Weave

Weave is a hairstyle that consists of artificial or natural hair extensions that is attached into human hair by either gluing, sewing or clipping. Weaves date back to 3400 BC where it was originated in Egypt. Back then people would dye human hair or sheep wool and attached it to their heads using resin or beeswax. Cleopatra was known in the ancient world for peacock blue weave. Some people may mistake a weave for a wig, however they are rather different. A wig covers your hair while a weave is directly sewn into natural hair. There are multiple weave textures to choose from, depending on the type of look you are going for. Textures that are popular with black women include Brazilian, Indian, Peruvian, Malaysian and Eurasian. Peruvian is lightweight, Indian is thick, Malaysian is soft, Eurasian creates more of a relaxed style and Brazilian is known for being exquisite.

When it comes to weaves, you also have the option of getting synthetic or human hair. Human hair is just what the name implies, it is hair donated by a human. It can easily match your own hair and texture, its soft, and it feels great. There ae more styling options when it comes to human hair, in particular when using heat. For example, you can wash, dye, blow dry and even flat iron human hair. It tends more expensive, but with most beauty products, you get the quality that you pay for. Synthetic hair on the other hand does not take to heat well, although newer ones can take some low-temperature heat.  However, the hair is still plastic and can melt under extreme heat treatment. Usually pre-styled, synthetic hair is the right choice for those who want to take it out of the box, put it on and go. It is able to maintain its shape even on rainy, muggy or hot days, but it is not easy to restyle. While synthetic hair does not last as long and it gets matted or tangled, you can buy more of it as it is usually a fraction of the cost of human hair.

Natural

KINKS, COILS, CURLS, WAVES black females have it all. There is sooo much to say about this topic, however I will provide you with what I deemed to be the most important to know. 

Natural hair has increased in popularity in the black community in recent years. In the past, a lot of black women turned to straighten their hair using harsh chemicals. However, now the natural hair movement is a lot more prevalent as girls and women are dropping their flat irons and picking up their afro pick. Although there has been a positive trend when it comes to natural hair, dealing with it is more complex than it sounds. Many women often face daily discrimination and emotional strife, and this is mainly due to a lack of knowledge surrounding natural hair.

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Let’s dive into some terms to help us understand what it really means to go natural. A relaxer or perm is a chemical solution that is applied to extremely curly, coiled hair to make it lay straight. These products can cause damage to both your scalp and your hair. Being natural means there are no chemicals to alter the texture or natural curl pattern of your hair. Some women choose not to dye their hair due to the dye containing some chemicals, however I still consider myself a natural with dyed hair, as I have no perm or relaxer in it. The transition to natural hair comes in different forms. The first one being the big chop. It requires exactly what it says, cutting off majority off your hair. Relaxers, perms and texturizers damage and weaken the hair shaft and unfortunately this is something that could be irreversible. Many women decide to chop it all as opposed to growing it out because the chemically-treated hair will consist of an altered appearance, creating a mix of natural roots and frayed, relaxed ends. However, choosing to part with your hair is not an easy step. A women’s hair has a history of being linked to our health status and social position. Long hair has also been seen as relating to youthfulness. So, chopping off your hair is likely to cause serious grief despite knowing it will grow back healthier and stronger. The second option of going natural is doing the transition. Some women choose to wear their hair in a protective style while transitioning to natural hair. A protective style ranges from wigs, full-head weaves with the natural hair tucked away, to box braids and twists. Essentially hair styles that protect the hair from damage. However, in order for your hair to be protected, the protective styles must be done properly, and you must maintain the style.

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When it comes to categories of hair types, there are four main ones; straight, wavy, curly and kinky. Knowing your hair texture is important in the maintenance and the up keep of it. For example, it dictates how often you wash your hair. Natural hair may look easy and cheap to maintain, but it is not the most cost-effective hair care option. In comparison to products bought to maintain relaxed hair, natural hair care products run steeper. Shrinkage can be seen as an obstacle when trying to achieve natural hair with a lengthy appearance. It affects all black women with coil, kinky or curly hair, as those with straight hair are unaffected. The tighter your curls, the more shrinkage will happen as length is lost is the forming of your curls. Shrinkage may be frustrating while trying to grow your hair, but it is actually a sign of healthy, elastic hair. Due to kinkier hair being naturally drier and less oily than straight hair, we only need to wash our hair roughly once a week.

