Transitioning might be the hardest thing you will ever do as you move forward with your natural hair. Maybe you might have had an easy time and you are thinking, well you should speak for yourself.
If it was easy for you, that’s great but for some of us, at some point things got a bit frustrating, even when you are doing everything you know is right for your hair.
It would be much easier if there was a set point for everyone to know when to cut their relaxed hair. Like a bell or a red light or something that tells you, ‘ honey*, it’s time’.
The thing is, transitioning is a very personal because everyone is different and everyone has different goals for their hair.
Some naturals face a lot of pressure to cut their hair because like with many things in life, somebody else always knows what is good for another person, that person being you.
All you can do is decide for yourself amidst the naysayers. What if we tried to level the playing field though and came up with some tell tale signs that tell you that it is time for a big chop. What would those things look like?
For you to have a successful start to your healthy hair journey, you do not want to have any set backs so it would be better to have some clues that tell you ‘honey* its time’.
1. You cannot seem to stop the breakage
This is probably one of the ultimate signs that will tell you that it is time to let go of your relaxed ends. As your natural hair grows it is harder for the line of demarcation, which is the point where your relaxed hair meets your natural hair, to stay strong.
Think about it: if you notice your natural hair tends to be much lighter than your relaxed hair so the weight of one texture is bound to cause issues even if you deep condition on a weekly bases.
Some women complain about mid shaft splits that they never ever had before which can be very frustrating when you are of the mind set that you are doing more for your hair now than you ever have. If you have uncontrollable breakage it is time to do the big chop.
TWA isn’t for me…
At 15 months post, I just didn’t want to deal with the two textures anymore. Once I decided the health of my hair is more important the length.After all I can get the length again. I had no issues with cutting it and do not regret it one bit.
No big chop for me either been natural for two yrs now
Hmmmm I’m not sure about the big chop Deborah P Almada
After 11 months of transitioning, I knew it was time. I had had some Senegalese twists installed a week before my college graduation and I kept them in for 2-2.5 months. When I took them down and washed my hair, my relaxed ends were popping off left and right. The next day, I big chopped. It will be 2 years in July that I’ve been natural and 3 years in August since I’ve had a relaxer.
I think I’m ready for the big chop. Mainly because after washing the relaxed hair Tangles badly and very hard to manage. But that’s my only real issues so far, because I have been doing crochet protective styles on my hair since I started my journey.
My hair was breaking off, my hair would not curl or hold any kind of style, so I chop it off.
All my hair was falling out, my hair would not hold any hair style.