The Ultimate Hair Guide

The Long and Short of It

Trimming long hair may seem like you're defeating the purpose of growing it out, but remember, those ends have been around for quite some time, so chop off 1/2 inch to an inch every six weeks or so to keep hair looking healthy.

When it comes to talking to your stylist about going short, consider these questions: Do you want your ears to show or stay covered? What about bangs? Do you want the overall shape to be soft and round, or highly textured and piecey (best cut with a razor rather than scissors)?

And even if you go for a no-daily-maintenance short do, you're not completely off the hook--frequent trims are a must.