a couple of months ago, I posted about the protective style challenge I had set myself, well it lasted about a month in the braids, maybe a bit longer. I decided to switch up the style and a do a long term weave for a couple pf month instead, WHY?
I think the main reason was styling choices, I love to wear hats and I have a big head, (as my mother always tells me, when you were a baby you couldn't hold your own head up it was so big lol!) so I find it easier to wear a hat with a weave. I did the weave myself and I was quite pleased with the results.
Braids: Note the the big MELON HEAD! |
These are my 'Healthy Weaving Rules'
these rules are what I follow whilst doing the weave and whilst I am in the weave, and I am a long-period weaver!
I can wear a weave in my hair for up to 5 1/2 months with no breakage! just growth. I love the Growth I get from my weave!
WEAVE GROWTH- No Joke...its crazy thick up there! |
- Prepare your hair for the hibernation! just like a bear who hibernates during the winter months will stock-pile his nuts and berries or is it squirrels? one of the two anyway lol! I prepare my hair for the weave hibernation, by doing a protein treatment first. I want to ensure my hair is strengthened for the weave install.
- My treatment of choice...since I LOVE all things that emanate from the earth, I will use HENNA! it works for me so why break the habit!
HENNA head: Excuse the glum face! |
- I will then do a deep conditioner, my internal conditioning treatment. The henna can be drying,so I will then DC with my Deep conditioner mix.
- I then let my hair air-dry! I am not that keen on the blow-dryer.
- I will braid my hair in no less than 10 braids ' Leroy FAME style' for the younger readers I mean, straight back. I had a stylist last year braid my hair in a spiral, and I hated it, it was too much manipulation for my poor strands!
- I contribute the health of my hair during the weave, or some of it to this braiding method.
- As the braids are thick and few, the foundation for my weave is strong. Breakage occurs when the hair is braided thinly and then its pulled and tugged by an over-zealous stylist who tries to sew the weave hair in for eternity!
My Wonky 'DIY' BRAIDS! |
- I will then sew the ends of my hair together at the back and across my head. I need to access my scalp when in my weave, this is ESSENTIAL!
- The weave is then sewn on in a U-shape, starting at the back of my head.
My hair is thick, so I do not braid too tightly, |
- I do not mind that the braids are not the neatest, the main thing is my scalp is not being tightly pulled and I can access my scalp to oil and massage it nightly!
- Take your time and slowly loosen each row of cornrow and apply conditioner to each section and detangle, then twist.
- Continue this until all the cornrowed braids are loosened.
- Give your hair a wash and then follow-up with a protein treatment, the hair if it has been weaved up as long up as mine, will need strengthening again.
- Take your time!
- Do not be alarmed by the hair that sheds, this is a natural process, you have not combed your hair from weeks/months so this is normal!
- Give your hair a rest, just leave it alone for a week or two.