What Is a Hair Weave?

By: Abigail Prendergast

The dictionary defines "Hair Weave" as "a process in which a hairpiece is interwoven with [a person's] real hair". This method is quite different than the conventional wig; which is an entire hairstyle all in itself. Weaves and extensions have many different methods and styles of being applied. The most popular among celebrities, according to Wikipedia, is the "Healthy Hair Weave" in which no glue or other artificial adhesives are utilized in the weaving process. This method is suitable for people of most ethinic groups, and often uses real human hair as opposed to synthetic.

Another popular weaving technique is called "Bonding" used especially for adding highlights and volume. This application requires adhesives for which the extensions are bonded to the roots of a person's own hair. This is only a temporary fix, though; and bonded weaves should not be left in for more than two weeks.

Methods like Tracking and Fusion are a bit more complex; tracking requires tresses to be braided into circles. Then the weaves must be sewn into the individual cornrolls of each braid. Fusion, albiet long-lasting and versatile, is also very expensive and time-consuming. This process requires the stylist or stylists to adhere speically designed strands to each hair strand by strand. Up until recently this style of weaving utilized yak hair; but since then human hair has been introduced into this method and it does not require the same heating instruments its predecessor did.

If you're not interested in having sticky glues tacked on your head then you might want to look into the "No Braids, No Glue" style. In this process, the extensions are sewn into the client's own hair/ This method is also the quickest only requiring about an hour of your time. After all, not everybody can be like Elton John who, in the early 1970s commisioned a hair weave that took 12 hours to produce.

But whether you have the time or not there is sure to be a style and a method of weaving most suited to your schedule and lifestyle.

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