Posted on: Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013

Big chop is the process of cutting off the relaxed or permed ends of one’s hair when one is transitioning from chemically processed hair to natural hair. Many new naturals are excited, yet frustrated with their hair after they BC. During those first 6-8 months your curl pattern and texture may change several times. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome in the beginning is dryness. You might even ask yourself, “What in the world happened to my hair… it’s like the Sahara Desert!”. Contrary to popular belief, curly hair can be extremely dry and fragile. Below are a few tips to help the new natural.

Water: When you were relaxed the thought “Water ain’t nuthin’ but the debil” (in my Momma Boucher voice from Water Boy) may have run through your mind. We would avoid it all cost right down to not trying to break a sweat. But natural hair LOVES water and thrives on it. When looking for a product to moisturize your hair, water should be the first ingredient. A lot of naturals like to make their own sprays using distilled water with oils such as jojoba, grape seed and castor oil. It’s also crucial for your hair, as well as your health, to also drink 6-8 glasses of water. I can definitely see a difference when I’ve been slacking on my water.

Deep Conditioning: Weekly deep conditionings are very important. Hair steamers can also be used with conditioning. The steam will drive the product deep into the hair, leaving it smooth and shiny. If you don’t own a hair steamer, placing a plastic cap over your hair while you deep condition can be just as effective. There are a lot of homemade concoctions that you can whip up at home with ingredients that you already have.

Products: Where do I begin? There are a million and one products out there for natural hair and many claim to do things that they will never be able to deliver on. What works best for most naturals is finding another natural with a similar hair texture. When trying new products, it’s also best to give it a try for 1-2 weeks and limit how many you use. This way you know what works and what doesn’t. The chart below can help give you an idea of what type of hair you have (keep in mind many of us have several different types).

Author: Alisha Lampley is a wife, mother of 2 crazy girls and a Social Worker. Alisha shares her tips on hair and beauty on her awesome blog.