Not hosting related..... just a question about the expression "bad hair day"

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

A quick question to native English speakers. 

I happened to read a post (English Expression for the Day - type) where it was explained (to Korean students) that another way to say (= the way most native English speakers would say) "I didn't wash my hair today." was to say "I'm having a bad hair day."

My understanding was more along the lines of what is explained here  and there were a few comments that mentioned this. I casually added my own comment (along with the link) that my personal understanding of a bad hair day was that it isn't really about whether you actually washed your hair or not.

We were all told off (quite rudely & in Korean) by the writer of that post, that *her friend Daniel* who is Canadian and was raised in the U.S. said her example and use of the expression is spot on, and said we should all stop picking fights with random people online and study English more. 😏 🙄 😑 

So.... is this expression more commonly used as another way to say "I didn't wash my hair today"???? and would it generally be considered "sarcastic"???

Hope you don't mind I tagged you. @Sarah977 @Cathie19 @Helen3 @Helen427 @Ann72 @Clara116 @Christine615 @Lawrene0 @Robin4 

[Cathie19]

You are correct Jessica! Your interpretation wins the prize!
As another radioman would put it: “We are in the same page”

Dictionary meaning.

1. It’s a phrase which is called an idiom. It doesn’t actually mean the literal of the words.

bad hair day:  

1.  a bad day in general;  a day when many things seem to go wrong
2.  a day when you can't style your hair well and this makes you feel unattractive

Note:

This expression comes from the idea that when a person has a difficult time grooming their hair in the morning, the rest of their day is also difficult to manage.

This expression is used to describe something in a humorous or funny way.

Synonyms

• one of those days
• an off day
• a day from hell

======================= 

Hey Jess.  @Jessica-and-Henry0 

The person is misguided I’m afraid. English is like that, but their rudeness or aggression is uncalled for. Maybe they were secretly having a “bad hair day”? 

To “have a bad hair day”, can mean the hair is not controllable, dirty, or not looking good.

(You might cover it / hide it with a scarf, cap or bandanna)  

It can also mean in general terms, the day is a rough one..... not so much about the hair, but maybe “pulling your hair out “ metaphorically speaking. On the go... rushed... difficult because of people, or circumstance, or not to plan! 

It’s definitely NOT a satirical or sarcastic statement. No it is not! It’s more humble, more a fun statement. Not telling the world how I feel, but there has been “stuff”.

For me, if my hair was feeling yuk or gross, or needed a wash I might use the excuse for not having washed it to someone as... “ I’m having a bad hair day”. Just an embarrassed fact.

If my hairdresser was having a bad hair day:

- maybe fussy/ nasty clients

- the hair not styling the way she is wants it to go

- her own hair might have been a problem earlier in the day

- her hair dryer or equipment such as air conditioning  or electricity or water wasn’t working properly. 
- her clients were all running late, putting her schedule out of whack.

Does this make sense to you? If not, I’ll start my explanation again.

I’m not an English teacher, but have some TESOL training and 63 years of speaking the language...

.

FYI, if they are not happy with your response, I’ll get Garry to respond. He’s a lifetime trained teacher specialising in History, English, English as a second or foreign language as well as an IELTS examiner. 😉

PS:

I've currently started the cleaning of my space, as I have guests arrive Saturday. I’m really having a bad hair day. 😳

You should see my hair in the heat and the humidity!!! Lol... 🤣🤣🤣

🙂

 
Cathie x

[Cathie19]

Jessica, that was meant to read we are ON the same page. Not “in” the same page. 🙂

[Helen3]

Hey @Jessica-and-Henry0 

You’re correct;  we use it both to describe  when we wake up to find our hair is a mess and can’t be fixed, or more generally when it’s a ‘nothing is going right day’.

[Ann72]

@Jessica-and-Henry0  I agree with @Cathie19 and @Helen3 and can't say it better.  Cathie got into every nuance wonderfully.  This Daniel person has also misused "sarcastic," which is used to express contempt or ridicule.  One might be mildly ridiculing oneself or someone else with the expression, but it is far from outright sarcasm.  It's simply a humorous idiom.

I'm going to guess it originated in the big-hair '80s 🙂

[Robin4]

@Jessica-and-Henry0 

Jess, I overslept the alarm this morning, the expected rain overnight didn't arrive so I am having to spend an hour watering the garden.....

I still have at least 57 emails to respond to, a legacy of going away from my computer for two weeks!....

The pants I want to wear to the 'Meals on Wheels' Christmas lunch today need to be pressed along with the shirt.

A branch has fallen off one of the trees overnight and I need to get the ladder out, climb on the house roof and remove it.

Got to the Christmas lunch and could not find a park in the shade (temp being 29c) anywhere near the luncheon venue....ended up having to walk about 200 metres! 

The Keg ran out for the beer I wanted to drink at the lunch, I didn't want to wait for it to come on line again so I selected another beer...... to my regret!

Every Thursday Ade and three other old female cronies in the street get together late afternoon and eat, drink and tell outrageous stories about their menfolk until around 9.00pm. The Thursday Girls, they call themselves. I have to prepare a contribution for Ade to take and deliver it across the road and clean up after them.

Does this tell you something about my day today Jess?? I would call it a bad hair day.......

The only problem is, I don't have any hair!!!!!

Cheers.........Rob

[Lawrene0]

Yes to what everyone said, @Jessica-and-Henry0 . You are correct.

Yours,

badhairday 

[Christine615]

Agreed with everyone. You "know" you are right when the person you are disagreeing with becomes angry and INSISTS their facts are true because someone they know heard it from the mailman's sister's uncle who lived in the United States during the Civil War 🙂

Bad hair day means you can't get it styled the way you want because some days hair has a mind of its own. I know mine does. I surrendered a long time ago! 😎

[Kelly149]

@Jessica-and-Henry0 that poor soul is due for a 'well, bless your heart'... they've gotten a wild hair and what it's itching for is a fight, perhaps they need a spa day

@Cathie19 good luck with your coming guests!

[Cathie19]

Thanks @Kelly149 ! But I head to my hairdresser today, to be ready for Xmas, removing the grey ..... so hopefully, not a bad hair day! Cleaning will continue after my hair treat this morning!  🌻😉

[Sarah977]

Never, ever heard "bad hair day" associated with not washing your hair. This "Daniel" is obviously one of those guys who can't accept that he could ever be wrong.

@Jessica-and-Henry0

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Sarah977 @Cathie19 @Kelly149 @Christine615 @Lawrene0 @Robin4 @Ann72 @Helen3 

Thank you everyone 😆 😆 Especially Cathie for your *perfect* explanation - while I do plan on sharing the contents of this post and replies (edited to hide personal info), based on the tone of the writer of that particular post, I get the impression she and that Daniel person have no intention of accepting the fact their understanding of the idiom is incorrect.

The only reason I am making any effort to set them straight is for the sake of all the other random people who will see her post, think what she posted is right, and then use it incorrectly. 

[Cathie19]

You go girl! 

[Ann72]

@Jessica-and-Henry0  That's the best reason to respond!