THE ABC OF WEAVES: ALL YOU’VE EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WEAVES

Weaves are beautiful, add to the beauty and natural elegance of women, and have gained immense popularity in the last couple of decades.

But what is a weave? A weave is hair extension affixed to an individual’s hair in a number of ways. This could be by sewing it in or gluing it in. In recent times, it can also be done via microrings or microlinks. Weaves can be natural or artificial/synthetic.

Meant to be worn for several weeks, weaves are different from clip-in hair extensions, which can be removed daily, and are also different from wigs, which cover the entire head and are worn like caps.

When you wear a weave, it is either sewn into your hair or glued to your scalp, and this beautifies and accentuates your natural hair.

The origin of weaves

It is said that weaves came to be around 3400 BC in Egypt when people started dying sheep wool or human hair and attached it to their heads with beeswax or resin. It is said that Cleopatra made blue weaves popular in those days after she sported and was lauded for a peacock blue weave.

Why wear a weave?

• A weave a fantastic way to change up your style from the usual every now and then without having to grow out or cut your natural hair. For example, wearing a long weave feels different and great when you have naturally short hair. On the other hand, a short weave could bring a much needed change to your look if you have long natural hair.

• A weave is a protective hair style that allows your natural hair to rest. You don’t have to comb your natural hair out every day when you have on a weave, and this allows your hair to add fullness and body.

• When changing their hair from relaxed to natural also, people find it convenient to wear weaves, as this allows the relaxer to grow out while the hair is resting under the weave. This is known as transitioning.

• You can play with colour, without having to change or damage your natural hair. Today, weaves come in all kinds of colour, so you can indulge your bright side.

I personally prefer weaves to wigs because they are attached to your individual strands of hair and will not fall out when you least expect it, like wigs sometimes do.

Weave textures

Most black women go for Brazilian, Malaysian, Indian, Peruvian or Eurasian weave textures, and while they all do the same job of beautifying women, they differ from each other. For example, Indian hair is thick, while Peruvian is usually lightweight. Eurasian makes for a relaxed style and Malaysian hair is lauded for its softness.

It is, however, important to understand that most of these are just names. Most natural hair are made from Chinese or Indian hair, or a blend of both. Malaysian, Peruvian, or Brazilian weaves are simply Chinese or Indian hair that have been processed in different ways.

Of course, Brazilian hair is great and is known for its fabulousness. What most people don’t know, however, is that Indian hair is perhaps the best for African American hair. It is dark and fine and tends to blend well with black hair.

Natural or artificial? Which way to go?

As previously mentioned, you have a choice of either buying natural (human) hair or artificial (synthetic) hair when it comes to your weave. Synthetic hair is not bad, but it is what it is; artificial hair. If you can afford it, it is better to go for natural hair. This makes for a more fashionable and classier look, and makes it easier to style the final hairdo.

Human hair weaves are soft and feel great because they are contributed from human donors. Because of this, it is also easier to find a weave that matches your own hair in texture and colour.

Furthermore, human hair presents you with more styling options, especially when you are working with heat or looking to curl your hair. You can wash it. You can blow dry it. You can dye it. You can flat iron it. You can curl it, condition it, straighten, and in some cases, even bleach it.

You cannot do all of these with synthetic weaves, even though they do allow for some low temp heat. But don’t forget that at the end of the day, artificial weaves are plastic and can melt or disintegrate under intense heat.

While human hair can be a little pricier than artificial hair, you do get quality for your money.

If you are, however, looking for weave that you can take out of the box, sew it in and be on the go without any further treatments, synthetic weaves are great, because they are often pre styled. One other great advantage of artificial weaves is that they hold their shapes, whether it is hot, rainy or muggy.

What kind of weave method best suits you?

Determining the kind of weave method that best suits you will depend on certain factors, including the amount and length of volume you want to achieve and how long you want your hairstyle to last for. Here are some of the choices to make when it comes to weave method:

Sewing: This is the most common method of attaching weave to the hair. Here, your hair will be cornrowed, and wefts of the weave will be sewn onto the cornrowed hair.

Bonding: Here, wefts of your hair will be glued (also called bonded) close to your scalp, at the very shaft of your hair.

Strand by strand: Using this method requires for your hair to be divided into small sections. Once this is done, the sections are braided an inch or more, and the hair weaves are sewn onto the braided sections or secured with thread.

Fusion: Here, a keratin-protein bond is used to attach strands of human hair weaves to sections of your own natural hair.

Interlocking: This mimics the sewing method but works without the cornrows. Instead, micro-thin wefts are sewn onto your loose hair.

It is important to note that the easiest, and somewhat safest weave method is the sewing method because it works well with almost all hair types. I personally advice my clients to stay away from bonding as it can lead to balding in certain portions of the scalp or lead to traction alopecia.

Risks associated with hair weaves

The greatest risk of wearing weaves is traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is defined as hair loss and breakage that occurs when hair is pulled too much and pulled too consistently.

Another downside associated with wearing weaves is that it is difficult to shampoo the hair when you have a weave on, as you may tangle your natural hair with the woven hair.

Popular weave styles trending now

Short weave hairstyles: You can go for soft waves short weaves or chic cuts.

Up do hairstyles: This works splendidly for women who have long and curly or wavy hair extensions.

Curly auburn tips: You can add a blast of colour to your weaves when you use curly weaves that stand out with discretely colored tips.

Medium length weave hairstyles: This is a well-balanced length option for most people because it is not too short that it limits styling ideas neither is it too long that maintenance becomes a hassle.

Long weave hairstyles: This is great for people with round faces, especially when the weave in question is a long weave and has soft curls falling over each shoulder.

Ash blonde weaves: Ash brown and ash blonde are two unexpected weave hairstyles that are making a wave in 2021. The great colour works for all kinds of weaves and can be used by women with all ranges of skin tones.

Subtle highlights: Highlights are beautiful, especially when they are done right. Use earth tone highlights for the best effects.

Soft Curls Weave Hairstyles: This is a style that will never go out of fashion. It is a casual but elegant style for people wearing longer weave hairstyles.

Long straight hair: This will require you to spend more when it comes to maintenance, care and styling, but wearing long straight hair produces phenomenal results.

The hairstyles discussed above do not in any way represent or constitute an exhaustive list. The rule of thumb is to go for what best suits you.

Maintaining your weave

Even though weaves are meant to last for weeks, it is folly to not take care of your hair when you have a weave on. Here are basic tips for maintaining your weave:

Buy good quality weave. It is important that the weave you purchase to use does not shed. This is the first rule.

When you wash your weave, make sure that you use a shampoo designed for weaves. Then go ahead and moisturize with an olive oil moisturizer, as this will stop your weave from tangling.

Visit your hairstylist every two to four weeks so that s/he can refresh and groom your weave. And if you are in Manchester and you’d like us to make you beautiful by installing a weave, don’t hesitate to contact us or book online.

Visit https://www.glamgorgeoushairandbeauty.com/book-online

Don’t leave your weave in for more than two months, so that you don’t damage your hair.

Make sure that you leave at least two to four weeks in between weaves.

Now go for it

Now that you’ve learnt all about weaves; how they came to be, the best option for you, great hairstyles you can choose from, and how to maintain your weave, it is time that you go for it.

Make your choice between natural or synthetic hair weaves (don’t forget that natural weaves are a bit pricier but more styleable while synthetic hair weaves are pre-styled and more of take from the pack and sew on).

Then go ahead and discuss with your hairstylist the method that suits you best, agree with her/him on a hairstyle, and then get it done.

Be beautiful. Enjoy the beauty of the weave. Turn heads.