One common type is getting the wrong length. Like when someone asks for a few inches off and ends up with half their hair gone. Another is bad layering. It can make the hair look really choppy and unflattering. And then there's the issue of color disasters. Sometimes the dye job turns out completely different from what was expected.
One common element is miscommunication. Like when the customer and the stylist don't understand each other clearly about the style. Another is inexperience of the stylist. For example, if they are new and not very skilled at cutting hair.
Sure. One time I went to a new salon. The stylist was chatting away and not really paying attention. She cut my bangs way too short, like I could barely see. It took months to grow them out and I looked ridiculous in the meantime.
One common element is the shock of a new look. People often have an image of themselves in their minds and a short haircut can completely change that, leading to horror. For example, if someone is used to hiding part of their face with long hair and then the short cut reveals everything.
Well, I once read a story on BuzzFeed where a girl asked for just a trim but ended up with hair so short it barely reached her ears. She was devastated as she had been growing her long hair for years. It was a total miscommunication between her and the stylist.
Once, a girl cut her hair really short on a whim. But then she realized it made her face look much rounder than she thought. Every time she looked in the mirror, she was horrified at how different she looked. It took her months to get used to it.
Once I went to a new salon. The stylist seemed confident. But as she cut, she just kept going shorter and shorter without asking. I ended up with a pixie cut when I asked for just a trim. I was horrified as it made my face look so different and I had an important event coming up. I cried all the way home.
One common element is the stylist not listening to what the customer wants. For example, asking for long layers but getting blunt cut instead. Another is bad technique like uneven cutting or using dull tools. Also, unexpected changes like a wrong dye job or a cut that is way too short without permission can be common in these stories.
There was a woman who had really long, beautiful hair. She donated it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients. After that, she went bald on purpose for a while to experience a new look. It was a very liberating experience for her. She got a lot of attention and respect for her act of kindness and bold style choice.
I decided it was time for a change in my look, so I got a haircut. I went from long hair to a short bob. It was a big change but I love how easy it is to manage now.