DISCUSSION: You KNOW it's time for a haircut!

 

Since I've gotten my haircut, I've come to realize, I was REALLY neglecting my situation. So stuck on holding on to length, I neglected healthy hair. No matter how long you hair is, it's imperative that you schedule routine maintenance on your natural curls. Wear and tear cause ends to split and became frayed. Frayed ends are a NO-NO and will cause you hair to break off. 

Getting you ends clipped is one of the ways to ensure natural hair success.  Maybe you aren't stubborn when it comes to trimming your hair, maybe you just don't know. Below I've listed some tips to help you figure out when it's time to clip those ends:

1. You have a TON of single strand knots - Single Strand Knots (aka Fairy Knots) happen when really curly hair tangles within itself, leaving little knots on EACH strand of hair. Once your hair has a single-strand knot, the only way to get rid of them is to clip those ends. Read more on Single Strand Knots 
2. Your hair is SHEDDING like crazy - It's normal for you hair to shed. 100's of dormant hairs will depart your scalp on a daily basis. However, when it looks like you have more hair shedding that your used to, it may be time to clip those ends. Shed hair sometimes attaches to single strand knots and pulls the extra hair out during detangling. 
3. It takes FOREVER to detangle - Every natural girl complains of detangling sessions. But when detangling is followed by knots, and extra shedding, then you need to trim. Frayed ends are more prone to tangles because they’re rougher and can easily get caught on one and other causing knots.
4. Your hair is uneven - When I wore more hair in an updo most times, I never really appreciated the full length. But when I'd blow it out, I noticed the right side was long than the left. It happens. Unless you like wearing you hair in an asymetrical bob (a-la Salt & Pepa 1987) then it's time to get that trim.
5. Your hair starts to lock - In shorter hair naturals, wearing you hair in wash-n-go styles tends to make you forgo detangling sessions. So, your ultra curly hair starts to loc, clump, or tangle. (source). Tangles that intense can only be removed with getting a cut. Don't let it get that way - get a trim regularly.
6. You curls aren't CURLING - So you have a uniform curl pattern. But now, you curls aren't curling quite right. You may have a lot of frizz too. It's time to clip those ends and reveal those curls again.

These are just a couple ways to indicate when it's time to get a trim. No matter what the issue, you should routinely get you hair trimmed AT LEAST three times a year. Visiting a professional stylist can help you decipher how often to trim you ends and a professional stylist can help you figure out other issues/obstacles that may be holding you back from healthy hair.

QUESTION: When's the last time you got a trim?