There are a lot of assumptions and opinions about weaves and the women who wear them. But wearing weaves, like wearing many other popular hairstyles, is just fine–as long as you know how to properly maintain them. And in the case of sew-ins, it’s important to know how to take care of your own hair and to actually follow the advice of the experts. That includes washing the extensions and your hair underneath, drying it completely, and allowing your own hair the chance to breathe in between installments.
When you don’t, you run the risk of severely damaging your hair. Just ask the young woman featured in a video posted by Razor Chic of Atlanta Salon. The 23-year-old girl, clearly suffering from traction alopecia and hair loss also possibly due to fungal infections from a buildup of mildew, shared her hair regimen, or lack thereof, over the years. Admitting that “I don’t let my hair breathe,” she had been applying her own sew-ins since 2011 and also opted for wigs and quick-weave options whenever she could. Her own hair pretty much stayed covered at all times. That is how things ended up this bad:
A stylist at the salon did a noble thing by deciding to do the young woman’s hair for free. According to BlackGirlLongHair, she did so in the hopes of helping to boost the client’s self-esteem and allow her hair to have a fresh, healthy start.
And major kudos to the salon. As you will see if you browse through their social media, they are helping quite a few women who are dealing with traction alopecia and thinning hair to properly style and care for their damaged strands.
As those behind the salon made clear in a caption for the video, they’re not against weaves whatsoever. However, “chasing styles and convenience” and not giving your hair the chance to breathe and be will only leave you in a world of trouble–and leave stylists with a lot of work to do to nurse one’s hair back to health.
For tips on how to properly maintain your hair when wearing a weave, check out a few stories we’ve done on the topic, including our recent Women’s Health Week piece on alopecia, and some classic and helpful tips from celebrity stylist Cynthia Alvarez. In the meantime, learn something from this woman’s ordeal and give that head a break.
