When in the cut cycle does your hair look its best?

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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When in the cut cycle does your hair look its best?

— by Angie

on January 6, 2010

I guess that the answer to this question depends on the style and colour of your hairstyle, and the amount of work you put into styling it each day. I put the same amount of effort into my hair each day so that part remains constant. I have my short pixie crop cut and highlighted every six weeks. A little trim, a few foils and I’m out in an hour and 15 minutes. Quick, painless and very effective.

But my hair does not look its best straight after the appointment. It always looks best two to three weeks into the cut. It’s as if the style has to settle, lie a little flatter against my head, and grow into shape. Week four is still pretty good. But by week five I’m frustrated with the heavy bits and it starts taking longer to style. By week six I’m climbing the walls desperate for another hair appointment.

Does this happen to you? How often do you have it cut and styled and when in the cycle does it look its best?

Grooming

45 comments · Add a comment

Queen Mum

Veteran

It looks it’s very best right when I walk out of the salon-

I agree though, my hair seems to need a week to settle, and then it does really well until about week 6 or 7, but I’ve discovered that if I grit my teeth for a few days, and make changes in the way I style it, I can get by a tad bit longer. I’ve been trying to go 10 weeks between cuts to save a buck or 2 and that seems to be working for me. (although I usually pull out my own scissors and snip my bangs a couple times along the way- I could go in for a free bangs trim but my salon is not in my normal stomping ground so I find it much easier to just snip myself)

I color my own hair with a semi-permanent color and usually do that around the time I’m climbing the walls with frustration. That actually helps out as well- the coating of the dye on my hair gives it a tad of thickness and makes it more managable for those last few weeks before my scheduled appointment.

January 6, 2010 at 7:22 am

All Women Stalker

(website)

Two to three weeks, too. It took longer for my recent blunt bangs, though. Took a month and only looked great for a couple of weeks. Now they’re too long and annoying.

January 6, 2010 at 7:26 am

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I really don’t know how to answer this one, my wavy hair looks vastly different from one day to the next. Given its length and colour I can usually go twelve weeks between visits to the salon.

January 6, 2010 at 7:45 am

Joy

Veteran

Mine is easiest to manage usually right after the cut and for the first couple of weeks. I still need to find the stylist who can cut my hair so that it grows out well. I go in about every 6 weeks.

January 6, 2010 at 7:48 am

Louise

Veteran

It looks best the first time i wash and style it after a cut. Though usually after a week i can’t be bothered styling it anymore and leave it to dry on it’s own. I usually go 8 weeks between cuts. Mine doesn’t really have a style as such just cut straight so i just have it trimmed to prevent split ends

January 6, 2010 at 7:50 am

Ele

(website)

Active Member

For me, it depends on how much of a cut I’m getting. After a regular trim, my hair will look its best 2-3 days after being cut; long enough for me to have washed and styled it on my own, but still fresh. When I went short in May though, my hair took about 3 weeks to settle into its new length.

January 6, 2010 at 7:51 am

1001 petals

(website)

Mine looks best right out of the salon. It’s medium long with layers and I guess I’m just not as good at blowdrying/styling it as the professionals are. It grows out nicely so there is no big difference over time, except for length.

January 6, 2010 at 7:52 am

SeaCorps

Funny you should mention this! I have a haircut & foil today and after 9 weeks (trying to grow it out a little) I have been climbing the walls waiting for the appointment. Lo and behold, last night at dinner my husband says, “Your hair looks really great tonight!” So, I guess my hair looks best at the end of the cycle according to him. But, he always likes it a little longer. To me, its about 3 weeks after the cut when my bangs are the perfect length and I’m used to whatever new styiling procedure and goo is necessary.

January 6, 2010 at 7:53 am

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

My hair is it’s best two weeks after my appointment. I don’t dislike how my stylist styles my hair, but I like how I do it better (see my profile picture). But that aside, it seems like my hair is perfect between the two and five week marks and by the sixth or seventh week I’m dying to get back in for a trim. It’s all in how it styles, though. Not sure if there’s a magic length or what the deal is.

