| Even
though this site is for styling and maintaining natural
hair, I wanted to create a basic section about
hair extensions to answer some of the questions I've
been recieving from tranisitioners. I don't claim to
be an expert, but I do have some experience in this
area.
There
are many reason why a woman may wear hair extensions.
Hair extensions are a quick and easy solution to different
hairstyles and a great way to tranistion to natural.
When wore correctly, they can protect the hair from
cold winter air or heat damage. They also can be worn
for something different. Maybe you want to briefly change
your hair color, try a shorter or longer hairstyle,
or want to wear your hair straight for a bit without
possible damage from pressing combs or flat-irons. This
is a great way to get that look temporarily without
damaging your real hair.
This
page will cover the various types of extensions you
could wear, how to care for it and most importantly
how to care and maintain your own hair in the meantime.
Remember - just because you wear your hair natural does
not mean you can't have fun with hair extensions once
in a while. ;) |
WIGS
| Synthetic/Human
Wigs A
'wig' covers your entire hair. Some comes with
bangs, a fake scalp part or built in clips to help hold
it in place. There is a variety of synthetic and human
wigs you can choose from in all colors, textures and
lengths. They give you the versatility of having various
hairstyles, while, protecting your real hair. |
|
|
How
to wash your wigs:
Use
shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for
wigs (or use Woolite). Regular shampoos are too harsh
and can dry out the fiber, which could make your hairpiece
very brittle and hard. There are special shampoos and
conditioners that coat and protect synthetic fiber,
leaving it shiny and preventing damage and color fading.
Steps:
1.
Fill your sink with cool water and mix in a capful or
two of shampoo.
2.
Immerse your hairpiece in the water and let it soak
for five minutes.
3.
Gently swish the hairpiece back and forth then rinse
with cool water until all the shampoo is removed.
4.
Refill the sink with cool water and mix in a capful
or two of conditioner. Immerse your hairpiece and let
it soak for two minutes.
4.
Gently swish the hairpiece back and forth, then remove
from water without rinsing.
5.
Blot with a towel and allow your hairpiece to air dry
on a mannequin stand. You can hang extensions,clip-ons,
or snap ons on a hanger. You can hang the drawstrings
on hairspray cans also.
6.
When dry, gently shake your hairpiece, then style as
usual.
NOTES:
DO NOT USE HEAT to dry your synthetic hairpiece. This
will melt the fiber. Also try not DO NOT comb or brush
the hairpiece until it is completely dry. If you have
a "textured" wig or hairpiece, after washing,
all you have to do is shake it and hang it up!
Wig
Accessories: Here are a few tools I use to care
for my wigs:
|
WIG
FAQ'S
Q.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HUMAN AND SYNTHETIC HAIR?
SYNTHETIC
HAIR
PROS
- Easier
to handle
- Less
costly (compared to human hair wigs)
- Can
last a long time
- Very
durable
- Require
very little styling
|
CONS
- Can't
use heat
- Can't
restyle. They are designed to stay and look the
way you originally bought them. Trying to change
or restyle them can cause poor results.
|
HUMAN
HAIR
PROS
- You
can use heat with these wigs.
- You
blow-dry it and use hot rollers or a curling iron,
or you may wet-set it and dry it under a hood hairdryer.
- You
can usually style them the way you want and often
.
- Can
change styles very easily.
|
CONS
- Can
be a bit pricey.
- Heavier
in weight than synthetic fiber, but human hair is
the longest wearing of all fiber.
- Human
hair wigs require restyling each time it is washed.
|
Q.
How can I protect my real hair while wigs?
A.
If you plan on wearing a wig for a week or two, I suggest
that you first deep condition and put your hair in cornrows
or flat-twists. Always remember to wear a wig cap over your
hair (this is to protect your hair from getting caught on
to the net and snap off. At night spritz your cornrows in
a little water and oil the ends and cover with a stocking
cap or a satin cap.
If
you want to wear a wig for a day or two depending on your
length, you can place your hair into a loose ponytail
and a wig cap over that. If your hair is shorter you can use
clips or bobby pins to hold the hair back, then place a wig
cap on.
For
both options, you can wet your hair and tie it with a scarf
to keep your natural hair 'down'.
Q.
How do I put on and wear my wig?
1.
Prepare your real hair. Look at the answer above for more
details.
2.
Remove the hair net that came with the wig. if there is one.
3.
Give the wig a good shake to allow it to fall into place and
to get rid of stray hairs.
4.
Hold your wig up - the label should go towards the back.
5.
