Many of us have decided that wearing a weave is the best protective style for your natural hair. Or maybe you are a celebrity and would much rather that your natural hair be left untouched during heavy manipulation. How do you take care of your natural hair under a weave?
What is the best practice that would reap the most benefit? Well if you are worried about your hair under your weave and you have no idea on how to take care of it, keep reading.
1. Cleanse
When you wear a weave your primary responsibility other than keeping your weave clean is keeping your scalp and leave out clean.
How to do it
The focus of the cleanse should be trying to get rid of the gels, edge control, oils*, conditioner or anything that can cause build up. Shampoo your hair twice, the first time using an applicator bottle* with water and shampoo focusing on your edges, in between your braids and under the wefts.
On the first application of the shampoo use the tips of your fingers to agitate the dirt and then let the shampoo sit for at least 2-3 minutes before rinsing. Never use your nails, you will cause scalp irritation if you do. Apply your shampoo again and rinse thoroughly.
2. Condition
You want to condition your hair thoroughly, so apply your conditioner to your hair around your edges and leave out saturating your hair completely. Take the time to deep condition your hair so that the product can penetrate your braids as well.
It is super important to wash the conditioner out fully so that there is no build up. Getting rid of all your product and build up will allow the weave hair to breath and not feel too greasy or limp.
3. Drying
The first area you want to get dry is your braids, so before you even pull our the blow dryer* to dry your weave, use a diffuser* on your braids in between your wefts. Once that is done then you can focus on your weave. The last thing you want is mildew on your braids from them being wet.
4. Keep your weave clean
Obviously as you care for your natural hair you will also be taking care of your weave. A clean weave is the best thing for your natural hair, so make sure you care for the hair so it can last.
The Q-tip trick
If you have an itchy scalp from not getting rid of all the dirt from your scalp, you can use a little Witch Hazel on a q-tip and clean your scalp with the Q-tip. This might take a while, but it helps to keep your scalp very clean and gets rid of the itch.
How do you care for your natural hair under your weave?
Hi-mynames Alicia says
My hair falls out BAD with weaves so I’m all set!
Charlene Cha LaBranche says
My hair grows!! But you have to allow her natural hair to breathe also
Chelsea Lowe says
but how do i moisturize my braids everyday without getting the weave oily and stiff. I can’t wash my weave everyday
Lynnet Ruiz says
There’s no way to wear weave without your hair falling out… Learnt more than once the hard way
Missme Witdatshyt Rocker says
If you don’t know how. what’s the point of wearing it? how does it help? It seems that those that don’t know shouldn’t be wearing it maybe doing more harm than good
Raven Nix-Pinckney says
Sandra L. Nix Hester let jasmyne read this ….she wanted to know
Danielle Lyrhokal McBride says
Chelsea Lowe I use Design Essentials “Hydrate” leave in conditioner to moisturize. Put one part of the conditioner and about 2 parts water in a spray bottle (or any type of application bottle you choose) and you can use it everyday. The consistency isn’t too watery but is just liquid enough so that when I spray it can run under the hair and around my scalp. They also have a spray leave in conditioner that I use and you don’t have to dilute that at all. Their products can run from 10 to 15 per bottle but I’ve been using the conditioners for a couple years now and love it. Now my hair grows with my weaves as opposed to breaking off all the time.
Danielle Lyrhokal McBride says
Chelsea Lowe also don’t use grease or oils to moisturize. Causes more buildup and it’s near impossible to wash it out with the weave in.
Moon_Hair68 says
nice
Amy Winters says
Thanks for pointing out that we should take care of the hair in the weave like we would our natural hair. One of my coworkers wears a weave that always looks great, so I’ve been curious about how she takes care of it. I didn’t realize weaves made of natural care needed to be taken care of like natural hair, so thanks for sharing that info here.