January 6, 2010 at 8:04 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I had suspected that for some, your hair looks best straight after a hair appointment!

SeaCorps, that’s hilarious and it’s happened a few times to me too. The day before you have your hair cut and you can’t wait because the length is driving you crazy, and someone compliments you on your hairstyle.

January 6, 2010 at 8:10 am

shari

Straight after my appointment. I try to go four to six week, but my gray starts being noticeable to me after three.

January 6, 2010 at 8:14 am

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I am like you Angie, it takes a couple weeks for my hair to settle down before it looks its best. Actually, I have found if I also let it go a little longer past the point of 6 weeks, it will change again with a longer look that I also like. So I can go up to 3 months without a cut but it doesn’t look at all the same during that time!

January 6, 2010 at 8:24 am

Sihaya

Veteran

When I had long hair, it looked best straight out of the salon since I’m styling challenged and she’d always make it look extra lovely. Also it was much longer between cuts – I could get my bangs trimmed and get a haircut 2 to 3 times a year. With my short hair now, I have her trim rather brutally so it doesn’t look great right away – it’s decent, just not what I’d do say right before a photo shoot. 3 to 4 weeks hits the sweet spot like many people have said. I have my hair cut every 3 months or so. I usually get at least one bang trim in between. I do the same thing for styling each day – just a little goop usually after shampoo. Shampoo every 3 days. Add some goop as needed on the in between days but usually just water down the hair a bit and brush it in place. Really simple. I love my shorter hair not only because it looks better on me but because it is SO easy to maintain. I’m all for a very quick morning routine and more sleep!

January 6, 2010 at 8:27 am

Christie

Active Member

I don’t like how my stylist styles my curls, but the cut is best in the first 2 months after its cut. I should go back sooner than I do. This time I cut it myself and bought myself more time. But I’m not bragging because it really doesn’t look that good! But curls are easy to get away,

January 6, 2010 at 8:39 am

Antje

Veteran

I like mine best about a week after the cut, and it lasts for about 3 weeks. I get my hair cut every 5 weeks, so the first and last week of the cycle aren’t too great.

January 6, 2010 at 8:44 am

malcontent

I have shoulder-length hair and I think it looks best just after a cut. I have it cut about every two months, but by the end of that cycle it’s fairly grown out and requires more styling attention. I have it colored it about twice a year to cover some sparse, scattered grays.

January 6, 2010 at 8:46 am

carrie

I totally agree Angie! Normally around 6 weeks itbecomes too frustrating to manage and I get a trim. I’m growing my hair out now and climbing the walls because I don’t feel like I have found a decent style for months. Great post – would love to see more about hair styles, especially as they pertain to face shape.

January 6, 2010 at 8:54 am

Evelina

Active Member

Mine looks best about a week after the cut and color, after some of the excess color has washed out, and it’s softened a bit. I have thick coarse hair and it seems I’m never really happy with it. It grows fast and my grey’s peek out way too soon! I touch up the part and forehead area myself after 3 weeks. I try to get it done at the salon every 6 weeks and maybe stretch it to 7 weeks once in a while but it can drive me crazy by then and often that’s also when I also get a compliment on how nice my hair looks!

January 6, 2010 at 9:00 am

DBrennan

This is a tiny bit off topic, but have any of you 40-something gals noticed that you can no longer tolerate hair dye? I’ve got a fair amount of gray and NEED to color every 5-6 weeks, but recently the hair dye has left my scalp itchy like crazy. My colorist has tried semipermanent color, and that leaves me with roots, and switching brands did not seem to help me. I’m really at a loss here. Do any of you use Henna, and if so, could you give me some feedback on this process?

January 6, 2010 at 9:02 am

Chris

Active Member

I always like my “one week later” hair the best. I have been letting my cut grow out and finally have a cut scheduled today – can’t wait!

January 6, 2010 at 9:03 am

Sally McGraw

(website)

Active Member

I’m another one who looks best immediately after a cut. My hair seems to grow out its layers unevenly, so I look shaggy very quickly!

