Trimming Tips – What to Know Before Your Haircut
A haircut is a big deal and you should be on the same page with your stylist. If you’re not clear, a picture can help you explain your vision for the trim you want.
If you want your hair to grow faster, a regular trim will do the trick. You can also ask for a hair dusting, which eliminates dead ends without impacting length.
Know Your Face Shape
It can be tough to look at yourself objectively and determine your face shape, but a quick way to test is by drawing a circle, heart, square or triangle around your chin. If the resulting shapes are roughly the same length and width, you’ve got an oval face shape, which is considered a good shape that works well with most styles.
If the length of your cheekbone, forehead and jawline measurements are all similar but your jawline is shorter than your cheekbone and forehead, you’re a heart shaped face (think inverted triangle). Medium length cuts that are swept to the side work well for hearts, as they soften the pointy, narrowness of the chin.
If your jawline is wider than the forehead and cheekbones, you’re a square or rectangular face shape, which can be difficult to flatter with certain styles. However, with the right haircut and layers, you can soften or add definition to your features.
Know Your Hair Type
Whether you’re trying to grow your hair out, or just want something more manageable, it’s important to know your hair type before getting a haircut. Getting a cut that doesn’t match your hair type could result in split ends, which is not ideal.
Your hair type is determined by the thickness and curly or straight pattern of your strands. Stylists often use a hair typing system to determine what haircut will work best for their clients.
For example, if you have wavy hair, your stylist will probably recommend using products that promote moisture and help create texture. You may also need to wash your hair less frequently – every other day or even once a week is fine. This will depend on the health of your scalp, though, and how much heat and coloring you put into your hair. If you dye your hair or regularly use a flat iron, a trim every six to eight weeks is essential.
Know Your Hair Length
Your hair stylist will have a better idea of how short your new look will be if you come in with an accurate length goal in mind. This will help you feel more comfortable with your upcoming change and will prevent you from letting too much of your hair go too soon.
If you’re unsure how short you want to go, try playing with it in the mirror and imagining different styles. You can also ask your stylist to make a few cuts with different lengths so that you can see what your hair will look like before you commit to anything too drastic.
Another way to tell if it’s time for a trim is by looking at your ends. Split ends are your hair’s mortal nemeses and will continue to travel up the length of your strands if not cut regularly, making them brittle and weak.
Know Your Hair Texture
Whether you have fine hair, thick strands or somewhere in between, it’s important to know your hair texture. This will help you choose a style that will work for your hair and reduce the damage caused by over-styling. There are three main types of hair texture: fine, medium and coarse. You can easily determine your own hair texture by holding a thread up to a strand of your hair and seeing if it is thinner or has a bigger diameter than the thread.
When you’re in the chair, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of a fresh new look and let your emotions guide your haircut decisions. But if you’re hoping for a radical change, we recommend doing some research and carrying a picture of the cut you want before you head to the salon.
Not only is this hygienic, but it also gives your stylist a clearer vision of the shape you’re after. Dirty hair is harder to cut than clean strands.
Know Your Hair Color
The hair stylist’s job is to help you look your best, but the final look depends on a lot of factors. So before you head to the salon, have a clear idea of what you want.
This is especially important if you plan to get a haircut that requires a certain level of maintenance, like a buzz cut or fade. You can do a quick search on Google for pictures of the type of cut you’re hoping to get, but remember that everyone’s hair looks different in photos.
A lot of stylists prefer to do the color first, and then cut it, but that’s not always in your best interest. It can be difficult to section the hair for color when it’s wet, and it can also make it tricky for short cuts like pixies and bobs to avoid color overlapping from one area to another.
Know Your Hairstyle
Ultimately, it’s important to decide whether you actually want the new haircut or are just feeling pressured for one (emotional reasons like a breakup or your bestie’s fresh pixie won’t hold up in the chair). If you’re considering a big change, it can help to do some research beforehand so that you have solid ideas about what you want.
It can also be helpful to brush up on styling terminology to make sure you and your hairdresser are speaking the same language when it comes to describing the look you want. Vague statements like “short back and sides” can leave too much room for interpretation, so be sure to bring in a picture or use your hands to show the stylist exactly where you want each section cut. This will prevent any miscommunication and ensure you get a result you’ll love when you step out of the salon.
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