Place it at the middle of you forehead and slide it on from
front to back. Depending on the style of the wig, the top
of the wig's cap should finally rest approximately ¼” past
your natural hairline. When wigs are too forward at the front
hairline, it will look unnatural.
Q.
How do I store my wig?
A.
The best way to store your wig is on a Wire Wig Stand or you
could even use a hat rack. This will keep your wig fresher
and maintain its style. Keep your wig in a clean place, away
from dust, sources of high heat, and humidity. Never enclose
(except while traveling) in a box or plastic bag for long
periods of time.
Q.
Are there specific head sizes for wigs?
A.
Today's wigs all have adjustable caps to fit most heads. If
you are not sure that you have an average size head by looking,
measure your head with a tape measure going around the hairline,
under the hair, behind the ears and around the nape of the
neck. Have someone help you if you find this too difficult.
Check out this
link for more information.
Q.
How do I know which color or wig to buy?
A.
That decision is completely up to you! That's one of the best
things about wearing wigs - you can experiment with hair colour
without damaging your own hair! Here is a color
chart to help guide you.
To be honest, I find it is VERY hard to find a decent looking
wig (for my tastes) that looks real and has a somewhat natural
looking hair texture. I have to dig to find a wig that I like,
the not too expensive and one that looks like me. I suggest
going to a local wig shop and trying on wigs in your spare
time.
Q.
You have such pretty hair, just wondering why do you wear wigs
and how often?
Thanks!
My natural hair loves humidity and warm weather - it does
not agree with the winter. Where I live, the winters are rough,
therefore wearing wigs has saved my hair from breakage. I
also wear updos and buns, put I get tired of them quick! I
also don't like the way I look when wearing cornrows out the
house. Personally I think the key is not to depend
wearing wigs. I only wear wigs sometimes during the winter
and they serve multiple purposes for me:
-
Keeps
my hands out my hair - Under the wig my hair is in cornrows
or flat-twists.
-
Saves
me time - Since I keep my hair braided underneath, all I
have to do is throw my wig on and go!
-
Saves
me money - Since I don't wear them often and take good care
of them, 1 wig can last me for like 2 years.
-
Protects
my hair from the cold winter weather - So it doesn't get
dry and break off.
-
I
can still do hair treatments to take care of my hair such
as deep conditioning, the steam treatment and scalp massages.
-
It
gives me options - I don't like the permenacy of braids
or sew-in weaves (leaving them in for weeks).
-
I
LOVE to switch styles, so I can not only do this with
wigs, I can wear my real hair at anytime without feeling
like I wasted money on professional weaves or getting braids.
Just a quick unravel of the braids for a braid-out or a
quick rinse for a puff is all it takes!
Q.
How do I get the hair piece to stay on my head?
For
all of my wigs/hairpieces, if there is not a clips attached
to the front here is what I do. Take a wig
clip, a needle and hair weaving thread (for its strength).
Then I sew at the top a few times. The wig
clip goes in my hair to help hold and secure the hairpiece on
my head. Works like a charm! Click to make bigger:
| Falls/Wiglets
A
'fall' or 'wiglet' is a 3/4 hairpiece that sits at the
crown of the head and blends in with your own hair.
Start with your ready to be styled hair (pressed, or
combed back into a ponytail etc.). Place the fall about
at least one inch behind your own hairline. You can
either blend in the rest of your hair by combing it
back or just place the fall on your head and use a scarf
or headband, like in the picture. |
|
|
| Headbang
Wigs A
'headband wig' is a full wig that comes with a piece
of stretchy black material around the entire hairline.
All you do is comb your hair straight back and slip
on the headband wig! You could leave some of your hair
out for bangs as well. To change your look, add a scarf
around the headband. I use bobby pins to secure it on
my head. |
|
|
| Clip-Ons,
Drawstrings
etc. A
'clip-on' hairpiece usually has some type of butterfly
clip where you can clamp on your own hair. A 'drawstring
ponytail' is used by putting your hair into a ponytail,
place the drawstring over your ponytail and literally
pull the drawstring around the ponytail. In the photo,
I put my hair into large twists, placed the twists into
a ponytail, then placed the clip-on over my ponytail. |
|
|
WEAVES
Do
it yourself weaves can be done in a number of ways:
Tracking
- Cornrow your hair, then sew the pieces of wefted hair
into the cornow. See below for more details.
Bonding
- Part your hair and use weave bonding glue to blend
in with your hair. (I do not recommend this technique.
It prevents your hair from breathing and can cause damage.)
Make
yourself a Stocking
Cap Weave. This is where the hair is glued to
the stocking cap. |
|
|
|
Weaves/Wefts
With
this technique, small sections of your own hair are
cornrowed in rows. This technique gives a more natural
look than some of than other types, but to have medium
to thick hair. Wefts are the little track that are located
at the top of the weave. To give you a visual, hair
that does not have wefts can be used for braiding.
