How Did You Get to the Point Where You Could Do the BIG CHOP?

[CreoleInDC]

I don't know if I can do it. I love the way my new growth comes in and I would love to have hair that texture in a good length...but I just don't see how I could do it.

How did you do it? Gradually or a quick heave-ho?

 

[so1913]

I don't know if I can do it. I love the way my new growth comes in and I would love to have hair that texture in a good length...but I just don't see how I could do it.

How did you do it? Gradually or a quick heave-ho?

I did mine gradually (not planning to transition) but if I had to do it all over again....

I'd big chop in a minute! Me and scissors never had a problem getting along (only when the hairdresser completely jacked up a cut of course) I always think to myself "Hair grows!"

 

[firecracker]

I have always done the big Heave Ho! This was the first time I went natural though. So glad I did because I have no more hair worries/issues to deal with. Tommorrow is my year anniversay. Yipee! Good luck if you try it on any level. All hair is good hair if its healthy and drama free.

 

[so1913]

I have always done the big Heave Ho! This was the first time I went natural though. So glad I did because I have no more hair worries/issues to deal with. Tommorrow is my year anniversay. Yipee! Good luck if you try it on any level. All hair is good hair if its healthy and drama free.

AMEN!!!!!!! Especially that drama free part, lol.

 

[momi]

I planned on a year's transition - but handling those two textures got old real quick and the difference between the textures became more and more evident. I ended up chopping at 5 months and three weeks. I have to be honest and say I have been looking into getting a relaxer but I am trying to hold out. My hair is definitely healthier natural, but I admit I miss a nice roller set or flat iron...

 

[firecracker]

I have to be honest and say I have been looking into getting a relaxer but I am trying to hold out. My hair is definitely healthier natural, but I admit I miss a nice roller set or flat iron...

I felt like that also when I was about 7-8 months into my natural journey. I realized I always had an issue with my hair at that length when I would grow it out after a short cut. I am so glad I didn't only because I don't like doing hair. I only miss doing rollersets when my hair was longer and relaxed. I believe I made a great choice due to my despising the salon, hair laziness, black girl hair drama and age. I felt like a hostage to hair and stylist the last 8 years.

 

[balisi]

For me it was gradual for about the first nine months. But when I got tired of the relaxed ends, I BCd with no hesitation whatsoever. I have not looked back!

 

[Syrah]

HAHA...I'm the wrong person to ask.

But I got fed up and said "to hell with this mess" and called my beautician and she cut me to just below my ears. And I LOVED IT!!!

...and then about 3 days later, after the hair was gone I freaked out - like "what the hell am I going to do with this hair".

And now 1.5 years later, I'm alright. Girl, it's hard to do but I'm glad I did it!

 

[Syrah]

I forgot to ad: there's something "liberating" about it (without getting all stupid emotional). Seriously...once you cut off your hair, and learn how to take care of your hair, you realize that hair grows and will grow back.

I'm not as fearful of experimenting, because I know, should I decide to cut it again (i've been thinking about it), that it will grow back. "It'll be ok" type of thing.

 

[Poohbear]

It was a gradual process for me. But I made sure having natural hair was my ultimate goal. Even though there is a physical transition, there's also a mental transition. Before doing the big chop, I was scared of having short, nappy hair with my big head! I planned on holding on to my relaxed ends for 1-2 years but I chop them off after 7 months. I also realized that having natural hair is me and how God made me and I was also tired of getting relaxers so I had to change my thoughts before totally chopping my hair off. I also felt like chopping the relaxed ends off would set me free! And it was such a relieving experience because during my transition, I started suffering from breakage at the demarcation line and no hair style would look right. I could go on and on about this so I'll end what I have to say for right now.

 

[tropicexotic]

I attempted to do a year-long transition...gradually cutting and all that...BUT the longer I transitioned, the more I fell in love with my own texture and noticed the amazing difference between the health of my natural hair and the relaxed hair. So when it got really tangled after a braids incident around 7 months into my transition, I just chopped it off and I've been free/100% happy with my hair ever since. It's funny tho, cuz now when I see people with really short natural hair I'm extra jealous, because I never got to do that with my own hair. I would say the best start is to just stretch you relaxer, transition for a few montsh and see how things go. You'll know when it's time, if the time comes.

