preview of monday style icon… this one’s for the ‘big choppers’

07 August 2009 ~ 32 Comments

preview of monday style icon… this one’s for the ‘big choppers’

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From the emails and comments I’ve been getting lately many of you (including our very own Shari) are either considering or have just completed the big chop.

Well Zara is our style icon for Monday and the last time I profiled her on BGLH she had hair… lots of it.

It’s all gone now and I can’t tell which look is hotter! Stay tuned for the full interview on Monday! There’s also a retrospective coming out tomorrow… so be sure to check that out.

In the meantime let’s do a big chop rollcall; Who has recently done the big chop? And who is currently considering it?

32 Responses to “preview of monday style icon… this one’s for the ‘big choppers’”

karibbee 7 August 2009 at 8:55 pm Permalink

yea for more BC stories! I BCed a couple days ago after an 8 month transition and haven't had hair this short and curly since I was a little girl.

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Vixen 7 August 2009 at 9:31 pm Permalink

My BC was in April. I got too tired of transitioning and just decided to go for it. I am so relieved I did. Now I can fully pursue loving my nappyness.

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serenity23 7 August 2009 at 9:56 pm Permalink

I BC'd on June 25th and my hair is growing fast and I'm loving my curls..

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mysskay 7 August 2009 at 10:09 pm Permalink

Technically I didn't BC because my last perm was in May 2003, but I've been wearing protective styles since then. I just started rockin my natural out last Tuesday – and I'm loving my hair! I did have to trim it and I have cut it over the years, but this is probably the shortest hair I've ever rocked it, but its still a good 3-4 inches of curly wonder! Everyday it just gets better and better. Conditioner is my new best friend! Congrats to all those who recently BC'd and here's some encouragement to those considering it (-_-)\m/

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Miss Malorie 7 August 2009 at 10:20 pm Permalink

Yay BC! I big chopped almost five months ago (anniversary is this 8th of August!!) and since then my hair has grown much faster than I anticipated!! I can tend to be mean to it… not conditioning it or keeping it moisturized sometimes, but I've found lately that when I keep it in little plaits like I have lately, it really likes me lol.

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Kanyin Ojo 7 August 2009 at 11:26 pm Permalink

I big chopped July 27 and Zara was actually one of my inspirations for finally just doing it. I've never felt happier!

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carisa 8 August 2009 at 12:58 am Permalink

I also big chopped a few days ago, but it's my second. Had dreads and was tired of them. I love my hair!

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J. 8 August 2009 at 1:09 am Permalink

I did the BC last Wednesday (July 29th) and I have to say I am loving it so far.

I can't keep my hands out of my hair even though I should be able to.

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Patricia Grannum 8 August 2009 at 1:45 am Permalink

not so recent but I cut off all of mine two years ago for the second time in my life..and I'm still lovin it..

http://womanofcolour.blogspot.com

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Lrigyttiw 8 August 2009 at 5:05 am Permalink

I just completely BC'd it all off on April 19th. My hair was badly damaged and I wanted to start fresh and grow it out curly. I know it's going to be a long albeit adventurous journey, but I'm in it for the long haul. No more straightening, and no more heat. Very liberating.

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artgyrl 8 August 2009 at 7:00 am Permalink

I BC'd about 6 weeks ago after transitioning for about 8 months. My hair grows crazy fast, and I'm amazed that a lot of coaxing, I can get it all back in a little puff. :)

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Shandra E...*the misses 8 August 2009 at 7:50 am Permalink

i'm sooo scared, but I know i need to do it!!! I've been seeing the acronyms "BC" & JUST now i found out what they mean!! whew…so long to all the confusion!! lol, but i'm scared to chop it because i'm ONLY 5ft, which means i'm a petite chick…BUT not like Jada pinkett petite…I weigh like 127lbs, my boobs are Not small, & my neck is kind of short….soooo i just don't think those are good combinations?!!! lol…i had to tell TMI so everyone would get where i'm coming from?!!

