Ep 16. Bad Hair Day

It's just another day for the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan in Modern Family season 4 episode 16, but it's one that's marked by some unexpected chaos. "Bad Hair Day" centers around each member of the family as they deal with their own mini-crises, culminating in a hilarious and heartwarming conclusion.

The episode starts with Jay (Ed O'Neill) getting a new haircut. Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet) tease him, but Gloria (Sofía Vergara) thinks it looks great. However, when Jay decides to take a shower and wash his hair, he discovers he's allergic to the new shampoo Gloria bought. His face and scalp become red and inflamed, which prompts Gloria to try and solve the problem with various home remedies.

Meanwhile, Claire (Julie Bowen) is dealing with her own hair-related drama. She wakes up with a terrible case of bed head, but she has an important meeting with a new client that day. She tries to fix her hair with straightening irons and hairspray, but things only get worse. Phil (Ty Burrell) tries to help, but his suggestions end up making her look more ridiculous.

Over at the Dunphy household, Alex (Ariel Winter) is preparing for an important academic decathlon, but she can't find her lucky hairpin. She frantically searches for it, but Haley (Sarah Hyland) accidentally throws it away with some old gum. Alex is devastated, but Haley tries to cheer her up by suggesting they use a new "lucky" item: a pair of boots that she believes bring good luck.

As for Manny (Rico Rodriguez), he's having his own identity crisis. He's trying to impress a girl at school by dressing in a new, edgier style. However, his new look attracts the attention of a group of bullies who pick on him and steal his jacket. Jay tries to help Manny out by taking him to a clothing store, but they end up arguing over what looks good.

As the day goes on, things start to spiral out of control. Jay's skin gets worse, Claire's hair gets bigger, Alex's boots start to stink, and Manny gets into a fight with the bullies. But despite all the chaos, the family comes together to help each other out.

Jay and Gloria finally find a solution to his allergic reaction, which involves a ridiculous-looking hat. Claire's new client turns out to be someone who actually appreciates her bed head. Alex's decathlon team wins with a last-minute substitution, thanks to Haley's lucky boots. And Manny learns that the best way to be cool is to be himself.

The episode ends with the family gathered around the couch, exhausted but happy. It's a reminder that no matter how bad things get, they can always count on each other. As Jay puts it, "we're like the Avengers, but we're actually a family."