 

[blazingthru]

For me I was trying to do the no trim thing and wait until August but I got tired of the detangle and the matted hair and just tired in general of it not looking right, I had grown a lot of hair in the almost 6 months of transitioning but at the same time. I like that I had a lot of hair on my head, and I wasn't sure if I could handle cutting all that hair off just yet but it was just time to do it and so Friday, last week I did it I went and got it chopped off and its a great feeling. My hair is short but it looks so cute and so managable now. I really like it alot. The only thing is I haven't seen it natural its curled. I went to the shop and she washed blowed dryed and curled my hair she said you never needed a perm or a press you just needed a few curls. i didnt' say anything but its been 4 days and it still looks nicer then when I had a relaxer. Good luck on your decision if your ready to go natural then it should not be a problem to just DO IT!!!

 

[Cheleigh]

Once I'd decided I wanted to transition, I knew I wanted to transition for a little while. I knew that it was time to BC when I started longing to do natural styles (although now I can do only one) and I started to resent my relaxed hair (it was stopping me from being cute, from my perspective).

It is a big step--having longish hair one moment (my hair was armpit) to an afro. I couldn't believe it was finally over--the anticipation (not knowing what to expect) can be overwhelming. I was feeling a little freaky the next day (a little buyer's remorse I guess) but really, I have no regrets at all. But then again, I wasn't BC'ing because my relaxed hair was damaged. I did the BC because I didn't want to be relaxed anymore. So pretty easy for me to BC, all things considered.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

My other 2 BCs were traumatic. Both bad experiences w/ relaxers gone wild. My 3rd and final BC was voluntary and quick. My hair stylist cried while doing it. I was happy, even tho I was almost bald. I regretted relaxing my hair. I missed doing my wash n gos and my false twists. My natural hair grew faster and thicker than my relaxed hair. I have mega shrinkage, but it is all good!

 

[Legend]

This is my most recent experience:

I stretched my hair from April 8, 2005-March 3, 2006. I just left my hair alone for about the first 7 months, then began hacking away at the relaxed ends. I must do the gradual BC because my hair grows in a few different directions (cowlicks ), and is very awkward when it’s too short. It wasn’t a big deal for me because I would just catch my hair up in a textured phony pony every day. People actually thought it was my real hair, I wore it so much! Then, I decided to go to my stylist to get the final two inches of the relaxed hair chopped off and create a nice style (I didn’t go to the salon at all while I was stretching). So, I had a nice 7.5 inches of new growth when the last of the relaxed ends were finally trimmed.

The really funny part is, on a whim while at the salon, I went on ahead and had it relaxed again. Go figure! I don’t regret my choice, though, because I can always let it grow out again.

 

[Nappy-hijabi]

My last relaxer was janu 19..05..i wanted to transition for 1yr but sometyme in may i discovered i couldnt deal with the two textures,i looked sick and my hair wasnt growing much and it was breaking....

so, i decided to do the BC may 24th! i looked terrible for a while but yeah..i am glad i did it, my hair is growing good!

 

[Lucie]

I wanted to experience natural hair with chemicals again. I cut it all off. I did not have patience for transitioning. I CO-washed daily and it was great. I did the big chop April 2003 and relaxed April of 2005.

Another poster mentioned this, but it is really freeing. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[ThickHair]

I woke up one morning and said the relaxer had to go and it was gone by the end of the day. I didn't see any reason on waiting because I was going to have to cut it all of anyway.

 

[MizAvalon]

I never reached the point where I could do the BC. Losing all of my hair at once would have been too traumatic for me, so I transistioned with braids for over 2 years. Then I stayed natural for about 4 years and went back to relaxing. My hair has never looked better!

 

[morehairplease]

I woke up one morning and said the relaxer had to go and it was gone by the end of the day. I didn't see any reason on waiting because I was going to have to cut it all of anyway.

wow, I did this too! At first I had planned on transitioning for 2 years but out of the blue decided to do the bc.

 

[Super_Hero_Girl]

I did a quick "heave-ho". I lived in hair albums and on Nappturality and I was so anxious and inspired to be natural that there wasn't time for much a transition for me. I saw no point in holding onto my relaxed hair and wanted to be natural asap. Plus, I don't mind short hair. It still looks pretty short once shrinkage sets in now anyway (even though it's much much longer).


Good luck to you though, whatever you decide to do.