To trim or not to trim: dealing with your ends

Which ones best describes how you feel about trims?

  • Clipping the ends with every relaxer is overrated

    Votes: 28 15.6%

  • Clipping on an as needed basis is best

    Votes: 162 90.5%

  • You should trim the ends, before starting a new conditioning regiment

    Votes: 11 6.1%

  • Don't need to trim. Start the conditioning regiment because it will fix the ends.

    Votes: 11 6.1%
  • Total voters
    179
  • Poll closed .
Ms.TahNai

Ms.TahNai

New Member
Hey Brilliant women of LHFC,

I am trying to make some decisions about the ends of my hair. It is currently in between shoulder and BSL but I notice that my ends are dry, some pieces are split, others have pieces ready to break and others are perfectly normal. I feel like just getting 1 inch chopped off all around and to start implimenting all the pre-poo and co-washing methods and avoiding heat as much as possible. Another part of me wants to go ahead and get started with these methods you have shared and deal with the inch once I get to my goal length of BSL.

What do you think is the best approach?
 
If they're breaking, scraggely and causing you to be frustrated, I say get rid of em. I'm not usually an advocate for trims, but if your hair's snagging and being a pain, trim it off and then start to take really good care of yur ends :yep:

Are you planning on trimming yourself? That way you can cut off how much you want and not end up with 4 inches cut off by some ***** stylist!
 
I hate raggedy ends, I'm a chopper. I never miss the inch when I consider how much healthier and softer my hair feels, how much better it looks and falls and how much easier it holds a style. For some reason my hair looks longer to me when I give it a needed trim. Some people will say split ends will travel up the shaft if you don't trim them but that's never been MY experience. Its really up to you.
 
Hey Tiffers, I hear you about the whole going in for a trim and coming out with a hair cut!!! I have examined individual strands of my hair and cut them myself, but then I end up stopping and just saying, I need to get the whole thing cut off by a professional. I can't see the back well enough to do a good job. I'll have to find someone patient to do it "as needed" instead of doing a big trim.

Sprungonhairboards, I do notice that my styles don't hold all that well. The profile photo of me shows my hair holding the curls very well. That was taken in October 2007. Now my hair is longer, but the curls don't hold like that. I think a combination of the use of a ceramic flat iron and not having good "between-relaxer" moisturizing regiments is leading to this issue. :perplexed I go to a professional every 8 weeks for a relaxer where she blow dries and uses a HAI Flat iron to style my hair. In between, I wash my own hair, sometimes blow drying and other times wet setting. LHCF has shown me that I need to have some type of pre-poo and/or co-wash methods included to help add moisture.
 
Last edited:
I say trim, too :yep: It's way better for *some* hair types in the long run, and yours just may be one of them...

My new stylist recommends that I trim a little every other relaxer since I only use heat on wash day. I am hoping that with using less heat over the summer, she won't have to trim too too much when it comes time (I'm hoping for 1/8" or less...).

I thought if I did protective styling, rollersets only, and did dustings here and there, it wouldn't be necessary to outright trim. No ma'am, my hair needs it, and that's just how it goes. I ended up losing around and inch or two :ohwell:, so I know now that I can't fight it.
 
TRIM....a lot of people are afraid of trims because they usually end up cutting instead of trimming. To me, a trim is between 1/8" to 1/4". Anything more is a cut, anything less is dusting.

I am a fan of healthy blunt ends and I trim/dust once a month to get rid of split ends from previous damage. I am actually able to retain more length this way.

Trimming can be overrated if you have no damage...but if it is there, than trim gradually....sometimes cuts or bc's can be devastating.
 
I prefer to have a trim matter of fact this Friday I go for my 3 month touch up relaxer. My stylist feels that it imperative to trim at ever relaxer. I am sorry i just do not think so. It is like if I am APL and she cuts about 2 inches every, 3 months I gain about 2"-3" then I am like why keep doing relaxers. :perplexed
 
I have yet to find somebody who will just TRIM and not give me a cut. I don't know if some white folks may understand this concept better or what.
 
Trim, trim, trim! Raggedy ends are not cute.:nono: Trust me, your hair will feel so much better after a trim. Easier to comb, etc.
 
aja1121 said:
TRIM....a lot of people are afraid of trims because they usually end up cutting instead of trimming. To me, a trim is between 1/8" to 1/4". Anything more is a cut, anything less is dusting.

