How often should you trim/cut your hair?
As a hairdresser I get asked how often should you trim/cut your hair? There is an ongoing debate about how often we should trim our hair. The most agreed upon answer would be anywhere from 6-8 weeks making your way to your stylist for a haircut. It may look too soon for some of us, and too long for others. However, I base this decision upon the fact that hair grows on average 1/2 inch per month. I strongly believe the time between the haircuts depends on your individual hair goals. What is your hair goal? Do you have one? Are you trying to grow your hair longer or maintain the style while keeping it healthy? Maybe you are trying to cut of some damaged hair ends?
1. Damaged Hair
You should cut/trim your damaged hair or split ends, and your goal is to get it healthy, then trimming your hair every 6-8 weeks is my recommendation. By trimming frequently, you can prevent additional damage to your hair, either from breaking because of dryness, or from your splits traveling up the hair shaft.2. Short Hair
Of all haircuts, short hair tends to lose its shape the fastest, and eventually becomes more difficult to style. From super short cuts, pixies, bobs or even bangs, keeping the haircut precise means the “maintaining” time frame for your haircut increases to every 3-4 weeks. Can you go longer in between your haircuts? Absolutely, but you would have to like your style when it grows out because it won’t be the same short hairstyle you got originally.
3. Curly Hair
Textured hair tends to be drier and needs more moisture. The general rule of thumb is to get your hair trimmed every 10-12 weeks. Tighter curls could go longer without a trim, while wavy hair tends to need a trim a little more often. An exception to this recommendation could include having curly but damaged hair. Then, your timeline changes to sooner haircuts, such as 6-8 weeks.
4. Medium to Long Hair
If you generally have healthy hair and just want to freshen up your ends and get your shape back, then getting it trimming every 8-10 weeks should suffice. If you have layers, this timeframe allows time to freshen them up, to avoid losing their effect. This also applies if you are trying to grow your hair out too. In theory, growing more and trimming less over time should allow your ends to maintain a healthy status, while allowing time to grow. If you choose to go that route, just make sure you are treating your ends a little extra. Since the ends of the hair can be more than 6 years old, it is essential to take extra care if you let up on some hair appointments. Personally, I recommend a hair mask once a week to improve hydration.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, it’s an individual choice when you should cut your hair. Your hairstylist
can also help you answer that question and personalize your hair plan based on your goal. Healthy hair always produces the best look, so I believe that a fresh haircut will help you achieve your best. For more tips click here!
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