TerraD writes:
Currently many naturals are deciding to big chop, again. Some for a change of pace, others to re-experience their hair all over again and others to rid themselves of damage.
Would you consider doing a second Big Chop? Why, or why not?
TerraD writes:
Currently many naturals are deciding to big chop, again. Some for a change of pace, others to re-experience their hair all over again and others to rid themselves of damage.
© 2023 Curly Nikki.
I'm actually planning on big chopping. I BC'ed for the first time in May 2011 after transitioning for 5 1/2 months. Then in May 2012, I decided to get a press and curl. bad, bad, idea. Needless to say, it left my hair irrevocably damaged. My sister told me to just let the damage grow out, but I feel like I don't want to hold on to damaged hair that is breaking like crazy. I'd rather start fresh!
absolutley!! the first time I bc my hair was december 23 2010 after transitioning for 6 months. It was nice and curly but i made a mistake and did an at home I did it again the next day (I know BIG mistake). But long story short I basically abused my hair with dyes and flat irons and over use of hair products and ended up with thinning damaged hair.So i just did the BC again so i can start over fresh!
I am about to get a 2nd bc after 16 months of growth! Recently, I got my hair blow dryed and flat ironed at a beauty school (1st mistake) and said nothing while the student gave me a dominican blowout. I'd never had a blow out or flat iron before since before starting my natural journey I had locs. But thanks to my bf and best friend, who have both been begging me to cut my hair again I will 🙂 I am grateful for what I learned during my journey so that i can apply to my new start
I am a natural hairstylist and I am thinking of doing the BC for the 3rd time in 7years. Its longs and thick and frankly I am tired of dealing with it. Since I am a free flowing natural (no braids or weave) I only wear a twist out. So besides some hair accessories I am limited in options. I want very low maintance so when I cut my son's hair I can cut mine.
I didn't think I would do it again so soon, bc'd feb 14th. Had too many bad hair days this week went to the barbershop & cut it even shorter than the 1st time. I love it!!!
I not only would I did. I first BIG CHOPPED in OCT/09. However I didn't truly understand how to listen to my hair. I know I became the victim of too much info on YOU-TUBE. I must say though my hair grew inspite of me. However I did suffer some damage (due to trying to color my hair myself.)Anyway I BIG CHOPPED 08/23/10. I'M LOVIN IT. I went even shorter this time, and this time I know what to do. Keep it Simple !!!!!!!!!
No. At this point, I am way too obsessed with obtaining length.
Without hesitation-YES.
Absolutely.
I might be at a little stage of boredom at the moment, but that's normal. I think a few years from now, I'd wouldn't be scared to BC again.
I just BC'd for a second time after seven years of being natural. Sometimes your long hair gets heat damaged from flat ironing, coloring and all those other things we do to our hair because we think natural hair is so strong that it can withstand the abuse. Well, it can't. I will no longer use blow dyers on hi/hot and flat irons and stick with a diffuser on cool and wash and go styles. I'm loving my TWA.
I'm actually thinking about doing a BC again for my 6 mo hair anniversary. I want color and since I've used indigo on my hair I am limited to what coloring options are available. I'm scared to color with the indigo so I've been considering cutting off several inches. I like my wash and go when I first BC'd this past February and wouldn't mind having that freedom again, plus a little color to spice things up.
NO would like to see my hair grow as long as it can on this journey..
Absolutely! Actually I've already done it. I'd been considering BCing for about 2 months and 2 weeks ago, I did it. I couldn't be more happy with my decision. My 1st BC was April 2009. I decided to do it again because healthy hair is more important to me than long hair. I have thick 4b dry hair. I'm finally at a point where I understand my texture, what products work best for me, and how to keep my hair healthy. I just needed to start over with whole new head of hair.
I love my TWA, I got curls y'all! Hopefully this time next year I'll have a full head of beautiful, natural, healthy hair.
I've bc'd back in March of this year for the last time. I've been natural since 1997, and I am ready to just let it grow long and lush as possible. It's a lot of hard work to get it to grow out, but as many others have said at least I know what products/routines to use now that work for me. I honestly do not like the way I look with a shorter fro, and yes, although it is easier to wash and go, I still always want the long twists, or be able to bun my hair, and that's just not always an option with a twa.
