Sometimes you’ve just gotta chop it all off… again. So much focus is placed on the first big chop. Everything from articles to YouTube videos are dedicated to guiding would-be naturals through their first big chop. But there’s a different big chop story that is never told. The story of the second, third or even fourth time big chopper. When it seems like every natural is either trying to grow her hair to unattainable lengths or maintain her beloved tresses there are naturals out there choosing to cut it all without reservation. Ultimately whilst each curly will have a different reason for doing her second BC here are a few popular ones.
1. You never stopped to smell the roses
As a new curly you had a mission. You wanted to grow long, healthy hair and maybe even prove a few haters wrong. In the process you got so wrapped up in meeting hair goals and achieving hair lengths that you forget to savour every stage of their naturalness.
And so many of us are guilty of this. We forget to enjoy the fierceness of a TWA and tap into our creativity to get us over the styling hump of having hair in that awkward length. Like children, we can’t wait to grow up (or at least we want our hair to”> but when we finally do, we realise that we long for the days of childhood. This may be especially true for long term protective stylers.
Being natural isn’t just about the having the biggest hair and the perfect curl it’s about the journey and for those women who may feel that they robbed themselves of the experience they find it necessary to cut it all off and start again- but this time around they plan on taking the scenic route.
2. Damage
Hair, unlike other parts of our body, doesn’t regenerate itself. Once damaged it can only be patched up but never fully repaired. For the adventurous curlies out there who never met a hair treatment, tool or product they didn’t want to try they found themselves suffering from a serious case of hair damage. Now some curlies would rather hold onto every inch of damaged hair rather than rock a short cut.
Curlies who were outgoing enough to dye their hair Barbie blonde, try exotic hair treatments or were too rebellious to follow any of the natural hair rules may face the need to cut it all off, again. For these curlies, gradually growing out their hair, babying their ends and protective styling is way too tame! At least this way for a couple of months they get to try yet another fabulous hairstyle- the TWA.
3. Do it right this time (whatever right means”>
Going natural can be hard and for some the learning curve is very steep. With all the information out there and differing opinions about everything it can be hard to figure it all out. Some naturals hit the ground running, others start off slow and take off but a few never really got the hang of it- and that’s ok. However, a head full of damaged hair when all you’ve ever craved is a gravity defying fro can really be a let-down for those women. In fact some women have chosen instead to return to more familiar territory; their wigs weaves and relaxers. However rather than raising the white flag and exiting the natural haired community stage left some women chose to be brave, chop it all off and start fresh. They chose to give natural hair a second try but this time armed with a little more information and an excellent strategy to win the war that is natural hair and go from TWA to BAA without the need for a third Big Chop.
4. Ain’t nobody got time for that
We are mothers, wives, students, career women and sometimes all of the above. We don’t always have time to engage in all-out battle with our hair come wash day, or set aside school and housework to set our hair for the perfect twist out. Hair should never be this all-consuming black hole where our free time goes to die. Like applying makeup or picking the perfect outfit we should look forward to styling our hair so that it can help to portray our personality or be the perfect accessory. However, some naturals found that their hair took up way too much time in their schedule and avoided doing it at all costs or simply never had time for it. Once they reached their hair goals and proved to themselves and others that they could do it they wanted to free themselves of all that extra hair. A lot of new moms or naturals who have found themselves going through new or stressful stages in their lives have chosen to do their second BC. Those who have are now loving the 10 minute daily wash and go sessions, the fact that products last forever and that they no longer really need to detangle. In fact they love their new, simpler hair so much many have vowed never to have long hair again.
I’m sure that many of us can relate to how nerve-racking it is to do the big chop so a round of applause needs to go out to the women who have chosen to do it again and prove that the TWA can be a style choice and a fierce one at that.
Have you done the BC more than once? Let us know below.
