You have probably heard it from your grandmother or your hairdresser: trim your ends every month and your hair will grow faster and thicker. It is one of the most repeated pieces of hair advice in the world — but it confuses two very different things. Let us set the record straight.

Where Does Hair Actually Grow From?

Hair grows from follicles in the scalp, not from the ends. Growth speed is set by genetics, nutrition, general health and hormones — averaging around one centimetre per month for most people. Scissors touching your ends, tens of centimetres away from the scalp, cannot logically signal the follicles to work any harder.

So Why Does Trimmed Hair Seem to Grow Better?

Here is the heart of it. Trimming does not speed up growth — it prevents loss of length. When an end splits, the split keeps travelling up the strand if left uncut, and the ends snap off in small pieces. The result: your hair gains a centimetre at the roots and loses nearly as much at the ends, so it feels like it never gets longer.

  • Regular trims remove splits before they climb, so the length you gain is length you keep.
  • Healthy ends look fuller and livelier, making the whole head of hair appear longer and healthier.

How Often Should You Trim?

There is no single rule, but these are practical guidelines:

  1. Heat-styled or coloured hair: roughly every 8 to 10 weeks, as it splits faster.
  2. Healthy, untreated hair: every 12 to 16 weeks may be enough.
  3. Growing your hair long: a micro-trim (half a centimetre) at longer intervals protects the ends without sacrificing length.

Prevention Beats the Scissors

The fewer splits you develop, the less trimming you need. Among the best preventive habits, Moroccan tradition has always relied on natural oils — above all argan oil, rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, traditionally known for nourishing dry ends. Add to that:

  • Cutting back on heat-styling tools.
  • Never brushing wet hair roughly.
  • Protecting hair from harsh sun and friction.

Verdict: The Explanation Is a Myth, the Habit Is Sound

Trimming does not change how fast your follicles grow hair, but it preserves the length you gain and visibly improves how your hair looks and feels. The old advice works in practice, even if the reasoning behind it was wrong.

And because healthy ends start with daily nourishment, Assil Ouargane manufactures pure argan oil and natural hair-care products in Morocco, with private-label manufacturing services for brands across the region and Europe. Request a quote through our website.