No doubt hanging the entire plant with only the large fan leaves clipped, is the best way to ensure the slowest dry possible….which is what you want.
Plus, many growers state that the overall terp levels or basic taste and smell is optimal when the plant is hung this way…..probably b/c it slows down the dry.
The one danger to doing it this way is the potential for mold. Having the buds all clumped together with lots of leaf and plant material touching is an easier scenario for mold to develop.
That said, if you can get close to 60/60 (60F AND 60% humidity) it greatly reduces the chances of mold and drying too fast.
Last item is air circulation….you want good airflow around the drying plant but not blowing directly at it. Usually a small fan gently circulating the air is perfect.
If you can manage to create a 60/60 environment, a plant hung whole should be able to hang for at least 10-11 days and possibly up to 14+, depending on the bud density and size.
At some point though, later in the dry, you’ll want to break the large buds down into smaller nuggets……that’s the only way you’re gonna get a consistent level of dry/moist with the buds.
Good luck and don’t be afraid to ask about the most minor details……details matter and asking is the quickest way to learn.