There are memes on Instagram about not making big decisions during the notoriously tricky and frustrating period that is Mercury Retrograde. Whether astrology is your jam or not, if you’re going through a stressful time like a breakup, for instance, it’s probably not the best moment to book a drastic short haircut.

“I think cutting your hair can be very symbolic of letting go or moving on - after a setback or a relationship ending. Sometimes we need something to help us to usher in a change and a physical transformation is great for this,” says hypnotherapist Chloe Brotheridge, a coach at calmer-you.com and the author of The Anxiety Solution and Brave New Girl. “That being said it’s often inadvisable to make big decisions when you’re in a highly emotional state so make sure there should be a cooling-off period (or at least sleep on it for a few nights) before you have the big chop.”

The team at George Northwood agrees, “As a rule, we try to dissuade major style changes when clients are in an emotional flux as there is a higher risk of potential ‘hair regret’. As a good compromise, we can do some clever layering around the face or perhaps take some modest length out of the overall style. This can deliver a new refreshed look without the drama.”

9 ways to avoid serious short haircut regret