Big Chopped Today. Need Some Tips...

I finally big chopped after transitioning for 1 year. I just moved from NY to FL (tomorrow makes it 2 months). Any tips or products you would recommend? How do I keep my twist outs looking cute with this heat? What are your staple products that bought your beautiful curl pattern out?

My texture is 4b/c

TIA

Congrats!!!!!!!

I also live in a high humidity place though I am in NYC at the moment which is also high humidity in the summer.

I big chopped last May.

I would say make sure you have a good protein and moisture balance that will really help preserve your curls. But remember not everyone needs a strong protein some women do just fine with a mild protein treatment on an as needed basis. I also cannot do protein leave ins that makes my fine hair too crunchy and hard. My leave in moisturizer is curl prep sweet buttah.

Roller perm rod sets can really help your hair get definition. If not then you have to use gel to freeze your curl or wave pattern if you have one but use gel with caution. If your hair doesn't have a curl pattern that is visible because your strands are so fine and densely packed, again roller perm rod sets will help.

Best,
Almond Eyes

I just big chopped on saturday so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread

almond eyes said:

Congrats!!!!!!!

I also live in a high humidity place though I am in NYC at the moment which is also high humidity in the summer.

I big chopped last May.

I would say make sure you have a good protein and moisture balance that will really help preserve your curls. But remember not everyone needs a strong protein some women do just fine with a mild protein treatment on an as needed basis. I also cannot do protein leave ins that makes my fine hair too crunchy and hard. My leave in moisturizer is curl prep sweet buttah.

Roller perm rod sets can really help your hair get definition. If not then you have to use gel to freeze your curl or wave pattern if you have one but use gel with caution. If your hair doesn't have a curl pattern that is visible because your strands are so fine and densely packed, again roller perm rod sets will help.

Best,
Almond Eyes

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I have fine hair as well. Do you brush your hair to define your curls? Which do you use, if so?

A brush is very damaging for women with fine strands. The denman brush is not the best tool. You can rake your hands with gel but make sure your hair is very wet and use a leave in to make the gel from getting too hard. Remember though that not all leave ins pair well with certain gels.

My hair gets curly with gel but I have to do a lot of manipulation with my hands and my hair doesn't like to be over manipulated plus the wash and go with gel leads to SSKs.

Best,
Almond Eyes

I am 4c/b. I finger detangle 100%. My hair does well with frequent doses of water, clay and minimal diluted shampoo use. I always thoroughly shingle my favourite gel- Kinky Curly Curling Custard (diluted with water) through my hair, coating small sections from root to tip. Having a good protein moisture balance is also key for me and my mainly fine hair.

Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie makes my curls pop. I put it in and spray some water on my hair- it is white when wet so don't do this right before leaving home. I've been wearing my hair out for 5 months now and haven't combed or brushed it- other than making parts for twists& braids when needed. I also use Eco styler gel. I haven't figured twist outs out yet. My hair is very coily and doesn't stay in twist unless I do them small and I'm too lazy to put em in only to take em right out.

Congrats *tear*. If that's your bc pic in your avatar, your hair looks lovely. I suggest Komaza products. I also suggest considering their hair analysis early on to avoid doing a long stint w/experimentation-- and to get your hair on track from the "get-go". I just bumped a few humidity threads-- should help w/product ideas for that issue.

The Xtreme Wetline gel is amazing for defining our hair texture. I like that it's protein and alcohol free with mostly water soluble ingredients. And y'all are going to stone me because I mention this in EVERY curl definition thread, but the Anthony Dickey Method wng is great for defining type 4 hair with very little time and effort.
Lastly, don't be surprised if your curl pattern changes. When I bc'd after almost a year long transition, I thought I was 4b-4c. A year later as my hair got longer and my regimen more refined, my 4a pattern started to come out. I see this A LOT in the newly naturals that I encounter in RL.

virtuenow said:

Congrats *tear*. If that's your bc pic in your avatar, your hair looks lovely. I suggest Komaza products. I also suggest considering their hair analysis early on to avoid doing a long stint w/experimentation-- and to get your hair on track from the "get-go". I just bumped a few humidity threads-- should help w/product ideas for that issue.

Click to expand...

No that's a twist out I did in my transitioning days. Lol

Thanks for bumping!!!! Xoxo

Congratulations on your bc. For me water was one the most important things for me when I bc'd last year. I started out using a denman brush and then a widu brush, but I stopped using both because they seemed to cause a lot more frizz. I also lost more hair using them. I now only use my fingers. As far as products my favorite is as I am curling jelly. I'm in humid Georgia and it seems to control frizz. I also agree with @overtherainbow curl pattern changes over time.

Water internal and external goes a long way in keeping your hair'style moisture in balance. You can spritz water on the hair and seal with oil or a butter. Alternating protein DC with moisture DC should keep the protein/moisture balance.

Xtreme wetline gel is where it's at! You can get it from sally'so for like 6 for a huge tub. I rarely wng due to my length but when I do it's with this stuff. On soaking wet hair, I add a little leave-in mixed with a touch of oil. I rake in the gel and use a "praying" hand motion to smooth the gel down my strands. When I am done, I shake it out a few times aND use a microfiber towel to catch any drips. I air dry (which can take up to 1 day to dry) b/c I don't use direct heat.

Deep conditioning with heat or steam can work MIRACLES! I got a hair analysis done by komaza care and it was worth every penny! I got the one with the phone consult. They don't push product on you either. If you discuss with them the issues that you are having with your hair and your goals they can certainly give you incite.
I have been natural most of my life and just now started to focus on length retention.

Also your curl pattern doesn't change as it gets longer. Your curl pattern is just stretched out b/c of its weight from being longer.

For example, my hair is a mix of 4a,b,c and when wet it looks like 4a b/c of the water and gravity pulling down on my strands and lenght if that makes sense. It just elongateseems with the water making you "think" that your curl pattern has changed.

Try not to get caught up in curl definition or product junkying (if that's even a word )

Welcome!
This is an exciting and overwhelming time. I too thought your avatar pic was your hair now.

I've only been natural a little over a year. My advice is to find some solid products that agree with your hair and at this time you will go through a lot of trial and error with products. Accept it lol. You will need a good deep conditioner, leave in, moisturizer, a styling product for twists outs and textured styles.

When I was transitioning I read up so much on natural hair and read blogs, forums, studied YouTube vids from start to finish and now that I'm natural I realize what products work for ME, regardless of what others are using and doing. The only thing I have a challenging with is styling, as my hair gets longer I will watch more videos on styling techniques but in terms of products you'll have to figure out how to keep your hair moisturized and also find a good no fail style that works for u consistently lol. Mine is a twist out.

Another piece of valuable advice I received from all the vids and blogs was to not compare your hair to anyone and that everyone's hair is different. It's true! I think I have a unique head of hair like many of us do. Find the products that work for u and stick with it for a little while.