I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a huge fan of regular trims or the idea of trimming for accelerated growth. Certainly it seems to work for some people in the sense that they get plenty of growth anyway so that whatever they cut off is much less than what they grow. More power you if you are that person.
For me and lots of other women however, our growth rate is on average 4-5 inches per year. With such slow growth, it would be plain silly to trim length unnecessarily every month. If the ends have splits, knots or you are just trying to keep your hair at a certain length then trimming is certainly prudent otherwise I’ve always thought that it’s a waste of time, and hair!
Consider the ‘lead hair theory’. It is the idea that you should not trim your ends regardless of how thin/uneven they look until the bulk of your hair reaches a particular length (your goal length). The longest hairs should not be 2″- 4″ longer than the bulk of your hair, if they are, those should be trimmed. There have been a couple of threads about this on Long hair care forum, some in favor of and some against the idea.
Take for instance the hair of one of the forum members. The two shots are taken five months apart without any trims in between. You can see that the bulk of her hair has caught up with the ‘lead hair’ in the second photo. It should come as no surprise to have ends that seem thin one month then suddenly fill out a few months later. At any given time some of your follicles are actively growing, some are resting while some are shedding and further still hair follicles grow at diferent rates anyway!
The point with this method of trimming is to give yourself mini goals to start with. For instance, you can aim for arm pit length as a starting point. Some strands will get there before others and that’s ok but when the bulk of your hair reaches arm pit length, get a blunt trim to even your ends then start again with a new goal length.
Ultimately I think of lead hair theory as a method of keeping to a regular-ish trimming schedule. It prevents the scissor happy among you from chopping off 1/4 inch here and a 1/4 inch there haphazardly and for no purpose. Hey, I’m all for blunt healthy looking ends but it’s also important to recognize that your hair doesn’t always want to co-operate. Even in the absence of breakage, hair doesn’t remain in a blunt cut for very long.
If your hair is healthy and you have good hair care practices don’t always assume that the shorter lengths of your hair are due to breakage!
I haven’t trimmed my daughter hair yet. Or never trimmed mine
I get mine trimmed and it still grows. I just rather have even hair.
Yes the best ! I performed this style cut for my foster sister at mas house to thicken her inner self and hair she so mad like snip your done i said yes now get out of here lol.
I get mine trimmed but certainly not every six or eight weeks. More like every three or four months. No way would I wait until it looks like the picture. My hair has always been long.
I agree, don’t trim unless your hair is damaged/ splitting. Every single hair on your head has it’s own growth phase and even grows at different rates, so they’ll either shed or catch up. I trim regularly but only ⅛ of an inch every 4 months because hair can start splitting before you see it. It helps me to retain length, but everyone’s hair is different.
is it true as you get older in your late 50’s, strands of hair come out when i comb my hair, it was thick but seems as if it is trying to thin out, it is also long…i would apprieciate your advice for me…thank you
Try doing black tea rinses then deep conditioning. Also, you should try using the non scented garlic shampoo and conditioner, or garlic hair rinses. Make sure you massage the tea or garlic into your scalp.
thank you i willl write that down….everyone tell me why but i lilke you advice
do i just by black tea…and should i grease my scalp
i got it sorry ok…thank you
Black tea and garlic blocks the hormone DHT which causes hair loss. You can use normal tea from the store… You shouldn’t oil your scalp until afterwards because it can block your pores.
This is something I needed to know being natural
Glad I read this…my hair was past bra strap length…ends looked thin then I did a blunt cut…4 inches later same thing..so I will not trim this time….Thank you.
I trim but maybe I should spread it out more.
When i had long hair I always keep my ends greased to prevent splitting for a while. And I’ll cut my ends every 6 months .
I trim every half a year and my hair grows 6in a year, I think you should trim according to what works for you.
the longer you wait the more you end up cutting off….
