, then shower in the morning in case of stripes or darker patches. All visible skin above your collar should be of more or less the same tone, including your ears and the back of your neck.

Pycnogenol

For a subtle but healthy glow, try Pycnogenol by The Ordinary.

This is an orange, antioxidative serum derived from French maritime pine bark.

Spread about six drops over your scalp and face, blending at the jaw and ears. It’s so subtle, there’s no need to go into the neck where it will only stain your collar anyway.

This will give the impression that shaving has made you look healthier and more radiant.

© 2025, J. Richardson. All rights reserved.