Kavuli is on a 6 week sew-in weave challenge and her tips for keeping the style tight, but most important, caring for her real hair underneath, are priceless. Check her out!
by Kavuli of Good Hair Diaries
Hey folks! I've decided to use a full sew-in weave as a protective style for a while. I am very happy with my decision to do this, but I thought I should go into serious detail regarding the maintenance of my hair underneath. Out of sight, out of mind does NOT apply when it comes to your hair. Let me state that this is how I CHOOSE TO TAKE CARE OF MY HAIR during the weave process. Take what you will from it and tweak what you need to. Let's get started...
Before Installing the Weave-
- Wash and deep condition the hair with your choice of gentle and quality products.
- Moisturize the length of the hair using the L.O.C. Method.
- Air dry
- Take the weave that you are going to install and wash it. I clarify and deep condition the hair the same way I would my own hair. Go in the same direction as the cuticle and don't tangle the hair. I may or may not use heat during the conditioning process. ( It's crazy how much hair dye comes out of the weave when you wash it.) If you are using virgin hair, this process may or may not be necessary.
- Be sure to wash the weave in warm water and rinse the conditioner out in cold water. This will help the weave to be very soft when it dries.
- Let the weave air dry.
- Get a spray bottle or an applicator bottle with the narrow nozzle. Fill it up with your favorite liquid moisturizer. S-curl is awesome to use, but if you don't have that then you can always dilute your favorite cheapie conditioner with water, add glycerine and natural oils.
- Lift up each track and spray or squeeze your moisturizer on the braids. This is time consuming, but completely necessary and it feels good.
- Get another applicator bottle and fill it with your favorite oil to seal the moisturizer in the hair. Be sure to get the oil on your hair and scalp and not the weave.
- Use the tips of your fingers to massage everything in. It will feel great!
- Style as usual and cover with a silk or satin scarf or bonnet for bed. Maintaining extensions is time consuming and requires a lot of patience. Cleansing and washing your hair properly is imperative to maintaining optimal hair health. Next, you'll find the steps I take to clean my hair with a sew-in weave.
Washing Your Weave and Real Hair Underneath-
- Start by combing through the hair with a wide tooth comb to remove all tangles. If you are wearing a curly weave, then I would use my fingers to detangle. Start from the ends to the roots.
- Fill a spray bottle up with diluted shampoo and spray the scalp and hair. Use the method of spraying in between each track to get as close as possible to the scalp. Proceed by spraying the rest of the weave.
- Rinse the shampoo out of the hair using warm water and a wide tooth comb. Make sure that you rinse the scalp thoroughly and removing all of the soap from the scalp.
- Apply your favorite conditioner the same way you applied the shampoo, but let the conditioner sit on the hair for a while. * I am crazy about keeping my weave soft and smooth, and one of the ways I do that is with a good conditioner. Your weave will thank you!*
- Rinse the conditioner out and let your hair air dry. DO NOT APPLY any oils to the hair weave, and do try to limit your use of a heated appliance.
- Hair should be washed weekly!
There is a small portion of my own hair left out on top and on the sides. I did this in order to blend my real hair with the weaved hair. This process creates a natural look.
After
washing my hair weekly, the portions of hair left out on top and on the
sides revert back to my naturally curly texture. In order to get them
straight again I follow the following regimen:
- Apply Curl Care Leave-In Conditioner from root to tip. (Available at Clicks)
- Apply Chi Silk Infusion from root to tip. (Available at DisChem)
- Set hair while still very wet in rollers and air dry
completely.
- Remove the rollers when the hair is completely dry and examine the roots to see if they are
slightly wavy or extremely wavy. If they are only slightly wavy, I will go ahead and apply Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Edge Control Superior Hold and Shine to my edges and tie my hair down. (Available at Clicks)
- If my roots are extremely wavy I will run the flat iron over the roots ONLY. Then apply the edge control and tie the hair down. Hair should be smooth and soft.
- Be sure to massage castor oil into the hairline and nape while in your sew in weave.
QUICK VIEW: Caring for Your Real Hair-
I am obsessive about keeping my hair under the weave healthy and strong.
There is no point of wearing a protective style if your refuse to care
for your hair.
- Moisture - I am obsessive about keeping my hair moisturized underneath a sew-in weave. My go to choice of moisturizer is a braid spray. I will use a braid spray or moisturizer generously on the hair every other day. This takes care of my scalp as well, and it ensures that I won't have dry/brittle hair when I remove the braids.
