How Often You Should Cut Your Hair According To Your Hair Type
Your guide to matching the haircut frequency with your hair type and style for the best results.
Bill Schrlau is a highly skilled hairstylist with more than 30 years of experience. He has worked both as a freelance stylist and as a part of salon teams in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. His impressive line-up includes styling for fashion shows, designer events, and music videos.
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Experience: 3 yearsEshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.
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Experience: 3 yearsSwathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach.
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If you think about how often you should cut your hair, we have the answer. You might think that regular visits to the salon for healthy hair and trimming the ends is necessary. But here is the secret, everyone’s hair is different, and not all hair types require frequent trimming. It all depends on your hair texture, style, length, and health of your hair. Want to know more details on hair trimming frequency? Keep reading to find out. This article discusses how often you should trim your hair according to its length.
In This Article
Haircut Chart
When you visit your salon for a haircut, your stylist may show you a haircut chart. These charts include various styles and lengths of haircuts categorized by names or numbers. Usually, different salons may use different charts. However, most of them may some common haircut styles, listed below:
- For Short Hair: Pixie cut, classic bob, buzz cut, textured pixie, crew cut, undercut, mohawk, bowl cut, etc.
- For Medium-Length Hair: Lob, shaggy layers, asymmetrical cut, shoulder-length layers, A-line bob, etc.
- For Long Hair: Long layers, butterfly cut, long straight cut with bangs, feather cut, V-cut, U-shaped cut, face-framing layers, etc.
Before choosing any of these hairstyles, keep in mind that all of them may require you to get regular trims to maintain them. Check out the next section to learn how often to visit the salon.
How Often Should You Cut Your Hair Based On Your Hair Length?
1. Short Hair
If you are someone who rocks short hairstyles like a pixie or bowl cut, you must cut your hair once every month. Short hair overgrows quicker than other hairstyles and must be maintained regularly. It may lose its distinctiveness if not trimmed regularly.
Trivia2. Medium Hair
Medium hair (also known as shoulder-length hair) does not require as much attention as short hair. You may cut it once every 6 to 8 weeks. You may also reduce the frequency to once every 8 to 12 weeks should you want to increase its length.
3. Long Hair
You may cut long hair once every 3 to 6 months to keep it healthy.
According to a survey conducted in February 2016, involving 2,030 US adults, opinions on hair length preferences varied. Among all respondents, 38% favored medium-length hair, while 36% preferred long hair, and only 4% opted for short hair on women. Interestingly, men were more inclined towards long hair (46%) compared to women (27%). The survey captured diverse preferences across genders, indicating a nuanced perception of hair length aesthetics among different demographics in the United States.
The next section lists the different hair textures and how you can cut your hair for each.
How Often Should You Cut Your Hair Based On Your Hair Texture?
1. Coarse Hair
Coarse hair is usually thicker. Hence, you may trim it once every few months.
2. Fine Hair
Fine hair may break easily. Regular maintenance is necessary to keep it shiny and healthy. Trimming once every 6 weeks should be ideal.
The following section discusses how often you should cut your hair based on your hair width.
How Often Should You Cut Your Hair Based On Your Hair Width?
1. Thick Hair
People with thick hair can manage without cutting their hair too often. However, regular maintenance is crucial, more so with thick hair.
2. Thin Hair
People with thin hair may notice their hair losing shine if not maintained regularly. Thin hair is also more prone to breakage. Hence, cutting it once every 3 months is ideal.
Your hairstyle can also determine how often you must cut your hair. Read through the following section to know more.
How Often Should You Cut Your Hair Based On Your Hairstyle?
1. Straight/Wavy Hair
People with straight or wavy hair may cut their hair once every 10 to 12 weeks. However, those with fine strands may cut it once every 6 to 8 weeks.
2. Curly Hair
The advantage of curly hair is it does not make a difference even if it keeps growing. Hence, those with curly hair can wait for even a year before getting a haircut.
3. Coily Hair
Coily hair needs trimming every 12 weeks. However, coily hair that gets dry more often or is prone to breakage needs to be trimmed more frequently.
How Often Should You Cut Your Hair If You Have Bangs?
Cutting bangs regularly keeps them from getting into your eyes. You may get them trimmed once every 2 weeks.
Did You Know?Hair exposed to excess heat may also need regular trimming or cutting. Learn more in the next section.
How Often Should You Cut Your Hair Exposed To Excess Heat?
Hair exposed to excess heat (by a hair straightener, dryer, or a curler) needs extra care. Such hair often gets damaged faster and cutting it once every few weeks should be ideal.
Note: It is recommended to work with a professional to understand the frequency of cuts and trims your hair may require and set the ideal time between haircuts as per your hair health.
Even chemically treated hair needs regular trimming. Know more about it in the following section.
How Often Should You Cut Chemically-Treated Hair?
Chemically treated hair may also be prone to damage and split ends. Cutting it once every eight weeks can help prevent split ends and breakage.
While cutting your hair every 6 weeks is the usual norm, it can differ between hair types. Knowing your hair type and length and cutting/trimming it accordingly can prolong its health and appearance. Keep the pointers we discussed in mind, and your hair will thank you!
Should you cut your hair depending on your hair type, length, texture, and style? You, certainly, should. Occasionally hair trimming and haircuts are important apart from the daily hair care routine to improve the health and look of your hair. Often people do not consider these aspects of their mane while going for a haircut, so they end up being disappointed with the outcome. The tips and ideas listed in this article will help you decide why and when you need to hit the salon for a haircut or a trim. Finally, don’t cut your hair on a whim. It will only discourage your hair strands from growing the way you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you trim your hair to avoid split ends?
You should trim your hair once every month and a half to avoid split ends. Hair experts always highlight the importance of trimming split ends to promote healthy hair growth.
What happens if you never cut your hair?
If your hair is in good health, it will grow easily. But weak and damaged hair will split and break if you do not cut and care for your hair.
Should I keep growing my hair?
If your hair is healthy, you can grow your hair however long you want it. But weak hair will not grow.
Is it better to cut hair dry or wet?
You should cut your hair when it is a little damp (70-60% dry). When your hair is wet, it stretches and might not indicate the right length when you cut it. However, it may be more beneficial to cut certain types of hair dry to avoid hair bounce and a miscalculation in removed length.
Key Takeaways
- How often you cut your hair depends on the texture, style, and length of your locks.
- Coarse hair can be cut every few months, while fine hair can be trimmed every 6 weeks.
- Straight hair must be cut every few months, but you can go longer between haircuts if you have curly hair.
- Work with a professional to understand your hair type, cut it appropriately, and keep your locks looking healthy and attractive.
If you are wondering how often you should cut your hair, take a look at this video. Learn when you should get a trim based on the texture of your hair, or when to get a cut if you have natural hair.
Read full bio of Bill Schrlau
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