Typically, stylists recommend getting a haircut every three to four months. Curly ladies, however, can limit their trips to the salon to only a couple times a year.

"Curly girls need a haircut much less often [than women with straight hair]," says Walent. "As long as the curls are being hydrated properly and are in excellent health, a curly girl can go up to six months between haircuts."

"We all need to nurture our hair for health. The more time you put into deep conditioning treatments, the longer you will be able to extend the life of your haircut. And remember, over-trimming curly hair will compromise length as well as shape. One inch of dry straight hair is not one inch of dry curly hair!" says Long.

Dealing with your curly hair is a job in and of itself. Through all the treating, styling and maintaining, be sure to stick with a pattern, but also know that just like your curls, no two days are the same.

"Never adapt to one curl-cutting routine," says Willhite. "Curly hair changes from day to day. Have a haircut customized to your individual natural curl pattern and texture, but never anticipate that the curls are going to fall in the exact same formation as the day before."