Jennifer ~ Before and After

How long were you thinking of going natural? What's the story?


I wanted to go natural for about 2 years, but I never had the courage to do it. But in recent months, I started watching videos on YouTube about other women who have either gone natural or was transitioning to natural. It inspired me to want to finally try it out. I grew my hair out for few months before I got frustrated with the two textures and decided to just do it!



Was your transition a long or short one?



I only transitioned for 3 months, so it was a very short transition.


We all know how important it is to moisturize our hair while in transition, what products did you use to keep your hair moisturized?


I used Garnier Fructis leave conditioner on a daily basis to moisturize my hair whether it was wet or dry.


What was your staple hairstyle while in transition?


While transitioning I blow dried/ flat iron my hair straight every other week but I wore Bantu knots, twist sets or braid outs. When I didn’t feel like doing my hair I would put weave in for a few days.



When you decided to Big Chop, how did you feel about your cut? And how did people react to it?


My exact statement was, “OMG my hair, I cut my hair!” I was scared out of my mind and really surprised that I just chopped off all of my hair. During the first few days I was so unsure of myself and a little insecure ,until I came to the conclusion that I didn’t care what people thought about my hair and I am the same Jennifer with or without hair.



Did you have any regrets?


Not one regret.


What are your long term goals for your hair journey?


I plan to treat my hair with the up most respect and gratitude. LOL. Seriously, I plan to continue to grow my hair out healthy (my focus is not just mega length) and embrace the natural me.

Christannette ~ Before and After

How long were you thinking of going natural? What's the story ?


Well,sometime in 2008 was the first time I considered going natural, I'd heard a silly rumor that if you don't relax your hair for a long time your hair will grow, so when I got to about 4 inches of unrelaxed hair I was seriously considering cutting off the relaxed ends, but then thought "better" of it and relaxed my hair. Earlier this year, I joined a facebook group called "Care for your hair" and I instantly became hooked on Natural hair care, my hair was always damaged, breaking and refused to stay a nice healthy length, it was always one problem after another ,but I didn't know it was actually being caused by the relaxer, so in the end I was more than ready to just chop it all off.



Was your transition a long or short one?


My transition was very short. I wasn't hesitant at all, I'd never gone that short with my hair before but I was ready, plus I wasn't really feeling braids/weave to transition because they itch me way too much, so I just chopped about 2 weeks after deciding to go natural.



We all know how important it is to moisturize our hair,what products did you use to keep your hair moisturized?


I'm still trying to find what works for my hair, but what I've discovered my hair loves so far is Pure Coconut oil, Coconut hair milk, Mega Thick doo gro oil, Alberto Balsam conditioner, Carrot oil and Organic Root stimulator hair mayonnaise.



When you decided to Big Chop,how did you feel about your cut? And how did people react to it?


My cut was a big change, but by the evening I was in love with it, I couldn't stop looking in mirrors lol. People reacted really well to my big chop, I got a lot of positive feedback.



Did you have any regrets?


None whatsoever.



What are your long term goals for your hair journey?


I want to grow my hair to a nice long length before I start really experimenting with my hair e.g cutting it, possibly natural hair dye etc, but for now my main focus is growth and keeping it healthy :o)

Charvass ~ Before and After

How long were you thinking of going natural? What's the story?

Well, actually I was natural for a while back in 2002 ,but I caved in under pressure and got a relaxer. My hair was growing quite well until I started going to this new hair dresser. I didn't want to get a relaxer but she talked me into it. About six months later, I was combing my hair then I realize my hair was gone on one side. My hair was broken off at the middle of the shaft and not from the roots. I was extremely ticked off because my hair was shoulder length. I pointed this out to my hairdresser and she acted as if nothing was wrong. She didn't want to cut my hair but it was broken off so bad that you could see through it. We fought tooth and nail about me cutting my hair. So, she finally gave in and cut it off. March 2008, I stop going to that hairdresser and started growing my perm out.


Was your transition a long or short one?

My transition was short.It only lasted 6 months.


