GUIDE · GROWING OUT
How do you grow out your hair without looking unkempt for six months?
Hair grows about a centimetre a month. Going from a short cut to medium-length hair takes six to twelve months, and the difference between “growing it out” and “neglected” lives in the outline, not the length.
SHORT ANSWER
Leave the top alone, but keep the neckline, temples and around the ears clean every four to six weeks. Around month three or four, ask for a scissor shape-up (not a shortening) to remove the weight that drags the sides down. A low taper during the transition keeps you looking intentional without sacrificing length.
CHOOSE
The stages and what to ask for
Months 0–2 (short → 5 cm)
Neckline and temples only. No scissors on top.
Months 3–5 (awkward phase)
Shape-up: remove weight on the sides, keep the top, low taper. Cream or light paste.
Months 6–8 (past the ears)
Dust the ends by 5 mm, decide the direction (back, side, down).
Months 9–12 (medium length)
Maintenance cut every 8 weeks; light layers if the hair is thick.
How long does it really take?
On average, 1 to 1.5 cm a month. A buzz cut reaches 5 cm in four months, ear length in eight to ten months and the shoulders in about two years. Growth varies with age, genetics and season, but no product speeds it up measurably. What you control is how it looks while you wait.
The awkward phase: why it happens and how to get through it
Between three and six months, the sides and back are long enough to stick out in every direction, but the top is not long enough to fall. This is where most men give up and cut everything short again.
The fix is not to stop cutting, it is to cut in the right place: take volume out of the sides and back with scissors, keep a clean outline, and leave the top untouched. A low taper or a very soft fade during this phase reads as a deliberate cut, not a grow-out you are suffering through.
- Sides puffing out
- Remove interior weight with scissors, not exterior length.
- Neck curling up
- Clean outline every month; the neck is the last thing you let grow.
- Top falling onto the forehead
- Direct it back with cream and a dryer; a headband helps more than a cap.
By texture: straight, thick, curly, Afro
Straight, fine hair: it falls quickly and looks flat; light layers from month six add movement. Thick hair: side volume is the enemy; thin the interior every six weeks. Curly hair: curl shrinks visible length by 30 to 50 percent; cut it dry and let it grow longer than you think before judging. Afro hair: the shape is built in volume; an outline taper keeps everything clean throughout the grow-out.
Home care while growing
Wash two to three times a week, condition every wash and avoid high heat. A light styling cream or soft paste replaces clay and wax, which get too heavy past 8 cm. A satin pillowcase reduces frizz on curly hair.
Which service to book during the transition
With Youssef, book a Standard Haircut and say in the note or at the start of the appointment that you are growing it out: he will only remove the outline and weight that are needed. For hair that is already long and needs a full restructure, call first to confirm the time needed.
YOUSSEF’S METHOD
Youssef’s method
- 01
Ask the goal
Target length, final style and a realistic timeline.
- 02
Cut around it
Outline, temples, neck and interior weight; never the top length without agreement.
- 03
Plan
An appointment rhythm of every 4 to 8 weeks depending on the phase.
- 04
Reassess
At each visit, decide whether the planned direction still works with the real growth.
FAQ
The questions left.
Do I have to stop cutting completely to grow it out?
No. Cleaning the outline and removing weight every four to six weeks keeps the transition presentable without slowing the top.
How long does the awkward phase last?
Usually between month three and month six. A well-timed shape-up shortens it noticeably.
Does trimming the ends make hair grow faster?
No. It only prevents split ends that break and cost you length.
Which product while growing?
A styling cream or light paste. Matte, strong products get too heavy beyond 8 cm.
Can I keep a fade while the top grows?
Yes, a low taper or a soft low fade. A high fade makes the transition harder because the sides have to regrow from very short.
Which service should I book?
Standard Haircut, and say you are growing it out. Youssef adjusts the outline and weight without shortening the top.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Men’s Haircut Montreal & Barber NDG
Precision men’s haircut with Youssef Ouda in NDG: consultation, scissor or clipper work, a professional finish and clean grow-out.
YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT
Precise advice. Then a precise cut.
Choose the matching service, then open Youssef’s direct schedule.