How to care for 4C / 4Z hair BEFORE relaxing it

As mentioned in a previous post, I suffered some set backs and neglected my hair for quite some time ultimately resulting in me having to "big chop".
Upon deciding to re-start my hair journey following some major life changes, I decided to start caring for my hair again.

My 4c Hair

I made up my mind that I wanted to go back to being a relaxed haired girl. I am fully aware about the pros and cons surrounding being natural vrs relaxed and how natural hair is said to be healthier and am happy with the decision I've made to be relaxed.

What is the 'big chop'? Tips for the big chop

What is the big chop? Why do I need the big chop? Is it possible to have healthy hair without the big chop?

The big chop is a term used to describe the process of cutting off a huge amount of your hair. It's usually used when transitioning from relaxed, permed or texturized (even dyed) hair to natural hair. The reason for the big chop is to have a fresh start, start a new without any damage or breakage and to have a new chemical free start. Another reason for the big chop is that the hair left behind from chemical processes when trying to transition to natural will often break off due to damage already caused.

It is also a whole lot easier to manage, maintain and look after your hair when it's in one texture instead of two (chemically treated and natural).

Do I have to have the big chop?

In short, no you do not. Many ladies have managed to transition without cutting off their much cherished length. it might be a lot harder and a little more work but it possible. Read: How to go from relaxed hair to natural without the big chop 

The video below gives you some tips and points to look at BEFORE going ahead with the big chop.

How to go from relaxed hair to natural hair without the big chop

Is it possible to transition from relaxed hair to natural without the big chop? How do I transition to natural hair without the big chop? Is it possible to avoid the big chop while transitioning? Can I go back to natural hair from relaxed hair without cutting my relaxed hair off?

As an African or African American lady one of our major concerns is retaining length and growing our hair beautifully. Due to the texture of our hair this can sometimes be an extremely hard task. When it comes to making the decision of going from relaxed or chemically treated hair to fully natural hair you may find yourself facing the idea of the gruesome big chop.

The video below gives you tips and advice in helping you to transition to natural hair without having to cut off your valued length. Hope it helps!