How to Do Italian Weaving

Care for your weave as if it was your own hair.

Italian weaves are weft type hair extensions with unique, multi-directional loose curls. The curls are treated with special retention agents to reduce tangling, making them an excellent choice to add color, length, and volume to your hairstyle. The warp of an Italian weave is 100 percent human hair and the weft consists of a superior stitching pattern that results in less shedding. Weft type weaves are easy to attach to the scalp, making them an excellent choice for a do-it-yourself stylist.

Things You'll Need

• Large, flat work surface
• Hair extension glue
• Hair claw
• Hair clips
• Scissors
• Comb
• String
• Tape

Instructions

Customize Your Weave

1. Determine the best length weave for your lifestyle. Italian weaves come in 12, 14, 16, and 20 inch lengths, and you can trim them before or after they're attached. If you have an active lifestyle and want a longer length, consider wearing your hair up and covering it while you sleep. You can always wear it down on special occasions.

2. Use a hair claw to keep hair on top of your head up and out of the way. Beginning at the temple, evenly part each side of your hair, moving the comb from the front to back, ending in the center. Gently twist the hair and use the claw to attach it securely at the top of your head.

3. Leaving a small strip of your own hair across the bottom, part your hair across the back from ear to ear. Use the hair clips to keep the your hair out of the way so you can measure across the nape of your neck.

4. Use a piece of string to measure the distance between your ears across the back. Grasp the end and hold it at one ear and stretch the string across the distance to your other ear. Cut the string so it's equal to the distance.

5. Remove the clips and continue the process of measuring and cutting string. For each row, move one inch up the back of your head. As you measure for each row, tape the strings to a piece of paper and label each one.

6. Layout the weave on a large flat surface. Using the measured strings to estimate, layout enough sections of weft for each row you plan to fill. Remember you'll be working from the nape of your neck up, so layout the sections of weave in the same order.

7. Begin the process of gluing the weft to your scalp at the nape of the neck. Again, part your hair across the back from ear to ear and clip up the hair, leaving a small strip of your own hair across the bottom.

8. Apply a thin layer of hair extension glue on each section of weft and a thin layer along the part. Allow the glue to dry slightly, until it feels tacky. This technique will allow the weft to bond securely to your scalp.

9. Working from the center out, press each section firmly against the scalp. The glue will dry quickly, so position each section carefully. For a natural look, leave about a 1/4 inch of space for your own hair at each end of the part. Repeat this process until the desired number of rows is glued into place.

References

• Brownskin.net: Hair Weaves
• The Hair Extension Guide: Hair Extensions
• Rapunzel of Sweden: Instructions for Hair Weft Extensions With Glue

Resources

• Monster Guide: How to Do a Quick Weave