So you're going natural. Read this.

There are pretty much two ways you can go from relaxed hair to natural hair. One is a ‘big chop’ the other is transitioning. I favour the first because it gives your hair a fresh start without that almighty commitment to splitting and trashy ends. Ok I sound a little bias but I am a professional so I will give you tips on how to do both types properly so you can make an informed decision on which method is best for you.

The Big Chop

It is advised that you have at least 3 inches of new growth before doing a big chop. While a bald head can look sexy on some girls, you want to be careful about leaving yourself wide open. A bald head, like a tube dress can be very unforgiving. If you don’t like how it looks, you might have to rock wigs for months or bring out a whole arsenal of makeup to brighten your exposed face. If you are going for that edgy look and don’t care if your face screams “I’m a model and models are unique, not cute” then rock on. The rest of you please tread with caution.

Ok, so you have done the big chop.

Wait I am yet to define the big chop. I will give you my informal definition of it. It is not the same ‘big chop’ Sammy got for stealing ackees. Jamaicans use certain terms to emphasize things and a big chop typically has nothing to do with hair. In the world of fashion and beauty, the ‘Big Chop’ is all the rave. This is where a woman cuts her hair really low often in what is called a Tapered Cut.

If you would like to see a post on hair terminologies trending in the beauty industry, drop me a line.

The Big Chop is usually assigned to women. Somehow a man rocking what we like to call Big Chop and Tapered Cuts is simply known as a cut, fade or trim.

The Big Chop is not only stylish, but an effective way of growing healthy natural hair fast. Yes, I said fast. I have done the Big Chop twice and it took me less than 6 months to grow my hair out. I believe this is attributed to the fact that your hair has no split ends when cut that low. It can grow uninterrupted at a faster rate. The longer your hair gets, the more likely it is you will have split ends. Therefore, regular trimming of your ends is important for continued healthy growth.

A big chop is a low maintenance look, so you basically just live life with your pretty self until your hair grows to a length that needs management. You can use regular hair products to wash and treat your hair until it gets to about 5 inches long. At that point it is advised that you find natural hair care products that will maintain moisture and prevent breakage.

Transitioning Hair

This is when you are non-committal to the true process of being natural. Again, I am being a little biased. Forgive me. Let’s try that again. Transitioning hair is when you have a full head of healthy relaxed hair and you would rather ease yourself into being a natural head than mowing it all off.

In cases where your relaxed hair is in good condition, transitioning to natural hair might be the right choice for you. If not just lose those ends.

The advantages of transitioning your hair, is that you get to enjoy some of your usual hairstyles, like buns and ponytails. When the new growth becomes unsightly however it is good to wear curly hairstyles that masks the point where your relaxed hair meets natural roots.

Another good way to protect your hair when transitioning is to wear protective styles like braids and cornrows. These styles keep your hair fully covered and reduce breakage as you do not have to comb your hair daily. The use of protective styles also results in your hair growing at a faster rate bringing you to your goal of being fully natural.

Please note at some point during the transitioning process, you will have to cut and toss the relaxed ends. If you still have them at that point, good for you. In most cases your hair is riddled with split ends that sometimes split all the way into freshly grown natural roots. Your hair might also become brittle as your ends weaken.

Natural hair is denser in texture and it will become increasingly difficult to comb your hair through to the ends where the relaxed hair is weakest. If you find yourself in that situation, just cut off the relaxed ends and rock some braids until you reach a desirable length with your natural hair.

Throughout the transitioning process, it is advised that you use hair products that are rich in moisture because moisturized hair is less likely to break. Good detangling products for and leave in conditions and creams will also work well with your hair at this stage. See link to some hair products that are great for transitioning hair.

Are you transitioning to natural hair or have recently done a big chop? Share your experience with us. Comment below.

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