There is absolutely no excuse for a bad weave no matter how you spin it. Technology has progressed too far, people have been so innovative in providing new techniques and companies are able to deliver on high quality hair that caters to every kink, coil and curl.
It may sound harsh but in the fast world we live in with computers having almost as much processing power as the human brain and being able to chat to your friend in Singapore while seated on the couch in Philadelphia, there is just no excuse for a bad weave. A good weave like a fine wine should only get better with age.
Even if you are a newbie to that weave life, there are loads of resources to help you install it like a real OG. With that said, here are my 8 tips to getting an outrageously natural looking weave.
1. Leave some of your own hair out
Now I know at times you may favor an old school full weave with a cute blunt bang or a gorgeous swoop bang. I won’t lie I’ve seen some really good work out there and I am sure you have too but when natural is at the top of your wishlist, nothing says natural like your own hairline and scalp.
The last thing you want is for someone with an excellent weave radar spotting that you’re rocking a weave from 20 yards away!
With the sudden popularity of lace wigs*, an artfully applied unit can be almost seamless if you have mastered the application process. Yet, it still doesn’t compare to your real scalp and hairline.
Yes I understand that this tip will lead to your protective style losing some of it’s “protective” credentials but again it depends on your priorities. A partial weave can still protect majority of your hair while you wear a gorgeous realistic looking hairstyle.
Having that little bit of leave out hair at the front to cover your tracks is a definite yes if you want it to look realistic. You should leave out a horseshoe section for the best results. This is usually a 1-2 inch section at the top for the part and a about 1/2 inch on the sides. If you want to wear your hair up in a ponytail then leave half an inch around the entire perimeter of your head as well.
2. Start with a flat base
If you go to a stylist to have your weave installed then this shouldn’t be an issue but if you choose to do it yourself, don’t underestimate the importance of having your cornrows be as flat as possible. Even if you have thick natural hair you will need to braid in such a way that it is flat and able to hide any lumps and bumps that will undermine the finished product.
3. Wear believable lengths
A good rule of thumb is to never wear a weave that’s more than 4 inches longer than your own hair. Now you may not be in agreement with this but hear me out. However good your weave is, sometimes you get that ‘separation’ of hair between the tracks and your leave out. This would not usually not be very noticeable unless your own hair is 2 inches in length while the weave is 18 inches, it just doesn’t look , well… believable. An extreme example I know but the idea holds out.
A good way to mitigate that effect is to layer your weave. If your leave out hair is 8 inches long for argument sake, you can get one pack at 12 inches and another pack at 14 inches and another one at 16-18 inches. The idea is to have the longest length, 18 inch in this case, at the bottom to give you the length and the shorter weave at the top closer to your leave out hair.
You end up with natural looking layers that you can have a good stylist refine with a bit of snipping to give it a more seamless look. As your hair grows, you can then increase the lengths of your weaves to match.
4. Go light on product use
With your own hair you are probably using 3-4 different products during your average wash day but all you need to care for a weave is a good quality shampoo and a good moisturizing conditioner*.
Maybe a bit of heat protection spray if you wish to use a flat iron*; nothing more.
There’s no need to add heavy leave in conditioners, hair oils* or butters*. Let’s be real here, greasy weaves weighed down with product does not scream natural to anybody.
I don’t know about you but I only want people knowing I’m wearing a weave when I tell them that I am! In the next article I will give you possibly the single most important tip on getting a natural looking weave. Read part 2 here.
I’m sorry, but there’s nothing natural or natural looking about a Black chick wearing long and wavy hair. The gig is up ladies! Everyone knows now that your hair does not grow out of your scalp straight. From all of the newly naturals and natural veterans we all know Black hair grows up and out! Just embrace it already!
Yes, there are blacks with wavy/curly or straight. Hair comes in different textures just like skin color.
OK, here are some actual tips
1) flat base yes- your hair should be sewn in a beehive. Crochet needle to loop the plait through. If your hair dresser is still doing straight backs and making a lump of braids at the bottom, time to let her go.
2)You can have outrageously long hair if you so wish… Just get it layered! Face framing layers will aid in disguising the separation that should only happen after a month of your sew in being in. IF you have a separation from the beginning, then get a new stylist.
This will be difficult to reinstall do I reccommend light layers or make a upart wig.
3) A long part. Yes, no more 2 inch parts. The longer your middle part the more natural it is looks. Aim to have a part the length of the top of your head. Longer parts are also face Slimming!
4) Arguably the most important thing for a natural sew in. The blend! Raw hair or light yaki with low lustre. This will help mimic your hair when straightened. Ever wondered why girls will get curly hair just to straighten it? It’s because it gives a more natural blend, the hair responds to humidity like natural hair, tends to have a lower lustre and, will be thicker when straightens unlike straight hair.
Tips: use a net, less tension on your hair especially the edges.
Shampoo and condition your hair once a week/twice fortnightly. Scalp health is important (especially important for raw hair)
Use a tonic instead of an oil to moisturise your scalp as this won’t weigh your hair down.
I recently purchased an 8in pack of milkway hair in 8inch. My natural hair is about 7 inches or so and i plan to leave out my middle and my edges… Im trying to accomplish the perfect layer look, do you think its best to buy a 12in for the back or a 10inch? anybody?
I think a weave is a weave is a weave. There aren’t many degrees of fakeness, there is only one–it didn’t grow out of your scalp. And I’ve seen some excellent installs, and I can still tell. But who cares? Hair is like an accessory now. Weave it short, long, human or synthetic. Just make sure your natural hair is being cared for properly underneath. No need to go hating or hunting for tracks,thread or glue. It’s all love.
Great advice about the lengths, believeable means your leave out’s color,length and texture blend with the weave. For regular weave wearers its a great way to determine progress. If you’ve been in a 12 inch weave for 3 years than maybe your hair’s breaking : )
Where can I buy vixen hair?
I think the style is called vixen sew in, you can’t buy it but you can buy the hair and pay someone to do it for you
Thank you!!
Interesting but these tips are older than me been there done that
Oh yeah I’ve been wanting to try this
Well study it so you can do my hair. Thank you
Lol ok I will
Didn’t you all post an article about why you SHOULDNT get a vixen weave because of damage to the natural hair while mixed with the weave and it’s too much bleave out or something
Sad, sad, sad
If you don’t know how to take care of your hair while having this type of sew in then no you shouldn’t get it. They are people who ACTUALLY take care of their hair
Wow i didn’t kno sew ins could damage your hair
Girl I can slay the vixen sew in.
If women put this much effort into caring for their natural hair they wouldn’t need a weave so much…
CAUTION**** this technique is NOT for bald head bishes. Lol
Misleading photos being used here though lol.
That well to so far for me!!
Meh. Just grow your own, it’s really not that serious.
Too much hair left. That mean damage!
I was talking to a friend of mine about her interest in getting a weave. She seemed to be a little timid about the decision since she has always worn her hair naturally and wants to try something new. It would help her a lot to know to look for believable lengths to have a more natural look.
I like this braid pattern, when I had my hair done this way it appeared very natural and I used my curly hair from haircrush and my hair blended with it perfectly. This braid pattern will make your weave look very natural and you can where it half up and half down.