So, you’ve finally taken the plunge and done the big chop on your natural hair. Congratulations, girl! But, now what? You might be feeling a little lost and overwhelmed. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 things you must do after you big chop your natural hair.
- Get Your Cut Styled/ Shaped Up By a Professional
There’s a huge difference between cutting your hair yourself versus getting it done by a professional. You might be surprised by the shape of your head or not know how to make the remaining hair frame your face. A professional stylist or barber will help to make sure your cut is stylish and on trend. A great shape-up goes a long way with rocking a super short look. The last thing you want is to cut all your hair off and hate the results. Talk to someone you trust and use inspiration photos to give your stylist or barber an idea of what you want.
- Be Patient and Give Products a Chance
As a new natural, you might be anxious to try every product on the market. Trust us, we’ve all been there. However, after you big chop your natural hair, take advantage of product samples before buying full-size products. Because shorter hair requires less product, using samples will save you time and money until you find your holy grail products. Some brands even sell smaller size product samples in stores now to help with this. If you can’t find samples in-store, request free samples from the brands you want to try.
- Develop a Regimen Now
The number one question women ask is, “What should I do to my hair now that I’m natural?” At the core, you must do the same traditional things you did with relaxed hair. Shampoo, deep condition, maintain trims, etc. Those things don’t change. The biggest change, however, is the frequency of how often you choose to implement those activities. Here are our healthy hair regimen suggestions:
- Shampoo: At a minimum, every 7-9 days. Healthy hair growth starts with a clean scalp. Shampooing weekly will help to remove product build-up, environmental factors, dust, sweat, etc., to ensure your pores aren’t clogged and hair growth can occur freely.
- Deep Condition: Once a week or each time you shampoo. Make sure you have a great moisturizing conditioner and a balancing protein conditioner.
- Moisturize: EVERY DAY!
- Trims: Every 8-12 weeks or as suggested by your professional stylist.
Developing a healthy hair regimen after you big chop your natural hair will put you in a great position for when your hair grows longer. By then, you will have your favorites figured out, and you will know what your hair responds well to as far as products.
- Stop Stressing Over Your Curl Pattern
After you big chop your natural hair, you might be obsessed with your curls. This is normal, but you should know that your curl pattern and type (3c, 4a, 4c, etc.) doesn’t matter. Healthy hair isn’t determined by your curl type. It has no bearing on how long your hair will grow or how fast it will grow. Instead, focus on other things like your hair’s porosity and what your hair needs.
- Protect Your Hair At Night
When it comes to hair care, it’s important to protect your hair at night. This is especially true when you have shorter hair because it’s easier for your hair to become damaged while you sleep. Here are some tips to protect your hair at night:
- Use a silk or satin pillowcase or bonnet to avoid friction and prevent breakage.
- Keep your hair moisturized
