How Often Should You Really Book a Trim at a Nashville Salon?

One of the most common questions we hear at Elan Hair is: “How often should I really get my hair trimmed?” While it may sound like a simple question, the answer actually depends on a variety of factors—including your hair type, length, style goals, and even the Nashville climate.

In a city like ours, where the weather can swing from humid and frizz-inducing to dry and brittle in a matter of months, maintaining healthy hair requires more than just good products. Regular trims play a huge role in keeping your style fresh, your strands strong, and your ends free of damage. So let’s break it down: how often should you be getting a trim—and how can it benefit your hair in the long run?

Why Trims Matter More Than You Think

Before we talk frequency, let’s talk function. A trim isn’t just about maintaining length or shape—it’s about maintaining the health of your hair. As your hair grows, the ends naturally become older, drier, and more susceptible to split ends and breakage. Left untrimmed, these damaged ends can travel up the hair shaft, leading to dullness, tangles, frizz, and a thinner-looking overall appearance.

Trims help:

• Prevent split ends from worsening
• Keep your haircut looking clean and intentional
• Support overall hair health and length retention
• Make styling easier and more manageable

Think of trims as regular maintenance—just like oil changes for your car or tune-ups for your AC during Nashville summers. Skipping them can lead to bigger problems down the road.

General Trim Guidelines for Different Hair Goals

While everyone’s hair is unique, here are some general guidelines we share with our clients at Elan Hair based on their hair length, type, and goals:

For Maintaining a Style or Cut

If you have a defined haircut like a bob, pixie, or layers that you want to keep looking crisp, you should aim to get a trim every 4 to 6 weeks. These cuts lose their shape quickly as your hair grows out, so regular touch-ups will keep the style looking intentional and fresh.

For Medium to Long Hair

For longer styles that aren’t as layered or structured, a trim every 8 to 10 weeks is usually sufficient. Even if your hair doesn’t “look” like it needs a trim, those ends are more fragile and prone to damage—especially in Nashville’s humid spring and summer weather, which can cause split ends to worsen faster.

For Hair Growth Goals

Trying to grow your hair out? Trimming may feel counterintuitive, but it’s actually one of the best things you can do. When you wait too long between cuts, split ends can lead to more breakage, which prevents you from gaining length. A light trim every 10 to 12 weeks will help remove damaged ends while still allowing your hair to grow longer and stronger.

For Curly or Textured Hair

Curly and textured hair tends to be more prone to dryness and breakage, which makes regular trims even more important. We typically recommend a trim every 8 to 12 weeks for curly clients at Elan Hair, depending on curl pattern and personal styling habits. If you wear your curls natural and want to maintain shape and bounce, slightly more frequent trims may be needed.

For Color-Treated or Chemically Processed Hair

If you regularly color, highlight, or chemically treat your hair, you should also trim more frequently—about every 6 to 8 weeks. Lightened and chemically processed hair is more prone to damage, so keeping the ends clean and trimmed will prevent the color from looking dull and the texture from feeling dry or brittle.

How Nashville’s Climate Affects Your Trim Schedule

Let’s talk local. Living in Nashville means dealing with seasonal extremes that can seriously affect your hair. The humidity in spring and summer can cause frizz, swelling, and stress on your strands, especially if you’re heat-styling regularly to tame the puff. In fall and winter, dry indoor heat and cooler temperatures can make hair more brittle and static-prone.

These seasonal swings mean your ends are exposed to extra wear and tear throughout the year, making regular trims even more important. At Elan Hair, many of our clients book trims slightly more often during the summer months or after winter to refresh and restore their hair’s condition.

Signs It’s Time for a Trim (Even If You’re Not on a Schedule)

If you’re not sure whether you’re due for a trim, your hair will usually tell you. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Your ends feel dry, rough, or brittle
• You notice more tangling or breakage when brushing
• Your hair looks frizzy or frayed at the ends
• Your curls have lost their shape and definition
• Your haircut no longer sits or styles the way it used to
• Your ends look thinner or more transparent

If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to book a trim—no matter how long it’s been.

Can Regular Trims Actually Help Hair Grow Faster?

Here’s the truth: trimming your hair doesn’t make it grow faster from the scalp. But it does help you retain length by reducing breakage and maintaining the health of your ends. That means fewer inches lost over time and more consistent, healthier growth overall.

So if you’re working toward longer, stronger hair, consistent trims—paired with a healthy hair care routine—are your best strategy.

Pro Tips from the Stylists at Elan Hair

• Book your trims in advance to stay on schedule—especially during busy seasons like prom, wedding season, and the holidays.
• Combine your trim with a gloss or deep conditioning treatment for extra shine and smoothness.
• Use professional-grade products between visits to extend the life of your trim. Brands like Oribe, Kérastase, and Kevin Murphy, all available at Elan Hair, make excellent options for maintaining hair health at home.
• Don’t try to trim your own hair—what seems like a quick fix can often create unevenness and more damage. Trust your stylist for the best results.

Trust Elan Hair to Keep Your Hair Healthy and Beautiful

Whether you’re keeping a precise style or growing your hair out, trims are essential to the health and appearance of your hair. At Elan Hair, our stylists take the time to understand your goals, assess the health of your hair, and deliver trims that keep your ends clean, your style fresh, and your strands strong.

Not sure how often you should be booking a trim? Let us help. We’ll create a custom schedule based on your hair type, lifestyle, and goals—and make sure your hair always looks and feels its best.

Book your appointment today through our online booking system or give us a call at 615.269.0222 to schedule your next trim at one of Nashville’s premier salons. Your healthiest hair starts with a great cut—and we’re here to make that happen.