Thank u!! Someone with good sense!! It’s not always about being a “scissor happy stylist” sometimes ppl just let it go so long it gets horrible
I trim my ends once every year, if that. My hair is growing just fine and it doesnt break unless I use heat which is a no no either way
Same here! #growit
I trim by how thin or rough my ends looks to me at the time. Been natural for approx 2 years and only trimmed twice
This is a good read! I can’t stand scissor happy stylist who always want to cut!
Amen, Arlene! Preach!
I only trim when I need it. About every 3 months or so for me.
….smh
I use a sealer on my ends so now it doesn’t need trimmed as much.
Doesn’t the hairs ends naturally begin to split after about 6 weeks because of the washing, combing, wrapping, twisting and stuff. 6 to 8 week trim has always kept my hair looking healthy and growing lengthy. I hate seeing people with straggling ends. Looks bad and like they desperate to keep hair that needs to be cut. Lolol
I just trimmed my hair this is the second time since I bc in 2011. I only trim when I have visibly split ends and my hair frizzes into a puff when styled or my curl pattern is lost. Then I only clip the dead ends and rinse to get rid of loose hair.
I black tea and grease my scalp
What sealer do you use Satarra Thrower-Jones
When I used to have a perm I trimmed every time it permed every 3-4 months. Never had a split end or hair like that picture. Plus I would never have mine looking like that I rather have mine look thick and even
I trim my hair at least every 2 months, or if my ends look split, just like my mother did when I was younger…maybe its my hair type but it makes my hair grow longer quicker…but ppl have to do what works best from them…
I trim every 6 months twice out of a year
It’s real tea
Regular black tea that you drink
Oh ok thanks
How u wash your hair with the black tea my hair is over process and its stays dry and breaking I take vitamins my hair grows but break s easily and stays dry since I put a different kind of perm ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATE!
No heat? Not even blow dry….
I noticed in the Winter my hair is really dry and begins to break
I rarely trim and my hair has been growing just fine.
Can any one tell me about alopeacia hair loss Any Help GreatlyAppreciate thanks
It a new moon this is when you trim it to grow a Indian thing check famer book
Uhm no you can oil your scalp as much as needed but in this case with only certain oils. Most oils only sit on the hair, except for a few. Coconut, olive and avocado are penetrating oils that absorb into your hair follicles.
Starlan hoke…my grandmother has always cut her hair with the new moon, she had long curly hair, my sister does the same and she is waist length
I don’t think it take that much to trim to make your hair grow properly!
Since I’m transitioning to natural. My beautician trims two inches, every two to three months. My ends looks so much more healthier!
This is my first time hearing about this theory and I completely agree.
When. I coming up my mom would just trim the small end by the times in the almanac..She hadd the the long wavy sruff..
Cassandra Brooks interesting point.
I think as long as you keep heat to a minimum and keep your ends moisturized & sealed daily your hair should be ok and not need to trim as often especially if your doing a deep moisturizer conditioner and monthly protein treatments then you may only need to do a trim 2 or 3 times a year.
and of course we all have different hair types and different hair texture so finding the right products that work for you is also a bonus and help retain length.
I disagree
I totally agree with this! i’ve been practicing this since I began my hair journey in 2007 as a relaxed head and now as a natural. Also search and destroy is appropriate but if one does not wear straight styles very often, there is no need for esthetic cuts. Trimming does not accelerate growth but protecting the ends and maintaining search and destroy trims help retain length.
Just got my hair trimmed for the first time in years and she did her thing hair looks and fills great
I get the theory but when an end splits, that split will work it’s way up & cause breakage, if u cut that split less chance of breakage. If u never trim/ cut it, it will just continue to break off.
I agree with this article. its not necessary. but some don’t see it that way. stuck in their ways I guess.
To each it’s own and their hair!
I don’t blow dry my hair, I flat iron occasionally once a month, I relax my hair twice a year and I trim stopped trimming my hair. It doesn’t matter if you trim your ends or not it’s how you take care of it will determine if it breaks a lot, a little or barely.