January 6, 2010 at 9:12 am

Vani

Veteran

Although I love how my hair looks perfectly coiffed after a visit to the salon, I too like my cut a week or two later. You are bang on about how it seems to take some time to settle. Also, I’ve newly started getting red streaks put in and they look best after a wash or two.

Evelina, sounds like we are hair twins. My hair though very manageable, is very thick and kind of coarse. And it grows like weed. 2 weeks into a color and my newly rapidly growing grey roots start peeking out through my dark hair. Super annoying. So by week 4 I’m actually counting down the days to my next appt. I used to do touchups at home before getting streaks but I need to talk with my stylist about my options now.

January 6, 2010 at 9:22 am

Christina F.

Active Member

I actually visit my stylist more often than most — about every four weeks. Thanks to genetics, grays began popping up before 30 (I’m 44) and my hair grows really quickly so having my color retouched once a month and a trim every other visit is a must. I’m really grateful that I have an excellent stylist who also gives me a price break because I go in so often. BTW, a few months ago I was ready for an update and now my style is a bit past shoulder length with layers — flattering and a bit flirty — and I feel so much better. And Friday I have an appt. @ Nordstrom (Bobbi Brown) for a makeup consult as it’s time to reassess my makeup as well.

January 6, 2010 at 9:27 am

san

I am getting my hair cut, and the color touched up about every 5 weeks now. It always seems a bit short at first and then it settles into the style nicely around week 2.

January 6, 2010 at 9:45 am

Kim from Nebraska

My haircut is almost identical to Angie’s. I tend to go in every five weeks. I think it looks its best for the first couple of weeks after I get it cut. My hair grows extremely fast. I grew it out from pixie short to middle of my back in 18 months. I had it that long for about a year, and then, on whim got it cut to chin bob and a month later, cut it to the pixie. I find I either like it long enough to wear in a ponytail or short enough to not mess with it. The middle length was unmanageable, esp. because I work out every day and it was always in my face and I didn’t like the sweatiness.

January 6, 2010 at 9:53 am

Kristine

Veteran

I’d say 2-3 weeks after a cut. My stylist cuts my bangs a little short, so it takes a little time to look right (but if I have her go longer, they grow out too quickly). I was going 3 months between cuts, but last time she suggested we try 4 months because I’m growing it out. I have an appointment in early February and I’m struggling with it right now. So I’ll probably go back to 3 month intervals.

January 6, 2010 at 10:04 am

shiny

Veteran

There are color issues, and then cut issues.

Color – I do often go as long as 8 weeks between salon visits. Between 6-8 weeks, my roots are horribly noticeable, no matter how I style, unless I request a highlight shade that is no more than 2 shades lighter than my natural color (what I have currently – roots much less noticeable, and I’m on week 5 or 6).

Cut – my hair tends to look best at certain lengths. Either this short, or that long… depends on where it hits my cheekbone or chin. I have big, wide cheekbones and the wrong in-between length just makes them look wider. So it’s not uncommon to have it look great weeks 1-3, look bad (awkward length) weeks 4-6 (which is when I am most likely to wear it tucked behind my ears), and then look great again from week 6 onward…. except that by that point, even if the color is growing out gracefully, my hair starts to go flat on top. Not because of the length; because of the lack of hair dye texturizing the roots.

Meanwhile, I’ve given up ever wearing my hair longer than chin length, because any length that’s below chin and above shoulder just looks horribly unattractive on me, because of my short neck. And, my hair just doesn’t grow much longer than shoulder length, so long hair is out too!

Angie – I’ve been meaning to tell you that I LOVE your latest cut! It’s adorable.

January 6, 2010 at 10:24 am

Tricia

Veteran

I have a similar haircut to Angie, but shorter and more layered, and I go in about every 5 weeks. I think it looks best about a week into it, but by 3-4 weeks in I think it starts to look too shaggy.

I’m actually planning to grow mine out this year, and I’m so jealous of you, Kim, that you could grow it that fast! I hate the growing-out process. Anyone have any tips to make it easier?

