Not Sure If It's Time For A Trim? Here Are 3 Telltale Signs

Not sure if it's time for a trim? While examining your strands for split ends will certainly give you a clue, there are a few other telltale signs it's time for a fresh cut you should definitely keep an eye out for. Here, three dead giveaways: 

Even if your tips aren't cluttered with splits, dry and brittle ends aren't going to encourage visible growth. You can certainly use a hair oil to mask those frizzy, dead ends, but once you're past the point of true damage, there's no reversing it—best to start over with a fresh trim. 

If your ends (and strands in general) have been touched by a flat iron or blow dryer more than once a week since your last cut, a trim probably wouldn't hurt. "We can see damage occur with just one aggressive blow dry or chemical process," consultant trichologist Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips at Philip Kingsley once told mbg, "or it can be cumulative over time." So even if you're not using hot tools every day, the damage still adds up. 

However, those with shorter hair—think pixies, bobs, lobs, etc.—should get a trim as often as every four weeks to keep the look polished, Nick Stenson—celebrity hairstylist and artistic director of Matrix previously shared with mbg. And if you're going for a layered look with curtain bangs or face-framing pieces, you'll want to keep up with frequent trims as well to maintain the shape.

Even if you can't spot a plethora of split ends, your hair still may need a trim. If you find that your hair is growing from the root but not gaining visual length, that's a surefire clue. Further, if you've been using hot tools frequently or notice your style appears less refined, you may want to take a trip to the salon (or consider a DIY cut if you're feeling adventurous).