What's better? Getting your hair cut when it's wet or dry?

Getting your hair washed in the salon before getting your cut and blow out may seem de rigeur.

So you'll be surprised to learn (as we were) that not all trims require getting dunked in the salon sink first. But who—or more precisely, what strand type—should get which? Los Angeles hairstylist Anh Co Tran breaks it down.

If you want to wear your hair on the straighter side and/or want a cut that's roughly all one length (like a blunt lob), this is your best snip strategy. It's the easiest way to get clean, precise lines. It's also the preferred method for pixies, since any sort of bend at the root during the chop can throw off the design of the cut and end up making it look too short.

If you plan on wearing your hair with natural (i.e., not from an iron) curls or waves at least half the time, opt for a dry cut. This technique allows stylists to pay closer attention to your curl patterns and cut in a way that enhances them. Also, for those whose hair has issues—say, it's thicker on one side than the other—cutting hair dry allows stylists to see how it's falling so they can troubleshoot in the moment.

Learn how to make a great hair moisturizer at home:

This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue of Women's Health. For more greatadvice, pick up a copy of the issue on newsstands now!