SO WHAT DOES A GIRL LIKE ME do about the BC when it seems all odds are against me??? Yet i need to cut my hair (haven't permed it in 8yrs; it's grown really long, but recently just fell out alot for whatever reason??? so i need to start all over!)…WHAT do I do??!! =/

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Shandra E...*the misses 8 August 2009 at 7:52 am Permalink

….Oh && i mentioned the "not so small boobs" because I think busty girls need longer hair to camoflauge…i'm worried that way shorter hair will only Exxagerate my head & bust size!! =/

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Carmen 8 August 2009 at 1:35 pm Permalink

I BC a few weeks ago after transitioning for 5 months. I was unintentionally transitioning. I don't like bone straight hair and when I use to get my relaxers I would just blow dry and never flat iron bc I love my big kinky hair. And when I put some S-Curl on my new growth..wooo chile!! I started reading fotkis and natural hair websites and I was like this is what I need to do! So, I was going to transition for as long as possible but I was like forget it and I did it! Fabulousity indeed!! Congrats to my other BC-ers!

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alinadel 8 August 2009 at 1:55 pm Permalink

I am a white woman with long hair, really long… and I love this blog! Great posts! I am waiting to read and see more :-)
Greetings from Romania!

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Queenbuv3 8 August 2009 at 2:56 pm Permalink

She looks great either way. Some women are gorgeous with and without hair. I personally love the feel of being bald but don't like how I look. My compromise is the mohawk. I get to have some shaved parts but enough hair to make me look good.

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fatty 8 August 2009 at 3:13 pm Permalink

Her chop is super cute!!
I recently BC'ed… cut off all my relaxed ends (after about a month maybe of new growth). That was June 1st & i'm really enjoying watching it grow and "styling" my TWA :)
this blog was my inspiration 2 just do it!
@ Shandra: if ur beautiful with hair (and you ARE), you will STILL be beautiful with less/no hair. don't be scurred girl :)

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Black girl with long hair 8 August 2009 at 3:17 pm Permalink

@ everyone… CONGRATS
@ shandra e… well, i hope this is not too much information, but i have D cups (double Ds whenever i put on a little weight) and i had them when i did the big chop. i'm a few inches taller than you — 5' 4" — but still not super tall. and honestly, the big chop was fine.

if anything, i really appreciated the fact that the chop highlighted my curves instead of distracting from them.

i say GO FOR IT — i've NEVER heard a woman regret doing a big chop. NEVER.

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vidaloca 8 August 2009 at 5:23 pm Permalink

I got my last relaxer 6 months ago. I LOVE my new growth and enjoy touching these little curls and waves that are growing in. I am so ready to BC but I just moved to Minnesota which has very long and harsh winters. I am thinking of wearing wigs and protective styles until next spring. Should I wait or BC now? Does anyone have advice for a newbie living in the frozen tundra?

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cocoadrop420 8 August 2009 at 5:30 pm Permalink

My BC was July 08. And I LOVE IT! No combs, brushes, flat irons, etc.
It was a pretty bold move considering I have had long hair all my life. I tried to transition but the processed hair was too DAMAGED!My friends and family have been super supportive except my husband but he will get over it. Much love and congrats to all the women who decided to embrace our natural beauty!

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Jas 8 August 2009 at 5:50 pm Permalink

I just BD's on July the 11th!! YAY!! it's all still new to me, but I didn't really transistion. I think that stage only lasted a few weeks before I went chop, chop, CHOP! :D I'm loving my hair though. plus it was severely out of shape..the habit of relaxing and heat had to be broken.

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PARKAveGirLINaPARKSIDEWorld 8 August 2009 at 10:57 pm Permalink

I BC'd on the 28th.

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Alida 9 August 2009 at 1:40 pm Permalink

My BC was July of 2008 and I have not looked back!

I love my hair and I am very fortunate that my husband loves it too!! I kept it ultra short the whole first year and just decided back in March to grow it out. So I am keeping it in twists and wearing scarves and hats right now. Once a week I wear a twist out and then I go back to a protective style.

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The Star 9 August 2009 at 8:17 pm Permalink

Big Choped June 7th! Left me with less than 1/2 in of hair!

