How to Know When Your Red Hair Needs a Trim

Have you ever looked at your red hair and wondered: do I need a trim? Or maybe you realized you need a trim and need to make an appointment at the salon. Let’s talk about when it’s time to get your hair trimmed and even how long you can stretch the appointments: 

Know the difference: trim vs. haircut vs. dusting 

Choosing between a trim, a haircut, and dusting largely depends on your hair’s current condition and the desired outcome. For red hair, any of these options can work; it’s more about what you want to achieve with your style and the current state of your hair.

When we talk about a trim, we’re talking about a maintenance appointment. A trim involves removing just the split ends to maintain length. During a trim, you usually have anywhere from half an inch to two inches taken off your hair. You may have face framing or bangs touched up, but typically you’re not changing the overall shape or style of the hair.

Getting anything more than 2 inches and/or changing the shape or style would most likely be considered a haircut. 

You can also get what’s called a dusting. Dusting involves just removing the dead ends and keeping the maximum length possible. Dusting isn’t right for all redheads, so we’re going to focus on trims. Dusting is a technique to remove minimal length, often used to maintain hair health without sacrificing much length.

Know if your goal is to grow or maintain 

A major deciding factor in when to get your hair trimmed is deciding what your hair goals are. If your goal is to maintain your length, you will need to go often enough to cut off any new growth. On average, hair grows half an inch per month. That means you would need to hit the salon once every 2-3 months to maintain your length. If your goal is to grow your hair, you want to go less frequently so you aren’t cutting off the extra new growth. For a redhead growing out their hair, 4-6 months may be a better timeframe for trims. That being said, this will also depend on the health of your hair, and your hair’s growth rate. 

Know what that extra frizzy feeling means 

If you’re growing out your hair, it can be tempting to go long periods of time without getting a trim, but one way you know you’re due is if your hair starts looking extra frizzy. Frizzy hair happens for a lot of reasons including curl pattern, genetics, dryness, and damage. If your red hair has an increase in frizz it may be because you have a lot of dead ends. Getting them cut off will help to reduce that frizz. 

Know how to check your ends 

Frizz isn’t an issue for everyone, so check your ends regularly to look for damage. You know it’s time for a trim when you see split ends and even feel the dryness of your ends. Split ends and dryness can be increased by the use of hot tools, or chemical hair treatments. It’s best to get a trim before the split ends get bad since they cannot be repaired and will travel up the hair shaft. 

Know what it means when your hair feels extra heavy

Maybe you don’t have many split ends or frizz — but a common issue for redheads is heavy hair. Redheads have fewer hair strands on their heads, but they are thicker which often leads to thick, heavy hair. If your hair starts to feel heavy or weighed down, it might be time for a trim. Getting a trim can lighten your hair load and help to maintain your hairs shape. 

Know how to maintain a healthy scalp and hair

Here are 9 tips:

1. Balanced Diet: Ensure you’re getting enough nutrients, especially vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as biotin and iron, which are crucial for hair health.

2. Hydration: Drink plenty of water to keep your hair hydrated from the inside out.

3. Scalp Care: Keep your scalp clean and healthy by regularly washing with a gentle shampoo and massaging to stimulate circulation.

4. Conditioning: Use a hydrating conditioner to keep your hair moisturized and prevent breakage.

5. Protective Styling: Minimize heat styling and opt for protective hairstyles to reduce damage and breakage.

6. Avoid Overprocessing: Limit chemical treatments like dyeing and bleaching, as these can weaken the hair and hinder growth.

7. Supplements: Consider supplements like biotin or collagen, but consult with a healthcare professional first.

8. Stress Management: Practice stress-reducing techniques as stress can impact hair health.

9. Regular Exercise: Physical activity can improve circulation, which is beneficial for hair growth.

By incorporating these habits into your routine, you can help promote healthy red hair growth between haircuts.

Rock it like a Redhead! 

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