3 Melbourne hair stylists answer your most commonly asked questions

Hairy questions.

My mum cut my hair for the first dozen or so years of my life. It led to some of our biggest fights. I have vivid memories of my poor mother trying to console me as I wept on the edge of my bed, facing the wall.

A little trim could result in an extreme tantrum. Even though I haven’t shed any tears because of my locks in the past few years (it might have something to do with visiting actual hairdressers), I understand why my emotions were prone to bubbling up and spilling over.

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Hair is personal and intimate and for some, it’s a big part of how they express themselves. Navigating the world of hair salons and hair health can be confusing. Salon à la Mum might’ve done the job, but without knowing the basic rules of hair, I felt lost once I started visiting professionals.

It’s why I garnered the help of three Melbourne hair stylists to answer the common questions we have about hair. Rouven Hoekel, one of Stache’s advanced stylists, Elly Paynter, a freelance hair specialist, and Becc Snow, the founder of Alchemy Salon, put their heads (of great hair) to work.

How often should you be getting a trim to keep your hair healthy?

The general consensus was getting a hair trim every eight to 10 weeks, with leeways on both sides. “Shorter cuts like bobs and pixies have to be cut more frequently to maintain the look and shape,” explains Rouven, sharing that other hairstyles, like curls, don’t lose their shape as quickly.

It can also come down to hair type. Becc says it’s recommended for people with finer or drier hair to come in for a trim every six to eight weeks, whereas people with curly or Afro-textured hair can come in every three to four months.

“I would say it’s very personal to the person having their cut,” Elly explains. “It really comes down to the hairstyle they are wanting to achieve, their hair routine and maintenance expectations, as well as where they are at with their hair health.”

How can you prevent split ends?

The splitting of hair ends caused by dryness or ill-treatment can be prevented. Elly, Becc and Rouven are all in agreement that a few manageable techniques can help people who experience this.

“Split ends can be caused by… heat or mechanical damage, environmental elements or just old, tired hair that is in dire need of some TLC,” Elly says. Becc adds they can be prevented by regular haircuts, minimal hot tool use and correctly prescribed hair care.

“Regular maintenance trims will take off those ends before they begin to split and break, frequent use of hot styling tools can dehydrate your hair and in turn, cause breakage and split ends,” she says. Becc recommends keeping temperatures below 180 degrees and applying a heat protector over each section before styling. Elly suggests it can also be simple as being gentle with your hair, especially when brushing.

What advice do you have about cutting your own hair at home?

It might feel like a hairdresser’s cardinal sin, but Elly understands the urge – “sometimes you just want that fringe or mullet right away”. She advises that post-home haircut, you should prepare yourself for an emergency appointment with your hairdresser. “Sometimes it turns out great and sometimes it doesn’t, that’s okay, as long as you know what you are getting yourself into,” Elly adds.

Becc, surprisingly, is all for the home haircut. “If it makes you feel good and you want to experiment or get creative, go for it… It isn’t as easy as it looks so be prepared for it not to be perfect and remember that we are always here to help – no judgement!

“Don’t bite off more than you can chew,” she says. “Keep it simple and always cut less than you think you need to. You can always cut more off but you can’t put it back on.”

Looking to make a big hair change? Read this first.