Question for ladies who did their own big chop....

[beautyaddict1913]

I have been getting sooo anxious to get rid of these relaxed ends. Tuesday, I cut all of the relaxed ends off of two small sections in the front of my hair, it looks like a bang now. It was about a 6 inch cut from each piece. Whenever I BC, I want to do it myself, I plan to take my time and cut in very small sections. I never ever put scissors in my hair prior to joining lhcf, so I am by no means an experienced "cutter". I have a decent pair of shears but I am definitely going to get another pair to bc with. One of my friends told me that I should "let someone who knows what they are doing" cut my relaxed ends. I really want to do it myself! If it turns out ugly, at least I will know its because I did it lol. But, before I go on being stubborn I just want to know if there is anyway to mess it up or to do it wrong? I plan to do it on wet hair, perhaps hair thats saturated in conditioner.
So once again, my question is, is there any way to mess up this cut or do it wrong? Did any of you ladies make any mistakes when you did yours or do you have any tips/suggestions for me? Or do you think I should just let a stylist do it? Keep in mind that I have been transitioning for a while so its not very difficult for me to see my relaxed hair vs. new growth.

Thanks for your help!

 

[DDTexlaxed]

OOh, no advice, but please post pics when you do it. I'm thinking about doing the same thing, myself.

 

[iri9109]

def get good shears...i just used regular scissors and when it out some u could see my ends suffered and i had to trim...i had kinky twist extensions and i bc'd as took them out so i already has small sections and i went into the bathroom and used that mirror as well as a handmirror to see the back and filled up a spraybottle with cold water and totally twisted and sprayed the section, twirled it see the line of demarcation better and snipped...i think it took about an hr...maybe hr and a half

 

[Alta Angel]

I did as previously mentioned and slathered conditioner on before I cut. I cut in small sections and I left just a tad of my straight ends in the front area. I had read some comments where people have cut natural hair to low thinking that some straighter parts were relaxed ends. I purchased my shears from Sally's.

 

[SimJam]

yes get a good pair of hair sissors and if possible have someone help you.

i BCd after only 5 weeks so I didnt really mind if I cut a bit too much in some sections (which i did - in my crown and the right side)

also it helps if you soak your hair in condish so the demarcation line is more visible

 

[SimJam]

ooooh jinx Alta Angel
LOL

 

[makeupgirl]

I did mine with regular scissors because I just wanted it done and just picked up the first thing available. I completely forgot about my shears. After I did the cut, I felt weird but that's just me. lol. I deep conditioned my hair and I co-wash every other night after that and also did a full hair baggy.

 

[lilsparkle825]

I did mine with regular scissors....since I had never cut my own hair, I didn't even own trimming shears. I got a professional trim a few months later and my ends looked like regular old split ends. I personally don't think there is a way to mess it up, though I have heard of other people who say they cut their hair unevenly. For my BC, I soaked my hair in VO5 and got my mom to snip away. I had a few straight pieces left on the ends, so although my big BC took about 20 minutes, I was snipping small pieces of straight (scab) hair for a few days after it. When I finally did straighten, it was all the same length and she definitely has no hair cutting experience! I am really glad I did it myself and while I don't consider myself a natural Nazi, I do recommend that women planning to BC do it themselves....it's such a great feeling and a wonderful experience.

 

[Simply_elle]

Here you go doll

I had my BF double dog dare me
Went...got some regular ole' scissors
Took a shower and really conditioned.. to see the NG
Parted my hair...
CHOP!
My GOD...It felt so good I needed a ciggy after:blondboob
Went to bed...
In the AM went to a stylist for a shapeup....TA DA!
Oh and I took pictures!!!

HTH!

 

[davisbr88]

I did as previously mentioned and slathered conditioner on before I cut. I cut in small sections and I left just a tad of my straight ends in the front area. I had read some comments where people have cut natural hair to low thinking that some straighter parts were relaxed ends. I purchased my shears from Sally's.

Co-sign with everything she said! I left a few small pieces that were relaxed (mostly less than .25"), but they are even easier to spot as the weeks pass since they don't coil, so I still had small pieces I have been trimming away, even a month later, particularly in the back and crown since I didn't use two mirrors and just pulled my hair up to cut the ends. But as my hair grows, they are easy to spot, and if I didn't get them all by now, I know I will when I do my quarterly trim in December. I was just afraid of cutting too much since I did it on a whim and at like 1 AM... lol.
I had been doing my own self-trims for about 6 months or so at the time, so I already had shears. I also bought mine from Sally's for like $8.

 

[rosieposey]

Same here. A ton of conditioner+ Brand new hair scissors..I read somewhere if you use old scissors it could split your ends...

