There is absolutely no doubt that quite a few women love and want long, flowing hair but some of those same ladies who prefer to have very long hair sometimes are not able to achieve their desired look regardless of how long they work at their hair. This is why many choose hair weaves for getting that glimpse they\’ve always imagined. Hair weaves not only are able to show you a new length if your hair is healthy but also if it is unusually sparse or thin.

This type of hair addition can be attached to provide length and fullness to the hair in a number of ways.

Attached To Existing Hair

This is the most common way of applying hair weaves. They can be sewn on (attached to a big braid), glued on using a special hair bond, etc. Whichever way you choose, every so many weeks or months, you must take them out and reattach them securely as they loosen up as your own natural hair grows out. I stress also about putting glue on the hair. My daughter does her hair this way and I notice so much hair loss and breakage when she takes it down. It could be the way she does it, I don’t know, I just see big tumbleweed balls of hair on the sink. And her own hair looks thinner and dryer because of it.

Attached To The Scalp

There is a two-sided tape that attaches to the skin; hair on one side, the other adheres to the scalp. I caution using anything that adheres to the scalp where the hair meets the skin. Hair breakage above the scalp is one thing. As you know, if hair breaks, the break will continue up the strands and the only way to stop it is to cut just above the broken area. In my opinion, putting tape so close to where the hair grows out of the scalp that eventually has to be removed again is a definite no no (unless the sebum or any oils I manually add to my hair breaks down the bond for ease in its removal). You don’t want to have broken hair so close to the scalp, how are you going to maintain it?

Attached Using Sutures

Attaching hair by using suture is said not only to be the most expensive but also the most painful. That this technique is most prone to infections and permanent scarring. I say, unless you are truly going to actually die if you don’t have some sort of long hair on your head, forget this method and try one of the others above.

With all of the above having been said hair weaves can give you stunning results. Especially if the hair placed perfectly matches your own. You can possibly thicken in addition to lengthen your hair instantly. Provided either yourself or a professional takes care of it properly.

But just because you can get them, should you?

No matter how healthy or strong your hair is, no matter how truly careful you treat it, something can always go wrong (remember my article on protein?). Hair weaves are just like any other process done to the hair, you must provide maintenance if you want your hair to thrive.

Years ago, I had a French hair weave when they first came out. This was when the beautician would braid your hair into several thick plaits as she left some of your own hair hanging loose, then sewed real human hair onto the plaits. It looked beautiful when she had finished, my ‘hair’ went all the way down to my lower back…you couldn’t tell me NOTHIN’. But I was young and had only gotten my hair that way to look cute so I didn’t maintain it correctly. Oh, it looked okay from an outsider’s view but I hardly combed it and when I did, I didn’t do a very thorough job. This lead to my loose real hair knotting up very badly and my shed hair tangling in the thread. I didn’t know my hair had done this until I went back to my beautician (I’d kept it in for three months) and not only did she cut out the sew in but she had to cut my real hair to GET the tangled pieces out. Then after she took the weave out, she had to cut my hair even more once she took the braids out to even it up. I lost so much hair. Not to mention the bald spot toward the back of my head that wasn’t there before the weave and God only knows where that can from!

Me and my hair horror stories, I know.

My point is hair weaves can help your hair grow, if your hair is reasonably healthy to start with. On their own they shouldn’t cause hair loss. If you are already losing hair, especially to alopecia that makes you have bald spots or thinning hair, don’t look for them to turn that around because hair weaves can’t do that. You can cover over those places though (no glue or tapes on the balding/thinning area). If you are just looking for a style and want longer hair for a while, I say go for it. Just remember to maintain the weave and your own hair once it is in. Take a break occasionally from the hair addition, all that pulling and glue and thread applied on a constant basis is not good for your hair. Also, if possible, (and it should be), don’t keep reapplying the weave in the same spots over and over every time whether you’re doing it or having your hair done professionally, change it up at least every other time. To not do that just causes unnecessary stress and pressure on your scalp and hair and you are begging for hair loss and traction alopecia.

It’s okay, go ahead and get that glimpse of you having long, flowing hair ladies. Fling that hair back and forth (carefully). But just for a little while at a time. Give you own hair some time too breathe in between weave sets and your real hair will thank you for it.

Nina Hobson is currently a trichology student (the study of the hair and scalp) and has been personally studying hair for over 25 years. She invites you to visit her affiliate Hairbrosia® Hair Solutions (beta version-take a tour) where they offer you the only hair growth aids you will ever need. http://www.hairbrosia.com

Nina Hobson is currently a trichology student (the study of the hair and scalp) and has been personally studying hair for over 25 years. She invites you to visit her affiliate Hairbrosia® Hair Solutions (beta version-take a tour) where they offer you the only hair growth aids you will ever need. http://www.hairbrosia.com

Author Bio: Nina Hobson is currently a trichology student (the study of the hair and scalp) and has been personally studying hair for over 25 years. She invites you to visit her affiliate Hairbrosia® Hair Solutions (beta version-take a tour) where they offer you the only hair growth aids you will ever need. http://www.hairbrosia.com

Category: Womens Interest
Keywords: hair weave, hairstyle, hair care, growing hair, hair loss, growing hair with weaves, hair thinning,