It does not matter with how long or short or how the wind blows your hair is going to grow like it is supposed to….I have fired and yes I say fired because they want to test or be behind that theory of not trimming their ends or use less heat….it depends on the environment you live in, the products you use and even your diet. I trim my 4 year Olds hair at least 2 months and when I do it is not even a quarter of an inch..and her hair growth accelerated by 2 inches and her hair is halfway down her back…people fail to realize to that scalp massages are a must and very helpful to hair growth.
good thing you are a blogger… there are always exceptions . I suggest your readers consult a professional that they trust and come to a agreement for a program that promotes hair growth and maintains hair integrity.
I only trim my hair once or twice a year. No need to cut my growth an progress off. My hair looks fine and is long. I learned about lead hairs from Chicoro’s book “Grow It”.
If I was to trim when it gets to the length I want how do I trim my ends? Does it depend in hair type? Wet or dry? Type of scissor?
trimming your hair has nothing 2 do with the growth. ..hair grows from the root. ..at the scalp, ???? so trimming is not gonna help your hair grow. .but it will keep it healthy
Yes but it sayssss “If the ends have splits, knots or you are just trying to keep your hair at a certain length then trimming is certainly prudent” …My ends splitting like crazy lol Nona Noortje Laumen
I am delighted with the results of treatment you guys realizam.Aminha question is how to find someone here in Brazil working with the same guys as perfeição.Tenho african hair, but not a virgin, a long time do relaxation with guanidine, the more my hair now is no longer accepting the products we use, like actually a very natural, smoother, treatment does not like curly, like it smooth with a natural appearance and are judiados qualidade.Meus hair because I can not hit someone who meets me, vei hair treated by several guys that was a perfection, do not know if in my case, could such a feat, is that okay umcabelo judiado.Espero that u can ajundar me somehow!
Thankfully nilva
I agree about the trim theory. I feel the main reason to trim might be to remove old chemicals. Other than that, my hair grew out after years of not trimming. I was constantly criticized by stylists, co workers and well meaning friends and family. Mostly the criticism came after they noticed how “long” my hair had gotten. I used to wear the cute bob hairstyles, trim it, curl it, relax etc. I often interlocked, braided, and generally tried many things with my hair. My friend always wore a bun in her head and was a dancer. Her hair was breaking around the area she wore the bun. Her stylist advised her to get laminates hair gel by Sebastian(years ago) and wash it every 2-3 days. After washing it with a good shampoo and conditioner, she combed the gel through and sort of “scrunched it”. It would curl on it’s own, even with the relaxers in it. I thought that was absurd, but the girl’s hair was growing like a weed. 3-4 inches a year is a hefty amount if you keep that length. I soon tried the same routine, and yes we relaxed our hair. We relaxed, washed, conditioned and let it air dry. No curing irons, braids, heated blow dryers. Just wash and wear so to speak. Oh and no scissors. I stopped going to styists and when I would go once a year maybe, I would hear the nay saying comments. Comments about washing too often, going out with a wet head, pneumonia, “split ends”, trim theories, combing hair while it’s wet, etc. etc.
Been saying this for years..everyones makeup is different what works for one may not work for another..I’ve experimented and scheduled trimming definitely stunts my growth.
Quite logical; hair grows from the roots, not from the ends! “Trimming will aid in keeping the ends from splitting and looking frayed, thereby giving the appearance of healthier and longer hair. The rate of growth can be influenced by any number of variables, including general health, dietary habits, and endocrine function including thyroid, low iron or anemia,” says Cunnane Phillips. “All of these have the capacity to influence hair growth and loss cycles.” It’s just like cutting nails; cutting them won’t make them grow faster, this all depends on your general health.
This makes much more sense than the graphics I’ve seen showing that you should cut all of the longer strands.
I think of your hair is healthy then it’s best to get a trim every 3 or 4 months HOWEVER everyone’s hair is different. Some people’s hair grow super fast so they can get a trim every month without losing all of the hair they grew every month . Others prefer to get a trim only twice a year. I get a trim every 4 months . Some people want their hair to stay the same length so they get a trim once a month . I love even ends and I hate split ends . It works best for me to get a trim every 4 months.
*if