Hair weave
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hair weaves are a form of hair extensions. Hair weaves can either enhance a hairstyle or give a completely different look.
Supplies typically used for creating hair weaves are:
- Thick thread (preferably a color that matches the color of the hair) to attach the hair weft securely.
- A long and/or curved needle, which could be a smaller upholstery needle.
- Hair glue specifically made for hair weaves. The glue can be easily washed out using a special shampoo/conditioner that will remove the glue without taking the real hair out.
- Hair extensions. Depending on the thickness and the look desired, it's best to get two. Some people can get away with just one to one-and-a-half bags. Depending on the weaving technique, the wearer can either use hair wefts or individual strands.
Other types of extensions that can be added to the hair include ponytails, or ponytail pieces.
Just as any wig or wigpiece, the colors for hair to be weaved can range from "realistic" colors, such as red, black, brown and blonde, to other colors such as pink, blue and green. How creative the wearer wants to be is up to him or her.
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[edit] Weave fiber types
[edit] Synthetic hair
Synthetic hair is made of a wide array of different synthetic fibers. Synthetic hair, just as human hair, comes in weave (weft) and single strands for braids. Most stylists do not recommend using synthetic hair for weaving because it does not last as long as human hair because it tends to easily tangle and frizz out uncontrollably. However the quality of hair varies greatly, and if well maintained, synthetic hair can look as good as, if not better than human hair. Synthetic hair is much less expensive than human hair. The costs can range from $10.00 to $20.00 per package, depending on quality of hair, length, brand etc.
Heating appliances such as curling irons and straightening combs generally should not be used on synthetic hair. There are newer versions of synthetic hair from some brands that claim to allow styling with lower temperatures of heating appliances. Synthetic hair is usually shaped into styles by using the steam from boiling water to set the hair. This is primarily done for synthetic braids however with the huge array of curly and waved braid styles, the steam or boiling water method is almost redundant. Typically when the synthetic hair is shaped it's best not to change it too much because, as stated earlier, it will tangle and frizz out.
[edit] Human hair
Most human hair used for weaves is derived from the continent of Asia (China, India, and to a very small degree, Southeastern Russia). People in the third world grow their hair for sale to specialty buyers who sell it to manufacturers. Lower-quality "human hair" extensions are often diluted with animal and synthetic hair to lower the price. Yak hair has all the properties of African/African American human hair and can be curled, permed, relaxed, and colored. Human hair is, however, more versatile than synthetic hair because it can be colored, relaxed, or curled with heating appliances just as one would do with his or her own hair. But, many people are allergic to yak hair so suppliers are using human hair treated to mimic the African/African American texture. As the weave wearer would want the hair to match the texture of his/her hair in its present condition (relaxed, curly, or straight), weave hair comes in a variety of textures: yak (closely resembles relaxed African-American hair texture), silky (resembling very straight Asian hair), European texture hair straight (Europeans do not sell their hair, so called "European hair" comes from India and China), curly (ranges from tight corkscrew curls to the varying degrees of wavy), and crimped (very small, sharp waves). There are different grades of hair. The highest grade comes from young donors, is gently processed, careful not to damage the cuticles, and of "Remy" designation. Remy means the hair's cuticles are facing the direction in which they grew. Poorly processed hair can also be Remy. Let the buyer beware.
The same maintenance that one would apply to his or her own hair should be applied to the human hair to keep it in good condition.
High quality 100% human hair is more expensive than hair mixed with other materials (synthetic and horse hair are most common).
[edit] Hair weaving techniques
There are many techniques to weaving hair. The most common way is for it to be sewn on to very small cornrows or the stylist can use a heating applicance to fuse the hair segment onto very small sections of hair.
To sew the weave hair, the hair must be braided into cornrows. The hair may also be braided into a zig zag shape to make things easier and quicker. The wearer may leave out a section of hair if she/he wants a part or half the hair weaved. So the hair won't appear lumpy, the hair is sewn horizonally across the head from one side to the other, starting from the bottom. If the hair is to have a parting, it's recommended that a weft of hair is glued as close as possible to part in the hair that separates the braids and the hair that the wearer left out. After those steps are finished, the wearer can have the weave hair cut or styled however he or she wants with her/his own hair blending in.
To use a heating appliance, individual strands of hair are used. Hair is sectioned out as if the client is getting skinny individual braids. The appliance is heated to the correct temperature. The stylist attaches a section of the human hair to the client's sectioned hair. Depending on the style, a half head of fused hair could take about 20 sections. A full head could use about 50 sections.
The heating applicance can cost from $100.00 upwards. It is highly recommended that a trained and certified stylist use this technique because of potential hair loss and skin burning from the appliance may occur.
Recently cold fusion extensions made of 100% human hair (no yak hair dilution) have been introduced. These hair extensions do not require any heating elements, as the intense heat used to apply traditional hair extensions may damage them.