January 6, 2010 at 10:25 am

mamark

I usually have to suffer through a week or two of bad hair days and cursing my stylist for messing up my cut, and then magically it will “settle” and look great for about a month to a month and a half, then it will look too heavy for a week or so before I get it cut again and start the cycle all over. I have below shoulder length hair with long layers.

My stylist cannot dry out my hair to my satisfaction at all, so unlike my friends, I never leave the salon saying “oh I wish I could get my hair to go this way.”

January 6, 2010 at 10:41 am

WendyFromN.Y.

Active Member

my straight long black hair look best when I walk out of the salon. The style is easy to maintain and can go half year btwn salon visit. When I find myself having more pony tail days then non-pony tail days , I know its time for oil treatment and trim.

January 6, 2010 at 11:17 am

Jeannie

(website)

I have shoulder-length hair with long layers, and for me, my hair looks best right out of the salon. In fact, I don’t wash my hair for 2 days afterwards in order to keep up the “perfect blowout” I also used to wait 7-9 weeks between trims; this was due to the fact that for the past 2 years I was growing out a short cut. However, I’ve found that the longer I wait in between trims, the “scragglier” and more unmanageable my hair gets. To that end, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to NOT wait as long in between appointments, and instead schedule them for every 4-5 weeks.

January 6, 2010 at 11:24 am

Dawn

(website)

Active Member

My current haircut takes two or three weeks to come into its own and always always manages to look its best the day after I book my next appointment! I get my hair cut every 6 to 8 weeks, depending on my schedule.

January 6, 2010 at 11:50 am

gina

(website)

I’ve had long hair most of my life, and I generally only cut my hair 2-3 times a year. I’ve had short hair for the past two years, and one of the things that drove me crazy was having to get it cut far more often or dealing with the fact that after a month of two, I had a completely different haircut requiring completely different styling techniques. Drove. Me. Crazy.

I got a short bob in July or August, and it’s just now getting a bit too long, so I’m going to have it cut again in the next week or two. I think I’m going to get a short bob again, and then let it grow for another six months. The last few weeks, I’ve curled my hair frequently to deal with the extra length. Once I get it cut, I’ll probably revert back to sleek and straight.

January 6, 2010 at 11:50 am

marianna

Veteran

Ideally, I would get my haircut and highlighted every 6 weeks. I did this for a long time and always had perfectly groomed hair. I haven’t been able to afford this luxury lately though and have let my hair grow out longer than usual. I just got my hair cut yesterday, but prior to that I had not had a hair cut in 4 months. I was going crazy.

I wear my hair in a bob and I like to have volume in the back, and it had grown out into an ugly unkept cut. I haven’t highlighted my hair since October and my roots have grown out an inch, but it’s not *too* noticeable yet. I’ll have to wait a little bit more until I get my highlights redone.

The main problem is that I am very stubborn about which salon I’ll go to. I have found the perfect stylist and I love her work but she’s very expensive. I might need to find a less expensive stylist and go more frequently. I can’t afford to pay $200 every six weeks anymore. Sad but true.

Generally my haircut looks best right after a cut. My hair grows really fast so I like the initial shortness and neatness. My color looks better after a few washes.

January 6, 2010 at 12:34 pm

Lena

My slightly layered bob usually looks really good straight out of the salon or a week or two into the cut (it also depends on how short the bangs are). It grows out pretty evenly, and by week 5 the length and extra shagginess begins to drive me crazy. Interestingly, *the moment* I book my hair appointment it begins to behave and look good again. I’m sure this is all in my mind and I attribute this to reverse psychology

January 6, 2010 at 12:54 pm

Kate

Mine’s long and straight with a bit of body when I let it air dry, which is almost always. Blow drying it makes it stick straight. I usually have a few layers cut into the ends. It only gets cut 1-2 times a year and since I have naturally red hair with it’s own blondish highlights, I’ve never had it colored. I did recently (6ish months ago) have bangs cut just to be different and hated them so they’re growing back out and aren’t much fun to deal with at the moment.