I did as previously mentioned and slathered conditioner on before I cut. I cut in small sections and I left just a tad of my straight ends in the front area. I had read some comments where people have cut natural hair to low thinking that some straighter parts were relaxed ends. I purchased my shears from Sally's.

 

[Tyra]

I cut off the obviously permed ends with shears first, then sprayed my hair with water, and followed up with a fine tooth comb and clippers.
I went to barber just to even it up. I was paranoid really I was told that I had did a very good job and that it only needed to be "cleaned up" a little. I say go for it!

 

[LoveCraze]

I did my BC with cutting shears I bought from Wally World. I only wish that I had someone to help me get the back a little better. Instead I just stretched it until I could see the line of demarcation and clipped away. I was 13 mths post. I also slathered my hair in conditioner which is also what I use to DC my hair. Just make sure to document well. I don't really think you can mess it up since you clearly have plenty of NG and can easily see your demarcation line. If afterwards you still feel you need additional clipping, you could always have a barber to clean it up for you. I didn't though. Good luck.

 

[beautyaddict1913]

Thank you so much ladies for all of your great advice...I cant wait to do it! Im in HYH challenge so Im getting 2 more weave installs this year, then after that Im going for it and wearing my newly natural hair, I will be sure to post pics and keep you guys updated!

 

[davisbr88]

^^ I can't wait to see your natural hair! You've been transitioning so long! Sometimes I wish I had at least waited until all my hair could reach the nape of my neck so I could wear a phony bun or puff on bad hair days, but I know there is no way I could have gone as long as you. I definitely respect you.

 

[JuiceMobsta]

Wooooo girl I'm almost on month 16, and I cant wait until I reach month 24!

These ends are actin a fool

I will mos def be cuttin them myself, a stylist or barber might cut a lil extra, and we aint havin that! .... Good luck!

 

[FroFab]

I had damp hair and a good pair of shears. I sectioned my hair too. I left the front slightly longer because of two reasons: it didn't curl much so it was harder to discern the line of demarcation and I wanted to still be able to pull it back into a ponytail.

 

[discodumpling]

I did my own with a lil help in the back from my Mom. It's hard but not impossible to mess up. Your plan of soaking with conditioner is a common method to BC. Be aware of multiple textures that may exist on your head...thinking that the straight hair in some areas is still relaxed is common...it may be scab hair or simply your texture.

 

[beautyaddict1913]

^^ I can't wait to see your natural hair! You've been transitioning so long! Sometimes I wish I had at least waited until all my hair could reach the nape of my neck so I could wear a phony bun or puff on bad hair days, but I know there is no way I could have gone as long as you. I definitely respect you.

likewise! you inspired me to go ahead and do it! I was gonna go 3 years if I had to lol, it takes courage! I finally had to say whats the point in walking around with 47 strands of natural hair per every one strand of relaxed hair lol and I asked myself what are you really waiting on?!?!
If you guys can do it, so can I! Thanks again for the tips and encouragement ladies!

 

[davisbr88]

likewise! you inspired me to go ahead and do it! I was gonna go 3 years if I had to lol, it takes courage! I finally had to say whats the point in walking around with 47 strands of natural hair per every one strand of relaxed hair lol and I asked myself what are you really waiting on?!?!
If you guys can do it, so can I! Thanks again for the tips and encouragement ladies!

at the bolded!
So true! I didn't even take pictures of my relaxed hair when I cut because there literally were 50 natural strands per relaxed ends. When I cut it all, it couldn't even fill a sandwich bag. It really showed me how thin the relaxer made my hair. And I didn't have a whole lot of breakage during the transition, so it just goes to show you.... smh.

 

[beautyaddict1913]

Before I got my current install (Last Thursday) I divided my hair into 4 sections and chopped the relaxed ends off the first section! It took forever, my head is huge!!! Im going to keep doing sections in between installs since Im hiding my hair over the next couple of months anyway!
Here are pics. (I was making a silly face, pardon me lol) I just twisted my hair with myhoneychild type 4 cream and took it down the next morning. I am soo excited, I cant wait til Im fully natural so I can do a whole head twist out!

 

[makeupgirl]

Before I got my current install (Last Thursday) I divided my hair into 4 sections and chopped the relaxed ends off the first section! It took forever, my head is huge!!! Im going to keep doing sections in between installs since Im hiding my hair over the next couple of months anyway!
Here are pics. (I was making a silly face, pardon me lol) I just twisted my hair with myhoneychild type 4 cream and took it down the next morning. I am soo excited, I cant wait til Im fully natural so I can do a whole head twist out!

looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!