I am a fan of healthy blunt ends and I trim/dust once a month to get rid of split ends from previous damage. I am actually able to retain more length this way.

Trimming can be overrated if you have no damage...but if it is there, than trim gradually....sometimes cuts or bc's can be devastating.
Click to expand...


I agree with everything you typed.:yep: Beautiful hair, BTW.
 
lovedone_24 said:
I have yet to find somebody who will just TRIM and not give me a cut. I don't know if some white folks may understand this concept better or what.
Click to expand...

I think they do! A white stylist friend of mine said a trim to her was the density of a nickel. I was shocked, that is like 1/8".
 
Seriously! If I couldn't find a stylist to trim whenever I say "trim", I'd just go to Supercuts or Hair Cuttery (white stylist) and not stress about it at all.
 
I voted trim.:yep:
I think that it makes the hair look great. I really dont want to grow my hair long, then have to cut it after I reach whatever length then have to turn around an cut it off because my ends look jacked up.
I cuss and complain with every rim, but my hair is growing fine, and is getting more length with each touch up at 10 weeks. Ithink it has more body too:yep:
 
sprungonhairboards said:
I hate raggedy ends, I'm a chopper. I never miss the inch when I consider how much healthier and softer my hair feels, how much better it looks and falls and how much easier it holds a style. For some reason my hair looks longer to me when I give it a needed trim. Some people will say split ends will travel up the shaft if you don't trim them but that's never been MY experience. Its really up to you.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. My hair just does not act right without trims. As a matter of fact, I just got in from having two inches trimmed, so it is shorter than it is in the avatar. I had two inches cut in the back and 3 in front and the ends look/feel so much healthier and fuller.

I see nothing wrong with trimming your ends. I know this may sound weird, but my hair retains growth when I trim and breaks when I don't.

If you're not sure, I'd say to just trim a little and see how it acts. :yep:
 
I'm very leary of stylist who want to "trim" my hair. I feel more comfortable purchasing a good pair of scissors from Sally's and doing it myselt. That way you know what you're trimming. I normally get my husband to do the back for me. He knows if he cuts too much, I'll kill him - so no problems there! :perplexed
 
Trimming for me is a must on an as needed basis...usually about every 2.5 to 3 months. Anymore than that and I'm in trouble. My hair will usually tangle a lot at the ends if I ignore it. :yep:
 
I find it best to get into the habit to trim with every Relaxer to keep a clean fresh look to the hair, You don't have to cut an Inch.
 
I would go ahead and trim 'em; you don't want it to get worse and then have to trim more. I think if you limit the heat (which is my personal challenge this relaxer cycle - flat ironing for me), I think your ends will need less trimming. Thank God I have a great stylist who only dusts when necessary. You'll feel better once those bad ends are off! :yep:

HTH & HHG :grin:
 
Do you all think using the Split End Mender would be just a good as getting a trim? I'm scared to take scissors to my hair but I know I could use a trim.
 
Why be scared? You won't even notice an 1/8 inch. I mean you wouldn't even notice a 1/2 inch, unless your hair is really short.

I trimmed my hair, I am natural, and you can't even tell I cutt about a 1/2 off, it actually looks longer, LOL.:rolleyes:
 
I'm scared I might jack it up not scared to loose 1/8 in.



Liyah said:
Why be scared? You won't even notice an 1/8 inch. I mean you wouldn't even notice a 1/2 inch, unless your hair is really short.

I trimmed my hair, I am natural, and you can't even tell I cutt about a 1/2 off, it actually looks longer, LOL.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
 
tiffers said:
If they're breaking, scraggely and causing you to be frustrated, I say get rid of em. I'm not usually an advocate for trims, but if your hair's snagging and being a pain, trim it off and then start to take really good care of yur ends :yep:

Are you planning on trimming yourself? That way you can cut off how much you want and not end up with 4 inches cut off by some ***** stylist!
Click to expand...

ITA with whole post.:yep:
 
I used to trim with every relaxer but since coming to LHCF I don't anymore because I realized that I only need to trim on an 'as needed' basis. My hair rarely gets split ends so I have no clue why I was trimming so often:nono:. So anyways I do more dusting now than trims.
 
I go as needed--and if as needed has caused me not to trim in over 6 months, I lop off an inch at that time anyway, for maintenance. I don't believe in holding on to raggedy ends at all.
 
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