Using Weaves Or Braids To Fake It Till You Make It

Are all protective styles created equal? 

Weaves and braid extensions are a hit with black women allowing for dramatic style changes and added length at the drop of a hat. Although extensions look great, we are more concerned here with the health of your real hair. So is growing your hair out with any type of extension ever a good idea in the long run?

Let’s look at the pros and cons of Braids, Weaves and Wigs.

Pros:

•    Braids allow freedom in as much as they leave your scalp free to breath and your hair is protected within the braid so unlikely to break. Human hair braids give the freedom of style as they can be curled or straightened and they are much lighter on the head than their synthetic counterparts. Individual tree braids can give the look of gorgeous free flowing hair while your own hair is completely braided up.
•    Weaves can give you a natural look depending on the skill of the stylist and the quality of the hair while your hair is protected in cornrows underneath. There is also the added advantage of being able to change your hairstyle from a curly to straight weave quite easily.
•    Depending on the quality of the wig, it can give an extremely natural look without all the hassle of sewing tracks into your hair. Wigs also allow full access to your own hair when you remove it nightly.

Cons:

•    Synthetic hair braids tend to rob moisture from your own strands so require daily moisture with a strengthening leave in spray. Human hair braids can be quite expensive and threaten to slip out at the first sign of moisture. Depending on the type of braids done, they can also be quite high maintenance. Excessively tight braids are responsible for thinning edges in many black women too.
•    Weaves do not allow for much access to your scalp so there is increased chance of matted hair and it’s often not easy to wash and condition your own hair thoroughly. Your own hair also takes quite a while to dry after being washed which can lead to fungal infections and mildew.
•    Some wig combs are rough and can be rough on your edges if not carefully handled.

The major problem with extensions particularly braids and weaves is that it leads to neglect of your own hair. Ladies will avoid washing braids to avoid frizz and avoid washing weaves because it loosens the braids underneath and the weave will not last as long.

The cons need not spell disaster for your hopes to wear extensions but a touch of realism is required. A lot of black women wear weaves, braids and wigs all year round yet not many black women have long hair. Does that tell you something? Simply, a protective style is only as good as the person wearing it! If your hair regimen needs work then in spite of constant protective styling, your ends will keep on breaking and hair will appear not to grow. On the other hand, if you have a sound hair care regimen, you could go all year round with only basic protective styling like buns and keep all your length!

It is also important to learn how to look after your own hair from day to day while retaining length. Running to braids, weaves and wigs to protect your length is sometimes counterproductive. I am aware of a lady who grew her hair to mid back length with box braids for about 3 years. She rarely gave her hair a break from the braids and even though she retained majority of her length over the years, she didn’t know how to retain length without the braids. When she stopped using extensions, she noticed to her horror that she lost almost a year’s worth of growth in just a few months simply because she didn’t know how to take care of her own hair!

The lesson here is, learn how to look after your own hair first and use extensions just to compliment your regimen. You will get more satisfaction from knowing that you grew your hair through sheer hard work rather than hiding your hair away!

Author Bio

BHI – has written 198 posts.

BlackHairInformation.com is the brainchild of myself Alma Campbell. I am a homemaker, a mother and a writer. I started the website in mid 2008 with breaking relaxed hair. After making the decision to transition to natural hair, I have now fulfilled my dream of healthy long hair and I want you to achieve the same. My favourite subject is hair and I continue to blog about my hair journey here but I also write a weight loss blog LessFoodMoreLife.com

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Posted by BHI on April 7, 2010. Filed under Styling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry