If you’re trying to grow your hair long, the idea of trimming it may seem counterintuitive. After all, why cut your hair if your goal is to make it longer? Many women have been told that regular trims make your hair grow faster — but is that really true, or just a beauty myth passed down over the years?
In this blog, we’ll uncover the truth about hair growth, why trims are still essential for healthy hair, and how you can grow your hair long and strong.
How Hair Actually Grows
To understand whether trimming influences hair growth, it helps to know how hair actually grows. Hair growth happens at the scalp — specifically at the hair follicle. This is where your hair cells divide and form the strands that eventually emerge from your scalp.
On average, human hair grows about 1 to 1.5 centimetres per month, or around 12–15 centimetres per year. Genetics, hormones, age, and overall health play the biggest role in determining how fast your hair grows.
What about the ends of your hair? They’re the oldest part of your strands, and they don’t influence the growth rate at the root. So cutting the ends of your hair doesn’t directly affect how quickly your follicles produce new growth.
So, Does Trimming Make Hair Grow Faster?
The short answer is: no, trimming your hair does not make it grow faster. Trimming removes length from the ends, but it doesn’t speed up growth at the scalp.
That said, trims are still very important if your goal is to grow longer, healthier hair — here’s why.
Why Trimming Helps Your Hair Look Longer and Healthier
1. Prevents Split Ends
Over time, the ends of your hair become more prone to damage from heat styling, brushing, sun exposure, and friction. Split ends form when the protective cuticle of the hair is compromised, and the strand splits into two or more parts.
If left unchecked, split ends can travel up the hair shaft, causing breakage higher and higher on your hair. This damage can lead to frizz, a rough texture, and shorter overall length because the hair keeps breaking off.
Regular trims remove these damaged ends before they worsen, keeping your hair stronger and less prone to breakage.
2. Keeps Shape and Style
Whether you wear layers, bangs, or just a clean, blunt cut, trimming keeps your hairstyle looking polished. Long hair can start to look thin, uneven, or flat without occasional shaping. Trimming refreshes your look and helps hair appear fuller and healthier.
3. Reduces Breakage
When hair is healthy and strong, it’s less likely to snap off mid-shaft. Weak, damaged ends can break easily, making it feel like your hair isn’t growing even though it actually is — because the ends keep breaking. By trimming, you’re removing weak points and helping your hair retain its length over time.
Tips for Growing Long, Healthy Hair
While trims are part of the equation, other habits play a much bigger role in promoting growth and reducing breakage:
✅ Nourish from within: Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and proteins to support healthy hair growth.
✅ Be gentle: Use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair, and avoid excessive brushing or pulling.
✅ Limit heat styling: Heat weakens hair over time, so use heat tools sparingly and always apply a protectant spray.
✅ Condition regularly: Hydrated hair is more resilient to damage and breakage.
✅ Scalp care: Healthy follicles mean healthy growth. Keep your scalp clean, hydrated, and free of buildup.
The Bottom Line
While trimming your hair doesn’t directly make it grow faster, it does help your hair stay strong and healthy — which means you’re more likely to reach your long-hair goals without dealing with breakage, split ends, and damage.
Think of trims as part of your overall hair care routine, not an obstacle to growth. By taking care of your hair from root to tip, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: long, beautiful, and healthy locks.
Ready to give your hair the care it deserves? Book your next trim and start growing your hair the right way — because healthy hair is always in style.