- Oiling - My scalp can get very dry under a weave and it isn't uncommon for me to experience a few flakes. Oiling my scalp nightly is something I try to do faithfully. Purchasing a bottle with a thin nozzle, or a spray bottle and filling it with your favorite oil will do the trick. Apply this this oil liberally to the natural hair only. You don't want to get your sew-in weave greasy as this will ruin the quality of hair.
- Washing - The natural hair and weave hair must be washed weekly no matter what. Healthy hair grows out of a clean and healthy scalp. Being in a weave is no excuse to not wash the hair. I am careful to use a sulfate-free shampoo during this time.
- Deep Conditioning - After shampooing the hair and weave, I apply a deep conditioner on both the weave hair and my exposed hair and sit under a hooded dryer for at least 30 minutes. The natural hair and weave love this process, and it also helps to keep the hair moist.
- Hairline - I protect my hairline by massaging castor oil into it every single night and while styling, if I remember. Weaves and braids can wreak havoc on the hairline if you are not careful. Take the necessary precaution by massaging and applying castor oil as often as possible. Also, during installation, make sure the braids aren't too taught.
Have you used a sew-in weave as a protective style? How do you care for your hair under the weave?
14 Comments:
Wow, I like the washing of the weave bit. That sounds like a process I would like to explain to my hairstylist.
I might print this off and ask them to read it when I next go in to wash the weave.
Leillah @NoScrunchie
Sounds good but time consuming
For my next install I think in going to try and make a 3/4th wig so I can pop that sucker off wash, condition, rebraid and put it right back on lol
Great tips... I agree it does sound like it takes some time but the end results must be worth it! Been considering switching up my kinky twists and trying a weave for November as the months are getting colder and I'm trying to limit the effects of the elements on my transitioning hair.
I will try this when I install my next weave!!! Thank you!!!
while i am transitioning, i wear sew-ins (whole head) and braids... One thing i find useful is getting my end trimmed between styles to keep my hair healthy. the rest of the steps are awesome tips.
I have not wore a full weave for a protective style but I wore a phony ponytail when I was younger I just washed conditioned, leave in bunned it and put it on. I know several women how wear weaves as a protective style.
I wore weave for 3 years straight!, and real hair got weak and brittle and broke off really bad because i was unaware of procedures necessary to keep it healthy while wearing weave. The 6th of October has been 10 months without weave BUT my birthday is coming and i am so tempted but scared because my hair is finally looking up. Advice?
This sounds like a lot of work. I love simple styles and I just couldn't do this. I have worn weaves and pieces when I was relaxed, but not while I've been natural, and not for a long period of time.
This is a great article. I've been wearing full sew-ins during my transition. I moisturize nightly and wash weekly as indicated in the article. It isn't as time consuming as it sounds. It takes me 30 minutes every night to get through the moisturizing process, and that include braiding the perimeter of my hair, which is left out.
I don't seal my hair as I find it difficult to moisturize after sealing. Instead I use a combination of water and coconut oil. I will try to incorporate Castor oil with Jojoba oil to lighten up the heaviness on my edges. I'm still concerned about the ability to remoisturize after sealing. Does anyone have any suggestions in that regard?
yes and it was horrible may be had I read this it would have turned out better oh well I've gone natural now still learning how to take care of it almost has complicated weave hair care
I used weaves as a protective style while I was transitioning, but unfortunately for me, it did more harm than good. at that time I didn't know all that it took to take care of natural hair, so I would go weeks with out washing or moisturizing my hair underneath the weave, and I straightened the front very often so that it would blend with my straight weave. I am now completely natural and prefer to wear my hair out, but I really wish I had known all this stuff when I first started out. My hair would have been a lot longer and healthier.
This is such a waste and unnatural way to protect the hair. Kavuli should opt-in or opt-out as a natural or a weave beaver.
No I wouldn't consider it and have never worn any hair on my head that didn't grow from my scalp. I think the decision to wear a weave is personally and could be a great option for those you know how to take care of it and well as the own hair underneath. My cousin just removed her sew-in and is experiencing thinning areas of hair loss where her scalp is now showing. I think if she'd taken the time to learn how to care for her own hair before and after installation she may have been able to prevent or at least minimize the damage.
Matting
is evil! It’s one of the worst things that can happen to Brazilian hair weaves.
When your hair becomes impossibly tangled, it is
damaging to your hair, your extensions, and your scalp. Knowing how brush your Brazilian hair weaves
properly is an essential part of keeping your hair beautiful, long, and
healthy.
A full sew-in is how I grew my natural hair out. Protected my own hair throughout wearing the sew-in by keeping my ends trimmed, moisturizing, and consistent washing. And I stayed away from low quality weave. My natural hair grew healthy and my edges stayed in tact!
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