How does social media create unrealistic hair expectations? And what can you do?

Vibrant, bouncy, voluminous curls. Natural and carefree with a touch of elegance. That’s how @stephanied1519’s inspo pic looked. Those were her hair expectations. But how did she look after her salon visit?

“I LOOK LIKE A BOY 😭”

Cue the sad Titanic flute music.

In a viral TikTok video with over 4 million views, Stephanie garnered both validation and mockery in the comments. 

“You look like Rico from Hannah Montana! 😭” lamented the top commenter.

“Turned into Benny Blanco,” lamented another.

“At least now you’re ready for Stranger Things Season 6 😏😏😏😏,” one joked.

Others pushed back on her criticism of the supposedly too-short haircut and the stylist.

“Why do people think the face comes w the haircut😭😭😭,” asked one user.

“I think the girl in the pic had a different type of curl,” offered another.

“You got the cut you just don’t have the same hair,” a commenter argued.

As a hairstylist or barber, you want your clients to LOVE their new looks. You want them to feel like they look BETTER than that inspo pic—not like they (and you) totally missed the mark on their hair expectations. If they view the end result as a “hair fail,”, even if the inspo came from unrealistic social media expectations, it can spell disaster for you and your business. 🔥🔥💀

What’s the key to managing clients’ hair expectations? How do you avoid hair fails and welcome hair nails? What can stylists do to temper unrealistic standards on social media during client consultations?

Read on for our tips. But first, let’s talk about why haircut expectation vs reality is even a problem.

How does social media create unrealistic hair expectations?

We love a good inspo photo as the guiding light for a new style. They can put clients’ wish lists into a tangible visual that shows better than words tell. 

Yet many inspo pics mislead clients. They can feed and perpetuate social media’s unrealistic expectations when:

• Filters and editing tools blur reality. (Literally). By smoothing out frizz, manipulating texture and volume, and even adjusting the color and lighting, many creators upload unrealistic depictions of hair. These photos are often so heavily altered, they would be impossible to achieve in real life. Even the fact that the photo is still and not moving means it’ll look and feel different than hair in real life.

• The photo doesn’t tell you how the hair got there. Let’s say the hairstyle is achievable, but it’s going to take multiple appointments and intense daily care and styling to keep it up. Unless your client’s an influencer with a glam team, they’re likely not prepared for that level of maintenance. This makes managing customers’ expectations a challenge.

• Their hair doesn’t do that. You know from school and salon experience that cutting and styling isn’t witchcraft. You can’t poof any ‘do into existence. You have to work with their face shape, skin tone and undertone, hair type, hair texture, lifestyle, and personal style.

• The price isn’t right. Maybe they’re willing to spend a gazillion hours in the chair achieving their inspo look. But they may be shocked at how many dollar signs their hair expectations will cost. If they’re not willing to pay the price, then they may not look like their photo.

How do you deal with unreasonable client expectations?

We’ve covered how social media creates unrealistic expectations for clients. Now that you know how an inspo photo can steer clients  wrong, how can you steer them toward realistic hair expectations? What do you do when clients express unrealistic expectations for results? And how can you avoid giving your client a social-media-based style they don’t love? 

Managing haircut expectation vs reality happens during your client consultation. Here are four ways to guide the conversation.

1. Explain the limitations of inspiration photos.

First, teach clients the role inspiration photos play in the salon.

“Inspiration photos are just inspiration. It’s not like a copy and paste, taking something from a photo and putting it directly on your head. It doesn’t work that way,” explains hairstylist Sam Vay.

Without demeaning your client, be direct and transparent about how their inspo photo isn’t achievable. Is it edited or filtered? Is the model wearing extensions or a wig? Let the client know upfront so they don’t base their hair expectations on problematic or unattainable source materials. 

2. Tell them why the inspo style isn’t a good fit for them.

Filters, edits, and enhancements aside, can your client look like the photo? If not, it’s time to clearly but delicately explain why.

During your client consultation, consider the following:

• Does the model have a different face shape or skin tone than the inspo photo?
• Is your client’s hair a different texture or type?
• Does your client have a lot less hair? Or a totally different hairline?
• Will the look require hours of time in the chair, even multiple sessions to see the final result?
• Will the style your client wants require hours of daily upkeep?
• Does the hair inspo not jive well with your client’s daily life and hobbies?

By helping your client understand how and why their hair won’t look precisely like their inspo photo, you save them from future upset.

3. Give them alternatives.

Your client  may appreciate hearing the truth. But, unfortunately, they may be pretty bummed to hear the hair they’d set their heart on isn’t for them. 

If that’s the case, get them excited about a different look with similar results.

What was it that they loved about their original hair expectations and inspo? Was it the vibrant color? The sassiness of the cut? The volume of the curls? Talk through what they love, want, and need (in terms of budget and time). Then pinpoint some alternatives. You can even pull up Instagram and TikTok for this part. By working together with the vibe of the original photo, you can uncover some spectacular looks that actually fit your client.

For example, let’s say your client wants to go from red to blonde, but doesn’t want to break the bank. If they’ve been coloring their hair the same way for a long time, then a new color won’t take easy, writes Olivia C. That doesn’t mean a good result is impossible; it just might take a few tries to get close, while following their budget.

“If you have been coloring red, why not try a vivid orange on the way to getting it lighter or a strong yellow? This can help save the condition as we can leave more pigments in your hair, meaning your hair stays stronger,” she said.

4. They won’t budge? Warn them once more, or offer the door.

You’ve had the tough talk. You’ve explained why their inspo pic isn’t a fit and provided alternatives. But your client won’t budge. In the words of Veruca Salt: “Don’t care how, I want it now!”

Reassert your reservations about the style. After that, you can either move forward or bow out.

“At the end of the day, all you can do is guide people–you can’t make their choices for them. As long as you’ve educated, been clear, and offered full transparency, it’s your job to give them what they want,” writes Hanna Marcus for Elite Beauty Society.

If you feel like your client is destined to be disappointed, or their hair may be damaged in the process, it’s okay to say you can’t move forward. While the potential business loss may sting, it’ll sting less than hurting your client or your reputation trying to achieve unrealistic hair expectations.

“If I feel the hair is already too degraded, it’s my job to politely say, ‘No, I can’t perform this service. I’m afraid your hair will just be too damaged,’” writes Bill Trotter for Destin Hairstylist.

Bring those pies in the sky back to earth.

Social media may create unrealistic hair expectations. But you, hair extraordinaire, can set them right. 

By explaining inspo pic limitations, talking through differences between the model and your client, and giving them alternative styles, you can help your clients see the hair Matrix for what it is. (Red pill, please! 💊)

But your clients aren’t the only ones who deserve realistic expectations. You do, too. People are slamming their stylists on social media left and right. They’re writing nasty reviews against hair salons. Some are even filing insurance claims and lawsuits for bad haircuts and styles. Ouch.

Don’t let unhappy salon clients catch you by surprise. With WellnessPro Insurance, you have protection against client confrontations that go south and turn into claims. Hairstylist coverage starts for as little as $159 a year. Click here to calculate your price.