How to Do an Enclosed Weave

Enclosed weaves create a more natural look.

An enclosed weave creates a more natural-looking weave hairstyle, because the front of your hairline has no visible weave tracks. Weave that is sewn into your natural hair is closed in by a lace front closure cap that hides the tracks surrounding it. You can also part the hair on the closure cap in any direction, and the braids underneath it will be undetectable to others.

Things You'll Need

• Shampoo
• Deep conditioner
• Hair oil
• Comb
• Clip
• Hair sewing thread (color that closely matches your hair color)
• Hair sewing needle
• Hair spray
• Lace front closure cap
• Wefted weave
• Scissors
• Cotton balls
• Isopropyl alcohol (91%)
• Lace wig liquid adhesive

Instructions

1. Shampoo and deep-condition your natural hair to minimize breakage during the weave application process. Apply hair oil to your scalp and natural hair once it is dry.

2. Part your hair down the middle of your head, and clip up one half of your hair. Part a row in the loose half of your hair, and braid down the row of hair, toward the nape of your neck, to create a cornrow. Make sure your cornrow is flat and slender. Braid the entire half of your hair in cornrows, then repeat on the other side.

3. Thread the hair-sewing needle with about 24 inches of thread. Tie a knot at the end of your thread to secure the ends.

4. Secure the end of your braid by sewing it into the cornrows. Braid the ends of your braids together into one large braid. Lay the braid over your cornrows at the back of your head. Insert the needle into the tip of your braid, through the cornrow, back up and out the cornrow and through the top of your braid. Continue sewing until the entire braid is securely sewn onto the cornrows.

5. Seal the back of your closure cap to minimize shedding of the weave on the closure. Spray the back of the closure with hair spray, and let it dry thoroughly. Repeat two to three times.

6. Place one end of the wefted weave on top of the braids closest to the nape of your neck. Measure the weave across (horizontally) your braids to determine how much weave you need to cut in order to sew it across your head. Cut the weave at its track per your measurements. Sew the weave onto the braided hair, sewing the weave across your head from one end to the other. Your tracks must run horizontally across your head. Sew the weave onto your head by sewing through the track and cornrow just as you did when securing your braid tips in step four.

7. Move up to the section of hair just above where you just placed your weave, and measure and cut another section of weave just as you did in step six. Sew the weave onto the braided hair just as you did before. Continue cutting and sewing in hair weaves until you arrive at the crown of your head, You will place your closure cap here.

8. Place the closure cap over the area of hair that does not have wefted weave hair sewn into it. Line the edge of hairline on the silk closure up with natural hairline. Cut the lace at the front of your silk closure so that it matches up with your natural hairline.

9. Sew the closure cap in place by sewing around the sides and back of the closure. Sew in more wefted weave hair along the sides and back of your closure if you have a gap between the closure and the rest of your weave.

10. Wet the cotton ball with your isopropyl alcohol. Run the cotton ball over your hairline to remove any oil or dirt from your skin that could make it difficult to adhere the front edge of your closure cap onto the edges of your hairline.

11. Dab a small amount of the liquid adhesive onto the front of the lace and press it down onto the edge of your hairline. Wait a few minutes for the glue to completely dry. Style your new hair as desired.

References

• My Lace Front Wig: What is a Lace Front Sew In; 2011
• Celebrity Style Wigs: What is a Lace Frontal; 2011
• Black Women Beauty Central: Want to Learn How to Sew in Weave Extensions?; 2011