We’ve all heard that we should get our hair trimmed on a regular basis if we want it to grow strong and healthy, but how can we determine when the ideal time is? A six-week visit to the salon is good in theory, but there may be certain exceptions based on your hair structure and preferred haircut.
We decided to investigate to find out how long you should wait before cutting your hair. As heated as this debate may get, we spoke with five professionals to obtain all the potential tips and strategies on how long a style can last if occasional cuts harm your hair’s health and if there’s a one-size-fits-all guideline that everyone should follow. Continue reading to find out how often you should trim your hair.
General Rule
There is no single answer to how frequently you should trim your hair in general. However, depending on your hair and your eventual objective, there may be a sweet spot. “Two crucial variables to consider when deciding if it’s time for a haircut are as simple as this:
1) Can you no longer obtain the desired styles?
2) Are your hair’s ends obviously damaged?” Norton claims. Start asking yourself those questions around a month after your previous haircut. If you answered yes to either question, go to the salon.
Haircuts for Short Hair
For shorter cuts and bobs, experts recommend every three to seven weeks. According to famous hairdresser Richard Collins, if you have a certain style, such as an Anna Wintour bob with bangs, you should have your haircut every three weeks to keep the look exact and finished. “This is predicated on your hair typically growing approximately half an inch every month,” he says.
Norton believes that more regular cuts are required to keep the style and form of a shorter’do. If you’re more casual about your appearance, you might be able to extend it to four to seven weeks.
Medium-Length Hair
According to the professionals, having a trim three or four times a year should enough. “If you have usually healthy, undamaged hair and keep it mid-length to long, you should cut it less,” Collins adds. “I recommend merely dusting the ends and touching up layers three to four times a year.”
Long Hair
Even for long, healthy styles, Abriol recommends deciding on how wonderful you want your hair to appear. “When your hair is longer than your shoulders, layered or not, and you’ve had it for more than three months, your shape has totally grown out, and you’re ready for a new one.”
It’s also worth noting that long hair is quite old. Hair, like everything else, becomes more delicate as it ages. Long hair is more prone to breakage, split ends, and seeming thinner, particularly if it has been chemically treated. Experts recommend going to the salon every eight weeks.
In between cuts, use argan oil to the ends of your hair to help cure and conceal split ends.
Argan oil is a plant oil derived from the kernels of the fruit pit of the Moroccan argan tree (Argania spinosa). The component contains a lot of antioxidants and fatty acids. It also has anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties.
Curly Hair
Natural texture hairstylists recommend a minimum of 12 weeks between cuts. “Ideally,” François says, “I would recommend six to 12 weeks for anyone with wavy or curly hair, whereas coily, tight curls, and kinky patterns might wait up to two months.” Whether your hair is colored or heat damaged, I recommend checking to see if it needs to be chopped every time you have it colored to avoid over-processing the ends.”
“Textured hair is inherently rather dry and wants moisture,” François explains. As a result, he suggests a 12-week cut interval but emphasizes the importance of washing frequency: “The best number of days will vary from person to person, but every two to three days might be good for wavy hair; every three to seven days good for curly hair; and every seven days or possibly longer for coil-y and kinky hair.”
You may also like: Understand Your Curly Hair Types In This Guide
Damaged Hair
“If your hair is prone to split ends or you have a lot of chemical treatments done, cutting every eight weeks will help maintain your hair healthy,” says Creighton Bowman, an L.A.-based hairdresser whose clients include Winona Ryder, Kate Beckinsale, and Laura Dern. Collins agrees, recommending an eight-week cut if your hair is chemically damaged, very fine, or ragged at the ends. More regular haircuts can aid in the prevention of over-drying and breaking.
Let’s check: How To Prevent And Repair Sun-Damaged Hair?
Do Regular Hair Trims Promote Hair Growth?
Both yes and no. Hair cutting may make it grow longer and quicker, but not in the manner you think. Trimming the tips has little effect on the root (from which it develops), but it does avoid breaking and broken ends, which give the appearance of sluggish growth.
What you should know: Does Trimming Hair Make It Grow Faster?
The Bottom Line
Aside from these scheduling guidelines, it’s also crucial to understand the indicators that your hair needs to be trimmed. Some of these indicators include split ends, layers that are losing structure, and hair that tangles easily (particularly at the bottom). Experts agree that you should not wait more than six months for a haircut.
