Just like those other hard-hitting beauty queries, the answer is a resounding it depends. Some say four to six weeks—no questions asked—while others believe you can hold out for months, based on your style. And if you have bangs? Well, that’s an entirely different timeline. That said, we had experts break it down by length and hair goals: If you do notice more splitting than usual, you can always try dusting—that way, you can shear off pesky frays without eliminating any length. Consequently, Stenson notes that protective styles—think box braids, flat twists, jumbo cornrows, and more—may allow for longer time between trims, as these reduce friction and damage on the strands. Just make sure to switch out the braids every two to three weeks to prevent breakage (breakage requires more trims, remember?). Layers don’t require much maintenance at all: usually three to six months. It depends on how stark you like your style, though, as shorter layers may need an extra trim at the three-month mark.