Advantages:
- You can easily remove the hair piece, retighten the
braids and redo the hairstyle.
-
No chemicals are used during the entiee process.
-
Doesn't matter if you use synthetic or real human hair.
Disadvantages
- For people with thin hair, it will create a bit of
a bulge where attached.
-
Can get uncomfortable to wear at times
-
Can be heavy and put and put tension on the scalp, which
leads to hair breakage.
Cost
Depending on the particular weave, it can cost $9.00
usd on up if you do it yourself.
Durability
Your weave should last about 1 to 3 months, then it
needs replacing.
There
are other professional techniques such as Infusion,
Interlocking, Integration, Fusion and many others that
I know nothing about. Go to this website
for more info.
|
BRAIDS
Wearing
braids is a great way to give your hair a break or to
transition to natural with. You can get them professional
done or check out this
link to try and learn
how to put in your own braids or twist extensions. Be
care with braids. They can cause major damage to your
hairline if you get a braider that don't care. |
|
|
Types
of braids:
- Braids:
Hair interweaved usually by three strands with or
without hair extensions
- Cornrows:
Hair that is braided close the scalp in rows or designs
- Bob
braids: Chin-length
braids in a bob style
- Senegalese
twists: Two-strand
braids worn at various lengths
- Micro
braids: Extremely
small braids that can have loose and wavy ends
- Invisible
braids: A smaller
variation of microbraids that are deemed "invisible"
because of the tiny connection between the natural
hair and synthetic or natural hair
- Tree
braids: A technique similar to the Invisible braids
where the stylist pull out a section of the hair to
help disguise the braid and make the braids look more
like straight hair.
CARING
FOR YOUR BRAIDS:
- When
combing/brushing hair extensions start from bottom
and work up. Hold braids with other hand.
- To
prevent dryness use spray conditioner daily prior
to combing/brushing.
- Keep
your scalp clean. Use an astrigent such as sea breeze
at least one a week.
- Be
sure to wash hair in one direction from top to bottom.
- It
is important to keep conditioner off braids. Also
be sure to keep any silicone products off braids
as well. Both can cause braids to slip.
BRAIDS
Q's & A's
Q.
How can I prepare my hair before getting braids?
A.
Give yourself a deep conditioning treatment. If you
need a trim, trim before you get braids.
Q.
Should I straighten hair before getting braids?
A.
According to braiders, the nappier the better. This
is for the 'grip' factor. When they are braiding,
it helps for the hair to be nappy to limit slippage.
What I would do is prepare my hair by deep conditioning
then put my hair into a few large twists and let air-dry.
This helps to semi-straighten my hair without using
damaging heat.
Q.
How often should I wash my braids?
A:
That depends on your lifestyle and how often you sweat
etc. I my braids in the shower once a week. I mixed
a cap shampoo into a cup of warm water and poured
over my braids, but I focused on the scalp. You also
can clean your scalp with witch hazel or an astringent
such as Clean & Clear. Take a cotton ball, pour
the liquid on it (don't overabsorb - it will become
drippy), apply to your scalp going in the same directions
(not back and forth). Depending on how small your
braids are you may need someone to help you out in
the back.
Q.
How can I takedown my braids?
A:
This is what I used to do:
Cut
the extension about 1 inch past your real hair. Wet
your hair (or a section at a time) and saturate
the braids with some detanging conditioner.
At the beginning of the braid, rub gently between
your finger tips to assist in loosing up the braid.
Before I knew it, the braid unraveled and come a loose!
This will be a lengthy process so be prepared.
Q.
How long should I keep the braids in?
A:
This is completely up to you, but I would suggest
no longer than 6 to 8 weeks at a time.
Q.
How can I learn to do braids myself?
Braids
allows you to keep your hands out of your hair and let
it grow, but there are some precautions:
- Give
your hair a break from the braid once in a while.
- Don't
get your hair braided too tight and be careful around
the hairline.
- Don't
leave them in for months and months.
- When
you take your braids out, you will see lots of shedded
hair so don't be alarmed.
|
OTHER
INFO
- Click
here if you are interested in hairstyle "how-to"
videos.
Lastly
ladies, when your hairpiece is starting to get old, please
let it go! Here are some major signs that it time to get rid
of your hair piece:
- It
has no luster
- It
doesn't feel secure on your head
- Color
is dulled out and the hair is frizzy or matted
Have
fun experimenting with your hairpieces!
|
Natural Hair Photos 
