How to handle a redo without spiraling

Let’s just say it out loud:
Redos suck.

No matter how long you’ve been doing hair, how booked you are, or how good your work is, at some point, a redo is going to happen. And when it does, it can mess with your confidence way more than it should.

The first time I had to do a redo, I went home and replayed the entire appointment in my head. I questioned my skills. I wondered if I should’ve done something differently. I convinced myself the client hated me. It felt personal, even though it wasn’t.

Here’s what I’ve learned since then.

A redo does not automatically mean you did something wrong. Hair is chemistry, lighting, expectation, hair history, and human perception all wrapped into one. Sometimes hair lifts differently than expected. Sometimes a client realizes they wanted something slightly different once they live with it. Sometimes the mirror at home hits differently than the salon lighting.

It happens.

The most important thing you can do when a client reaches out about a redo is pause. Don’t panic-reply. Don’t over-apologize. And definitely don’t get defensive. Take a breath and respond calmly.

Something simple like:
“Thank you for letting me know, let’s get you back in so we can make adjustments.”

That one sentence does a lot. It shows professionalism. It shows confidence. And it sets the tone that this is a fix, not a failure.

When the client comes back in, communication is everything. I always ask very specific questions. What are you noticing? Is it the tone, the brightness, the placement? I let them explain without interrupting or trying to justify what I did the first time.

This part is hard, but important: listen without taking it personally.

Most clients aren’t upset with you, they just want their hair to feel right. And how you handle that moment matters more than the redo itself.

I also set boundaries around redos. A redo isn’t a brand-new appointment. It’s a reasonable adjustment. That means I’m clear about what’s included, what timeline it falls under, and what isn’t considered a redo. Having that clarity protects both you and the client.

One thing I stopped doing? Punishing myself.

Redoing hair doesn’t mean working for free out of guilt or squeezing it into your only day off. It means professionally correcting something within reason, during work hours, and without spiraling into self-doubt.

If anything, how you handle a redo can actually build trust. Clients remember when you stand behind your work. They remember when you don’t brush them off. And they remember when you fix something with confidence instead of shame.

The biggest mindset shift for me was realizing this: perfection isn’t the goal, professionalism is.

Redos don’t erase your skill. They don’t define your career. They’re just part of working with real people and real hair.

So if you’re dealing with a redo right now, give yourself some grace. Handle it calmly. Communicate clearly. Fix what needs fixing. Then move on.

You’re still a good stylist. Even on redo days.