TRANSITION OR BIG CHOP: A CHOICE FOR BLACK NATURALS

There seems to be a movement among women of color at this time. It seems that more and more women want to return their hair back to its natural state. More black women are deciding to stop the use of hair relaxers and perms and are allowing their hair to return to its natural roots. Now, there are two choices for the women to make, either that can transition into the natural or they can do what is known as the BC or the "BIG CHOP".

Now, let me explain the difference between the two. First, transitioning is when the decision is made not to relax the hair and to just let the relaxer grow out of the hair. Transitioning takes a period of a few months depending on the length of the hair. Each week or month, the relaxed ends can be cut away from the "new growth" that is coming from the roots. Eventually after a good amount of new growth is seen, the rest of the relaxed ends are cut away until nothing remains but the un-relaxed natural hair.

On the other hand, The "BIG CHOP" is totally radical and the extreme opposite of transitioning. When ladies decide to do the "BIG CHOP", the hair is cut all the way down to the natural hair or all of the hair is cut away completely. I admire the women who decide to take this route on their " natural hair Journey". This steps takes extreme courage to cut all of the relaxed hair away at once.

Nowadays, you see a lot of the women sporting the TWA or the "Teenie Wennie Afro". There are a lot of styles that can be worn being that black hair is so versatile. To me, I think that being natural is the way to give you more options and versatility to wear the hair in many different ways. The hair can be worn straighten, braided, Afro style, and curly just to name a few. Products like Kinky Curly Custard and Kinky Curly Knot Today and Carol Daughter products are a good way to get the started.

A lot of information to help new naturals can be found at www.mynaturalhairplace.com. It is a site with a wealth of information on caring for the hair while in its natural state. It also gives good ideas on how to wear the hair.So if you are embarking on "the natural hair journey", I hope that this information and leads will make your journey worthwhile.