Carmen's Big Chop 1&2 

Carmen is so chill❤️

Is it just me or do she look like she can be the Da Brats lil sister I love your hair rock it girl

I am proud of you for "containg" yourself. "Do not return evil for evil, but overcome evil with good". Your have looks AMAZING!!!!!

I just did my own big chop 2 hours ago. I didn't think I'd look right with a TWA but girl let me tell you, I am lovin it! I wasn't scared or sad to see my hair go. It was beyond damaged.

This story is such an inspiration. I have been natural for 2 years now, but thinking about doing another big chop due to heat damage. I miss my curl pattern. So glad I found this channel.

LOL Carmen's face when she was in the barber chair was PRICELESS! I wish I documented all my beginning phases.

This video helped me to finally do my BC! I've only ever gotten relaxers for about a year and a half when I was about 10 or 11 years old. I'm almost 20 now, so I've been natural for most of my life, but I rarely ever had the confidence to wear my curls. I got older and decided I liked my natural hair but by that time my hair was so heat damaged I couldn't wear it like I wanted! Watched this video and something said just do it already! Got my hair chopped the next week! Thanks ladies!

girl you are BEAUTIFUL!!! u can pull off anything! i love your hair. you are a great person for not going back and cursing those ladies out at the salon

your attitude about the whole situation is so inspiring. I can tell you are really comfortable with who you are. Beautiful inside and out!

I'm getting my big chop tomorrow and I'm really nervous about my image. Watching your video and seeing how confident and gorgeous you are revived my spirit! Thank you for sharing :)

Hey Shea!! I did my big chop in December of 2009 after watching one of your first videos. You have definitely inspired me over the past couple years to stay natural. I love my hair. I have been wearing it short for a while and recently decide to grow it out. I cant wait to see how much length I get. I had a bad braiding experience as well and my hair broke off terribly. It really does depend on the braider and that blow dry was a bad idea. That fade was awesome!! Thanks for all your videos :o)

WOW, these video are so inspiring! I’ve been transitioning for six months and was up late surfing RU-vid for some tips on natural hair and came across MyNaturalSistas videos. They are so simplistic but very encouraging and powerful. I was inspired by all these beautiful black natural women that the very next day I went and did a big chop. I LOVE the new me and feel so AWETHENIC! Keep I the good work, I can’t wait to see more.

you looked mean as hell sitting in that chair,lol..you remid me of t-boz

Absolutely right about having complete confidence to rock a fade!! I just got a fade 3 wks ago and loving a sec of it but can't wait to try all the styles that some with being natural! Love your hair also!!

WOW! Definitely didnt know that is why you BC'd the second time. I love hearing ya'll stories. Thanks for posting!

Love this video, love the fade and everything. I have been transitioning for just about 7 months and you are inspiring me to Big Chop. Hopefully I will have enough confidence to do it and start the new year off right :) thank you.

The pics from your 2nd BC are beautiful....reminds me of my BC, you have the natural confidence to rock the short cuts!!!

I did a video on this same subject regarding the set of braids I have now. I too went to an African shop and saw how badly burned out the women's hair were that were in the chairs. The braiders claimed they could not braid my hair without blowing it out and said it would hurt otherwise. Seemed to me her intentions were to be as rough as possible. I left and found a natural lady who braided my hair in its natural state. ALWAYS ask questions and NEVER be afraid to take your business elsewhere.

omg my name is Carmen too and i just did my big chop like to 2 secs ago lol. i love it i love see all my curls again i haven't seen them since i was high school. you are so pretty natural it works for you. new follower here

Wow, what a story. You took it very well. I always loved your TWA from your past videos. I also love the comments from the peanut gallery.lol

Super cute!!!! I live in Houston and had a similar incident with an African braider. I took it as a sign to go ahead and do the big chop. LUVZIT!!!!

im really thinking about doing a big chop.. my edges are thinner than the rest of my hair as well.. but ur gorgeous!!!

You were my inspiration to big chop, I might've watched this video 10 times. Thank you, I love my TWA!! :-)

You look great! I'm glad that you are not so hung up on "long" hair that you won't get rid of damaged hair when it needs to be gotten rid of. I'm of the opinion that when you go into these braid shops, you really have to be firm with those ladies as to what your expectations are. When I last got my hair braided, I planned to let them know that I didn't want them to braid my edges too tight, but I didn't tell them and the hair on my edges popped off right and left.

I'm over here emotional about this video. I've been going through the same thing!!! I got my hair blown out and flat-ironed and my hair has not reverted back yet! This has been about 3 months now and I've been crying and worrying and wondering what in the world am I going to do. I've pondered a big chop but I've been nervous about it. I didn't big chop the 1st time so to have to do it now is scary but I'm encouraged by your video and I now see I'm not alone. Thanks so much for making this.

Thanks for sharing. Heat damage happens to the best of us I learned the hard way too. Now I am transitioning after 1yr of growing my hair out fully natural. Errgh! Happy growing to you!

