In your quest for longer, healthier hair...

[amwcah]

...did you take the big chop, trim, dust, or just nurtured your hair back to health without cutting. I'm curious about this because it seems that a few of you have opted to take the big chop and I'm contemplating whether I should do the same. Please elaborate by stating why you proceeded with the service you did. Thanks ladies!

 

[Divalicious]

I started the quest for healthier hair last week when I got a professional trim. It was much needed since I haven't properly trimmed my hair in two years and my hair was starting to get tangled and knotted.

 

[camellia]

I chopped off around six inches of really damaged hair one night and stopped using heat as often. I didn't want to cut my hair but there was no saving it. I also started washing at least once a week.

That was the beginning of my hair recovery.

 

[LovelyMiracle]

I trimmed off about 3 inches after my last relaxer. After wearing braids for 8 months I had so much length but my ends were horrible. Also since my hair grew out weird I had to get it shaped. Ultimately it was the best move ever

 

[Allandra]

I just trimmed when necessary.

 

[bLackButtaFly]

I bc'ed, but that was b/c I wanted to go natural too, so I cut off the relaxed ends.Otherwise I just would've trimmed it until the damaged parts were gone.

 

[PinkSkates]

I nursed my hair back. This was back in the 90's and I did not know how to properly take care of my relaxed hair. After all the breakage my bsl hair was destroyed and chin length. I wore braids and weaves while my hair grew back.

 

[Cichelle]

I chopped off my relaxed ends because I wanted to go natural. That meant chopping about ten inches of hair off! That wasn't easy, but it has grown back +. Getting rid of the relaxed ends, keeping my hair in protective styles w/no heat and doing frequent cowashes have greatly helped my hair.

 

[Keedah]

I BCed cause I wanted to go natural. I transitioned about 14 months.

 

[shynessqueen]

I BC and it was the best thing i have ever done for my hair.

 

[CAPlush]

I had to cut, my hair was in such a sad state I didn't start taking pics until after the cut. It was uneven all over the place, some spots were 1" long and some spots were 1' long. It was ridiculous.

 

[SignatureBeauty]

Keedah you got some leg Muscles!!!! I Love the Pic to You Look Like A Model! So what is your workout routine? Come on Spill it? LOL!!!

Back to topic, I Big Chopped to go natural because there was no nursing back to health with Bald spots in the top of my head I didn't wanna walk around looking like Fire Marshall Bill. Once I became Completely Natural my bald spots and sides filled in and the rest is history.

 

[mscocoface]

I did I cut and not a BC but took some inches off and then nurtured it to health.

 

[RZILYNT]

Back then my hair was almost APL but it was so thin and see through. It lacked luster and life. I kept trying to hold on to that hair. Then I figured it was not for me to have long hair. So I had it cut to a chin length bob. It appeared to be thcker and healthier. I kept growing the bob longer and longer with small trims at each touch up until my hair evolved into where it is now. I am definitely working with a healthier head of hair then what I started out with. It was so worth it for me to get those raggedy thin ends cut off.

RZ~

 

[vivadiva85]

I think the recourse depends on the extent of the damage.
I had a really horrible color (wanted my dark brown hair to just be brown but I got red/organge) that was horribly damaging even though I took good care of it.
This was before I found the boards. I was at shoulder length and then cut to chin length. That wasnt enough, so I cut the color off with only 4 months of ng. I didn't even care cause even then I hated unhealthy hair and my hair was fried.

 

[B_Phlyy]

I did the BC to go natural and also because if I would have re-relaxed, I probably would have had to end up cutting the previously relaxed hair anyway because it was so damaged.

 

[Bosslady1]

I BC!
My hair was 3 inches shy of Brastrap...I had an addiction to the curling iron and that is what started stripping/splitting my hair. The left side started to become thin...so I got a side swept neck length cut in August of last year.
My hair is currently full shoulder and I am aiming for full armpit by September...even though I know I wouldn't reach that until November.

 

[amwcah]

RZILYNY~How long did it take to achieve the length you have now?

 

[Poohbear]

I did the BIG CHOP twice back in May 2005. I did this mainly because I wanted to wear my hair natural and was tired of relaxer touch-ups. I can't wait to have long natural hair.