We all know how important it is to moisturize our hair
while in transition,what products did you use to keep
your hair moisturized?


I kept my hair in braids throughout my transition. I tried to use a lot of tea tree oil, carrot oil and vitamin E on my scalp. Now I use Carol's Daughter Hair Milk or Olive Oil hair lotion.


What was your staple hairstyle while in transition?

Flat twist and braids.


When you decided to Big Chop,how did you feel about your cut? And how did people react to it?

OMG, my natural hairstylist talked me into the "BC". I was so scared but I went through with it and I loved my Big Chop. People were very positive about the BC and if they weren't ,I didn't give a damn because it is my hair.

Did you have any regrets?


The only regret I have, is relaxing my hair back in 2003 but lack of knowledge, peer pressure and low self-esteem caused me to give into society's beauty standards.



What are your long term goals for your hair journey?

I just want long, healthy hair.I love being natural and I am not turning back.

Patrice ~Before and After

HOW LONG WERE YOU THINKING OF GOING NATURAL ? WHAT'S THE STORY?

I thought about going natural after my last relaxer to touch up the back of my hair (which was cut really short). It dried out the ends of my hair, which I had decided to shave down closer anyway. Two weeks later, it seemed like the section that I had relaxed was getting all busy again. It was too short to flat iron and I just became so frustrated! When I became frustrated, i decided that I was going to just embrace my hair's natural texture and I began my transition.


WAS YOUR TRANSITION A LONG OR SHORT ONE??

My transition was pretty short, I already had pretty short hair and I cut an inch off before getting kinky twists done.When I took the twists out, I had my hairdresser cut the rest off. I have no pics to show because I got it cornrowed right after, but the transition lasted for 4 months for the top and middle of my head and 3.5 in the back.



WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MOISTURIZE YOUR HAIR WHILE IN TRANSITION ,WHAT PRODUCTS DID YOU USE TO KEEP YOUR HAIR MOISTURIZED ?


I used Infusium 23 leave in conditioner when I wore my hair out and Africans Best Herbal Oil for when I had my hair in a protective style.


WHAT WAS YOUR STAPLE HAIRSTYLE WHILE IN TRANSITION?

Roller set (for a curly fro) and kinky twists


WHEN YOU DECIDED TO BIG CHOP ,HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR CUT? AND HOW DID PEOPLE REACT TO IT?


I decided to "BC" on Saturday, which was March 13, 2010. I got it braided after she cut it but it made me feel wonderful. The day before ,I had taken out my kinky twists and could not do anything with my hair because of straight ends. I live away from my family with my fiance and he's really supportive. To him, it's just hair and when I came home he wanted to know why didn't I just wear it out =)


DID YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS??


That I didn't do it sooner to give myself a chance to see how beautiful my natural hair can be.



WHAT ARE YOUR LONG TERM GOALS FOR YOUR HAIR JOURNEY?

My long term goal is just to have healthy hair. I've always loved shorter hair so I don't really have any goals as far as length goes.

Erin~ Before and After

How long were you thinking of going natural? What's the story ?


Well, I changed my hair like i change underwear! doing different things to it and putting all kinds of weaves in it. It took a toll on my hair and on me. i changed my hair so much but i had some insecurity issues.
so God and I had a very long conversation and he said in order for me to find stability in life, i needed to find stability in my hair. besides, i hated the maintenance of relaxers. and how bad they made my hair break off.


Was your transition a long or short one?

Actually i didn't transition. I had a perm and i got my hair cut ,then about a month and a half later I BC'd.



We all know how important it is to moisturize our hair ,what products do you use to keep your hair moisturized?

The product i use for moisture is a shea butter mix i mixed myself. its a combo of organic shea butter, EVOO, kemi oil, and a little KC Knot today leave in conditioner. it's so amazing i love the way it feels. its so light-weight. and i try to use it every two days. and for my protective style i use EVOO, and KC knot today diluted with water in a spray bottle.


When you decided to Big Chop,how did you feel about your cut? And how did people react to it?