January 6, 2010 at 1:38 pm

Meredith

This depends on the haircut!! Sometimes it looks good right away, but usually about two weeks after the hairdo.

I received a haircut I am not happy with while we were travelling, and so I desperately want to get into a salon to get it fixed. Now, I just need to find the time!!!

January 6, 2010 at 5:12 pm

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Haha I’m with queenie, mine is best as soon as I leave the salon. Otherwise its another 6 – 9 months before my next haircut. During that 6-9 months I would maybe blowdry and straighten it once, and I can never do anywhere near as good a job as they do!!

January 6, 2010 at 5:29 pm

Maya

Veteran

I don’t keep close track of how far apart my haircuts are. I go based on when I can afford it and how close I am to tearing it out. Right now I am on the edge. Last time I tried something different (a stacked bob), but my stylist didn’t do such a good job–which is unprecedented. The front is currently way too long while the back still needs to grow before I can go back to my previous style, which is making it annoying to style…and on top of that, even though the back is shorter than the front, it doesn’t actually look anything like a funky stacked bob. It just looks like a boring suburban mom bob…which is precisely what I was trying to avoid.

I’m thinking of just going ahead and growing it long again, only because I have to grow it out anyway and it would be more cost effective. Not very time effective, though.

January 6, 2010 at 5:55 pm

Adrienne

Active Member

Probably 15 years ago during a sad divorce I decided to do something for myself. I decided that I cant change my height, my face, and my body type (not talking about weight) but I can always have a good haircut! So from that point on I go get a hair cut every 4 weeks. I color the gray every 7-8 weeks depending on how fast the ‘tinsel’ is coming back. And I am glad I have done this because I can have a bad outfit on but at least I have a fighting chance with a good haircut!!

January 6, 2010 at 6:12 pm

Tanya

Veteran

I don’t really have a proper haircut – just very, very long layers in the front, and otherwise long straight hair. I trim th ends very 8 weeks. So it usually looks the best about a week after the trim ( when the bluntness gets softened a bit) and than starts looking a bit worse through the time till the next cut.

January 6, 2010 at 8:27 pm

Kari

(website)

At my current length, I get my hair cut every 8-10 weeks. I don’t need too much settling in to a cut, but sometimes I have to re-learn how to style a new cut to best advantage if I’ve let my hair grow out too far before going to my stylist.

This is a good reminder that I need to schedule an appointment pronto – my haircut is *not* looking good or behaving well anymore!

January 6, 2010 at 10:18 pm

Stylin

Active Member

I get my haircut every 3 months, my stylist charges a steep price but he gives me a fabulous cut. However, he just can’t style it to my satisfaction! So like mamark, I never leave thinking “I wish I could make my hair look like this” but “I can’t wait until I get home so I can fix it”! It looks its best after 2 weeks.

DBrennan, I have been using henna to colour my hair for the last 7 years. It wasn’t because of age but rather because of my attitude change towards chemical hair colour during my pregnancies. I am happy with it. My natural hair colour is black, henna colours it a deep burgundy. The greys become lighter burgundy and look like highlights. Henna also conditions my hair; makes it silky and soft. I get it done every 4 to 5 weeks. I hope this helps.

January 8, 2010 at 9:34 am

cathy

I’m growing my hair out so I have no current cut cycle. I can’t really go beyond 6 weeks like most people, though. I thought my hair would look better once it got to my shoulders but it really looked better a few inches ago. Boo. I will persevere. I will have long hair! Long hair will free me from the cut cycle!

January 11, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Mamavalveeta03

I have a layered bob. I have extremely thick hair, so I have to have some layering, some texturizing, and I’ve found lately that a razor (the real kind–so don’t try this at home!!! wink wink) works beautifully to get my stubborn hair to lay right. I usually find that I love it right after he does it, but it’s a GREAT cut for me, so I can go up to 7 weeks before I need it done again. On the down side, by 7 weeks, my gray roots are showing and it’s VERY expensive to have both done at the same time. (Hamptons prices…who woulda thought???).

May 31, 2012 at 6:50 am

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