There was a time when celebrities were the only ones who wore and could afford weaves. I remember flipping through magazines and wondering how women could grow their hair so long, thick and FAST. Back then, the fact that the hair on their heads didn’t actually grow out of their scalps was a hush-hush affair. Yes, many ladies still keep the fact that they are wearing a weave on the down-low, but generally people knowing that celebs wear weaves is public knowledge.

These days women everywhere experiment with hair extensions whether is lengths, colours or textures. Hair extensions are not simply used to add a bit of length or volume to your natural hair, weaves have become a way of adding variety to your style. Essentially weaves have become part of a woman’s wardrobe. But that’s not all,  wearing a weave or hair extensors can have some useful benefits, besides just looking good. Here are our 4 benefits of wearing a weave.

1. Protective
Some argue that wearing a weave is not necessarily a protective style, but I believe that if your installation is done correctly (it shouldn’t hurt or tug at your edges) then wearing a weave can definitely be a protective way to grow your natural hair. When you wear a sewn-in weave, your natural hair is braided close to the scalp and hair weft is attached to the cornrows. Naturally as you wear the hair, over time, it will experience “wear-and-tear” (which is mainly caused by electronic styling tools and a lack of proper maintenance routine), during this time your natural hair will be protected from the natural elements and styling practices. Your hair won’t be exposed to heat from blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons or hot rollers, nor will it be affected by harsh weather or cotton from your pillowcase and everyday dust around the house. Effectively your hair will be protected from all of the stuff that can split the ends of your hair and dry it out. Keep in mind that if you want your weave to last longer, you should limit contact with the above-mentioned styling practices and the constant use of electronic styling tools.

2. Low Maintenance
Ok, so this is a half truth.  Ladies, you can’t let your hair do all the work, you have to work with her. Low maintenance does not equal no maintenance. Many of us don’t have time to wake up and style our hair, in the mornings and would rather have hair in a way that looks good and is easy to maintain. If you choose a hassle free texture, then you can style the hair in a hurry and with little effort. Synthetic hair weaves usually come pre-styled, which means all you have to do is fluff it, using your fingers or a brush, and you’re good-to-go. Human hair weaves, on the other hand, offer much more versatility and are just as easy to care of. Weaves are also great holiday hair. We all know, the last thing you want to be doing on your holiday is spending precious time slaving away at your hair, so wearing a weave while away from your styling tools and your hairdresser will leave you with more time to do holiday things, than hairdresser things.

3. Experimentation
Want a try a new exotic colour, or see how you would look with a different texture? Maybe you want to go ultra-short without having to part ways with your natural hair? With a weave, you can achieve so much.
You can experiment with colour without worrying about the damage you could cause to your real hair. This can be especially helpful to women who have to be careful with the types of chemicals they expose their natural hair too. Platinum blonde has been doing its rounds, but it is a particularly harsh shade to achieve on dark hair, but with a weave your natural hair stays protected, while you rock blonde.
The experimental side does not simply talk to colour, some women want to wear their hair straight without having to apply heat or relaxers to achieve this result.

4. Low Commitment
Weaves are designed to be worn for a short amount of time (even though they can be kept for a couple of years), it is advisable re-install your weave every 6-8 weeks depending on how fast your natural hair grows. Unlike a haircut, which has to grow out, a weave is a low commitment option, which means you dictate everything. If you’re not crazy about how your weave style looks, ask your stylist to change it up or take it out. You’re not stuck with a weave forever, which is perfect for women who like to switch things up often.

So the next time you want to change your hair colour, length or texture think of a weave as a solution rather than possibly damaging your natural hair.

Helping you achieve happy hair days