To Chop or Not to Chop?

To Chop or Not to Chop

One of the most emotional journeys a black woman can go through is a natural hair journey. As black women there are so many factors we must consider before letting go of the creamy crack! The fear of being the odd one out and not knowing how peers will react is a constant delay. A lot of permed women have not even seen their natural hair since childhood and have no idea how to care for it. But out of all these worries, the most common fear black woman face before doing their Big Chop or “BC” is the fear that their hair will not grow back. This fear has evolved from the myth that African American hair does not grow and if it somehow does, it grows extremely slow. This is why black woman would rather hold on to the patches of damaged dry hair, that is slowly falling out anyways, rather than just letting go and getting a clean shave. The hysterical part about this rumor and fear is that it is completely contrary to the truth.

June 3, 2010 is when I did my big chop. I walked right into a barber shop sat where the men sit and had all my hair shaved off down to a buzz. A few days later I was on a regular girls day out, sporting my new hair-do, going to get my eye brows threaded. When I arrived the Indian woman, who had been threading my brows for about four months, greeted me with a unique enthusiasm for my new look. As I sat in the chair and waited for her to begin, she told me how in her homeland, back in India, it was a ritual for the women to shave their heads. She said, “The women shave the young girls’ hair so it can come back in thicker and fuller. By the time the girls reach age nine or so, they have already had their heads shaved at least five times.”

What got my attention about this story was not the fact that shaven heads had benefits, but the fact that we were speaking of India. India, the same place African Americans get the best weaves! At that moment I thought to myself if they don’t even come out with that hair we crave so much, why are we buying it from them? Why not do what they are doing and have the same results growing from our very own scalps? I was so intrigued by the idea that African American women could have this long luxurious hair that we’ve longed for since our ancestors were brought to America.

After doing some research I learned that I wasn’t the only person with this information. Natural Hair had become a movement. Chris Rock’s Good Hair movie opened the eyes of millions of permed women when he traveled to Chennai, India to visit the place where a large portion of the best weaves come from.

While researching Chennai I learned that Chennai is home to many Hindu families. Hubpages.com tells us that Hindus believe being seen clean shaven, they are then perceived as being devout. The head shave is a symbol of total submission to God which is why it is usually performed in a temple. But as the Hindu people reach a more modern and liberal time, the motives of some people to their sacred traditions are not as genuine. With hair being a big contributor to the economy, some people shave their heads with the knowledge that the hair wil grow back a better grade. They are no fools, making sure to begin head shaving as soon as the female children reach a year’s age.

So my African American beauties, the trick is out of the bag. Head shaving is the first step to that gorgeous crown of glory. So to chop or not to chop? I say go for it!

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