How Often Should You Get a Haircut?
A good haircut can boost your confidence, improve your appearance, and keep your hair healthy. But how often should you actually visit the salon or barbershop? The answer depends on several factors, including your hair type, style, lifestyle, and personal goals. Understanding the right haircut schedule can save you time, keep your hair in shape, and prevent unnecessary damage.
1. General Guidelines for Haircuts
Most stylists recommend getting a haircut every 6 to 8 weeks. This timeframe helps keep hair healthy by trimming split ends and maintaining shape. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, trimming hair regularly prevents breakage and promotes a neat look.
However, not everyone’s hair grows at the same rate, and personal goals (such as growing long hair or maintaining a short fade) will influence how often you need a trim.
2. Short Styles Require More Maintenance
If you wear your hair in a short cut—like a pixie, bob, or men’s fade—you’ll likely need to visit your barber or stylist every 3 to 4 weeks. Shorter styles lose their sharpness quickly as hair grows, so more frequent maintenance keeps them looking intentional rather than messy.
According to Healthline, short hairstyles can begin to lose their shape after just two weeks, especially if you prefer clean lines or structured looks.
3. Medium to Long Hair
For medium-length and long hairstyles, haircuts every 8 to 12 weeks are usually sufficient. Longer hair shows growth more slowly and can maintain its style for longer periods. However, keeping up with trims is still important to avoid split ends, which can travel up the hair shaft and cause breakage.
If you’re actively trying to grow your hair, stretching appointments to 12 weeks may be fine, but don’t skip trims altogether.
4. Curly and Textured Hair
Curly and textured hair types often require different care. Since curls naturally hide growth, trims can be spaced out to 10 to 12 weeks. Still, curly hair is more prone to dryness and split ends, making regular trims essential for maintaining shape and volume.
Stylists often recommend “dusting”—a technique where only the damaged ends are removed—between full cuts to preserve length while keeping curls healthy.
5. Lifestyle and Hair Goals
Your haircut schedule also depends on your lifestyle and goals:
- Professional appearance: If your career requires a polished look, shorter intervals will keep you sharp.
- Active lifestyle: Swimmers or athletes may require more frequent trims due to damage from chlorine, sweat, or sun exposure.
- Growing hair long: Stretch appointments to maximize length, but don’t skip trims altogether.
6. Collecting Style Inspiration
Staying consistent with haircuts also means staying inspired. Keeping track of hairstyle ideas ensures you walk into the salon with confidence. Tools like www.savepinmedia.com let you download and organize visual inspiration from platforms like Pinterest. By saving styles offline, you’ll always have references ready when consulting with your stylist.
Conclusion
How often you should get a haircut depends on your hair type, preferred style, and personal goals. In general, every 6–8 weeks is a safe rule, but short styles may require visits every 3–4 weeks, while longer or curly hair can stretch trims up to 12 weeks.
By balancing regular trims with your lifestyle and using helpful tools, you can maintain healthy, stylish hair year-round.