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Monique 9 August 2009 at 8:29 pm Permalink

My last BC was July 2008, however I have done 4 BC's total for various reasons – mostly b/c of heat damage.

@ Shandra…I also think you can carry a short style w/ big boobs (I'm a DDD & 5'8). I loved the short cut on me. As long as you accessorize, it'll be FAB!

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Anonymous 10 August 2009 at 5:47 am Permalink

I think a short cut w/ curves is hot. You can definitely work the short cut with confidence and show that your still feminine even with short hair!

My mom wears her hair very short and she is a curvy woman. She wears big earrings and makeup (ALWAYS, I mean, even when going to the gym…she's always been like that though) and she looks very feminine.

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Shandra E...*the misses 10 August 2009 at 6:10 am Permalink

Thanx (to everyone) for all the encouraging words!!! I think i'll do it really soon…my family/no one I know will be supportive, BUT it's something i have to do for me!! Besides if i wait on them it'll keep falling out & be really short anyhow so i'd rather have short & Healthy hair!!! They didn't even want me to get a chin length bob & I LOVED it so screw them all…lol…soon i'll be embracing the BC!!! :)

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Nichelle 10 August 2009 at 11:51 am Permalink

I BC'd in March 2009, and I'm loving the journey so far.
@ Shandra…girl, I'm "busty" too and I'm only about 5'5", but I think my BC definitely works for me. Like Monique said…accessorize, and keep it movin'! :)

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HaitianRoots 10 August 2009 at 6:24 pm Permalink

never really bc'd had at least 4inches of new growth when i cut off the permed ends in 2000. however, approaching the big 3-0 in december and i am really considering BCing…so more stories (with lots of pics of different styles) would be great.

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Anonymous 11 August 2009 at 5:39 pm Permalink

hey anonymous, i can relate to you on your point. i also agree with liza. i think zara can and does pull off that short hair and look stunning. but i COULD never do that. i understand the limitations of my self-indentification with hair and i wouldn't, nor could i really change it.

sure, it may seem like a crutch [not because it's uber long or anything of the sort] but i NEED my natural hair. it's as solid a part of me like the mole above my lip. its length is precious. [again NOT for the reasons that one might think] it challenges me constantly to accept things about it–and myself.

and it's just that, i really feel like one CAN be emotionally invested in one's own natural hair within a certain context and "it's just hair" tends to have the feeling of dismissing that altogether. still, i don't project my stance onto others nor do i assume that everyone else is operating withing the same framework as i am either. it is what it is.

but it's just hair to YOU and it's not just hair to others. we can agree to disagree and strike a balance between the two. but there's a danger in serial BCs (read that big choppers)implying that "it's just hair" is this ultimate gateway to freedom of black women's hair/self/identity/beauty issues. it's OUR hair. it's there. soemtimes there are issues. sometimes not.

it's part of who we ARE. not the only thing, you are–surely, and despite some detractors, our hair isn't going anywhere. variations of kinks and curls and coils will ideally spring forth from the scalp of others long after i am long gone. all i am saying is that "it's just hair," it'll grow back, and things along that line shouldn't just shut down one end of a discussion–even for serial BCs who believe so and sometimes it feels that way. not everyone has the gumption to do that and

anyway, food for thought: since short cuts on women are in and of itself fraught with the issues surrounding cultural expections for a female's hair. is a short cut a liberartory act from a gendered expection of length? and nothing else? but if the woman is a black woman, BECAUSE of our own hair issues that we in the community, are well aware of, this act takes on a multiplicity of meanings when a black woman does it and it's then EXTRA commendable because it's like: a black woman discarding her LENGTH?! (not pertainable to bcs after relaxers necessarily but the black woman who has reached some perceived semblance of natural hair achievement–for lack of a better word). any thoughts on that BGLH?

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Kenya 26 August 2009 at 9:07 pm Permalink

Zara's hair was gorgeous! If my hair every reached that magnitude… I don't think I'd EVER, even think about thinking to chop it! But she's a beautiful girl and the buzz does her justice! :)

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