No. I looked like a boy when I had a TWA.
YES!!! I had to recently, jumped on the henna bandwagon (big no-no). I cut off 10 inches this March. My natural colour is red/auburn so I let it grow out for two years-taking care of the dried henna treated hair as much as possible. We're doing much better now : )
NO!
@A_NYRican I would say just to make sure that you have a solid healthy hair routine down before you BC again. You may even be able to grow your hair out healthier without cutting it all off. Of course, if you just want to cut it, that's cool too. I guess it would also depend on how much breakage there is and how unmanageable your hair is because of the breakage. I've definitely been there, and I'm currently in the process of hair repair myself. That crown area is something else! It may just be a matter of taking extra precaution to gently comb that hair until it starts growing in strong again. During your detangling process, try smoothing your crown hair with your hands using lots of conditioner/leave-in before detangling with your comb/brush. Anyway, happy growing, and I wish you the best!
It's funny that I bumped into this post. I feel I damaged my hair after being natural for 2+ years. I didn't know what I was doing on the 1st BC and did mostly wash n go's and hardly ever DC'd. Currently, my crown area has very short hairs and I just feel this old hair is in bad shape. But the thought of starting over stopped me until I saw the comments posted. This weekend I'm going to BC for the 2nd time. And this time around I have more knowledge on how to take care of my hair.
I would have to say no for the craziest reason. For me it seems as if my hair has gotten more manageable the longer it's gotten. I used to spend over an hour detangling my TWA..I'm not going back to that hell-o! for nuttin!!
NOT AT ALL!!! I'd rather to transition for a decade 😀
As of right now I'm loving my hair growth, so i would say no, I wouldn't big chop again. Who knows what the future holds, though.
This early in my journey I would say no never, unless there was damage and I hope I would catch it before I had to cut a lot off. Its only been 7 months for me and I can't wait to have a angela davis fro. Ask again in about a year.
5 BCs and counting (last one this past March)…
The best thing about BCing to SHORT hair is that once you realize that, to use a cliche, "you are not your hair" AND that hair grows back…it's that much easier to do it again if you want or need to.
I was never the girl with the "long pretty hair" so BC'ing was not as big a deal to me as it sometimes is for women who define themselves by their long hair. Thing is, if you can grow long hair with a relaxer, you can definitely grow it without one.
I'm very excited about growing my natural hair and I'm so impressed with how fast my natural hair is growing in comparison to when I had relaxed hair. I don't think I would BC unless I had damaged ends as I currently have color.
After almost 4 years of growing out my natural hair, i did another BC this past February. I just felt like i needed to start over, but this time around i'm so much more prepared to treat my hair the way it needs to be treated. To be honest, there are days that I miss my longer hair and there are times I get impatient with the growth but i'm trying my hardest to enjoy each step of the growing out process.
I would certainly BC again for the same reason I did the first time around, to remind myself and other wormen that we are not defined by our hair. You are the same being regardless of your hairs lenght or style. 🙂
I BC'd in 2007-so after my hair grows to it's full potential I will cut it to a manageable length. After that, I would happily BC rather than transition to grey or salt and pepper when I get older or when I get a significant number of grey hairs.
It was my BC that taught me to be confident and that I didn't need long hair or straight hair to hide behind or to define me. I credit my BC with forcing me be OK with myself and my appearance. Eventually it led me to embrace my beauty and my womanhood. I wish I'd done it sooner and Yes! I'd do it again!
I would definitely do it again one day. Now that I know how henna treats my hair, along with appropriate deep conditioning, I would LOVE to rock a fly short, curly do again. Need to find a great stylist who can do curly hair justice in a unique way before taking the leap.
I have big chopped 3 times in one year….and I was much easier to take care of when it was short, but I want long hair I just find it really difficult to content with my hair in that medium sized fro stage 🙁
On a personal level: ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!
