How often should you cut your hair? The only guide you’ll ever need

Haircuts are an integral part of personal grooming, a practice embraced by both men and women, yet with distinct rhythms and reasons. While men often visit the barber as part of routine maintenance, women, in contrast, tend to hold onto their length for longer, trimming only when necessary.

Overcutting can hinder progress, while neglecting a trim can lead to damage, and there will be an unmanageable state. Today, it’s time to know how often you should really be cutting your hair to keep it at its healthiest?

And for those who prefer a DIY approach, we’ll wrap up with a simple, foolproof method to trim your own hair at home with minimal tools but maximum results.

How often should I cut my hair

Men: For men, especially those who prefer short, structured cuts, a trim every 2-4 weeks keeps things fresh. As they age, hair density often decreases and then makes regular maintenance even more important to keep the style looking intentional rather than unkempt.

Women: Women, on the other hand, tend to cut their hair less frequently, with timing dictated by hair length and condition. Younger women growing out their hair can go 8-12 weeks between trims, while older women may find that thinning strands or changes in texture require more frequent maintenance—about every 6-8 weeks—to maintain a healthy look.

Children and teenagers: Hair also responds differently to time and hormonal changes, influencing when and why trims become necessary. Children and teenagers, with their fast-growing strands, often don’t require frequent haircuts unless maintaining a specific style. In contrast, postmenopausal women may notice slower growth and increased dryness. Men experiencing hair thinning might choose to cut their hair shorter and more often, as this creates the illusion of thickness.

How often should I cut my hair if I want to let it grow

Trim just enough to prevent split ends from traveling up the strands, every 10-12 weeks. For younger individuals with fast-growing hair, this timeline can stretch a bit longer, especially if the hair remains strong and free of breakage.

Women aiming for long, healthy locks should focus on maintaining hydration and minimizing heat damage, as overprocessing can lead to more frequent trimming needs. Meanwhile, men growing out their hair might need slightly more frequent reshaping to prevent awkward in-between stages and keep the style intentional.

In your 20s and 30s, when hair is at its peak growth rate, trims can be spaced out further, as long as split ends are kept in check. However, as hair ages growth may slow, and strands can become more fragile, so 8-10 week trims are essential to avoid thinning and breakage. Men with aging hair should also be mindful of texture changes, as finer strands require more care to prevent looking sparse.

How often should I cut my hair for hairstyling

Precision cuts like blunt bobs, pixies, or geometric styles require regular upkeep to keep their structure intact. In these cases, trims every 4-6 weeks are able to prevent the shape from softening and losing its edge. Layered cuts also benefit from frequent maintenance, as grown-out layers can weigh down the style.

If your goal is to maintain volume and movement, a trim every 6-8 weeks helps keep layers fresh without compromising length. On the other hand, shaggy styles, curtain bangs, and tousled waves offer more flexibility, giving trims every 8-12 weeks while still looking intentional.

How often should I cut my curly hair

Curls should be cut every 8-12 weeks to maintain their shape and health. Unlike straight hair, where split ends are more visible, curls can disguise damage for a while until suddenly, frizz and uneven curl patterns take over. Waiting too long between cuts can lead to knots and fairy-tale tangles that make detangling a struggle, causing even more damage in the long run.

How long should you wait between haircuts

Because shorter hair grows out more noticeably, even a few weeks without a trim can make a once-polished style look overgrown or shapeless. If maintaining crisp edges is the goal, scheduling a haircut every month ensures the style stays intentional rather than accidental.

For those with medium to long hair, the wait time between trims can be stretched out to 8-12 weeks. Longer hair isn’t as immediately affected by new growth, but that doesn’t mean it should be neglected—waiting too long can lead to split ends, thinning, and loss of shape. If you're actively growing your hair out, trimming just a fraction of an inch every 10-12 weeks keeps the ends strong without sacrificing length.

Cutting your hair at home

What’s needed:

Giving yourself a trim at home doesn’t have to be a recipe for disaster. No need to overcomplicate things.

All you really need is a sharp pair of hair-cutting scissors, a fine-tooth comb, and a good mirror setup (a handheld mirror works if you’re cutting the back). If your hair is thick or layered, grab a few clips to help with sectioning. And the Laifen Swift Special hair dryer. A frizz-free blowout before you start cutting makes a world of difference.

The simple guide to cut your hair

1. Now, onto the actual cutting. Trim tiny bits at a time because, trust me, hair shrinks once it settles.

2. You cam sectioning your hair, pulling it taut, and making small angled cuts instead of straight, blunt snips (this keeps the ends looking natural).

3. If you’re adding layers, use the point-cutting technique.

4. Step back, shake it out, and check your work in different lighting before making more cuts.

5. Once you’re done, finish with a quick blow-dry using the Laifen Swift Special to smooth everything out.