Haircuts - When and Why to get them
Planning a haircut can be the most impulsive decision or it could take years of battling inner demons and trauma to muster up the courage for one. But we don’t really logically plan out our haircuts, it's more emotional or superficial (looks based). Here are the logical factors behind planning a haircut which you need to consider the next time you think about getting one.
How is your hair growing?
In adults, hair doesn’t grow at the same rate. There is a growth or nest phase that the hair is supposed to follow, but thanks to our modern lifestyle, more often than not, it does not follow this pattern. Hair growth phases need to be “triggered”. Apart from pregnancy, and applying growth inducers on the scalp, the only other trigger is a haircut. Of course, each person will have a different growth rate and lifestyle and schedule acts differently, but below is our general recommendation of haircut frequency.
During the period immediately after a haircut the hair grows incredibly fast. On an average, 3-6 inches in 2-3 months. Then it slows down and grows 1-2 inches in the next 3 months, and 1 inch or less in the next 6 months after which the growth stagnates.
What happens to the ends of the hair?
Now as the hair is growing or not growing, the ends are being subjected to wear and tear. We experience problems like dryness, knotting in the ends, split ends, breakage, etc. None of these issues are “reversible” with hair care and the only fix is a cut to get rid of the damaged ends. Once there are split-ends or breakage and/or knotting, it only gets worse and affects more hair strands and more length upwards from the end of the strand. The longer you put off a cut, chances are the more hair you will have to cut off.
For eg: In 3 months after a cut, you may have only 1 / 2 inches of dryness to cut off. Leave that for 6 months and it becomes 3 inches, leave it longer and you have yourself a makeover!.
Pattern or cycle of cutting/ growing
Depending on your growth rate and frequency of cutting, you may or may not see actual growth in inches from the bottom.
For eg: You grow 4 / 5 inches in 6 months and cut 3 / 4 inches you barely have an inch of growth to show. If you’re cutting once a year you are maybe cutting off more than what you grew. A common complaint is “my hair doesn’t grow beyond x length…” Well, the reason is the pattern of growing and cutting that you’ve set that doesn’t “show” growth.
Cutting your hair more often triggers it to grow again. And providing these triggers regularly will set up a more regular/quicker growth pattern. This is why men cut their hair every month or so. They keep cutting it, and hence it keeps growing.
When to get a haircut?
Here are a few reasons to get a haircut:
Looks (you're getting bored of your hair)
Damage/wear and tear (your hair needs a trim)
Trying to set a growth pattern (you're not in need of a cut but you want to trigger growth).
For fine hair - a cut every 3 /4 months is recommended.
Fine hair is more prone to breakage and needs regular cuts to ensure that the ends are not getting too scraggly.
Medium/Thick hair - a cut every:
2/3 months if you are looking to grow your hair;
4/6 months if you are looking to maintain the length you have.
Hoping that this post was educational and helped you understand how hair grows and how to plan your cuts. For any further assistance, we provide consultation specifically catered to your hair type, requirements, lifestyle and routine.
Book your haircut and/or consult with our stylists below!
