Transitioners Thursday: When To BC

There comes a point in most women's transitions when they begin to feel it's no longer necessary to keep their relaxed ends. They contemplate a Big Chop (cutting off their relaxed ends and becoming 100% natural). For some women the transition period is a couple of months, for some a few months and then there are the long term transitioning that stick in there for a year a more (like me). I didn't plan my Big Chop, I just picked up a pair of scissors on July 4, 2008 (a year and a half after my last relaxer) and never looked back. "When should I BC?" is one of Mane & Chic's most asked questions. Here's my answer on when you should Big Chop.

• When you're ready. You don't want to regret doing it too soon.
• When you're comfortable with the length you will loose. Your relaxed ends are weighing down your hair, be prepared to loose a lot of length not only due to the cut, but to shrinkage.
• When you're tired of dealing with the line of difference. It can be annoying and if you're having a lot of difficulty here or are rushing through detangling, you might consider the Big Chop.
•  When you're tired of dealing with the different textures. If you feel like you want to simplify your hair routine, it would help to not have to deal with the drastically different textures. Keep in mind that your natural hair may not be all the same texture (often it's not), but it shouldn't be like dealing with relaxed and natural hair.
• When you've figured out how you're going to do it: are you going to do it? a close friend? or are you going to a salon?
• When you're prepared. Have you done your research? Do you have the products and tools you will need to be natural?

Notice a common theme here? It's you. There is no good or bad time to cut off your relaxed ends. It's all on you. 

You should also read...

Preparing for the Big Chop