When i decided to Big Chop ,i felt like a boy.What made matters worse ,was people thought me and my older brother were twins! it was tragic lol. People at my church asked me if i was going through a crises. My group mate at the time, and now boyfriend liked it a lot. All and all i was happy with my decision but i still wished i transitioned instead of BC'ing.


Did you have any regrets?
All and all I'm happy with my decision ,but i still wished i transitioned instead of BC'ing. lol



What are your long term goals for your hair journey?

Just to have healthier hair.

Georgia~ Before and After

How long were you thinking of going natural? What's the story ?

A few years before my BC, I've always thought about going natural but I was afraid of what my natural hair would look like and what people might say. It took me awhile to get over the fear, but I did eventually and I wish I did it sooner.

Was your transition a long or short one?

My transition was very short, 2 months.
I wanted to experience my natural hair, so I did my big chop while my hair was in a protective style (kinky twist).

We all know how important it is to moisturize our hair
while in transition,what products did you use to keep
your hair moisturized?

While transitioning, I used Herbal Essence Sleek & Shine Leave-In, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil to moisturize my hair. I try to keep it pretty simple, even now while I'm natural.

What was your staple hairstyle while in transition?

My go to style while transitioning was kinky twist.

When you decided to Big Chop,how did you feel about your cut? And how did people react to it?

I decided to BC, April 19, 2009 and I was so excited and nervous all at the same time. At first I didn't really like my cut, but I started to love it. Most of my family and friends were really supportive, except for my grandma. To this day she will ask,"why did you cut off your hair, are you going to perm(relax) it again?" and I say "No, Never, Stop asking me". lol

Did you have any regrets?

Nope, No regrets.

What are your long term goals for your hair journey?

I just want to have thick and healthy hair. It can grow nice and long as well, that would be nice :)

La Cienega~A diva in Transition

What made you decide to go natural ? What's your story?


I've had relaxed hair for about 4 years.The reason i had relaxed my hair in the first place was just for a change of style. I was tired of braids and cornrows and wanted to try something new. During my first 2 years with relaxed hair, i was heat-free and as a result, my hair was over shoulder length, thick and healthy. As i started using heat (blow drying weekly with no heat protectant), slowly but surely(over 2 years) my hair got damaged and broke off to about neck-length. As if that wasn't bad enough, i started self-relaxing, and since i didn't know what i was doing, after a year i had about 4 demarcation lines in my hair ! (patterns of well processed and under processed hair).
I began my healthy hair journey summer 2009 and decided that i would just take special care of my hair and hopefully it would get stronger, however, it kept breaking off easily on those numerous demarcation lines.
January 2010 is when i finally decided to let it all go and start fresh. I decided i was going to do a big chop and go natural again.
At the moment, I'm 2 months into my transition, i have 4 more months to go. I plan on big chopping in June :)
I will be rocking a coloured twa for about a year before i start growing my hair out again (i take this experience as a chance to finally experiment with hair colour, something i would never do with relaxed hair).


Have you told anybody? (friends,spouse,family members) What do they think? Is there any negative feed back?

I've shared my plans with my family and close friends, and I'm glad to have received nothing but support from them.


What styles are you currently using to transition?

Currently, I'm using my trusty-curly half wig :)
i love her !

What products are you using to moisturize your hair while in transition?

To moisturize my hair these days all i use is Aussie Moist conditioner. I works great for my hair, and my new growth loves it!


There are alot of challenges that come with transitioning ,what are some of yours?

So far, i haven't faced any challenges with this transition, perhaps its because its not my first time .. When i began my healthy hair journey i did a 6 month stretch which went really well (again, thanks to half-wigs, i didn't have to manipulate my hair daily)


Do you plan to BC? (Big Chop) if so ,When?

I do plan on Big chopping in June, and I'm so excited.


What are your long term goals for your hair?

For now( starting in June), i would like to enjoy my coloured twa's and fro-hawks.
In the future, lets say about 10 years from now, I'd love to have at least MBL natural/afro hair.