My hair was never long when it was relaxed. As a matter fact, I was one of those girls in school whose hair seemed to NEVER grow. Now that I'm natural, my hair is growing and is flourishing. I've wanted long hair my entire life and I'm finally getting there. To each their own but I'm happier with long hair. Besides, I look like a little boy with short hair lol
Why not? It will grow back. If I wanted a change of pace or wanted to start a new phase in life, I would cut my hair. And also, if I missed to simplicity of a TWA after growing my hair, I can see myself cutting it again.
If I was single YES!!! I loved the ease of wearing short hair. My fiance on the other hand loves long hair. So to keep my home happy I wouldn't big chop again 🙁
I was thinking about BC, going bald, and getting my Angela Davis on all at the same time. I know, impossible. LOL
I dont think I would BC again. If i needed to, i would transition and then cut. I woke up one day and decided to chop it all off.. If I tell you I wasnt prepared, I wasnt prepared AT ALL.
Although I did receive so many complements, for me, i just felt i looked better with longer hair. It has been almost 3 years and I love how my hair is growing into her own. The longer the better. I cant wait for what the next year brings..
I’ve been cutting my hair short for the last year—not TWA status, but BAA. I love the shorter hair. I never had a TWA, but when I turn 30 or get married, I will cut it all off and do a TWA. I’ve always craved that short short hair, but was always afraid to take the plunge.
I never actually did a BC. I have never had a relaxer in my life.
However, I plan on getting Sisterlocks very soon and letting them grow as long as possible. When I'm tired of them, I will do a BC.
It's just hair, and it grows back.
I have many times over. After growing my hair for @ 2 years, I BCd in May. I like change and I always figure (and it does) it will grow back.
what a coincidence! i actually bc'd last month. when i went natural 6 years ago i was long term so i never had the twa stage. i had about 14 inches of hair cut off. i think the fact that it was 105 degrees outside when i told my stylist to cut it definitely played a huge factor, lol. i was a little down in the dumps at 1st but i am loving my twa now! so glad i did it.
I would BC again if I want/need to. Lovely thing about hair is it grows back (eventually). I think it's a great way to develop patience.
Not a chance! I didn't want to do it the first time but a "trim" that took several inches off & left my hair lopsided forced my hand. My hair was still curly with my relaxer so there wasn't a need to BC b/c the textures weren't that different.
I'm OK w/my short hair now, but I miss having my hair. I just felt like I had more options. And it was more suited to my face shape, style & personality. Plus it was incredibly sexy lol
I am seriously considering do it again soon.
At only 7 weeks natural… I would definitely BC again and go shorter next time! 🙂
i've bc'd twice. once the first time i went natural and the second time when i cut my locs off after locing almost 6 years. i didn't really like the short hair as much but i learned a lot and think the process would be much more positive now. i think about cutting my hair to start over with much better habits and techniques but i haven't done it yet.
Absolutely, and I think I will in a few weeks before the big 3-0! This last time I didn't really BC(although my husband begs to differ). I transitioned about 10 months, but I'd already started with hair down to my brastrap. I've shaved my hair in the past and I loved it short. My hair grows really fast, so maybe that's why I don't think it's a big deal to me, I've always had lots of it! I just convinced myself to BC. . . THANKS and happy chopping!
I've lost count of the times I've cut my hair short. When I first went natural, I cut my hair short and kept it that way. I grew it out a few times (once when I got married) and cut it back down again. It's now longer than it's ever been before in my life, and I hesitate to cut it now. I've gained weight in the face and I don't know how short hair would look (hey I'm being real…this is my opinion). I also (as someone else mentioned) dread the "in-between" length stage of growing it again. THAT was painful. Looking back, I think that stage was the impetus for cutting it off again in the past.
No I wouldnt do a BIG chop because my hair is big waves and curls in the front and tight curls in the back. When my hair was super short it just looked like tight curls in the back and heat damage in front.I need the length to really appreciate those two distinct curl patterns!
I have considered big chopping again because of the ease of a twa. I would like nothing more than to grow my hair mbl, but the reality of caring for long natural hair is daunting.
