The hair weaving process was created in the 1950s by an African-American woman named Christina Jenkins. (YouTube, 2016) Like braids or other natural hairstyles, a weave is known for being a protective hairstyle as it allows people to dye, cut and change their style often without damaging their sensitive hair with chemicals and so forth. Below is a video which shows a basic weaving style with a closure. (YouTube, 2016) *are special hair units in which individual hair strands are attached (usually hand-tied) to a piece of material, most commonly lace or silk. * (Princess, 2014)

When getting a weave done you should make sure to go to someone skilful who knows how to do “canerows as a base”. They also must be skilful when sewing as “not to make the weave look bulky”. Another consideration they will have to take into account is the difference between a full head sew in and stitch weave as different techniques will be needed. A full head sew in means that the whole hair would need to be cane rowed whereas, with the stitch weave, the hairdresser would “leave hair out around the crown for the hair to have a natural finish.” Another way to get a natural finish with a weave is by using the bonding method. This means that the “weave is glued directly to the scalp”. However, it doesn’t last as long the “weaving process and if not removed properly can cause loss of hair.”(Sherrow, 2006) I have included a before and after picture of the bonding method. It adds length and body to the hair and gives a natural finish.

 

 

 

 

Another style of weave is lace front. Diane Shaw who specialises in lace fronts among other hair techniques. Shaw tells us that “lace fronts give the illusion of growing hair and this is why people in the public eye and the media often choose to opt for this style.”(Shaw, 2018)  Many popular celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian, Beyoncé as well as tv personality and fashion designer Lauren Conrad. Weave gives women the chance to have versatile styles and always keep their look fresh.

If the weave is not installed properly it can lead to disastrous consequences at best you will be wearing a bad weave at worst you could cause yourself hair loss. A good weave should look like it’s your real hair, a bad weave is “unbeweavable” (to quote Biggie). Experts state that “the canerows underneath the wig have to be completed properly. Meaning they cannot be too tight or too loose, the scalp should be oiled and weave should not be worn longer than 8 weeks.”(Shaw, 2018)  I know personally when I have had leave out I HAD to make sure the weave textured blended in with my own hair otherwise it does not look good.

Diane Shaw gives us a couple more tips to maintaining our underneath weave or extensions. She recommends different things, for instance, she says that “a lace wig should not be worn for longer than 2 weeks if possible as lace front puts pressure on the edges of the head.” (Shaw, 2018) The main thing Shaw stressed is “your hair will naturally grow underneath the weave or wig as long as you regularly maintain your hair routine and do not put too much pressure on the hair.” (Shaw, 2018)

Sources

Princess, E. (2014). Full Weave with Closure | Pros & Cons – Longing 4 Length. [online] Longing 4 Length. Available at: http://longing4length.com/advantages-full-weave-with-closure.html [Accessed 15 May 2018].

Shaw, D. (2018). Hair Blog.

Sherrow, V. (2006). Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History. Greenwood Publishing Group, p.198.

YouTube (2016). A moment in black history:Christina Jenkins. [image] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI4I0nAmFjo [Accessed 19 May 2018].

YouTube (2016). Full head weave w/closure – sew in – step by step. [image] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im4AP1IbMMI&feature=youtu.be [Accessed 17 May 2018].