Big Chop vs Transitioning – Everything You Need To Know

The Big Chop vs transitioning which one is better? These are two popular methods for beginning a natural hair journey for black women.

The Big Chop is a method where you cut off all chemically treated hair and start fresh with their natural curls.

Transitioning, on the other hand, is a process where individuals gradually cut off chemically treated hair over a period of time while simultaneously growing out their natural hair.

Both methods have their pros and cons and the decision of which method to choose is ultimately up to you. Whichever method you chose, it is important to have patience, consistency and a good hair care regimen when making your choice.

I happened to do both. I made the choice to stop relaxing my hair at the start of 2017 and left my hair alone to grow out not to transition specifically but my hairdresser was stressing me out and I had no energy to find a new one (if you know you know). If I knew now what I did then it would have been a nicer experience but I looked a hot mess for the most part.

My friend had recently cut all her hair off and it had never occurred to me that I could also cut my hair off as I’d always been the girl with ‘good hair’ and I enjoyed the label. At the start of 2018 when having a conversation with that same friend on snapchat she called me a ‘p*ssy’ jokingly for not following though after I said I might cut my hair.

I didn’t wake up on January 5th 2018 with the mind to cut my hair but I thought why not? New year. I’m not a ‘p*ssy’. I had just gotten into wearing wigs so if I hated it I’d just hide it.

I proceeded to document the whole thing on my snapchat story where I got mixed responses. My mum was the most saddened by my big chop as she was the caretaker of my hair in my younger years and took pride in its health and length. I forced her to help me cut it off and she as you can see above tried to leave as much hair as possible so I dealt with the relaxed tips later. I’d say the year of no relaxer really set me up nicely for my big chop and I was pleasantly surprised.

The pros of the Big Chop method include:

• Immediate results – cutting off all chemically treated hair allows for a fresh start to growing healthy natural hair
• No dealing with two textures – eliminates the need to deal with chemically treated and natural hair, which can be difficult to manage
• Low maintenance – once the initial cut is made, there is less maintenance required as the hair is all one texture

The cons of the Big Chop method include:

• Short hair – cutting off all chemically treated hair can result in a drastic change and very short hair
• Loss of length – you may not be ready to lose length in their hair
• Emotional – the process can be emotionally difficult as it can feel like a loss of one’s previous identity

The pros of the Transitioning method include:

• Less drastic change – gradually cutting off chemically treated hair allows for a slower transition
• Length retention – individuals can keep some length to their hair while going through the transition process
• Ease of styling – transitioning allows individuals to experiment with different styles as their natural hair grows in

The cons of the Transitioning method include:

• Lengthy process – the transition period can take several months or even years to fully transition to natural hair
• Two textures – dealing with chemically treated and natural hair can be difficult to manage
• Risk of breakage – the line of demarcation between chemically treated and natural hair can be fragile and prone to breakage.

Ultimately, the decision of which method to choose is a personal one and depends on your preferences and comfort level. Whichever method is chosen, consistency, patience and a good hair care regimen are important to achieve healthy natural hair.

Explore the pros and cons of the Big Chop and Transitioning methods in the natural hair journey for black women. Decide which method is right for you and learn tips for healthy hair growth.

I didn’t really have a clue but I was ultimately so happy with my choice to the point I left my hair out and left wigs altogether. My hair is healthier and longer than it ever was before and I actually know how to take care of mine now after A LOT of trial and error.

Hope if you are thinking of going natural this helps and inspires you,

BYE X