If you do not trim your hair routinely, it can cause you to experience excessive hair breakage from split ends and fairy knots. 

What Are Fairy Knots + How To Find Them?

Fairy knots are tiny knots in your hair where the ends of your hair curl up on each other. You can find fairy knots by looking for tiny knots in your hair.

What Are Split Ends + How To Find Them?

Split ends are brittle pieces of hair that fray causing breakage up the hair shaft. You can find split ends by looking for pieces of hair that begin to thin at the end. There are times where you can identify split ends by being able to see through your hair.

I have experienced excessive hair breakage from fairy knots and split ends. I would, often, experience the most breakage on wash day. I thought this was normal for my hair type. But I was wrong. Once I trimmed my hair to the point where I gave myself a haircut, I finally experienced minimal shedding. 

Check out two different ways I trim and cut my hair at home for optimal hair health. 

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed cosmetologist. The information presented are methods that I learned worked for my hair. I recommend you get your hair trimmed or cut professionally by a licensed cosmetologist.

How I Trim My Natural Hair: The Twist Method 

Step 1: Twist hair.

I style my hair into mini twists.

Step 2: Check hair health.

I observe the health of each individual twist by looking at the ends of the twist for fairy knots and split ends. I have noticed that my ends are damaged when the ends of the twists do not curl or when the ends of the twists are extremely thinner than the length of the twist. 

Step 3: Determine where to cut.

I decide how much of my hair I want to cut. 

Step 4: Cut hair. 

I place the end of the twists between two of my fingers. I grab my hair scissors and I snip the damaged hairs off at an angle. 

How To Trim Natural Hair: The Blow Dry Method

Step 1:  Blow dry hair.

I blow dry my hair straight. Check out my blow dry routine here.

Step 2: Section hair.  

I separate my hair into small sections.

Step 3: Check hair health.

I access the health of my hair by looking at the ends of my hair for fairy knots and split ends. I can clearly see the health of my ends when my hair is straight. 

Step 4: Determine where to cut.

I decide how much of my hair I want to cut. I have noticed that when the comb constantly gets stuck in one section of my hair that is close to the ends of my hair, that is where the split ends are located. I often use this comb method as a determination of where I should cut my hair.

Step 5: Cut hair. 

I place the end of the twists between two of my fingers. I grab my hair scissors and I snip the damaged hairs off at an angle.

Check out: How To Blow Out Natural Hair At Home?