How Often Should I Go To The Salon?

So maybe you’re getting ready to get your hair done, but want to make sure you select a color and/or hairstyle that fits your maintenance needs. Or maybe you just have no idea what the normal timeframe is for a salon visit. Keep reading to find out how often you should get your hair done based on the look you love.

How often should you get your hair cut?

On average, 2-12 weeks

Every haircut is different and requires different levels of maintenance. Depending on what style you have, how fast your hair grows, and your hair type will all play a part in how long you should go between salon visits.

Check out my post here on how often you should get your hair cut based on your hair type.

How often should men get their hair cut?

2-8 weeks

The time frame that men should get their hair cut is based on how soon their specific style grows out and needs shaped up again. It also varies based on their hair type and how fast it grows. But this typically means the shorter the cut; the sooner they’ll need to come in.

Skin fades/very short

2-4 weeks

Very short cuts and skin fades typically require the most maintenance. As soon as the hair starts to grow out, the look changes.

Regular fades and short scissor cuts

4-6 weeks

These cuts can go a little longer unnoticed without a haircut. The issue here is generally when the hair starts to hang over the ears or comes down too low on the neckline.

Longer scissor cuts/below the ear

6-8 weeks

Since the hair is already below the ear for these cuts, they’ll just need to be trimmed when the cut begins to lose its shape and gets too long. This all depends on the hair type and the exact cut that the stylist did.

Short cut/pixie/bob haircut

3-6 weeks

Pixie

3-4 weeks

A pixie needs to be cut relatively frequently to keep extra length and bulk at bay. If it gets too long or bulky, it will lay flat to the head. Pixies need lots of texture to keep that spunky look going.

Bob

4-6 weeks

While bobs can go a little longer than a pixie can, if you go too long it will begin to lose its shape especially in the back. Depending on your look, whether its stacked or undercut, the hair may begin to flip out if it gets too long or bulky in in the neck and shoulder area.

How often should I get a mid-length cut?

4-8 weeks

A mid-length cut provides the best of both worlds in my opinion. You get that shorter hair feel while still being able to pull it back into a pony or braid like you can with long hair.

These cuts can go a little longer than shorter cuts, but you may begin to lose your texture and shape after 4-8 weeks of growth.

How often should I cut long hair?

6-12 weeks

Long haired gals are able to go the longest without getting their hair cut, as long as the hair is healthy.

Since the hair is already long you typically aren’t going for a super volumous look. The main consideration here is cleaning up those ends and any thinning or layers if the hair is very thick and heavy.

If the hair is healthy, you can push this towards 10 weeks. But if your hair needs some love, I don’t recommend pushing it past 6 weeks.

How often should I cut my hair if I’m growing it out?

4-12 weeks

This section has such a wide range because it is based solely on your hair condition.

Once you have a healthy haircut and remove any and all of the split ends and damage, you can go up to 12 weeks without getting it trimmed.

Now, if you have significant damage or fly-aways traveling up your hair strand, you have another problem on your hands.

You’ll need to be sure that you are properly taking care of your hair at home to stop the damage from getting worse. I recommend anyone that falls into this category to come in every 4 weeks to keep cleaning up those ends and stopping any hair from breaking off further up the hair strand.

Check out my post here for how to grow your hair long and healthy, the right way.

How often should you get your hair colored?

Anywhere from 3-16 weeks

The timeframe for color maintenance varies drastically based on what type of color you have as well as the condition of your hair.

Gray coverage/full color deposit maintenance

On average, 3-6 weeks

How often should I get my roots touched up?

3-5 weeks

When I say root touch up, I am not referring to any color involving bleach or foils. This category is solely for gray coverage or color only root touch ups.

The amount of time between appointments all depends on the percentage of gray you have and the color your hair is.

If you are a brunette with 50-100% gray, you’ll need to come in as often as 3 weeks to hide those new grays.

I typically recommend these clients to begin to go a little lighter with your color to make the re-growth not as harsh. Another option is to add some highlights into the specifically gray areas like the part line or around the face to mask the grays and give you a little more longevity.

If you have 25% or less gray or have highlights, then you can push this a little more towards 5 or even 6 weeks. The highlights will blend the grays as they come in.