Short hair suites you, it not for everyone

You are so beautiful! Your hair is fierce! I'm so glad you and your sisters have this channel.

i believe that this 2nd big chop was for me. because this is also my 2nd big chop and idk wtf happened the last time...but i love your videos and never take your advice on product or anything just kuz i wanna be lazy but this time i will stay tuned to your beautiful vid's and see how this journey goes...love you and take care Carmen...

omgoshhh i hate waiting so long for your videos - im always so excited to see them come up on my subscription feeds! Keep up the good work and hopefully many more videos will come int he future!

U r soooo beautiful!! I've been watching your video for a while now... I've just done my second big chop this month. So now I'm rocking the fade and my sides are also very thin. It does takes a lot of courage to rcok such a short style. More power to u as u continue on your journey.

love the music ladies, you are fortunate to have each other, continue to do what you do. Thx for sharing

The fade was sooooooooooo Nice!

OMG!! I so love the look! It looks good on you!! You can pull it off chic, ROCK IT!!

Love love your fade cut style...You ladies can wear anything and rock it!!

You exude so much confidence and are such an inspiration to ALL women! You are so beautiful, you rock all the styles well! Take care!

The fade was gorgeous on you. You have the right face for that style!

Lol u sat in that chair like a boss while he was cutting it.... More power to you

You rock that TWA like nobody's business. I love it on you!!

i was soo afraid to do the big chop but seeing your videos really helped

You also look so good with a fade & w. more hair. I love your confidence to chop it off when you had heat damage. Its a shame that some braiders cant handle natural hair... I went to get my hair trimmed last yr and the lady blowdried it and a patch at the crown was straight ish- the ends and I had to cut it low. Its still catching up with the rest.. my hair is fine so heat does not help... I love how you are there to support one another ;O) x

Wow, I had the same heat damage situation, twist definition and all... I did my second bc as well.. in a fade. I had the same facial expressions as you in the clip the second time around lol. Beatiful.

Beautiful. My hair looks just like yours. I just big chopped today after 9 months and have to figure out how to style it. I had the same experience with African braiding shop accept my hair around the right edge came completely out, and that's when I decided to transition and let my edges grow back.

Your fade was amazing! Your hair looks great too!

I feel you on BC#2...the same thing happened to me...went to get braids and the lady bought the hairdryer out.... my brain can't process that fact that many of these african braiders pull a face when they see natural hair... lets just say I had to remind ole girl who the customer was! Now I refuse to let anybody touch me hair...if i wanna switch it up i'll throw on a wig!

OMG you remind me so much of Monica, y'all both have that sassy attitude look, lol. Love your hair!

I loved how you addressed the "Thining" edges. I was and still am self conscious about it-thought I was the only one!!

OMG I don't have any sides either, and that was the one thing that worried me about big chopping my hair. But it worked out for you, so that has given me a little confidence boost.

Great video. Just did my big chop and I sooo didn't want a fade but that's what I got. It won't be long before I get my twa. Yours looks great both ways.

thanks for sharing!! Carmen you look beautiful with a fade,twa,& long hair :) God Bless You!!

Wow! She really did you wrong. One thing I notice, though, is that shorts cuts are absolutely gorgeous on you. Not just anyone can pull them off the way you do.

Natural hair allows people to see ones true beauty... the face... so many of us hide behind our hair... I love being natural!

Your confidence is admirable I'm definitely taking notes...BTW u can pretty much pull off any look so far.

The fade was GORGEOUS! on you!

Did my 2nd big chop.....and I love it. Your hair looks great!

Lol! She did not look pressed at ALL when that lady was linin' her up.

You look gorgeous with short hair! I loved my fade too! It grew back sooo fast though.

Wow, well you handled that like a champ! I would've been TOW UP. it seems a lot of naturals experience the most damage when they go to a profesionnal salon. Insane. But you look great, Congrats on healthy start No.2!

Lol, I jus love how your face always looks testy. These vids help me alot! Thanks.

Thank you for sharing your journey. It gives me hope with mine (just got the BC 3 days ago for the first time).

You look beautiful with your hair short! I have a 17 year old daughter that has damage to her hair from getting perms, and I have told her just to do the BIG CHOP and start over. After seeing your video I think this would be the best thing for her. Again you look beautiful! =)

U are very pretty! And I big chopped like... 3 or 4 times! Lol this is my last time I hope! My husband is getting tired of how I will randomly come home with no hair. Lol

Wow, i been natural for two years and looking at you do your BC just made me want to cut mine again...you was so gangsta in the chair....LOL...wow....mad respect for you ladies....:-)

Carmen is so shy and sweet.

I went to Super Cuts too!!My Lady was white and did a great job!!I got a rihanna cut and she flat ironed it really well

Both you and Toni look great with the fade!!!! Do you plan on letting it grow back out or will you continue to keep it low?

I just did my BC today... I'm def nervous about rocking it. But thank you so much for your inspiration:)

Love it!! Love both BC's! :)

Carmen u r beautiful on top of the fact that u have the features that can work almost any hair style...sorry u had to go through that, u make me miss my twa

you look great with long hair but short hair on you is on point. Your story is the reason i'm scared to death to go to the salon.

