You don’t want to wait for a major life change (or for your hair to get super straw-like) to make your appointment. This is the haircut schedule you want to keep on hand
Getting a haircut, whether you’re snipping it at home, or making your way to a salon, can be expensive and time-consuming. However, going too long can leave strands looking scraggly, broken and frayed, leaving hair more damaged than ever before. “Regular haircuts help keep the hair strong and healthy, preventing the hair from splitting or breaking,” says celebrity hairstylist Franco Vallelonga. “The quality of the food you eat, lifestyle, nutrients, the frequency of hair-care and supplements that you take can affect hair growth and the strength of the hair too,” says hairstylist Flavien Heldt.
While most people should get a haircut every time the hair starts to look shapeless, frayed or damaged, some hair types and styles need more TLC than others. Here’s the schedule you should keep, depending on your tresses.
If you’ve got short hair…
Maintaining the structure and style of a haircut is most important with short hair. “For a pixie cut, or a short bob, even just a centimetre too long will affect the shape and the form. I recommend a trim every three weeks,” says Heldt. This is key if you’ve added a fringe to the mix. “A blunt fringe could be trimmed every two to three weeks to keep it looking precise,” adds Vallelonga.
If you have mid-length strands…
Heldt says that a mid-length look is full of character, so you have more to play around with. “You have more flexibility with this length, so it’s a great low-maintenance cut,” he says. “Looks in this length should be cut at six to 12 week intervals. If you like the length of your hair, a trim every six to eight weeks will keep your hair at your preferred length. If you are growing your hair out, opt for a trim every eight to 12 weeks instead,” says Vallelonga.
If you’re rocking long hair…
Long hair is forgiving too—you can go as long as you like the length. But trims are important, because older strands are likely to be prone to breakage. “If your hair gets dry at the tips, trim the ends every two months, it’ll boost the global texture,” says Heldt.
The longer you wait to trim your hair, the farther up the hair shaft your ends will split. When you do have to get rid of the damaged bits, you’ll have to prune way more, making your hair a lot shorter than what you started with.
If you have curly tresses…
“On average, curls should be trimmed every eight to 12 weeks. You know when curls begin to knot easily, it’s time for a trim. Also curly hair springs up when cut and takes a little longer to see length depending on the tightness of the curl. This is why we allow a little extra time for this hair type to grow. Again it can be trimmed more often if you notice breakage or split ends,” says Vallelonga.
“For a strong curl, mid-length is the best with a good structure. But structure means that you have to care more and trim in four to six weeks,” says Heldt.
If your strands are damaged…
If your hair has been damaged by an artificial process like hair colour or bleach, getting rid of the damaged parts can help hair growth in general. “If you want to keep the length, try trimming the very ends every month, until you recover the hair quality you want,” says Heldt. This is particularly important for fine hair, which can get frayed and split that much more easily.