Full color deposit

5-10 weeks

If you are a full color gal, without any gray, you can push it even longer than the regular root touch-up. Depending on the difference in your natural color vs. what you are coloring it will determine how long you can go in-between.

I typically always recommend coloring your hair no more than 1 or 2 shades darker than your natural level. When the hair grows in lighter at the root, it isn’t a pleasant look.

It’s always better to have your hair grow in darker than the shade you are coloring it. This also helps to reduce banding if you ever decide to change your hair color.

How often should you have highlights done?

On average, 8-12 weeks

This time frame depends on how many highlights you have vs. your natural hair. The more highlights you have, the sooner you’ll need to come in for a touch-up.

I also want to stress that you shouldn’t come in too soon for highlights. You’ll want to let them grow out a bit in-between each service so that you don’t end up with too many highlights and it’s easier to touch-up each time.

How often should I get a full highlight?

Every 12 weeks or every third color service

I don’t typically recommend getting a full highlight every time. You can do partials and minis in-between the full. Leaving some darker pieces underneath will give you more dimension in your look. The dimension will help your blonde pop and appear brighter.

How often should I get a partial highlight?

Every 10 weeks or every other color service

A partial highlight hits the top of the head as well as the sides and maybe a few hairline framing pieces below at the nape. The body of the hair throughout the back is left out.

You can either get this in rotation with a full highlight, or if this is the most you ever highlight, get a mini every other visit.

Mini highlight

Every 8 weeks

A mini highlight is the top of the head as well as a few face framing pieces up front on the sides.

This service is great for in-between your full and partial highlight services to cover any new growth that shows up top and in the front, but stops you from over-highlighting the whole head too often. It saves you some money in-between larger highlighting services as well!

How often should you have balayage or foilayage done?

On average, 12-16 weeks

Balayage is a technique of hand painted highlights done with a clay lightener that process either in plastic wrap, under cotton, mesh, or open air. Foils are not used and this produces a very natural, sun-kissed look.

Foilayage creates the same type of look that balayage does, only foils are used to achieve more levels of lift for a paler blonde than balayage can produce.

How often should I have balayage done?

On average, 12-16 weeks

This service is extremely natural looking and does not have a harsh grow out line. It is typically seamless against your natural color and only needs touched up when you are ready to have the lightness brought up higher again.

How often should I have foilayage done?

On average, 10-16 weeks

Foilayage may need to come in slightly sooner than a balayage will only because it is not always as seamless as balayage is. This all depends on your stylist and the products and techniques they use.

If a root smudge is done with this technique, then it can last just as long if not longer than balayage. I have a friend that I do this technique on, and we usually only do hers once or twice a year!

How often should I get a toner or gloss?

On average, 4-8 weeks

In-between all the prior mentioned color services, you may want to have a toner or gloss applied to maintain the shade of your hair.

This will not change the lightness or darkness, it will only add pigment that may have faded out since it was originally done. This helps to neutralize unwanted warm or brassy tones in-between bigger color services.

I have some clients that come in for toners between their color services and others that don’t. This is typically dependent on the condition of your hair and what products you use at home.

If you use at-home toning products, in the form of purple shampoos and color depositing conditioners, than it may not be necessary for you to come in for this service.

How often should you have keratin treatments done?

On average, 12-20 weeks

Kertatin treatments are protein treatments that strengthen the hair and reduce frizz. The condition of the hair is the main factor in determining how long these will last for.

If your hair is over-processed and very porous, the keratin treatment will not last nearly as long. If your hair is healthy it will hold on to the treatment for much longer.

This is because healthy hair has an intact cuticle (outer, fish scale layer of a hair strand) and the cuticle will hold in the keratin much longer than if the outer layer is damaged. The same goes for hair color.

You’ll begin to notice your hair become less manageable and more frizzy when it’s time for your next keratin treatment.

All of these time frames are variable based on your hair condition and hair history. You may need to come in more frequently if you have damaged hair from chemicals, ironing, or lack of home maintenance.

If you have any further questions for me, leave them in the comments. As always, have a good hair day!

Last edited 9/12/22