An actual conversation in a nightclub:
First guy: Whoa, man! Check out the hottie that just walked in the door.
Second guy: Oh, yeah! She’s bad all right.
First guy: Nice body, nice clothes, nice long hair. She even looks like she’s got a 9 to 5. I think I’m gonna step to her.
Second guy: No, man. I don’t think you want to do that.
First guy: What’s wrong with her? She looks good!
Second guy: Yeah, but did you notice her hair?
First guy: Yeah, it’s silky and long. She’s a natural goddess.
Second guy: No, man. She’s wearing a weave. Let her keep on keepin’ on.
First guy: A weave?! How can you tell?
Second guy: I used to date this hairstylist who schooled me on how to spot a weave in less than three seconds.
First guy: What? School me, please. I don’t want any more mistakes. The last time I thought I was dating a girl with long, lovely locks, her hair came out right in my hands.
When someone can detect that you’re wearing a weave across a crowded room, it can quickly turn your strut into a stumble. Your confidence into self-consciousness. And your fashion sense into a faux pas.
A weave is a hair extension that is either glued or sewn into existing hair, near the scalp. The hair may be human or synthetic, and comes in different lengths, textures and colors. The best weaves are performed by professionals in a place that has good lighting.
The procedure can take up to three hours, but veteran stylist Sheryl Seaton of Cote D’Or, 40 E. Oak St., said she can usually interweave those locks in under two hours.
Ninety-five percent of Seaton’s business is hair weaving. Her clients range from socialites to models to businesswomen. She says she even has clients who come from as far as Florida.
“I saw a chance to do something new and specialize in,” said Seaton. “So I took the time to learn how to when they became really popular about ten years ago. I have a very good eye for color so I can blend the extensions well with the natural hair.”
According to Darlene Weaver, a stylist at Kim Hair Salon in Presidential Towers, 555 W. Madison St., the problem with most weaves is that many stylists don’t properly evaluate their clients’ hair before applying the hair extensions.
“Some don’t use the right grade of hair or color,” she said. “That’s how you can usually tell right off that a person is wearing extensions.”
When the texture of the extension is different from the natural hair, she added, “the hair never flows, it just sits there.”
Weaver said she doesn’t encourage clients to get weaves because they eventually damage the hair. In her salon, however, she gets many requests for them. She gives her clients the alternative of a partial weave, in which sections of hair are added to the existing body of hair to give the illusion of more volume. She recommends this procedure because it doesn’t put much stress on the hair and actually helps the hair grow when braided in properly.
“I try not to sell a weave,” Weaver said. “I do temporary things, but I try not to encourage one to do a weave unless it is temporary . . . the build-up in the weaves or the braids is very hard on the hair.”
To those who insist on achieving a longer look to their hair, she suggests wearing a wig. “If they want a long look temporarily,” she said, “I would encourage them to wear a wig, because once they start attaching that hair to the small amount of hair, they’re putting a lot of unnecessary tension on their hair.”
Seaton said a lot of clients come to her with damaged hair. For these clients, many of them African-American women whose hair has been treated chemically, she’ll put in what she calls single-strand extensions. With single-strand extensions, clients don’t have to worry about further damage, she says.
“Everybody wants thick, beautiful hair that moves,” Seaton said. “I love to watch the looks on their faces when they get out of my chair; their hair is gorgeous and they feel good about themselves.”
What you need to know if you’re deciding to get a weave:
The cost:
According to Darlene Weaver, at most salons, weaving costs about $7 to $10 a track (a section of hair) for bonding; $10 to $20 a track if it’s sewn in. For a whole head, bonding costs $100; sewn-in hair, $300.
At specialty salons like Cote D’Or, says Seaton, plan to spend about $200 for labor. Hair is usually extra, and cost depends on the type of hair.
How long will it take:
Anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours.
Five different types of hair extensions:
European silky; French refined; Highlighted hair; New Yekatea; and Wet and wavy.
According to Weaver, the ideal hair extension for African-American hair is the Yekatea, which is coarser and wavier than the rest.
How often should you get a touch-up?
Weaver suggests that the wearer replace tracks every six to eight weeks, just like a relaxer because once the new growth sets in, the tracks start to loosen.
Other tips:
A temporary weave, which is applied with bonding glue, will come out if you put any type of oil or moisture cream on it.
The best way to maintain a weave is to shampoo in the shower.
Don’t buy expensive products to take care of a weave. Use basic products to avoid hair damage.
