I Big Chopped- Raven

CN: When you first chopped, what were your thoughts and feelings? How do you feel now?
When I first Big Chopped I was so excited. I just took out my braids, which I only had in for a month (those itch monsters were driving me crazy!!), and while applying my conditioner my natural hair just popped out at me!! I only transitioned for 3 months so I didn’t have a lot of new growth but I had enough to see. Looking at my beautiful little curls made me get this urge to Big Chop early. I waited for a couple of days contemplating if I really wanted to do my big chop early, and after two failed attempts of transitioning styles (I swear it’s hard transitioning if you have a short hair cut) I decided to do it!! My sister helped me do the chop in my bathroom, blasting to some India Arie “I am not my hair” (that was my theme song for weeks). When she was finished I fell in looooooove with my new look and my natural hair…it was real short (maybe an inch long) but I’m used to short hair, I’ve had a short style for 4 years…my confidence that night was through the roof. I have no regrets about doing my big chop early, I can now see my natural hair grow and learn how to take care of it. I cant wait to go back to college and show off my new look.

CN: How did you cope with the responses from your family and friends?
Although I loved my twa and felt very confident, I was really nervous about how my parents would like it…the morning after I did my BC I went into my parents room hoping to get a great reaction. Well yea I got the total opposite…my dad thought I was crazy for chopping my hair off…HAHA he kept comparing me to Brittney Spears (who was infamous for shaving all her hair off). My mom on the other hand liked my new look but I think she was in shock. She didn’t think I was going to go through with the “natural thing”…but besides that all of my friends and family members loved my new look!! So many people said it complimented my facial featured and made me look older (which was a plus since I always get told I look like I’m 15!!).


CN: What are your plans for your hair?
You know what, that is a good question. I love short hair on me, like I said before long hair makes me look young…I think I do want to keep my hair short. I want to grow it out to about chin length.

CN: Do you find it necessary to ‘doll up’ your look to feel more feminine?
I don’t find it necessary to ‘doll up’ my look to feel more feminine but I find it necessary to doll up my look just because I absolutely love love love accessories!!! I’ve always loved scarves, earrings, bracelets and especially hats (I swear I’ve rocked the funkiest looking hats)…so accessories are always a must for me…I don’t even feel right if I don’t have a pair of earrings hanging from my ears..but with a twa I love how much more my accessories seem to POP!..I’m not a big fan of make up and eye shadow but I occasionally use eyeliner.

CN: If so, what are your favorite accessories, or go to ways to glam up your look?
My favorite accessories have to be earrings and hats!! I have so many pairs of earrings its ridiculous. I love big earring and pearls. Hats are also a favorite of mine. I have beanies of every color. They work wonderful when I have bad hair days.

CN: How do you keep it moisturized?
I co-wash daily with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose (I love that stuff so much I even use it as a Leave-in sometimes), my hair loves being co-washed if I go a day without co-washing it becomes really dry (this will probably stop once it grows out some). I also seal my hair with shea butter and olive oil and spritz it daily with water.

CN: What products and techniques do you use to style? How often do you style?
Well since the BC I have experimented with a lot of products (yes I admit it I’m a product junky to the fullest). But I do think I found one staple product, which is the Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner. My hair isn’t long enough to get into many styles so right now I’ve just been rocking wash n go’s. I simply co-wash my hair, add a leave in, seal, and add some gel to define my curls. I love how simple wash n go’s are!!

CN: How do you get your waves or curls popping?
Gel and a thick leave in does the trick for me!! I’ve also learn that touching my hair throughout the day kills my curls (it’s a habit) so I’m trying to keep my hand out my hair.

CN: How do you preserve your curls at night?
I fold a satin scarf a couple times and cover the front of my hair with it to keep my baby hairs lying down…then I throw on my satin bonnet…usually in the morning my twa is all smashed so I spritz it with some water and rub coconut oil in it to give it a shine