There are many benefits to wearing a weave, including (nearly) unlimited styling options, versatility, and the opportunity to experiment with different colours, textures, and lengths without commitment or extensive damage. However, many women think that once their hair is cornrowed and put away, they get to go on “hair care vacation” and disregard the care of their precious strands even while they are out of sight.
This is absolutely incorrect! In the case of your weave, out of sight definitely should not mean out of mind. Proper hair care is essential at all times, even while protective styling and especially if your hair is hidden under a weave for an extended period of time.
If careful care is not maintained, the area underneath the weave can become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, which can, in turn, lead to dandruff buildup, scalp infections or ultimately hair loss. Sounds pretty brutal for a style that is designed to protect your hair, right? In order to avoid these devastating realities, it’s extremely important that anyone considering getting weaved up follow these essential hair care practices even while wearing their extensions:
Cleanse
To cleanse your scalp, section off each weft, and apply shampoo to exposed scalp by lifting up each weft and covering as much of the area as you can. Massage shampoo into scalp with fingertips, repeating over each section of the scalp. Rinse and repeat!
Condition
Follow the same method as shampoo, but let it sit for a bit longer before rinsing. This allows the moisturizing ingredients to properly penetrate the hair as they should.
Moisturize
Using an applicator bottle filled with liquid oil (or your favourite oil combo) is the easiest and most effective way to moisturize the hair and scalp. The nozzle must be fine enough to get underneath the weft and provide a thorough leave-in scalp treatment. Your scalp is prone to dryness and itch when wearing a weave, so apply this oil treatment liberally and on the regular!
If you’re in the market for a protective style this winter, a weave can be a great choice. One of the mqny benefits to wearing a full weave is that your own hair is neatly tucked away from the elements, your heat styling tools, and your pillow. However, it is critical to maintain your own hair diligently so that these styles do the protective work they were intended to do.
Do you have a special “weave care” regimen? Share it with us in the comments below!
