A lot of women who choose to grow out their natural hair are impatient, especially if they do the big chop and have to rock a TWA for the next couple of months.
This is one reason many of us resort to wearing weaves and wigs*. This is the next best thing to having your own hair, or so we think.
But what if the extensions* and wigs* you’re wearing are actually halting your hair growth progress and causing other unwanted side effects, like balding, hair thinning and traction alopecia?
These aren’t any of the things you signed up for when you decided to return natural, but it could very well be what’s in store for you if you’re not careful when wearing weave. If you’re insistent on using weave as a protective style, make sure that it’s actually protecting your hair and not ruining it.
To help you determine if wearing weave is worth the risk or to see how you can lessen the risk, here are the different ways weave can stop your hair growth.
You’re a serial weaver
You know the type — she takes out her weave, washes her hair and then throws weave right back in. Wearing weave excessively has damaged black women’s hair for decades.
If you know anyone who has worn weave non-stop, you’ll notice that their real hair is, well…less than healthy. It is wearing thin and if it’s really bad, they’ll have extreme hair thinning in the middle of their head and around their edges.
Wearing certain types of weave back to back (braids, pinned in ponytails and sew-ins) can stress out your hair. These styles tend to pull on your strands, which will eventually start to break off.
Your hair also wears thin because your arrector pili muscle (what holds your hair at the scalp) is destroyed or goes dormant, both of which can stop hair growth. Like with any muscle in your body, it needs a break. So consistently weighing it down with weave can do a lot of harm.
You wear braids that are way too tight
Braids are a popular choice for those who are looking for a protective hairstyle. The issue is that a lot of stylists are a bit harsh when it comes to the braiding.
This also goes for those who wear sew-ins. If your hair is being braided too tight, it’s obvious that the hair is being pulled right out of your scalp. For a lot of women, this has caused permanent hair loss.
So what About the women, that wear units ( Upart wigs, Handmade wigs, lace closure wigs.. No glue or tape) is it still bad for their hair?
In moderation, everything in moderation…weaves are a part of “everything”.
Sorry but I wear weave and my hair still grows everytime.
Thank you! ❤️
I wear weaves and my hair grows…
Not true. I wear sew ins and it has helped my hair grow!
Weaves tear up my hair.
So apparently nothing is good for your hair
Pretty much….you have to take care of it though. People forget that.
Thank you ❤️
It depends on how you take care of your hair while it is weaved.
Yup so true And how tight it is, and how long you keep it in!
Who puts it in, takes care of it and who takes it out. What the article is saying is very true especially for people who don’t know what the hell they’re doing.
Usually grows just fine if you know what you are doing to begin with…
Weaves and braid help my hair to grow , specially during winter
Not true. I know quite a few. young ladies because they gavr their. Natural hair a break and wear weave the hair grew. Thicker fuller and strong. When you comb natural hair everyday, you lose a lot of hair.
Lies!
my hair grows fine now that it is no longer chemically processed, weave has nothing to do with growth for me
My grow very well in weave, especially box braids
I wore senegalese twists for two weeks. When I took them out, my hair was broken in some areas leaving only an inch. Once my hair grew back, I tried crochet braids thinking it was safer. My hair broke off to the scalp in places. My hair wasn’t tight or anything. So, extensions and weaves are not for me. But I know plenty of people whose hair flourished. I believe it depends on your hair type and how well it’s put in.
I think its those glue weaves
Not true my natural hair grew longer and thicker. Know your weaver take of your natural hair
Nonsense
My hair grew longest it ever was when I had a sew… to my bra strap, but my style told me that I took good care of mine. I believe having the wet & wavy aided in that I’d wet it most mornings in the shower and use creme of nature conditioner which allowed my roots to stay moist and conditioned, plus I used no heat, of course, no manipulation of my own hair, and my stylist didn’t braid and sew so tight that my hair broke.
* stylist
6 reasons why weave that is improperly applied is stopping your hair growth .
I think people who wear weave only your hair will eventually thin out. I know ppl who have long hair from weave but when they flat iron it it be thin as hell