How Often Should You Get a Haircut? Boise Barber’s Guide
Timing your haircut right keeps your style crisp without overgrowing on the sides. If you wait too long, your fade loses its shape, your neckline gets fuzzy, and styling starts to feel like work. Go too often and you can burn time and money without much benefit.
Here’s a simple guide from Mateo Strang Barbershop in Meridian, serving Boise, Eagle and Nampa, to help you know exactly when to book your next cut.
How often should you get a haircut?
As a quick rule of thumb:
Fades, tapers and line-ups: every 2–3 weeks
Short textured styles: every 3–4 weeks
Medium styles: every 4–6 weeks
Long styles: every 6–10 weeks (with light shape-ups in between)
If you like your hair to look sharp at all times, stay on the lower end of the range. If you’re more laid back and don’t mind a little grow-out, you can stretch it.
Fades, tapers and line-ups (2–3 weeks)
If you wear a fade, taper or anything with sharp edges, you’ll notice the grow-out faster than most people. The blend gets blurry, your neckline fills in, and your hair stops looking intentional.
For Boise clients who love a high fade, skin fade or clean line-up, I usually recommend a visit every 2–3 weeks. That keeps the sides tight, the back clean and the shape fresh without feeling like you live in the chair.
Short textured styles (3–4 weeks)
Short, textured cuts give you a bit more flexibility. Think cropped tops, short messy looks or classic business cuts.
Most of the guys I see in these styles do well with a 3–4 week schedule. Around the three-week mark, you’ll usually notice the sides feeling heavy and the top starting to lose its shape. That’s your cue to book the next visit.
Medium-length styles (4–6 weeks)
If your hair has some length on top and a softer transition on the sides, you can usually wait a little longer.
Medium styles tend to look best with a 4–6 week rhythm. The goal here is to keep the outline, side weight and overall silhouette cleaned up without taking too much length off every time.
Long hair and shape-ups (6–10 weeks)
If you wear your hair longer, the goal isn’t constant big cuts, it’s consistent shape-ups.
Most long-hair clients do well with a 6–10 week schedule. We keep the ends healthy, clean up the perimeter and remove weight where it builds up, so your hair still grows but doesn’t look flat or frizzy.
If it feels like your hair suddenly “stops working,” that’s a sign it’s time to come in.
How your hair type changes the schedule
Your hair texture matters just as much as your length and style:
Straight or fine hair tends to fall flat and show growth sooner, especially on the sides. You’ll likely lean toward more frequent clean-ups.
Thick or coarse hair can hold shape longer but can get wide or bulky if you push it too far between visits.
Curly or wavy hair often still looks good with some grow-out, but the outline and weight need regular attention.
If you’re not sure where you fall, that’s what the consultation is for. We can build a schedule around your hair, not someone else’s.
Boise weather and your haircut
Around Boise and Meridian, you’re dealing with dry air, hot summers and cold winters. All of that can affect how your hair behaves:
Dry air can make hair feel brittle and extra frizzy on the ends
Hats and hoodies in winter can flatten your style and push it out of shape
Summer sweat and sun can fade color and make the sides feel heavier
That’s why a lot of clients tighten up their schedule in the summer and during the holidays, then stretch it a bit in quieter seasons.
Signs it’s time to book your next cut
If you’re still not sure when to come in, watch for these:
Your edges and neckline look fuzzy instead of sharp
Your fade blend is gone and the sides feel bulky
You’re fighting your hair every morning instead of just styling it
Your hair looks good only with a hat on
If any of that sounds familiar, it’s probably time to see your barber.
How to make your haircut last longer
If you want to maximize time between visits:
Ask for a slightly longer fade or softer transition on the sides
Use the right styling product for your hair type (matte clay, paste, cream, etc.)
Brush or comb your hair into shape daily
Avoid over-washing, which can make hair fluffy and uncooperative
A good cut should grow out clean. If it doesn’t, we’ll adjust the approach next time you’re in the chair.
Ready to find your ideal schedule?
You don’t have to guess your timing on your own. We can figure it out together based on your hair, lifestyle and how sharp you like to keep things.
If you’re in Boise, Meridian, Eagle or Nampa, book your next cut at Mateo Strang Barbershop in Meridian and we’ll dial in a haircut schedule that actually works for you.
Book your cut now and keep your hair looking like you meant it.