I would totally big chop again, maybe when I have children. If I could apply the knowledge that I have know to my TWA and midlength hair, I would be sooooooooo fly! Plus, I didn't experiment enough with styles like frohawks and now my hair flops too much for a frohawk.
Absolutely! Everytime I sit down for those 3+ hours it takes for me to do skinny 2 strand twist on my shoulder length hair I think about getting the clippers/shears. I didn't really know what to do with my twa when I was newly natural. I yearned for the day when I could where a twist out. Now that I've seen so many sassy short hairstyles I'm sad that I took that time for granted. My goal is to have healthy, long & beautiful natural hair but it's always in the back of my mind to B/C. 1 month until my 2 year natural anniversary!
I don't think i would. I love my big fro way more than my shorter one. I feel like the big one fits my face better.
Yes, I love the way my hair looks when it is short and long.
I actually did bc for a 2nd time after growing my hair for four years. I am very glad I did it because my hair grew in much softer and much less dry the 2nd time. I can wash my hair and style or set it with minimal detangling. Yes, I miss my "big hair" which had grown to bra strap length (when flat ironed), but I am looking forward to growing my hair now that it is easier to manage. I actually wrote about the reasons for my 2nd BC on my blog (click my name for the link).
I sure would. I have only been natural since May 2010 and I was really digging the TWA. It has grown out so fast I don't think I really got to enjoy the low maintence TWA. I would do it again.
no, because I have length goals to meet for the big hair that I want so it'd be completely counterproductive to almost 2 years of growth
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YES, I miss the ease of having short hair.
I would if I could find a good stylist. I think the key to the big chop is to find someone who can do a style which is nice with your hairline, keeps you looking feminine and is cut with the grain of the hair so it styles beautifully. I have had only 1 big chop in my over 60 years on earth which met these qualifications and I'm sure that stylist is somewhere in the universe at the top of his game. If you're a stylist you can't go wrong in studying and perfecting the big chop. It's not just cutting hair off, but the ability to style it in consult with the client.
i would…but not right now. it hasn't even been a yr since i 1st BC'd…maybe in 5 or so years i would after I've enjoyed my length for a while
I've chopped my hair 3 times now. I'm not in for long for the sake of long. Short hair looks good on me and so does long hair … it's getting through the in bewteen stage that tests my patience.
I have seriously considered it, but I decided against it. I never actually big chopped to begin with. I was a long term transitioner, but was always curious what my hair would look like with a "boy cut". The only reason that I was going to big chop is because I couldn't just leave my hair alone. I wouldn't take care of it as I should and it would get tangles, so I would trim. When the tangles eventually caused bad enough damage, I was ready to just cut it all off. But I've since realized that this is not the solution to my bad hair habits. I'd probably just do it all again with shorter hair. So I've decided to just baby my hair to health and then continue to LEAVE IT ALONE so it can grow! I'll just trim knots and splits along the way.
N-O.
Im not going to say never but I dont know.. I probably would if I wanted a change,now Im not saying BC back down to a TWA, but I would consider it somewhere again. I realized that I am not my hair so I would definitely do it again…
I will definitely big chop again once I feel my hair is getting too much or too long to handle. I have no problem at all with really short hair and I actually shaved my hair off when I BC'd. I am curious to see how big my fro can get and how much hair on my head I can tolerate, but trust me it will be no problem to BC again, as a matter of fact I have had to back away from the clippers a few times already and I have only been natural 13 weeks LOL!!! – Onebyd42
No, I would have definitely transitioned. I think that would have helped with the restlessness I am now experiencing with my hair. There are definitely a lack of styling options with a very short TWA.
Yes I would I didnt appreciate how great the short hair suited me, and now I know what products bring out my kinky curls.
I am thinking of doing it again for my big 3-0! I went natural 7 years ago and had no clue how to work it then, I would love to have a piecy little twa now…just have to convince myself I won't get lazy and yearn for pony puffs:)
Yes, I would big chop again. The good thing is the next time around, I will already know what products to use.
yeah, i think i would i didn't appreciate the short hair look 1st time around but looking back the look suited me and most def brought out my features, but i guess i can say all this based on hindsight and an increase in self confidence not based on my hair but just in general.