Lunar Hair Care: Cutting Your Hair By The Moon's Phases

Lunar hair care is one way that astrology fans have incorporated the power of the stars into their recent self-care practices. It involves syncing hair trims with the lunar cycles, letting cosmic timing set the pace of an otherwise mundane task. The idea is that trimming the hair in time with certain cycles of the moon can bring about longer, stronger, and lusher strands.

There's some precedent for this belief, too. Farmers have relied upon the moon's phases for guidance on when to plant crops for optimal growth, dating as far back as the 1800s. (See the Farmer's Almanac.) Lunar hair care simply applies the same planetary principles to us—specifically, to our hair. 

"The pull of the full moon and new moon creates a healthier, more productive garden. This is the same approach we take in lunar hair care," says Stefani Padilla, a hairstylist and shaman. "Just as the moon pulls the tides in the ocean, it pulls upon all bodies of water: This causes moisture to rise on earth, which encourages growth."

Understanding the specifics of syncing your hair care with the moon cycles takes the waxing and waning of the moon into consideration. New moons, at the very beginning of the lunar cycle, are barely visible in the sky. Esoterically, this is believed to be the ideal time for planting the seeds of intention; so, as the moon is on the brink of growing in the sky, this is when to make your hair goals explicit (i.e., full, thick, lengthy locks).

Just as personal growth comes through work, so does hair growth. Even if you follow the lunar charts for your trims, it will mean nothing if you spend the time in between not caring for your strands and scalp—or even worse, damaging it with excessive product buildup, regular heat styling, or physical wear and tear. 

First, make sure to keep your ends hydrated and limit damage. While this won't stimulate growth at the root, it will mean less length taken off at your next trim. 

You must also practice regular scalp care by eliminating buildup and encouraging circulation. When you have too much buildup from oils, products, and debris, it can cause inflammation at the root. When this happens long term, chronic inflammation can even lead to hair loss. Make sure to clean the scalp regularly with a safe shampoo—or even a scalp exfoliator. 

The full moon—when the moon most visible and on the precipice of waning—is like the peak before the descent, a time symbolically affiliated with release. "When we cut our hair, we are 'releasing' a part of ourselves [that] we no longer want to carry," she reveals. Letting go of that which doesn't serve you at the full moon is ripe with symbolism for trimming away the dead, dull, split ends of your hair at this time.

Here's the thing: Manifestation is a personal practice that means different things to different people. We would never squash your dreams of a lunar hair care makeover, but this is not the type of practice that can be scientifically backed. That doesn't mean it's not worth trying.