Burning question: Does cutting your hair more often make it grow faster?

Myth busting the nonsense and providing facts to help your hair

We have all heard this at one time or another. You are trying to get some length, but after going months or longer without a trim in an attempt to gain inches on your mane, it doesn’t seem any longer. The ends may have become dry and broken, or wispy and sparse. You may even feel like it is just not possible for your ends to reach your desired length. 

I’ll tell you, the answer is no. Cutting your hair more often does not make it grow faster. There is a reason that this myth became a thing, and it has far more to do with preventative maintenance than accelerating your hair growth. Let’s get into it. 

Hair (on average) grows a half an inch per month. This means if your hair is at your chin today, it may take a year before it falls past your shoulders. And another year before it falls towards your bust. The secret to successfully gaining length is maintaining and improving the quality of your hair over time. When you go 6 months to a year without a trim, you may be sabotaging your hair goal by allowing your ends to become dry or damaged if they are not properly cared for. Fear not! There are things that you can do that will get you there, and they don't involve getting a trim every 6-8 weeks. 

Angel Wash. Photo by Raven Brown

Let's talk about wash time

As your hair gets longer, it has seen some things. Shoulder length hair has been with you for around 2 years. 2 years worth of washing and styling. 2 years worth of summer and winter weather exposure. As your hair grows in age, its needs change! Here are my recommendations for how to honor your hair needs during the growth process. 

- Avoid using excessively hot water. This is one of the hardest tips for me to write because, let’s be honest, many of us enjoy a shower so hot you’d steep like a human tea bag. But there are many disadvantages to doing this to our hair (and skin) and changing this behavior can be a game changer to your hair and scalp. Washing your hair in hot water can lead to some hair loss, dry scalp, and stripping away of the hair's natural oils and moisture making it dull or frizzy. This can all lead to breakage, and breakage is our enemy here. 

-Shampoo less often, if possible. For most people, shampooing 2-3 times weekly is sufficient. Washing more often than this can strip your hair and scalp of its natural oils, and can cause dryness. When you do wash, do so thoroughly to remove any build up on your scalp to create an ideal environment for hair growth. 

-Introduce a Deep Conditioning hair mask to your routine. A mask is an excellent way to introduce a nourishing, moisturizing step to your wash day. I usually recommend it once a week or as needed. Apply your mask after you shampoo so that your hair is free of build up and the mask can fully coat and penetrate the strands. Work the mask on to your mids and ends first. Whatever product is left on your hands, apply that to your more fragile hairline and face framing hairs and leave on for 10+ minutes. This will quickly become your favorite shower of the week. Your hair will be shining and radiant, and the added moisture will deter dryness and damage.

Leave-in Repair. Photo by Raven Brown

Let's Talk About Styling

Here is another chance to be your hairs hero. Most of us know about heat damage due to styling at this point. Whether you are blow drying or ironing, protection for your cuticles are needed. What you may not know is that even if you are air drying, your hair still needs protection in order to avoid breakage and split ends. 

-When heat styling, finding a heat protectant that suits your hair type and lifestyle is crucial. Nothing is worse than using a product that is meant to help you and hating how it feels on your hair. Enjoying the products you use and applying them thoroughly are the only ways to ensure damage prevention and a positive change in your routine. If you are not sure of which products suit your needs, this is something that you can ask your stylist. I am always happy to give my professional recommendation of brands I know or carry as retail in my salon. 

-Leave-in conditioning products can come in many forms, and the benefits are too good to pass up. They are wonderful to apply if you are air drying or as a finishing step to a full style. This will help to detangle your hair, protect fragile ends, and lock in moisture. All of this will lead you to shinier, healthier hair that will be less prone to breakage. Some are meant to be applied on damp hair, and other forms are applied to dry, so be sure to read the directions to your chosen product.  Young Again Oil is one of my favorites. I apply a small pump to mids and ends daily to smooth my ends and help reduce friction while brushing.

With these changes to your hair care routine, the overall quality of your hair will increase greatly between visits to the salon. Good at home care means you should be able to go 12-16 weeks between trims to gain more length and finally have the long, healthy hair of your dreams. The cost of these products end up being less than the hair cuts you're skipping in some cases, and healthy hair is more manageable. The wins keep coming! These steps only work with regularity, but just like brushing your teeth, they will become a no-brainer for your daily routine when you experience the results. Repetitive actions always create a result over time. Treat yourself with love.