The standard advice is every four weeks. That's true for some people and wrong for others. The right interval depends on the cut you have, how fast your hair grows, and how much you care about the cut looking sharp versus just looking tidy. Here's how to think about it.
Short fades: every three to four weeks ¶
If you wear a tight fade on the sides, you'll notice it growing out within two to three weeks. The fade line softens and the contrast between the sides and the top reduces. If that bothers you, book every three weeks. If you don't mind a slightly grown-out fade, four weeks is fine. Some clients come every five weeks and ask us to take the sides tighter to compensate for the extra growth.
Medium-length cuts: every five to seven weeks ¶
A medium-length cut with a taper rather than a fade has more room to grow before it looks untidy. Most clients with this style come in every five to six weeks. The shape holds longer because there's no sharp fade line to grow out. The main sign that it's time to come back is usually the neckline, which starts to look ragged before the rest of the cut does.
Longer hair: when the shape goes, not the length ¶
If you're growing your hair out or wearing it long, the interval between cuts is less about length and more about shape. Long hair still needs the ends trimmed and the shape maintained, otherwise it starts to look unintentional. Every eight to ten weeks is a reasonable interval for most long styles. A small trim every two months is much easier to manage than a large correction every six.
Beards follow a different clock ¶
Beard growth is faster than head hair for most people. A beard trim every three to four weeks keeps the shape clean. If you're growing a beard out, you might skip a trim for six to eight weeks, but a shaping session at the point where it starts to look uneven is worth doing even if you're not taking length off.
The practical answer ¶
Book your next appointment before you leave the shop. That's the simplest way to stay on a reasonable schedule. At Charcoal Unit, we can book up to eight weeks ahead. If you're not sure of your schedule, book and cancel if you need to. Cancellations up to 24 hours before are no problem.
There's no universal answer, but there is a right answer for your specific hair. Ask Tomás or Rui at your next visit and they'll give you an honest recommendation.