Does trimming hair help it grow faster? Most hairdressers will tell you a flat-out “no,” but it’s actually not that simple. No, trimming doesn’t make hair grow faster or longer—but it does help maintain the health of the strand. And healthier hair means less breakage, less shedding, and better length retention over time.
So, how often should you trim your hair? And what can we learn from historical hair care techniques that helped Victorian and Edwardian women grow hair to their feet—without any modern products?
If you came here wondering how to grow longer hair, this article shares the hidden details I found while deeply researching historical hair care.
My Hair Growth Journey & Why Trimming Matters
For most of my life, I desperately wanted long, Disney princess-type hair, but it just wouldn’t grow past a certain point. But when it did get a little longer, my ends became thin, split, and uneven from breakage. At one point, I even felt like I just wasn’t meant to have long, beautiful hair.
Then, in desperation, I cut it all off to chin length—yeah, don’t recommend—and started a radical, all-natural hair care routine with historical methods.
Fast forward eight years, and my hair is thigh-length, healthy, and strong, with naturally defined curls. Ironically, one of the biggest factors? Strategic micro-trims.
I was trying to figure out how to grow longer hair. So for years, I avoided trimming, thinking it would help my hair grow. Yeah, that didn’t work. My hair actually became shorter due to thinning and breakage. Turns out, not trimming can actually make hair shorter over time, because the damage travels up the strand, causing even more breakage and shedding.
So, how often should you trim your hair to avoid thinning and keep it growing strong? And what did historical women do to grow such thick, long hair?
Historical Hair Trimming for Length Retention
Many assume Victorian and Edwardian women never cut their hair, but this isn’t true. While they didn’t go in for trendy cuts or layers, they absolutely maintained their ends.
Take Edwardian opera singer Alline Vallandri, known for her floor-length hair. She wrote in a hair care manual:
"It is necessary to give attention to the ends. They should be examined regularly and trimmed when they appear frayed, for split ends weaken the entire strand and prevent proper growth."
Some women even practiced “ends singing”, burning the tips of their hair with a candle to seal them. Now, I find this concept fascinating, but I won’t be trying it myself because, well… fire and hair are not a combination I want to experiment with!
Like them, I’ve found that regular micro-trims prevent thinning, maintain thickness, and help stop hair from thinning while allowing it to reach longer lengths.
Why Trimming Helps You Grow Longer Hair
If you’re avoiding trims, thinking it will help your hair grow longer—think again. Here’s why micro-trimming is one of the best length retention strategies:
✅ Prevents Thinning & Uneven Growth – Hair grows at different rates across your head. If you never trim, you may end up with uneven lengths and thin, wispy ends.
✅ Stops Breakage Before It Travels Up the Hair Shaft – Split ends can travel upward, weakening the strand and leading to even more breakage over time.
✅ Reduces Tangles & Snapping – Healthier ends mean fewer knots and tangles, preventing unnecessary breakage.
Should You Trim Your Own Hair or Go to a Hairdresser?
This is a big debate in the long-hair community. Here’s the breakdown:
DIY Trimming – More control over how much gets cut (no risk of a hairdresser taking off too much). Best for those comfortable cutting in straight lines.
Professional Trim – Best for shorter, straighter hair where evenness is key. If you do go this route, I recommend being very specific. Use the term “dusting” or “eyelash trim” to let them know you only want the absolute minimum taken off.
Friend/Family Member – A great middle-ground if you struggle with trimming the back of your head evenly.
Lunar Hair Trimming – Fact or Folklore?
Some believe trimming hair by the moon cycle affects growth. The idea is called the lunar hair cutting calendar, and it follows this concept:
🌑 Trim during a waxing/full moon → Encourages faster, thicker growth.
🌘 Trim during a waning moon → Slows growth for those wanting to maintain a style longer.
Is there scientific proof that following the lunar hair cutting calendar actually works? Not exactly. But science has its limits, and sometimes ancient wisdom holds truths that modern research hasn’t caught up with. And honestly—what’s the harm in trying?
The Most Important Rule: Use Sharp Scissors
Never cut your hair with dull household scissors—they crush the ends, causing more split ends later. If you invest in one thing for at-home trims, let it be a good pair of professional-grade scissors.
How I Trim My Hair for Maximum Length Retention
1️⃣ Set Your Goal Length
Decide how long you want to grow your hair—whether it’s a milestone like waist-length or hip-length, or a length you want to maintain. Use body landmarks as a guide. If it helps, place a piece of masking tape around your torso at that point to serve as a visual reference.
2️⃣ Trim Dry for Accuracy
I always trim on dry or lightly oiled hair to ensure accuracy. Wet hair stretches, making it easy to cut more than intended—especially for curly hair like mine, where the natural pattern affects length. If you have curls, gently stretch each section before trimming.
3️⃣ Blunt Snip the Longest Sections First
Start with the longest pieces—those already near your goal length. Trim them straight across (no layers, no angles) to maintain thickness and strength.
4️⃣ Strengthen Fragile or Wispy Areas
Next, move to weaker sections—like around your hairline or crown. These areas tend to grow thinner or more fragile, so I trim them slightly to encourage thickness and help stop hair from thinning.
5️⃣ Search & Destroy Split Ends
Finally, I do a quick pass using the search-and-destroy method—carefully snipping off individual split ends instead of cutting full sections.
Final Thoughts – Trimming for Growth, Not Just Aesthetics
✔ Does trimming hair help it grow faster? Not exactly—but it prevents thinning and breakage so you can retain length.
✔ Historical women trimmed their hair for length retention—and they grew it to impressive lengths.
✔ Strategic micro-trims help maintain thickness, prevent tangles, and protect ends.
✔ Use sharp shears & blunt cuts to strengthen the strand.
✔ Lunar hair trimming? Maybe worth a try!
📩 Sign up at the bottom of this page, and I’ll send you my Hair Growth Cheat Sheet absolutely free! It includes my go-to clay wash recipe and my best tips for length retention.
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