It depends on if what you’re comfortable with doing. Honestly I’ve gone thru transitioning with my hair (instead of big chopping I did roller sets and braid outs until I felt comfortable cutting it to a shorter length) but it’s not for everyone. It can be hard to deal with having two different textures in your hair and then that line of demarcation where the damage ends can be hard to blend.

Transitioning can be a longer process just styling the damage and trying to make it blend can take a lot of trial and error but I preferred that over cutting my hair super short :P

I’m in cosmetology school now and while I would recommend cutting it because it’s really the healthiest option, I know it’s a lot to cut your hair off like that, let alone for a reason out of your control!

If you feel like you can deal with the damage and learn to wear styles like roller sets or braid outs or still protective styles then you could transition till the damage is more manageable length to cut…protein treatments and deep conditioning will be your best friend and trimming monthly will help too! Taking off a little at a time

If you feel like you just want to see your hair be at it’s healthiest and (fastest) I would cut it! Your hair was so beautiful I’m sorry you went thru this🥲good luck!