When I was an early teen and got my hair braided, this woman put me through the worst experience flat ironing my hair. There was this HOT steam coming out of it which was SO unbearably hot when it was near my scalp. I thought, at least my hair should be straight and nice after this, but when I looked in the mirror it was so dried out and not even laying flat. Maybe she was using a blowdryer? Anyway, it was so hot. You are a beauty, your hair looks amazing in any style!

Carmen, you can pull off any look chic! true beauty! all 3 of yall are true beauties!

Ahh, I loved this video.. And Im actually going through the same situation except my hair is damaged due to me not combing it correctly, hair dyeing, and blow drying...I plan on just chopping it all off again this fall..and I was 2 years of growth in, but I dont mind starting over.. Change is good & time flies by so quickly.

@MsSwtGirl1 valid point! I'm African and I know if I go into ANY salon where the stylist is more concerned with the final look than the steps in between and caring for my hair then there's going to be tears. Unfortunately SOME people within my community still view our natural hair as unkept, hard to manage and requiring lots of heat, chemicals or weaves/wigs to cover up. Like you said, they are doing what they are used to..what they do to their own hair,, what we let them do b4 we knew better

I feel your disappointment about having to BC again because that salon messed up your hair, but I have to say you looked beautiful with that fade:o) Your growth since is amazing and your TWA is as cute as it was first time around. As always thanks for sharing your journeys with us.x

You're awesome! just did my big chop #2 too because of color damage! I had it blonde for almost a year and when I died it black to look natural, the texture was not the same.

Love your hair short, Im doing my big chop AGAIN this saturday! wish me luck!!

Thanks for sharing your journey! Ur twa is the business! Work it!

I'm so glad I seen this. I have a short style now and have been debating about getting a fade to go back natural

Abs you ROCK that TWA, like no other!

Wow! I wasn't expecting that to be the reason why you cut ur hair and it sucks but like you said as long as you have the confidence u can rock a fade! I have and its dope!!! Well ur hair looks great. And it's cool that ur not all hung up on length so that u can be versatile. Oh and its great for ladies wit twa's bc now they can watch new shea videos!!!!

this is so inspiring.....I was so afraid to bc because I have very thin edges too. I loved your fade though!! :D

You look great with or without hair. Thanks for sharing your story. God bless

Beautiful! I just did my BC on 4/3/11 and I love it!

I just big chop and i like it a lot i was just feeling a little nervous of what my family will say but i feel better now. Your soo pretty

My temples are very thin from years of getting my hair braided by Africans. My mother's hair is also very damaged from the same thing. That's the exact reason why to this day, I REFUSE to EVER let an African come near my hair. I do my own braids and I do a damn good job at it! =)

you have such a beautiful face! your features go very well with each style:)

You and your sisters are SO beautiful! Carmen, you look good in anything! You have the perfect face shape to pull off any hairdo, girl.

ya'll are great documentarians. Word. what kind of camera do you use. It's time too move up from my nikon d40. the clarity of your camera is just so righteous!!

A lot of sistas love the convenience of Micro braids, Kinky Twists, Corn Row w/extention etc., hairstyles & they go to these braid shops & get them done over & over again, I never understood why. I always wanted to get Micros done at these shops but I never, ever saw anyone I knew with a healthy hairline, nape area, or edges after visiting these shops. That was all it took for me never to try them in the 1st place. Ladies, do your braid shop research & beware of improper braiding techniques.

Rocked that fade to the maxxxxxx!

YES U R ROCKING IT. TWA LOOKS VERY NICE ON YOU. ;D

you are soooooooooooooooo pretty. like omg. people say im pretty and i look at you and think now THATS PRETTY ! lol

OMG that pic at 7:02 is soo pretty!!!. I am debating whether or not I should do a bog chop again because I dyed my hair after 9 months of me being natural and now my hair is so brittle (the dyed parts). My hair just doesn't grow with the same curl pattern it did when I first went natural. I love the way short hair looks on you and we kinda have the same face shape and this vid really made me want to cut it again!

OMG I went to the African hair braiding salon last year and had the nubian twist done and I warned her do not release my hair into an Afro and she listened I feel so bad for you but Your stronger than me I would have cried LOL

U r beautiful!! Thank u for the advice on styles and products! EXTREMELY HELPFUL!

hey carmen and toni what camera do u use to film ur videos pls x

So sorry that beautiful curl pattern was ruined...but it's good that u already had the confidence that u have to just cut it off, start over and even rock a FADE! Still looking good girl, keep doin you :)

Very nice ladies! I'm lovin' the vids!!! God bless!

Damn, im just here like *shakes head* oh no she didn't" I wouldn't have paid! Cussed them out too, you're god to have kept calm I echo the comments your TWA is stunning! I had a fade when i cut my hair first time. (5 months Happily Nappy) I agree its hard to rock it with confidence, but it grows inn hella fast no?!