So there you stand in the mirror. Your hair is curled. You have rolled, set and curled your hair to your hearts content; yet every time you attempt to comb that hair into a style; the curls along with the style simply flops. What is a girl to do? Hmm, you think to yourself. Perhaps it is time for a hair cut. Off you go into the wild blue yonder of the hair salon. You sit in the chair. You have one simple request. “I would like to have my ends trimmed. You know, just a little. I am growing my hair out and I don’t want a lot cut off.” That is simple enough, right? Wrong. You leave the salon angry once again. You say to yourself, “I just don’t understand why every time I go to a salon to have my ends trimmed I end up with a haircut that I absolutely hate and did not ask for?”
To all my readers out there in blog world, as a licensed professional this is the second area (next to hair coloring) that I, too, remain just as perplexed as you as to why that simple request is often times not met. In order to get to the end of this concern, I will dispel the top three myths in hair cutting, I will offer solutions and cut it off from there (no pun intended)!
The top three myths about cutting hair are (drum roll please): Number 1, getting your ends trimmed is cheaper than a hair cut. Number 2, cutting your hair makes it grow. And number 3, everybody should get their hair cut every 4 weeks.
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| A little snip cost the same as a big chop! |
If any of those myths seem familiar, then read on. Dispelling Myth Number 1, having your ends trimmed takes the same ingenuity to having a precision or designer hair cut. The difference between ends trimmed and a haircut are the words. When a hairstylist or barber goes to cut hair; in the famous words of who I call the hair guru extraordinaire, Philip Pelusi, “it’s not how much we take off; but how much we leave on that counts.” I would not expect to pay less because less hair is cut off. As a matter of fact; it is a common experience for many that when a “free” ends trimmed is in the advertisement, “buyer beware.” Also, it is not uncommon for many salons, hair stylists and barbers to include a gratis shape up, that is not in lieu of your regular "paid for" hair cut service. Most professionals charge the same regardless how much they take off. As in purchasing any salon service or thing, you get what you pay for. Seek out a professional who informs of their prices up front or in writing (a website is great as well). In most cases, “free” anything in the beauty and barber business translates into “new” stylist/barber, beginner, a new technique or unfortunately someone who is licensed and just may not know what they are doing. Lastly, do not be afraid to ask your stylist/barber about recent hair cutting training or certificates. Professionals proudly boast and display their advanced training or/and certificates.
Myth Number 2, cutting your hair makes it grow. That myth, biologically, anatomically and scientifically typing (lol) does not jive. Hair growth starts with two things. Blood supply and hormones; not shears. Hair grows every single second of the day (unless you have a hair disorder that’s diagnosed informing you that your hair will not grow). In 30 days most people have about ¼ inch of hair. As your hair grows longer it is actually older. The ends of the hair are the oldest. As you keep them shaped they are less likely to tear, break and snap; so the result IS longer hair. So the hair cut is not making your hair grow. The hair cut is keeping your ends from tearing and breaking. And as your hair grows; the length stays.....bam!
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| Ends trimmed, hair cut; same thang! |
Myth Number 3, everybody should get their hair cut every 4 weeks. That simply depends on the hair style. My favorite hair guru extraordinaire, Philip Pelusi also teaches, “weight is the enemy of any hair style.” Once your hair grows it becomes heavy and weighted. Now those hairstyles with layers, asymmetrical cuts, tapers and the likes, your hair style will not look nice or style well the minute the hair grows and gets heavy or long. Layers, asymmetrical cuts, tapers, fades and so on do need to be cut between 2-4 weeks. If you want to grow those hair styles out, I suggest you have your hair cut every 2-3 months. this will allow the hair to become weighted and length is achieved. Do not wait too long or else the ends will become frayed and more WILL need to be cut off.
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| "It's not how much I take off, but how much I leave on that counts!" |
