I Am Growing My Hair Out, Do I Need To Trim It?

When I first started doing hair a few (cough) years ago, a teenage girl came in who was trying to grow her hair out. She only scheduled an appointment for highlights without a haircut, but the last 5-6 inches at the ends of her hair looked very split and brittle. I explained to her that her hair would look much healthier, and she would see better results growing it out if she allowed me to cut off the damaged portion. When her appointment was complete, her hair looked healthy and shiny! She continued to come to me for several years, and I witnessed a complete transformation of her hair. The hair that once wouldn’t grow was now cascading down her back, remaining healthy and shiny despite her regular highlights. Highlights, when done properly, will not damage hair (that's a topic for another blog post), and getting a trim regularly will help you see much better results than simply letting your hair grow without ever trimming it. Here are some tips to aid you on your hair growth journey.

1. How often should I trim my hair?

This is a difficult question to answer because it can vary from person to person. Some individuals get split ends more often than others. I have some clients who need their split ends removed every six weeks, while others can go as long as three months between visits. This is something you will need to monitor for yourself, but here are a couple of things to look for.

First, the most obvious thing is to simply look at your hair. When you take a close look at the ends, do they appear to be splitting? If you can’t tell by looking, do the ends look a little frizzier than the rest of your hair? Split ends can sometimes resemble frizz.

Second, does your hair tangle more easily? Does it suddenly get tangled more often than usual? Is it harder to brush out or style? These can be signs of split ends. These two indicators will help you decide when it’s time to schedule your appointment. I recommend getting trims every 8-12 weeks as a general rule when growing hair out, but you can determine what is best for your hair. I suggest not going any longer than 3 months (12 weeks) because, at that point, your hair will begin to split so much that you will have to cut off more, which will slow down your hair growth journey. A good rule of thumb that I tell my clients is to trim it every time there is a season change throughout the year.

2. How much should I remove during a trim?

When you get your hair trimmed, you need to remove the entire section of split ends at the ends of your hair. Your stylist can evaluate your hair to determine how much needs to be removed. When you first start getting trims, you may need to take off more than you'd like because you might have a lot of damaged hair. Like the client I mentioned earlier, if you go a long time between haircuts, your hair will be very split and brittle. When you remove these ends, you’ll see better results, I promise! The surprising thing is, when my client went back to school the following Monday, NOBODY NOTICED that she had cut that much off! A few people actually commented that it looked longer! Trust the process. If you stick to regular trims, you will find that, eventually, you will only need to cut off a little bit each time, and your hair will stay healthy longer.

3. I am growing my hair out from a pixie cut; will that change anything?

When you’re growing your hair out from a very short hairstyle like a pixie cut, things change slightly. All of the above tips still apply, but you may need to visit your hairstylist more often to get your hair shaped. Even if your hair isn’t splitting too badly, hair growing out from a short cut or pixie tends to lose shape until it reaches about shoulder length. I recommend coming in every 6-8 weeks to shape up the neckline and the area around the ears to help avoid any awkward grow-out phases. As someone who loves to cut my hair short and then grow it out again repeatedly, I understand how challenging the awkward grow-out phases can be! Regular shape-ups can really help your hair look great as it grows out. Once it reaches shoulder length, you can start stretching out your haircuts if you want to continue growing it long.

4. Do conditioning treatments help?

While nothing can make your hair as healthy as regular trims, incorporating regular conditioning treatments can help keep your hair in good condition. Deep conditioning protein treatments can be especially beneficial if you have over-processed your hair with color, bleach, or perms. Although these treatments will not make your hair grow faster, they will strengthen your hair and help prevent it from breaking off, allowing it to achieve greater length.

5. Is there anything else that can help promote growth?

There’s an old wives' tale that some of my older clients have shared with me, and they swear by its effectiveness. Although I have never tried it myself, it may be worth a shot! Cutting your hair on certain dates throughout the year is believed to promote hair growth. The Old Farmer's Almanac publishes a yearly book filled with information about the best days to plant a garden, predicted weather patterns, and various other tips, including the ideal dates for cutting your hair. By looking up these dates, you can determine the best times to get a haircut to encourage growth. I would love to hear from you if you decide to try this!

Another wives' tale that I know works from experience is brushing your hair 100 times a day. This practice can strengthen your hair and allow your natural oils to condition it, leaving your hair healthy and strong.

In summary, getting regular trims can help promote hair growth. Find a good stylist nearby whom you can visit regularly and build trust that she will help you maintain length. Follow these tips, and you will be amazed at the transformation you see in your hair! Please subscribe to our blog, and let us know in the comments if you are growing your hair out or if you have any tips that have helped you in your hair growth journey. We would love to hear from you!