How many times have you sat in your stylist’s chair and said, “Just cut off the dead stuff”? Your stylist knows what you mean, but if they took you literally, you’d leave with a shaved head! The living part of your hair resides within the hair follicle itself; once your hair comes out of your scalp, the cells that compose it are no longer living. That means, by the time your hair has grown 6, 12, or 18 inches, it’s been around a long time, and hasn’t been able to heal itself as damage occurs over time, like other parts of your body might. This is where regular haircuts come in! 

Split ends occur at the tips of the hair as the hair is worn down from styling, washing, and chemical treatments over time. What many don’t realize is that once the end splits, the split will work its way up the hair shaft, making the hair more likely to break and leaving scraggly, thin ends that aren’t doing anyone any favors! Ultimately, only the ‘stainless steel’ treatment (a haircut!) will solve the problem, but there are products to help prevent split ends and temporarily seal those that have already begun! The Résistance line from Kérastase helps repair damaged hair and restore the hair fiber to prevent breakage, and is ideal for hair seeking healthy lengths! 

So now that you know the Why, what about the When? Experts recommend cuts at least every twelve weeks, in order to prevent damage that will have you cutting off way more than you planned when you finally make it in. On average a person’s hair grows about ½ inch a month. Most clients seeking to maintain their length should be getting haircuts every six to eight weeks, while those looking to grow their hair out should be booking haircut appointments every ten to twelve weeks. Shorter haircuts require more maintenance in terms of cut, as they lose their shape very quickly, and a little growth makes a big difference! These cuts should be maintained every four to six weeks, while even shorter cuts (like men’s cuts and pixies) can be shaped as soon as two to three weeks. Your hair texture may also factor into the frequency of your haircuts; those with fine hair or chemically treated hair that is prone to breakage or further damage should consider getting a cut about one to two weeks before the recommended schedule above. 

Struggle to hold yourself accountable for regular cuts? Consider pre-booking your next appointment while you’re at the salon and get it on your calendar. This tends to help those who wear lower maintenance looks make sure that their  hair stays healthy.

If you’re still rocking that Covid hair, make an appointment to have one of our stylists freshen up your ‘do! Not only will your hair be happy, you’ll leave feeling like a million bucks! (And let’s face it, we could all use a pick-me-up in this season.) Your Douglas Carroll Salon stylist can also recommend a product regimen to keep your hair at its healthiest between appointments.