Is a Hime Cut High Maintenance?

The hime cut page covers what the cut is and how to ask for it. This post looks at the work that comes afterward, because the answer depends on which part of the cut you mean and what your hair does on its own.

Which parts need the most trims?

Think of it as two haircuts. The front is short and exact, and the back is long and simple.

• Bangs and side pieces. These usually need attention every four to six weeks. Blunt lines show growth quickly, and bangs need more frequent trims than the rest of your hair anyway.
• The length. Long hair can usually go 8 to 12 weeks or more, as the guide on how often to get a haircut explains.

So you may be in the salon more often than you are for a plain long cut, even though your length isn't changing. When you call, ask how to book a visit for just the front pieces, and what it will cost.

How does it behave on different textures?

Texture matters more than anything else here. The whole look depends on clean lines, so the question is how far your hair is from straight when you leave it alone.

If your hair is wavy or curly, try a simple test before you book. Count how many days a week you'd really straighten it. If the answer is one or two, this cut will spend most of the week looking like something else.

Humid days can make that harder. The post on hard water and humidity in Texas has more on how local conditions can change the way your hair behaves.

What does the heat add up to?

This is the real cost of a hime cut on hair that isn't straight. The American Academy of Dermatology says excessive heat can cause damage on any hair type. It advises limiting blow drying and tools like flat irons, and using low or medium heat with a product that protects your hair.

That advice pulls against a cut that needs straightening to look right. If you'd be using a flat iron most days, say so at the consultation. A softer version may be a better fit.

What happens when you want out?

This is the easy part. Only the front is short, so the side pieces can grow into face-framing layers while your length stays where it is. Bangs take longer to grow out than they do to cut, so expect an awkward stretch there.

Compare that with a full short top layer, which takes much more patience. See whether a jellyfish cut is hard to grow out.

What will it cost?

A hime cut is usually a long hairstyle. With Karen Shardlow in Georgetown, women's cuts start at $87 for long hair and $93 for extra long hair. Those are starting prices, and your final price depends on your hair, so ask at your consultation. See Karen's starting prices.