How Long Should You Go Between Haircuts?
How long should I wait before getting my haircut? It’s a question asked by women and men constantly. They may be trying to gain length or spend less money by avoiding the salon, but are they doing more harm than good? As with all things beauty, the answer varies based on several factors, so let’s dive in.
Hair Style
Blunt bobs and eyelash-skimming bangs are gorgeous, but the trade-off is maintenance. If you have a style like this, you’ll have to keep on top of regular trims to make sure your cut stays fresh and neat. Shaggier cuts and textured hair have the good fortune of not needing their hair to be perfectly in-place all the time, so these styles can get away with a few extra weeks!
Hair Type
Speaking of textured hair, it’s a bit of a catch-22. The style doesn’t have to be as precise, but curls and coils tend to be drier than straight hair, so dried-out ends are a risk. Keep up on the moisturizing masks and that should prevent ends from becoming too dry. Fine hair is also more easily damaged than thicker hair and so may require more frequent trims. Shorter layers also make hair lighter and can add volume to hair that tends to fall flat.
Hair Goals
If you’ve got hair at your shoulders and dream of locks to your waist, you still need a trim every now and then. If the ends split and break, you’ll lose the length from the bottom no matter how fast it grows out of your scalp. If you want to keep your hair at a specific length, you’ll need to keep on par with how fast your hair grows. You know, get a haircut when it’s too long — the most basic reason!
Hair Health
This is the most important one. Bleaching, coloring, heat-styling, and tight ponytails can cause hair damage. Too much of any of these activities will leave your hair looking frizzy, flat, and frayed.Hair Health Tips:
- When you do heat-style, use a heat protectant
- Try a looser ponytail, or use a scrunchie (they're gentler on the hair!)
- Don’t bleach or color over parts of your hair you’ve already damaged
- Try sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase to prevent friction-breakage
- Use a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt to dry your hair
The healthier you keep your hair, the less frequently you’ll have to cut it!
Okay, so how long!?
About 6-12 weeks, depending on the factors discussed above. It isn’t an exact science, but just listen to your hair; you’ll know what it needs. If it needs moisture, do a mask. Curls falling limp? Try a protein treatment. Lots of broken strands around your scalp? Loosen the ponytail (try a scrunchie or claw clip!)
Daring enough to try a trim on your own? It could be great or...just start with a little bit at a time, okay? Definitely watch one of the many YouTube videos giving advice before taking the leap. Manes by Mell and Brad Mondo both have thorough, professional tutorials for women and men!
P.S. Now that you've got the tips on keeping your hair healthy, check out a few of our favorite products to keep your color perfect here!
By: Katie Maus
