✂️💇🏽‍♀️Big Chop & Fresh Start

My Big Chop: The Day I Chose Healthy Hair and Self-Love
Letting Go to Grow 🌿

For 36 years, I held on to hair that told stories of flat irons, relaxers, and heat damage. I thought length meant beauty—but my hair had lost its life. I could never seem to get past shoulder length. My struggle areas were the nape of my neck and the crown of my head. No matter what I did, those areas were always broken off and thin. I did one last ditch effort to revitalize my hair. I cut about 4 inches off. I was confident that my hair would grow back thick and strong. But my struggle areas stayed the same. At that point, I started stretching my relaxers to 16 weeks because I thought I may have been overlapping the relaxer. Stretching it was my way of making sure that I could tell my new growth from previously relaxed hair. By that point, I began to get curious about my curls coming in. I figured, if I could stretch 16 weeks, I may as well start transitioning to natural. That is what I did. I transitioned for 18 months. I have heard of horror stories of women going from relaxed to natural, but I wore my hair in 2-strand twists for a week, wore a twist out for a week, and started the process over again. The time went by fast, and I was loving seeing my emerging curls.

With the first snip, I felt a mix of nerves and freedom. By the last curl that fell, I felt light—like I had shed more than hair. I had let go of damage, doubt, and the idea that my beauty depended on length.

✨The Fresh Start My Hair Deserved
After the chop, my scalp could finally breathe again. My curls felt soft, coily, and alive. For the first time since I was a little girl, my hair was healthy from root to tip. I realized that healthy hair doesn’t start with a product—it starts with patience, moisture, and care. Sis, I loved my hair being short. I rocked so many styles as my hair grew out. It allowed me to learn about my hair as it grew out. The first year of my hair journey went by so fast. I did not know that my hair could grow that fast! I was amazed.

Progress Pics🥰

My new routine became simple but sacred:

• Cleansing gently (and washing twice) with a moisture-rich shampoo and following up with a moisturizing conditioner. Hello Hydration is my favorite shampoo/conditioner duo. It smells great and always leaves my hair moisturized and clean.
• Deep conditioning weekly to restore hydration. Shea Moisure’s Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisture mask gives your hair intense moisture.
• Sealing in moisture with natural oils like jojoba or castor oil. The Jamaican Mango & Lime Black Castor Oil is my go to!
• Protective styling with twists or satin scarves to minimize breakage. I NEVER go to sleep or lay down without my scarf. Protect your hair with the AWAYTR scarf. You get 2 of them so you can always have a clean one and one on deck for when you have to wash it.
  Each step became an act of love—proof that consistency creates beauty.
  👑What the Big Chop Taught Me About Confidence
  At first, I was nervous to show up in public with my new short curls. But something amazing happened; people noticed my glow before they noticed my hair. I realized confidence doesn’t come from a style—it comes from owning your story.
  The big chop reminded me that growth happens when we release what no longer serves us. Whether that’s damaged ends or old insecurities, cutting them off makes space for something more beautiful to grow.
  
  If you’re thinking about doing the big chop, here’s my advice: don’t wait for perfect timing—just start.
  You’ll be amazed at the freedom that comes with embracing your natural beauty and starting fresh. I would love to hear your big chop story and see your progress pics! Please share below and let’s encourage each other onwards towards healthy hair! 🫶