Should I wet my hair before I trim it? (2023)

What should I do before I trim my hair?

Tip #3: Only Cut Your Hair When It's Dry

Cutting wet hair may seem like the normal approach, but trimming it while it's damp or wet can lead to frayed ends. The best way to visualize this point is by imagining two pieces of paper. One is damp and the other is dry.

The moisture in the hair acts as both a lubricant and adhesive, binding hair and acting as a sort of detangler, making it easier to part and secure. Wet hair also has a greater elasticity than dry hair. This helps the hair to stretch more, resulting in strong shapes that are retained for long periods of time.

In fact, taking scissors to dry hair has never been more popular. That's because for certain hair types and styles, getting snipped when your hair is completely dry can actually improve the results—as well as improve the condition of your hair too.

“Dry cutting is good for precision and strong lines,” says Groover. Cutting the hair when it's dry is often used to correct and refine shapes. Pucciarello says he likes to finish off a haircut with dry cutting because only then can he truly see how the hair falls and make changes accordingly.

To maintain your length, aim for a trim every eight to ten weeks. If you are trying to grow your hair longer, you can get away with trimming your hair every 12 to 16 weeks. This however, is completely dependent on how healthy your hair is.

Surprisingly, if you left your hair to grow without going for a trim, the ends will suffer from damage and breakage. However, if you do not have damaged hair or split ends, then cutting it too often will prevent your hair growing longer, as you'll simply be trimming healthy sections of hair.

And the answer is: no! Regularly cutting the ends of your hair does not make it grow faster. However, it does make your hair seem thicker, as well as healthier and shinier.

But the rule of thumb is every six to 12 weeks. I know, I know—that's a big ballpark. That's because the exact number will vary depending on factors like heat styling and color-treating, along with hair shape, which might require more or less maintenance.

When should I start trimming my hair?

The pros say that getting a trim about three or four times a year should suffice. "If you generally have healthy hair that isn't damaged and you're keeping it mid-length to long, you need to cut it less," Collins says. "I recommend only three to four times a year just to dust the ends and touch up layers.”

Freshly cut ends also help to de-tangle your hair! It's true that damaged hair is harder to maintain and also harder to handle. Avoid unnecessary breakage and frustration by taking care of those split ends before it's too late! If you decide to hold off on cutting your ends, you actually encourage fizziness!

Trimming your hair promotes healthy hair growth as you get rid of split ends and other strands that are doing more harm than good. A trim will completely change your hair from a dull and brittle look to a healthier more lustrous glow.

If you want to keep your hair at the same length, get it cut every 6 to 8 weeks. But if you want to grow it a little longer, cut it every 8 to 12 weeks.

Generally, when you ask for a trim haircut, a professional will understand that you want less than two inches cut from the ends of your hair and don't want any change in the current overall style or shape of your hair. Sometimes that's exactly what you want, but sometimes it's far from it.

The major difference between a haircut and a hair trim:

A hair CUT is changing the style and shape of your hair completely. A hair TRIM is helping you maintain the style and shape of your cut as well as removing any damage.

Surprisingly, if you left your hair to grow without going for a trim, the ends will suffer from damage and breakage. However, if you do not have damaged hair or split ends, then cutting it too often will prevent your hair growing longer, as you'll simply be trimming healthy sections of hair.