How Often Should You Cut Your Hair?

Conversations around hair-cutting frequency are often a bit confusing. Some say getting a trim every four weeks is the best way to keep split ends at bay; others go months between haircuts without any (apparent) drawbacks. So if you’re wondering how often should you cut your hair to maintain healthy-looking locks, you’re far from alone.

The trouble is that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Figuring out how often to trim hair depends on a few factors, including your hair texture, length, and condition. We’ll explain these factors in more detail ahead and share a look at some of our favorite products to keep your hair in great shape between trims—whether you get them every three weeks or every couple of months.

Why Is It Important To Get Regular Haircuts?

Getting regular haircuts isn’t just about maintaining your chosen style (though that, of course, is part of the equation). Scheduling regular trims can also:

• Help prevent split ends: When left unchecked, split ends can move further up the hair shaft, causing damage and breakage. Regular trims, or micro-trims, help prevent this from happening.
• Make thin hair appear thicker: Fine, thin hair can sometimes appear stringy at the ends, which can make your strands look less-than-healthy. Getting regular trims can help ensure the ends are even and full, which may make your mane appear thicker.
• Help hair grow longer: Getting monthly haircuts won’t actually speed up hair growth—but it can help nix the damage that may make growing out your hair difficult.
• Enhance manageability: Dry, dead ends may tangle more easily than healthy, well-maintained hair. Opting for regular haircuts can help keep your ends in good shape, which may make your hair easier to brush and style.
• Help maintain your preferred style: Whether your hair is short or long, blunt or layered, getting regular haircuts can help keep your cut looking fresh. Note that if you have short hair, you’ll likely need more frequent trims than someone who has longer locks. The same goes for those with bangs—if you have fringe, you may need to schedule a monthly trim to maintain your bangs’ length.

How Often Should You Get a Haircut?

How often you should cut your hair depends on your current hair condition and length. The time between trims can vary, but there are some general guidelines that hairstylists and salon professionals recommend. When you ask a stylist, “How often should I trim my hair?,” the most common timeframe is every six to eight weeks. However, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all (or, more to the point, a one-haircut-fits-all) deal. Here’s what to consider when figuring out when it’s time for your next chop.

Damage level

Damaged hair needs to be cut more frequently—as a general rule, it should be trimmed every six weeks to help minimize split ends and prevent breakage. If you use heat styling tools every day, dye your hair regularly, or get chemical treatments like perms, there’s a good chance your hair is damaged. Additionally, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) confirms that there are some hair habits, like pulling your hair back tightly in a ponytail, wearing a weave or extensions, or rubbing wet hair with a towel, that can cause damage.

When dealing with damaged strands, texture may play a role in how often you cut your hair. Curly, kinky, and coily hair are all prone to dryness, which leads to damage if not treated properly. However, many people with this hair type may not want to get constant haircuts. It’s all about balance—a professional stylist can help you figure out how often to cut your curly locks without losing too much length.

If a monthly haircut isn’t in your budget or you’re looking to keep your hair long, amp up your at-home haircare routine with products that specifically target damaged strands. For a complete routine that strengthens and repairs the bonds in your hair, try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment, L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Shampoo, and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Conditioner. The powerful trio helps strengthen damaged strands from the inside out, leaving the hair smoother and more resilient over time.

How fast your hair grows

Hair growth can determine how often you should cut your hair, especially if you’re trying to maintain a certain hairstyle. Or maybe you want to know how quickly your hair can grow back before you get a pixie cut or shave your head. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hair grows roughly six inches per year, or half an inch per month. This timeframe can fluctuate slightly from person to person, depending on your hair growth cycle. Factors like your age, hormonal fluctuations, and stress can affect hair growth, too.

You may have heard that trimming your hair helps it grow, but that’s not necessarily true. According to the Cleveland Clinic, regular trims can help prevent hair breakage that can keep your strands brittle and inhibit healthy growth. Even if you want to grow your hair out, though, you should still cut your hair—just go a little longer between trims. Head to the salon every 8 to 12 weeks to maintain growth and stop split ends in their tracks.

Your current hairstyle

Certain hairstyles just require a bit more upkeep than others. Bangs, pixie cuts, blunt bobs, and other short haircuts need more frequent trims to maintain the look. As mentioned, hair grows about half an inch per month—so if you’re rocking a cropped cut, you’ll want to trim off close to that amount each month to maintain your current length.

If you have long, flowy hair, you can go longer between haircuts, since a half-inch of growth will typically be less noticeable the longer your hair is. Aim for a trim once every eight weeks or so, adjusting your schedule if you spot any obvious signs of damage (like split ends). For medium-length hair, a trim every six to eight weeks is ideal.

What Happens If You Don’t Cut Your Hair?

All this talk about how often you should cut your hair probably has you wondering what happens if you don’t cut it. While neglecting regular haircuts isn’t a crime, in the long run, you can end up doing your strands more harm than good. Split ends are a big enemy of hair and can cause further damage if they aren’t stopped with regular haircuts. According to the Cleveland Clinic, split ends run up the hair fiber like a rip in your stockings—which means if you don’t trim away normal wear and tear from your strands, the breakage can travel up the strand, making your hair appear frizzy and unmanageable.

While nothing (except for a haircut) can eliminate split ends, there are hair treatments that can help reduce their appearance. To start, swap out your existing shampoo and conditioner for a duo designed to tackle damage. We love the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Restoring Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Super Detangler Conditioner, which contain castor oil, vitamin B3, and vitamin B5.

Complete the routine with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream Leave In Conditioner, which helps seal split ends and has 450-degree heat protection to prevent damage from heat styling.

3 Signs You Need a Haircut

If you’re unsure whether it’s time to call up your stylist and schedule a trim, here are three signs that your strands could benefit from a refresh.

1. Visible split ends

Take a look at an individual piece of hair—if you have split ends, you’ll notice small breaks toward the end that shoot off into multiple directions, and they may also look dull or feel rough and brittle. Since split ends can lead to further damage as they travel up the root, getting frequent haircuts can both rid your tresses of any split ends currently there and keep new ones from forming in the first place.

2. Loss of shape or volume

When your hair starts looking a little worse for wear, it’s probably time for a trim. Any hair length can lose its shape once it’s been too long between haircuts—pixies and bobs will lose their shape, and layers will start looking lank. Finer hair can also begin to look stringy if it’s been too long between haircuts.

3. Difficulty styling

If your hair seems to be more prone to tangles than it was after your last cut, it may be time to hit the salon. Dryness and split ends may make your hair more susceptible to knots, which—aside from being incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to get out the door quickly—can leave your strands vulnerable to breakage. When in doubt, consult your stylist about the best maintenance routine for your hair length, texture, and damage level.

Next Up: 9 Haircare Mistakes To Stop Making Today

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris