So, you’ve got a stunning weave installed and you are thriving with your new look. Now you’re looking for ways to care for your weave properly. For beginners, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do and how to do it.
We put together these top tips to help you take care of your weave.
Shampoo And Conditioning Are Essential
The first step in knowing how to care for your weave is to know how a weave works.
The second and most essential part of caring for both your hair and your weave is to properly shampoo and condition it. How often you shampoo and condition your hair depends on your personal tastes but, we recommend a bi-weekly clean.
Be sure to be gentle. Start at the scalp and gently massage the product into the roots then slowly make your way down the weave hair. This ensures that your scalp and hair are clean. Going slowly also ensures that you avoid unnecessary tangles and matting.
Once you’ve properly rinsed your hair, it is time to start with the conditioner. We suggest starting from the bottom and slowly working the product upward. Typically you want to condition the mid-length to ends of your weave to prevent build-up.
We also recommend that you detangle your weave once you have applied the conditioner. Doing so prevents breakage and dryness.
Properly Dry Your Hair
Ensuring that you properly dry your hair is equally as important as shampooing and conditioning. If you leave your hair damp, it could get dingy and begin to smell like mildew.
You also run the risk of tangles, matting, and mold.
We suggest using a hairdryer at low heat. While this might take longer, blasting your hairdryer at the highest heat can loosen the bond of the weave and damage it. This would be a terrible injustice, especially if you’ve spent a ton of money having it installed.
We also suggest you avoid using heat-styling tools to avoid burning the hair and leaving it crispy. Now, this might not be an issue if you’ve chosen human hair but synthetic hair is a different story.
Luckily, there are a ton of heatless methods to choose from, like heatless curls, and heatless waves.
Sleep with a Silk Scarf or Bonnet
If you’ve spent any amount of time researching hair care, you know the importance of protecting your hair while you sleep. Having a weave is no different.
Using a silk scarf or bonnet while you sleep will protect your weave from unnecessary breakage, tangles, dryness, and frizzing. So, we suggest wrapping up your weave before bed to protect your hair. Not only will sleeping with a silk scarf retain moisture, but it will also ensure that your hair remains silky, soft, and laid.
If you’re not a fan of a scarf or bonnet you could always opt for a silk pillowcase. But, we do recommend a scarf or bonnet since it will keep your hair much more secure.
Use A Hair Extension Moisturizer
When wearing your weave out, it is important to make sure you’re protecting it against the elements. While it might seem unlikely, unpredictable weather conditions like damp or humidity can dry out your weave and leave it crispy and frizzy.
To prevent this, we suggest you keep your favorite hair extension moisturizer on hand. That way you can add a little to the palm of your hands and gently work it through the strands.
This will keep your weave smooth and lustrous.
Don’t Use Too Much Product
Thus far we’ve spoken a lot about adding products to your hair but, we would caution against going overboard. Using too many hair products can leave your weave oily, greasy, and stringy. It is also likely to cause build-up on the scalp which would damage your natural hair in the long run.
Instead, we suggest using products as needed, and washing your hair thoroughly, and regularly, with a cleansing shampoo.
This ensures that your hair and your weave remains healthy and grease-free.
Maintain Your Weave
Our last tip for weave care is to regularly visit your stylist at least once a month. You might be able to manage caring for your hair in the short term but, for long-term maintenance, a stylist is needed.
A professional will know exactly how to care for your hair, from trimming off dead ends, tightening loose braids, and ensuring that your hair extensions are securely attached.