The intervals the calculator uses
These are typical ranges at normal tolerance, the same ones in our full guide to how often you should get a haircut, which also covers longer styles, fringes, and hair type. The shorter the shortest part of your cut, the sooner regrowth shows, so a skin finish sits at the low end of each range and a guard at the bottom stretches toward the high end.
| Cut | Typically | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Skin fade | every 1–2 weeks | Bare skin at the bottom shows regrowth as a shadow within a week. |
| Low taper fade | every 3–5 weeks | Short only at the edges, so it grows out gradually. |
| Mid taper fade | every 3–4 weeks | More short hair than a low taper, but the blend still softens slowly. |
| High taper fade | every 2–4 weeks | A lot of short hair on the side, so regrowth shows sooner. |
| Buzz cut (#1–#2) | every 2–3 weeks | Every millimeter of growth is a big share of a #1 or #2. |
| Buzz cut (#3–#4) | every 3–4 weeks | Longer guards hide the first couple of weeks of growth. |
| Medium-length scissor cut | every 6–8 weeks | Medium-length hair keeps its shape for weeks; the outline goes first. |
| Line-up only | every 1–2 weeks | Edges are the first thing to blur, often within a week. |
Not sure which height you have, or which to get next? The taper height diagram shows where each one starts, and the taper quiz weighs how often you can see a barber when it recommends one.
How fast does hair grow?
Scalp hair grows about half an inch (roughly 1.25 cm) a month on average, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. That works out to around 0.4 mm a day, which is the rate the grow-out chart above uses. Your own rate can be a bit faster or slower depending on genetics, age, and health, so treat the chart as an estimate.
The rate is the same everywhere on your head, but it doesn't show the same everywhere. On a 5 cm top, two weeks of growth adds about 10%. On a skin fade, the same growth turns bare skin into visible stubble. That's why short cuts need more frequent visits, and why the bottom finish matters so much to how long a cut lasts.
How to read your results
- Recommended. Your interval in weeks, adjusted for your cut, the shortest length at the bottom, and how sharp you like it. “Always fresh” shortens it by about a quarter; “Relaxed” stretches it by about 40%.
- Your schedule. The next six cuts, counted from your last visit, with line-ups in between if you switched them on. If you're already past the usual gap, the next cut is today.
- The grow-out chart. How long the shortest part of your cut gets over one cycle, and roughly when the blend starts to soften. It uses average growth, so treat the exact day as an estimate.
- Yearly cost. Add your price per cut to see what a year of cuts costs with the tip included.
How to make your cut last longer
- Ask for a guard at the bottom instead of skin. A #0.5 or #1 grows out far more evenly. The clipper guard size chart shows what each leaves.
- Go a little lower. A low taper keeps the short hair to the edges, so it can stretch to four or five weeks where a high taper looks grown out after three.
- Book line-ups between cuts. A quick edge-up resets the outline, which is the first thing people notice.
- Tidy the neckline at home. A trimmer and a hand mirror keep the back clean for an extra week. Leave the blend itself to your barber.
- Choose a tapered neckline. A blocked neckline shows regrowth within days; a tapered one fades out with no hard edge.
When to get a haircut before a big event
Get it a few days before, not on the day. A fresh fade can look harsh in photos, with very crisp lines and sometimes a little redness from the razor. After two or three days the lines soften just enough to look natural, and if anything needs fixing, there's still time.
- Wedding: about three days before. If it's your own wedding, book a trial cut a month ahead with the same barber so there are no surprises.
- Job interview: two days before is enough. A clean, low-contrast cut reads well in any industry.
- Photos: two days before, so edges look sharp but not raw.
- Vacation: a day or two before you leave, so the cut lasts the whole trip.
Turn on “Plan around an upcoming event” in the calculator and it fits the event cut into your regular schedule, telling you which regular visit to skip so you don't pay for two cuts a few days apart.
Line-ups between cuts
A line-up (also called an edge-up or shape-up) sharpens only the outline: the forehead, temples, sideburns, and neckline. It takes a few minutes and usually costs a fraction of a full cut. Booking one halfway between cuts keeps a fade looking fresh, which is how many people stretch a three-week cut to four. The barber brief generator explains the line-up options, from soft to sharp with C-cups.
Frequently asked questions
How does the next haircut calculator work?
It starts from a typical interval for your cut, then adjusts it: a skin finish shortens it, a guard at the bottom stretches it, and the sharpness setting scales it up or down. It rounds to whole weeks, counts forward from your last cut, and lists your next six dates.
How long does a fade last?
A skin fade looks sharp for about a week and is due a cut every one to two weeks, because the bottom starts at bare skin. Mid and high fades usually go two to three weeks, and a low fade or a taper three to five, since regrowth only softens the blend instead of erasing a line.
Can I add my haircut schedule to my phone's calendar?
Yes. Add to calendar downloads a standard .ics file that Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook all open, with your cuts as repeating all-day events and a reminder the day before. The Google Calendar button adds just your next cut.
How often should you get a line-up?
About every one to two weeks if you like crisp edges. Many people book a quick line-up halfway between full cuts: it sharpens the hairline, temples, and neckline, so the cut looks fresh for longer without another full fade.
What if I'm already overdue for a haircut?
Enter your real last-cut date anyway. If the usual gap has already passed, the calculator says how many days over you are, sets your next cut to today, and restarts the schedule from there, so your calendar picks up from the cut you're about to get.
How long does a buzz cut take to grow out?
A buzz cut looks noticeably grown out after two to three weeks for a #1 or #2 and three to five weeks for a #3 or #4. Growing it into a short scissor cut takes around two to three months, at about half an inch of growth a month.
Does cutting hair make it grow faster?
No. Hair grows from the follicle under the skin, and cutting the ends doesn't change how fast the follicle produces hair. Regular trims stop split ends from making hair look thinner, which can make it seem to grow better, but the growth rate stays the same.