Why a trim & a cut are not the same
I’m sure you've experienced it. You schedule your appointment to receive what you thought would be an impressive salon experience for both you and your curls. Instead, upon completion of the services, the stylist spins you around only to find your curls are a frizzy disheveled mess, the shape you desire is not apparent, and most disturbing you have no defined shape AND they cut off more than you expected!
The horror!
How did this happen? Did I not ask the right questions? Did I not explain that I wanted a trim and not a haircut? Should I have shown a picture? Why do my curls not look even?
This is the outcome we hear of most curly haircuts and trim experiences. Before arriving at the salon, I’m sure you’ll have a plethora of questions. How much should I expect the stylist to cut with a trim? How much should I expect from a cut? Are they going to cut off too much? Will my curls have too much or too little volume? What’s the difference between the two and why does it matter?
Let’s be clear, a cut and a trim are not created equal. The assessment, execution, and outcome of each are significantly different. They’re priced differently for good reasons, and we’re here to explain what those differences are and what you can expect from a curly hair cut at Helix House Salon.
Beginning with the trim. Let's define it. According to Webster’s Dictionary a trim means: to remove by or as if by cutting. This is where it gets tricky, and we understand the confusion between the two. Because scissors are involved and hair is being “cut”, one can assume the trim and cut are synonymous. This is not true. A trim is simply cutting away the ends of the hair that are dry or split. A trim does not create a defined shape or interrupt the current shape of the hair. The stylist does not spend time sectioning the hair or pre-planning for a final desired outcome because we are simply following the existing lines of the current shape.
Why do we need a trim and how often should we receive trims? Questions we answer quite often and simply put, it depends on how well you regularly maintenance your hair and how much to tend to manipulate it. We’ll begin with the latter. If you regularly shampoo and treat your hair, incorporate as little heat as possible, reduce daily manipulation, and don’t have any chemicals on your natural hair, we recommend a window of every 10-12 weeks (about 3 months) for trims. With that being said, if you are one to stretch & apply heat, and or have color on your hair, the frequency is reduced to a shorter time frame. In this case, we recommend 8-10 weeks (about 2 and a half months). Why more often? Because heat, manipulation, and chemicals wear on the cuticle, causing it to be disturbed, which in turn can potentially cause the ends to weaken, dry out, and split. This is why trims are important. Trims are preventative maintenance. Regular trims control the possibility of weakened ends splitting up the hair shaft. Over time this will result in thin ends and shorter hair due to the breakage. Trims keep the hair healthy and will allow you to retain length.
A proper trim will remove the hair that’s dry, brittle, and split from the ends of the hair. A proper trim will leave the hair looking fuller and healthier. The amount removed will depend on the time frame since your last trim and how much of the strand is damaged. There’re no specific one size fits all. But we will say that if the standards mentioned above are adhered to, the trimming will be minimal. Possibly an 1/8 of an inch or so to remove the dry hair. We must remember that the ends of the hair are the oldest porous parts of the strands. Staying on top of trims will keep them as healthy as possible.
We hope the trim was defined well and made known why it’s important. Let’s move on to the cut to examine the process and contrast how it’s different from the trim.
A cut, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, is to penetrate with or as if with an edged instrument. And if you scroll down on the app, you’ll find TRIM! Don’t let Webster confuse you! We’re the professionals here, lol. They are referencing the ACT, and we are referencing OUTCOME.
What can you expect from a cut at Helix House Salon and how does it differ from a trim? First off, we will meet you with an assessment of your hair to include your pre-filled out form. Once we’ve discussed and examined your natural curl patterns & shapes, discussed desires of volume and length, we begin the execution. Your hair is stretched for a proper assessment of its actual length. Why stretch? Because curls hide and for the most accurate curly cut, we like to BEGIN with stretched curls for the most uniformed overall look. Now don’t get it twisted (no pun intended) we have internal cutting techniques that ensure your curls flow and are blended for the softest cut possible. After the hair is stretched, we begin to section the hair. This is the first key difference between a trim and a cut. We do not section and analyze hair in the same manner. Because with a trim we are following the current lines of the hair; specific strategic sectioning is not called for. With a cut our end goal is shape, therefore we must be methodical with the way we approach the process. After the hair is cut, we then shampoo and condition the hair before setting and drying it. Once the curls are perfectly set, we will then go back in to perfect the placement of the curls. Because we understand each curl may live differently in the way it lays in length and volume within the shape, this step is critical to the overall look of the silhouette. Now that your cut is complete, you have a well-defined SHAPE!
Creating shape is the ultimate difference between a trim and a cut. Although they both will encourage better detangling and easier curl setting, the intentional shape and silhouette of the hair is where they differ.
We hope this makes it better for you to understand the differences between a trim and cut and what to expect from both. We look forward to seeing you soon for your next trim in 8 weeks.