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What is a Bad Hair Day?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

Few grooming routines are fraught with more peril than hair styling. One slip of the brush or a single stray patch can turn a promising hair day into the disastrous turn of events known as a bad hair day. A bad hair day is the result of a hairdo becoming more of a "hair don't" as the day wears on. A person's hair might form tangles, develop a cowlick, pile higher on one side or become hopelessly unmanageable due to excessive dryness or humidity.

For a person experiencing a bad hair day, it often goes beyond simply having messy hair. When a combination of factors all contribute to a head full of bad, unmanageable hair, the rest of the daily grooming routine can also fall apart. Sometimes bad hair can be corrected by rewashing it or using commercial hair products, but time spent preventing a bad hair day is time taken away from another vital part of a person's morning routine. For many people, having a bad hair day is a portend of unfortunate things to come.

Bad hair days often leave people feeling self-conscious.
Bad hair days often leave people feeling self-conscious.

One reason many people dread having a bad hair day is due to the amount of emphasis placed on one's hairstyle. When a person's hair comes together perfectly and remains in place for hours, it often provides a sense of confidence. Others are seeing that person in the best light possible, not distracted by a stray patch of hair or an unnatural pompadour. When hair, body and soul are working in harmony, it is generally considered a good hair day.

Using the right shampoo and conditioner, as well as styling products, can prevent bad hair days.
Using the right shampoo and conditioner, as well as styling products, can prevent bad hair days.

A bad hair day, on the other hand, can leave a person feeling completely out-of-sync. Self-confidence, especially when dealing with others face-to-face, can really suffer on a bad hair day. There is also a level of self-consciousness as others appear to be focused more on a bad hairstyle than on the matter at hand. When a person's hair is not groomed to his or her satisfaction, the idea of being seen in a public space all day long can be discouraging.

Sometimes the phrase "bad hair day" is used metaphorically to describe a day filled with a series of unfortunate events. If a person seems to be experience nothing but bad luck and bad news, he or she may philosophically call it a bad hair day.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular WiseGEEK contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular WiseGEEK contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon77149

I have a dream, a dream where a person is not judged by the outward appearances, but upon the person's character.

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    • Bad hair days often leave people feeling self-conscious.
      By: Wrangler
      Bad hair days often leave people feeling self-conscious.
    • Using the right shampoo and conditioner, as well as styling products, can prevent bad hair days.
      By: Roman Gorielov
      Using the right shampoo and conditioner, as well as styling products, can prevent bad hair days.
    • Someone having a bad hair day may result to drastic measures to fix the issue.
      By: dmitrimaruta
      Someone having a bad hair day may result to drastic measures to fix the issue.