How Often Should Men Get A Haircut (in 2023)?

How fast does men’s hair grow?

On average, human hair grows about HALF A MILLIMETRE in length every day (or about 1.5cm per month).

Now:

The speed of hair growth in men differs greatly between individuals.

And much of this growth velocity is determined by the genes you inherit.

So, even for the exact same hairstyle and haircut, the time between heading to the hairdresser can vary a bit.

Males go to the barber more often these days

Interestingly, as time passes, it is evident that males visit their barber or hairdressing salon more and more often.

We read about this trend in multiple sources.

So we decided to ask around as well.

Based on our small study of just over 30 males from Australia, Canada and England, ranging in age between 24 and 57, we found that over 75% answered our survey they attend the barber more often in 2023 compared to both a “year ago” and “a few years ago”.

Interesting indeed.

How often men should get a haircut also depends on…

…your hair type, your hairstyle, your preferences and your desires. It may also depend on your job, career path and how often you are dealing with clients.

With so many ways to trim your hair these days, the answer to how often you should get a haircut will be an individual one.

Here’s the deal:

The frequency of haircuts depends on 2 main factors:

– YOUR HAIRSTYLE and

– HAIR LENGTH

that you are comfortable with and like.

Let’s look at these factors closely.

How often should men with short hair get a haircut?

When it comes to men’s haircuts, shorter styles will often need more frequent maintenance.

This is simply because a centimetre of hair in shorter hair styles makes a bigger difference than in longer ones.

The average length of time between haircuts might be about every 2 or 5 weeks.

In other words, once a month at the very least is a good estimate.

Let’s look at some specific popular short men’s hairstyles and how often they should be trimmed.

Fade, crew, undercut and taper haircuts – how often to get haircut?

In the real shorter end of the haircut spectrum, these styles require pretty frequent cuts to keep looking good.

Whether they be skin or not, low, mid or high, fades and taper styles will often need a trim as often as 1 or 2 weeks apart but can stretch out to 3 or 4 weeks in some cases.  

Buzz cuts

These simple styles are popular and versatile. They are also easy to do and you may even be able to do them at home.

In its basic form, a buzz cut means that the hair is the same length all over, though this can be adapted slightly.

Much like the fades, buzz cuts, and especially the really short ones, will look best with a cut 1 to 2 weeks apart but once again, you can leave it a bit longer in between haircuts in some cases.

Ivy League or Harvard clip

Slightly longer than the above, in the Ivy League cut, the length at the top is longer to side part, keeping the back and sides in check.

You can stretch out the barber visits to 3 or 4 weeks apart.

“Short back and sides”

How often should you trim this old school no nonsense style? You are able to grow out the length a little bit in general but still  want to keep the look sharp.

The good old short/ clippers back and sides will often need a trim every 4 or 5 weeks.

How often should men with medium length hair get a haircut?

Medium length styles may be able to stretch out the frequency of a haircut a bit more, on average around 5, 6 or 7 weeks between barber visits.

That said:

While the hair is longer, it is still a good idea to not extend this timeline by too long.

While 1.5cm per month growth will not impact a longer style as much, a trim helps to maintain a good shape, keep the neck clean and sort out the edges.

This advice will generally apply to most popular medium length hair styles including the Pompadour, Quiff, Man Bun, Comb over, Caesar Cut and the “Scissor cut”.

Keep in mind, if you have one of the modern styles with a medium length top but undercut or faded short sides, you will still need cuts as if you had shorter hair, ie more frequent.

How often should men with long hair get a haircut?

The best part?

You can head to barber less often.

But it is still recommended from time to time.

On average, we would recommend getting a haircut every 2 to 6 months.

It may seem like the idea with longer style is not to cut it too much. This is true. Having said that though, trimming, cutting the ends and shaping it can help get to your desired look earlier.

We encourage speaking to you barber specifically regarding how often to get a haircut in your case if you have long hair.

Be open and honest with them about your desired look. They will then be able give you expert advice in line with your specific longer style, hair type and shape.

Remember, these are just guides based on other people’s and stylists’ experiences.

Keep in mind everyone is different.

YOU are the one who decides the frequency of haircuts you want. The right amount that feels good and looks good to you and your partner.

Is it time to have a haircut?

There are also certain signs that can give you an indication that you need a haircut over the coming few days.

For instance, if you notice that you are not able to tame your hair into a decent hairstyle anymore now that it has overgrown, it is a pretty sure fire way to know it is time to trim the length.

Your side burns and neckline are also excellent indicators of an overdue haircut.

Having said that, this can be controlled with quick grooming at home.

But if you are not sure that you can handle it, then it is best to leave grooming services to the professionals.

Haircut prices and budget

Let’s face it, unless you are able to (and happy to) get your partner or family member do it, you will be visiting a barber for the rest of your life.

Financially speaking, this can become a substantial expense over the years.

Opting for longer hair may reduce the burden on your pocket as you do not have to spend on a haircut as often.

Getting a hair cut

You made the decision to have a haircut. And trying to find a good barber.

Some men may feel uncomfortable or put it off because they are not sure what to tell their barber. Maybe they are not sure about how to describe the hair cut they want and this can cause some nerves.

The good news?

Your barber is used to it and can help.

We find a simple way is to show them a photo of the haircut you would like and ask for their recommendation in addition.

They may be able to advise you on a cut that will suit your hair and head shape. Remember, this is their job and they have been through it all before, so don’t overcomplicate this for yourself.

Take care of your hair – use a good quality shampoo and conditioner when you wash your hair to keep it clean and healthy.

The bottom line

While hair growth is more or less similar for all of us, your personal preferences and hair style can increase or decrease the frequency of your visits to a barbershop.

If you are not a fan of going to the barber, consider a style consistent with it.

The barber’s professional opinion can help you decide on the best hairstyle to suit your requirements.

How often should men get their hair cut in 2023?

Let us know your opinions, experiences or tips in the comments below. We look forward to reading them.

References

1. “The study of hair”, National Geographic Learning, source accessed online in September 2020, available here
2. “Regular Haircut”, Wikipedia, accessed October 2020, link
3. “Hair care, How hair grows”, from American Academy of Dermatology 2016, accessed January 2023, link
4. Our barber friends and experts the world over, you know who are and thank you!

Image Courtesy
1. Barbershop by mostafa_meraji, accessed from Pixabay,
2. Barber haircut chair, image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians, under Pixabay License