How Often Should You Get a Haircut?

The honest answer is: it depends on the cut. A buzz cut and a long comb-over live on completely different schedules. But there are a few reliable markers that tell you when it's time to come back to the chair.

Short cuts and skin fades

If you keep a skin fade or a tight taper, two to three weeks is the sweet spot. Past that, the bottom grows out, the line softens, and the cut starts to look like a different haircut entirely. Guys who like it crisp come in every two weeks without fail.

Medium length, scissor cuts

Four to six weeks. Long enough to keep the shape, short enough that the sides don't start flipping out and the neckline doesn't crawl down your collar. A scissor cut grows out more forgivingly than a fade, so you have a little more runway.

Longer styles

Six to ten weeks. The goal here isn't length control, it's health — split ends, the shape going flat, the layers losing their movement. A dusting every couple of months keeps long hair from thinning at the ends.

Signs it's time

• The neckline has crossed your collar.
• The part won't sit where it used to.
• The sides are curling over your ears.
• Your fade has gone from a line to a smudge.

If you're on Pacific St and unsure, walk in and ask. We'd rather tell you it's not time yet than cut hair that didn't need cutting. Call (203) 595-5800 to check the wait.