African American Hair Weaving Techniques

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Hair weaving is a very popular styling technique in the African American community. Many people choose to add weave to their hairstyle to create a fun and versatile look. Hair weaving is done either with human hair or synthetic hair. There are five main types of hair weaving techniques available to the African American community, and the services range from affordable to expensive. Hair weaving can last from one week to three months, depending on the technique employed. Here are the prominent types of African American hair weaving.

Things You'll Need

• Your Hair Weave Hair Stylist Hair Glue Fusion machine

Instructions

1. Bond the weave to your hair. In bonding, tracks of hair weave are glued to the roots of your hair. The glue is especially formulated for hair, and is intended to wash away easily. It is a tacky substance that holds the weave in place. This method has been around since the 1950s. It is one of the least expensive methods, and usually done at home. The cost of this method, if done at home, varies, but is usually around $50, including weave and bonding glue. The drawback to this method is the stickiness of the glue, which can be very messy, and hard to completely wash away. The hair is also less flexible, as too much movement would reveal the track. Bonded weave is only intended to last for one week, and should be taken out at the next shampoo. There is also a glue remover available, to avoid ripping the weave from your roots.

2. Sew the weave into your hair. This is a very popular method of hair weaving in the African American community. In order to sew the weave into your hair, a stylist must cornrow your hair into a circle around your head. The stylist may create several cornrows, braiding a circle inside the larger circle. The weave is then sewn into the cornrows. This method cannot be done alone, and it's highly recommended that you go to a professional stylist to have it done. This type of weaving costs, on average, $200 and can last up to three months. The two drawbacks of sewing in weave are that your hair will have a lumpy appearance, and the cornrowed hair can get get mildewed, if wet. Many people still choose this method because it's very affordable, and long lasting.

3. Tape the weave to your hair. This method is very similar to bonding, however, it uses adhesive instead of glue. Taping is also referred to as Invisi-Track, because the hair track blends seamlessly into the hair. It has the same shelf-life as hair bonding, because it cannot endure shampooing. Taping is popular because it's easy to do and mess-free.

4. Fuse the weave to your hair. Fusion is, by far, the newest and most popular method of hair weaving in the African American community. It is also the most expensive, costing approximately $1,000 per procedure. Fusion is done by adding weave to a small section of hair (about 1/4 an inch). It is a very painstaking and lengthy process, but it does not hurt, and only produces minimal damage to your hair. With fusion, the stylist will part your hair and then fuse 10 to 20 pieces, or "strands," of weave to your hair. The average amount for an entire head is 150 strands. It will take at least 5 hours to do this method of hair weaving. The benefit of fusion is that it provides the most natural look, with no lumpiness or detectable tracks.

5. Clip the weave onto your hair. Clip-ons are easy and very temporary. The weave is attached to a clip, and you clip it onto your own hair, usually onto a pony tail. It is not meant to be a permanent style, but one for whimsy, or a change of pace. Clip-on weaves are the most gentle to your own hair, because they don't put glues or other chemicals on your hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Get your hair weaved professionally, by a stylist you trust. Follow a friend's recommendation.

• Prolonged hair weaving can be dangerous to your hair. You run the risk of pulling out your own hair, due to the pressure of the weave against your hair.

Resources

• More about hair fusion