For young black girls, hair is not just something to play with. It is something that is heavily loaded with messages, and it has the power to dictate how others treat you, and ultimately, how you feel about yourself. For many black women, our hair is a force, guiding our life and defining who we are. Natural hair is so rich and powerful that no one can understand the depth of feelings and even changes that this kind of hair can create. Natural hair can influence the type of men that are attracted to you and even shift family dynamics. It can be noted that natural hair can change you. Going natural may bring up deep-seated issues of insecurity or low self-esteem. But at the same time, women with natural hair will probably tell you that it is immensely empowering.

https://www.coilsandglory.com/back-to-school-natural-hairstyles-for-black-girls/

https://www.thelist.com/35749/8-truths-natural-hair-one-understands/

Extensions - box braids

 Extensions is a broad term that means adding other hair to your natural hair by intertwining it with your own. For this blog I will only be covering box braid extensions.

Box braids

This style is an iconic 90s look that celebrities and girls are obsessed with. They are now the perfect solution to rocking a protective style, while being able to add length for that extra little pizazz to throw over your shoulder. Box braids allow you to showcase colourful highlights, beads and metallic thread, while still providing low maintenance style.

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When prepping your hair to get box braids done, it is important to make sure your hair is shampooed, conditioned, deep conditioned, detangled and blow dried prior to braiding. This is the most efficient way to start as box braids are a long-term hairstyle. While in the braids, you are not able to remove all the build-up and dirt so starting with clean hair is the best. A common myth on getting your hair braided is that it is really painful, which may be true if you have a really sensitive scalp or it is your first time getting it done. If the pain does become unbearable, that means the braids are too tight. Your stylist will be able to adjust the tension they are using to attach the braid, or take the braid out, if you are experiencing excessive pain. The process can take up to eight hours, depending on the braid size and your stylists technique. It can be quite a boring and long process no matter how many books, shows and conversation you go through. Your eyes will start to droop and you may even fall asleep (yes I may or may not have doze off more than once while getting mine done..). But as they say, everything in life takes time, and the process will all be worth it once you look in the mirror, flip those braids over your shoulder and walk out feeling a new burst of confidence.

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a25582507/box-braids-wavy-ends-how-to/

It’s important to remember that the work does not stop once you get your braids done. Maintenance is required to keep your new do looking fresh, as although you will mostly be wearing synthetic hair, your natural hair needs to stay hydrated and health. Synthetic hair can dehydrate your natural hair causing it to be brittle and break. That is why a daily moisturizer or oil should be sprayed onto the scalp as well as the length of the braid. Keeping the hair lubricated will reduce the chance of having breakage. Washing your hair after three weeks is recommended (sooner if you have an active lifestyle or are prone to a flaky or itchy scalp. After washing with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, follow up using oil on the braids and scalp. It is important to make sure your braids fully dry as having damp hair can leave mildew and create an odor. To quicken the drying process, you can sit under a dryer.

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It is recommended to leave braids in for no more than two months at a time. You can get a touch up around the hair line and the front part re braided every four to six weeks to preserve the style and your edges. When it is time to take out your braids, be prepared to utilize the same patience you had while getting them done. You are bound to shed as your natural hair has been uncombed, unbrushed and un-detangled for weeks on end. The key is to go slow and make sure to gently remove any knots you might face. A trick I use to help the process go by faster is I cut off most off the braid to a little longer to where my actual hair stops. You must know your hair in order to do this as you don’t want to risk cutting off a chunk of it. As you unbraid, combing out each section will make the detangling process a lot easier and it will prevent matting.

 https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/box-braids

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