Bangs have long been thought of as the ultimate post-breakup haircut (and often a major mistake), with plenty of think pieces on the matter ranging from investigating ‘the psychology behind the post-breakup haircut’to asking, ‘cute hairstyle or cry for help?’
One particularly popular Reddit thread posed the question, ‘What’s the male equivalent of bangs after a breakup?’ with answers ranging from getting a tattoo to trying a buzz cut.
On TikTok, plenty of women showcase themselves trying out brand new ‘dos in the midst of personal turmoil, just for their followers to ask why their hairstylist would ever approve of such a makeover.
Now, there are plenty of controversial celebrity-approved haircuts that women can turn to in their time of emotional upheaval… but should they? That’s the real question, and DailyMail.com turned to hairstylist Mia Santiagofor answers.
Santiago, who splits her time between Columbus, Ohio and New York City, told DailyMail.com ‘a big chop or fresh style can be incredibly invigorating and empowering, but it can also feel overwhelming if it’s coming from a reactive place.’
Santiago, who works with Mariska Hargitay, Ed Sheeran, Emily Lind, and Maia Reficco, feels strongly that hairstylists need to know when to tell their clients no, especially if a style is particularly difficult to maintain, and if they’re deciding under duress.
Now, there are plenty of controversial celebrity-approved haircuts that women can turn to in their time of emotional upheaval…but should they? That’s the real question, and DailyMail.com turned to hairstylist Mia Santiago (pictured above) for answers
Santiago had a client who was going through a tough time and wanted bangs, but instead of jumping in with the scissors, she took a moment to walk her through the upkeep (stock image)
Santiago had a client who was going through a tough time and wanted bangs, but instead of jumping in with the scissors, she took a moment to walk her through the upkeep, daily styling, and how they’d change the shape of her face, and she ended up changing her mind.
Leslie Bibb’s blunt bob has been an equally popular ask this summer, although not everyone can pull it off like the former teen model. Bibb’s blunt blonde bobis thanks to hairstylist Chris McMillan, who’s also the creator of the iconic ‘Rachel’ haircut from Friends, which Jennifer Anistonmade famous.
McMillan quickly nicknamed Bibb’s haircut the ‘c**ty little bob,’ which took off on social media, as women flocked to their hairstylists and requested the same angled styling.
Santiago joked that its been a ‘bob b**ch summer’ because the style tends to be ‘chic, confident and low-maintenance,’ making for the perfect modern and wearable transformation. But the chop certainly doesn’t work for everyone, especially if they’ll panic after parting ways with their beloved locks.
‘The trends themselves aren’t the problem,’ Santiago said. Instead, she believes ‘the real issue is when we expect a haircut to solve something emotional.’
Santiago told DailyMail.com she sees too many clients who are ‘going through it’ and believe ‘chopping 10 inches’ will be the answer. While it temporarily is, when they’re suddenly struggling with styling their new ‘do or bold bangs, they’re left ‘spiraling over something that wasn’t really about hair to begin with.’
Santiago said that she’s had multiple clients come to her and ask for major transformations without thinking it over first.
While ‘no one loves a bold hair transformation’ more than the celebrity stylist, who has set up shop at the star-studdedSally Hershberger Salon, she’s become adept at realizing when something deeper is going on. ‘While I’m not a mind reader, I think it’s essential to understand the why behind the request,’ Santiago spilled.
Leslie Bibb’s blunt bob has been an equally popular ask this summer, although not everyone can pull it off like the former teen model
Many times, people post massive mane transformations on social media, but they’re not always happy with the results (stock photo)
Instead of just letting it happen, Santiago will ‘dive into a deeper consultation’ if a client seems hesitant, to ‘discuss their lifestyle, styling habits, face shape, and even personal style,’ because ‘just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone.’
Many times, people post massive mane transformations on social media, but they’re not always happy.
While they’ll smile in the salon chair, they’ll post videos bawling about the results, desperately searching for a stylist who can take them back to their original color or style.
Santiago explained that these miscommunications happen because ‘stylists genuinely want to make their clients happy, and that can make it hard to say no, even when something might not be the best fit.’
The 17-year styling veteran said truth-telling can be especially difficult for newer stylists, because ‘there’s this fear that pushing back will hurt the relationship,’ while ‘more seasoned pros know how to gently guide the conversation.’