 

[RZILYNT]

RZILYNY~How long did it take to achieve the length you have now?

I am sorry for being long winded:

I cut my hair in the fall of 2003 and she continued to keep up my hair cut until late the summer of 2004 until I told her that I since it lookes so healthy that I would like to grow it out. So she gave me trims instead.

It was in February 2006 By accident I discovered that not getting trims, allowed me to retain more length with each touch up. I can't stand to wait at the salon so I would tell her that I could not wait and leave. It was in 2006 that I figured out that my hair was growing longer. So within 2006 after being APL again, up till current, is when I started to see substantial retention. It never came across my mind to stop the stylist from trimming my hair with each relaxer. I was only retaining 3 inchs a year. That was pitiful! I had no idea that hair grew more than that. Then I was on a quest to find out more and that is when I found LHCF.

I hope that helps.

I have mentioned before in other threads that this is the longest my hair has ever grown so I am tickled pink

RZ~

 

[***Toy-Pisces***]

My plans was to trim a little at a time but The hairstylist just cut it up to the damage in the nape area!!! I asked for a trim because I was going to work on my thin nape but some people just don't listen. I cried but I'm good to go now.

 

[sholly6]

I went natural about 10 yrs ago. Because of me having eczema my hair was very dry. So I tried going natural and I love it. I just have my hair dresser dust my ends when I go to her every three or four months when I let my hair down. Currently I keep my hair in cornrows and use the baggy method for my ends that way my ends are hardly ever need more than a dusting of the ends.

 

[Choklatekiss79]

I just cut an inch and a quarter off last night to finish up growing out and evening up my chewed up nape. erplexed I sooo dont want my ends to be see through. Not a good look in my opinion. Ive been doing this since February. Now Im done and finally ready to let my hair grow, grow, grow without interuption. (hopefully) It was frustrating, but I will sacrafice/postpone my legnth goals for healthy, FULL hair.

 

[caribeandiva]

i nurtured my hair back to health without cutting. i dusted 6 months after starting my regime and won't be cutting ever until i get to waistlength.

 

[guesswho]

I did the big chop, what was funny is the day I cut my super thin disgusting hair off lol, (sorry for the rant) I never new I was actually going to cut it! I looked in the mirror and said OH HELL NO! this has to go and I cut it myself which was pretty horrible to say the least I had to go to a barber for him to fix it up lol, but I felt GREAT! can you tell

 

[mytia]

I cut my hair twice from below shouder length to above, once in 2005 and once in early 2006 to get rid of unhealthy see-thru ends. It grew back really nice and healthy.

 

[LovelyLionessa]

I recently had between 1-2 inched trimmed, because my hair was uneven and my ends were getting rough and raggedy.

 

[amwcah]

I am sorry for being long winded:

I cut my hair in the fall of 2003 and she continued to keep up my hair cut until late the summer of 2004 until I told her that I since it lookes so healthy that I would like to grow it out. So she gave me trims instead.

It was in February 2006 By accident I discovered that not getting trims, allowed me to retain more length with each touch up. I can't stand to wait at the salon so I would tell her that I could not wait and leave. It was in 2006 that I figured out that my hair was growing longer. So within 2006 after being APL again, up till current, is when I started to see substantial retention. It never came across my mind to stop the stylist from trimming my hair with each relaxer. I was only retaining 3 inchs a year. That was pitiful! I had no idea that hair grew more than that. Then I was on a quest to find out more and that is when I found LHCF.

I hope that helps.

I have mentioned before in other threads that this is the longest my hair has ever grown so I am tickled pink

RZ~

Wow...congratulations! Girl, you were not long winded! I enjoyed reading your about your progress I just know I have a lot to learn about my hair .

 

[amwcah]

My plans was to trim a little at a time but The hairstylist just cut it up to the damage in the nape area!!! I asked for a trim because I was going to work on my thin nape but some people just don't listen. I cried but I'm good to go now.

and BIG hug!

 

[amwcah]

i nurtured my hair back to health without cutting. i dusted 6 months after starting my regime and won't be cutting ever until i get to waistlength.

I hear that!