Is it time to trim my natural hair?

So you guys know I am not the biggest fan of trimming just because it is part of your regimen, but I actually encourage you to take a look at your strands and determine when it really time for a trim.  Most times we can get away with a good deep conditioner and using our protein treatments once monthly. 

However there are times when a good trim is needed and then and only then should you book that appointment with your stylist.

When it comes to trimming our hair, the fear is real! The last thing we want is to lose all our hard work and well deserved inches to a scissor happy stylist. But avoiding a much needed trim will lead to a lot more damage than good. So what's a natural sistah to do?

 

Well, just as mom has told us all these years, For long healthy hair you should be trimming your ends,  trimming helps you retain length and reduce breakage.  In this article we will be discussing the signs to help you determine when you need a trim, the benefits of getting one, and how to maintain your natural hair to make them as infrequent as possible.

What Is Trimming?

Not to be confused  with A HAIR CUT, ( changing the style and shape of your hair completely) A hair TRIM is helping you maintain the style and shape of your cut as well as removing any damage. 

 

When you ask a professional for a trim, they usually tell you that they want to cut less than two inches from the ends of your hair. They also don't want to change the shape or overall appearance of your hair.

Most stylists will also wash your hair before the cut, as most people can see the damage in our hair strands better when the hair is wet . This is especially true if you have a lot of hair that needs to be removed from the ends, or if you want to add more texture.

 

Why should I be trimming?

Our mothers have preached the gospel of trimming your hair all our lives, swearing that one trim will bring us glorious curls, but is it true??

Yes, trimming  actually encourages hair growth. Despite its counterintuitive appearance, cutting is beneficial. This is because broken and split-ends can damage your hair's look and feel, as well as contribute to shorter hair and thinner ends. More so,  freshly cut ends also help to de-tangle your hair!

But, growth isn’t the only effect of trimming. If we are not regularly trimming we may also discover your hair  loses its shine and cause added dryness and weakness. As your hair gets more damaged, unfortunately, it begins to break off and get caught up more often.

What's worse, the ends become weak and don't hold their natural shape properly. So, by cutting off the dead ends, you bring life back into your curls

 

Signs You Need a Trim

When it comes to a trim, finding the perfect schedule can be confusing-Some say every three months, some say once a year… but in all actuality you will know when you need a trim based on the condition of your hair.

One sign to look for is split ends."Split ends or dry ends are physical signs a trim is needed," says Amy Abramite, a professional hair stylist. When the cuticle is damaged, it will appear rough to the touch, be difficult to comb through, and tangle easily. 

Hair ends that appear lighter in color than the rest of the hair are another physical trait to be on the lookout for. This discoloration is due to wear and tear from heat styling, environmental factors like sun exposure, or chemical services such as dye and relaxers. 

 

Sunny TIP: Regularly deep conditioning  & monthly protein treatments can help prevent extreme dryness, which leads to split ends, and eventually breakage.We recommend our creamy overnight conditioner to nourish your curls.

 

Other tell tale signs you need a trim are when your tresses :

• Lack elasticity
• Are very porous
• Break off with ease
• Are crunchy and hard

 

How Should I Maintain my hair after trimming?

You should develop a wash routine, in which you regularly wash and condition your hair, as doing so will help keep it looking its best. If you have recently changed from long hair to short hair, you might have to replace the tools used for the new style.

 

1. Be gentle after washing your hair

Be gentle, wet hair is vulnerable to damage, so it’s important to care for your tresses gently after shampooing and conditioning 

 

Sunny TIP: We recommend our best selling overnight leave in conditioner and protein treatment, formulated to improve the health and texture of your hair. Made with all natural ingredients, it nourishes and repairs the hair from the root to the tip.

 

Some people have a habit of rubbing their hair dry with a towel, but this can damage it. Frequent rubbing can cause hair breakage. It can also damage your hair cuticles, resulting in split ends or frizziness.

 

Instead of rubbing your hair dry, blot it dry with a towel to avoid breakage and damage.

 

2. Detangle your hair

whether wet or dry, tangled hair can be frustrating to comb or brush. Improperly done it can cause irreversible damage to the hair strands. So, be sure to  detangle your hair before  styling.The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using a wide-tooth comb to glide through your hair without damaging the ends or causing breakage.

3. Hydrate your hair

Keeping your hair moisturized is also an important habit to preventing split ends. Dry  hair becomes weak hair, especially at the ends, resulting in damage and split ends.

 

To add moisture to your hair, consider using our protective style bundle essential bundle and deep conditioning weekly. A weekly wash and deep conditioning treatment that can infuse your hair with moisture and reduce frizziness and dryness. By implementing a wash schedule into your routine you can reduce the risk of hair damage, resulting in longer, healthier curls.

 

Sunny TIP: We recommend our Wash Day Bundle, Made with all natural ingredients, it nourishes and repairs the hair from the root to the tip.

The ingredients  in our Sunny In Denbigh conditioners are more concentrated than those you’d find in an instant conditioner with all natural formulations that promotes the health of your strands. Also, the conditioners stays on your hair for longer — anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours, or even overnight.

 

 

 

So here’s the short of it, MOM was right! if your goal is long healthy hair you should be trimming your ends when needed. When we trim our hair it helps to retain length and reduce breakage.  What we also know is that these trims are not hard set via a calendar, but should be assessed by the condition of your strands. Moreover, with the right care and high quality hair products these trims can happen few and far between our hair care journey.