How Often Should You Trim Your Hair?
There are many aspects to keeping your hair healthy. Sometimes it can be hard to keep up with everything needed for your hair. Who knew that cutting some of it off may be the best course of action?
Getting your hair trimmed is an important part of maintaining healthy hair. The general rule of thumb we have all heard is to get a trim every six to eight weeks, but there are specific factors to getting a hair trim that can alter that timeline.
Some things to keep in mind when deciding when to get a trim are the length of your hair and your hair type.
What Is a Hair Trim?
A hair trim is when only the ends of your hair are cut. A trim isn’t to change the style of your hair or make any drastic changes but to improve the quality of your hair — by cutting off the damaged ends, you can get some of the dead weight off and let that healthy hair thrive.
If you keep up with getting your hair trimmed, usually up to an inch is cut. If you need a more extensive trim, it could be a few inches cut off the hair. If you’re attached to your length, going more often will actually preserve it — we know, it sounds counterintuitive.
Why Is Trimming Your Hair Essential?
Sometimes we tend to shy away from getting a hair trim because we want our hair to grow faster and longer, but there are better ways than avoiding trims. Hair needs to be trimmed every so often to continue growing and looking its best.
When hair goes untrimmed, it can accumulate split ends. A split end is when your hair has split at the bottom due to damage. When the hair splits, it can become tangled more often and can be harder to maintain.
Regular trims can prevent the hair from looking damaged and can make your hair easier to brush and style. If you’ve been missing being able to run your fingers through your hair with ease, a trim is the way to go.
Does Trimming Your Hair Make Your Hair Grow Longer?
A hair trim indirectly affects hair growth as it does not affect the follicles which directly help hair grow, but it affects the ends of your hair. Although hair growth occurs from the top of your head, trimming your hair can actually help it grow longer. It’s one of life’s greatest mysteries.
When you get your hair trimmed, the dead ends are cut off. Dead ends can break when brushing, styling, or even washing your hair. When the dead ends are cut off, this prevents breakage from happening. So even though your hair won’t grow any faster, it won’t break off as often! It’s a win-win.
What Are Some Signs That You Are Overdue for a Hair Trim?
If you can’t remember the last time you went and got a trim, chances are you are ready for another, but here are some more telling signs.
You can often tell if you need a trim by simply looking at your hair. You will be able to see split ends, and you can see the dryness on them. If the ends of your hair are becoming more difficult to brush due to knotting and split ends, then it is time for a trim!
You can also tell you need a hair trim by feeling your hair. If the bottom of your hair feels constantly dry and brittle, it may be time for a trim.
If your hair isn’t growing and you have ruled out all other reasons, a trim may be necessary to remedy this problem. It could be that the ends are damaged and need to be chopped, but you may not be able to see or feel the damage.
How Often Should You Trim Your Hair?
Trimming your hair depends on a few key factors: the length, whether you have bangs, and your hair’s texture.
Length
The length of your hair and your desired length can affect how often you should get a trim. If you have short hair and want to keep it short, you may have to get trims more often than six to eight weeks.
To keep your haircut looking fresh, it is recommended to get a trim every four to six weeks. A pixie cut is an example of a short hairstyle that you will need to get trimmed every four to six weeks. This is mostly to keep that cute vibe, and less about getting rid of damaged ends.
If your hair is short and you would like it to grow significantly longer and faster, it is okay to skip a trim for a few months before scheduling regular trims every six to eight weeks.
If you have long hair that you want to stay long, then a hair trim is not necessarily needed every six to eight weeks. In this instance, a trim is recommended every eight to twelve weeks.
If you have long hair that you would like significantly shorter, it is time to ditch the trim and get a full haircut to achieve the look you desire!
Bangs
You know about bangs — and chances are you either love them or hate them (or have trauma with them). We’ve all been there, choosing bangs after a breakup and immediately regretting the choice.
But, bangs are a great way to have an easy-to-manage hairstyle without having to style it daily. You can have short bangs, long bangs, layered bangs, and even side bangs.
Bangs should be trimmed quite often to keep them looking fresh. You can expect to trim your bangs every three to four weeks. You can even learn how to give yourself a bang trim to save you the time and money of seeing your hairdresser.
If you are trying to grow your bangs to blend in with the rest of your hair, skip the trim for a few months. After skipping the trim for a few weeks, you can just trim your hair as usual.
Texture
It’s important to know your hair type. Hair type affects all sorts of aspects of your hair, from what products you should use, how to style it, and how often you should get it trimmed.
Curly hair can be trimmed every ten to twelve weeks if you want to keep it medium to long. If you are trying to keep your curly hair short, follow the length guidelines of a trim every four to six weeks.
When trimming curly hair, remember that a little trim goes a long way. Trimming your hair when dry is recommended so you can see exactly how much is being cut off.
If your hair is being trimmed when wet, be careful about how much is trimmed — curly hair tends to be shorter when it dries, bouncing up to it’s every day length. Try to find a hairdresser that has experience with natural hair and can cut curly hair before going in for a trim.
Straight hair can be trimmed according to the length guidelines if your hair is typically healthy. The good thing about straight hair is that you can trim it dry or wet, and there should be no issues with the length afterward.
What Other Factors Play a Part In Trimming Your Hair?
There are some other factors besides length and texture that can influence how often you should be getting your hair trimmed. The more styling products and styling tools are used on your hair, the more prone it can be to damage. This is especially true when using heat styling.
If you straighten or curl your hair often, you may be due for a trim more often than typical non-damaged hair. Heating your hair too often can cause damage over time, especially to the ends of your hair.
If you use a harsh shampoo and conditioner, you may also be due for a trim more often. It’s important to find nourishing and moisturizing products that support healthy hair — thankfully, there are more choices than ever.
At Better Not Younger, we endeavor to offer products that help hair thrive at any age. Our moisturizing conditioners will help to support healthy, lusturious, shiny hair and keep those damages ends at bay.
Finding a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask to extend the time between trims can be smart. When you have very fine hair, it is easier to see dead ends and damage; this may lead you to get a trim more often as well.
Another factor in how often you should receive a trim is if you bleach or color your hair often. The more hair color and bleach are added to your hair, the more damaged it can become — and the more tangles you may find. Yes, that ice-queen look is timeless, but you may have to give your hair some extra love to keep it healthy.
How Should You Treat Your Hair Between Getting It Trimmed?
When you are between trims, it is important to still take good care of your hair. Follow these simple steps to keep your hair healthy between trims and avoid getting your hair trimmed more often.
- Choose a shampoo and conditioner that compliments hair and does not damage it. You may want a shampoo and conditioner that hydrates your hair.
- Use heat protectant every time you’re applying heat to your hair!
- Add a hair mask to your hair at least once a week to give it additional strength.
- Avoid over-styling your hair too often.
- Be sure you are consuming the right amount of vitamins daily. If you’tr stressed about your vitamin intake, try adding some supplements to your diet.
- Keep a healthy diet and exercise! Keeping the body healthy is essential for hair health.
- Avoid stress which can harm your hair.
So, how often should you get your hair trimmed? It just all depends on your desired hair length, your hair texture, and how you care for your hair. As you learn more about your hair and its specific needs, you will know when you need a trim.
Better Not Younger is here to support your hair health every step of the way. With products that support damaged hair to soothe damage and split ends, your weekly trimming days will be over.
Taking good care of your hair is a learning curve, but in no time, you will have a hair care routine set to have you feeling your best, inside and out!
Sources:
Hair Cosmetics: An Overview | PMC
How to Find and Trim Split Ends in Your Hair | HubPages
Shampoo and Conditioners: What a Dermatologist Should Know? | PMC