Extensions/Weaves Experts Please Come In!!

[Lindy]

My daughter is 18 and away at college for the first time and is having trouble with her hair. It's relaxed, and she usually does the "wash-n-go" style, but she is in upstate new york, and it's waaaay too cold to be doing that all winter.

Her hair is about neck length and she is always complaining that she wants longer hair, but she also has highlights in it, so, as we know, it takes a lot of TLC to maintain healthy hair with relaxer & highlights, so it seems like it never gets any longer than that.

I told her that she's better off just blow drying and straightening her hair with the ceramic flat iron every week or two, but now she wants me to look into getting some type of extensions or weave put in while she's home for X-mas break... I've never had anything like that, so I don't know anything about it.

If she did get one or two tracks put in, how often would she have to have it re-done? And would she be able to wash it herself? There are no black hairdressers in the immediate area where she goes to school, although she could take a bus into a major city to get it done, if she had to...

Any info. you all could give me would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[poetist]

If she gets a few tracks, she'd need to get it touched up maybe every 6-8 weeks. It really depends on how quickly her hair grows. She will be able to wash it herself. She just needs to make sure that she gets a nice quality or hair that blends well with hers.

Are you in NYC? If so, there are LOTS of places that she can go to get her hair done and places that she can order quality hair from.

 

[Chanteuse]

Does she want extensions just to have a longer look or is she trying to get break from her real hair. If it's the latter I would recommend getting a full sew in with most of her hair braided up underneath. With just adding a few tracks, most if not all of her hair will still be out so she will still have to deal with it. She could also get some braids or kinky twists (if she's into that) for a low to no-maintenance hairstyle that will last a couple of months.

As with anything though, be very selective about who you chose to do her hair. Extensions can be great and have helped some people achieve healthy hair (myself included) but they can also be very damaging to if they are not put in correctly and cared for correctly.

 

[Lindy]

So, if she got tracks, how would she wash her hair? Just like she normally would, and blow dry it??? That must be tricky to do without pulling the track out (??)

Also, if she got a full head weave, how much total would I most likely be paying?? And can you wash that yourself?? I'm so confused...

 

[KinksnCurlz]

Hey girlie

With tracks, you wash your hair regular. She would know where her tracks are (braid her own hair/sew in track) so she won't pull it out during the blowdrying process. She would have to be more careful around the area tho.

With a full, it can cost you anywhere from $125 - 350 bucks depending on where you go. She can wash it herself (shower only) BUT at the same time she has to make sure she gets all of the soap off of her scalp or else she'll be patting her weave more than beyonce! She can get a squirt bottle (you know the ones that you put color in to dye your hair?), put a little shampoo and water in it and squeeze it in between the wefts. To massage her scalp, she just needs to put both hands on her head and sort of "move the weave in a circle." sounds funny but put your hands on ur head and just scratch lightly with your fingertips to get an idea of what I'm saying. In between the wefts, she would need to stick her finger in there (which she will be use to doing because her head will itch from time to time). After she's done, she needs to stand under the water for at least 5 mins to make sure she rinses ALL of the shampoo out of her hair. *Make sure she asks the stylist to show her how to wash her hair before you leave the salon*

Oh and to wash the weave hair, just wet it (shower only), apply the shampoo and run the hands down (not up) the hair. Do not pile the hair on top of her head and massage vigorously b/c that can lead to tangles. Rinse, repeat... whatever.

P.S. We are talking about human hair right?

 

[Lindy]

Heyyyyy CH!!! Haven't seen you in ages!! Nice to see that you're still around!!

Thanks for the info!! So....if she wanted to get a track or two, how much does that usually cost? What's the difference between human hair and synthetic? I would guess human hair is better.. And would she be able to style it regularly, wear her hair up, curl it, flat iron it?

 

[KinksnCurlz]

Heyyyyy CH!!! Haven't seen you in ages!! Nice to see that you're still around!!

Thanks for the info!! So....if she wanted to get a track or two, how much does that usually cost? What's the difference between human hair and synthetic? I would guess human hair is better.. And would she be able to style it regularly, wear her hair up, curl it, flat iron it?

hey sweetie... sorry it too me so long to respond

4 tracks should be enough and each track should not run u more than $10 each. I do not like synthetic hair (my own thing) because you can't flat iron/curl, etc. and it reminds me of barbie doll hair. BLAH! With human hair, you can do whatever you do to your own hair, curl, flat iron, wash/set, ponytail, etc. Make sure the person who does it doesn't continue the track all the way to the edges (so you will be able to put it up in a ponytail).

 

[HAIRapy]

She could also do braidouts She could wash her hair in the evening, braid it and let it dry overnight. Then take the braids out and moisturize for sheen and go.

 

[glamazon386]

If she's trying to not have to deal with her hair, 1 or 2 tracks is not going to help. The majority of her hair is still going to be out and hanging so what is the point of 1 or 2 tracks? People usually get 1 or 2 tracks added to add a little length for a particular style. And it's usually $10 a track to get it sewn in. If she is going to get a weave, I would suggest she get most of her hair covered except for a little bit in the front to go around a part and cover the last track. Or a full head weave (no hair showing). Getting a little hair left out in the front looks more natural and is the easiest to do. She will be able to wash it herself and maintain it from there.

Depending on where you go, a weave is going to be over $100 plus the cost of the hair. She should get human hair. When I went to college my first semester I got a sew in. My hairdresser charged $50 at the time. And I took it out around thanksgiving. It worked very well for me. Braids are also an option. Most of the black girls at my school had braids. I tried that my 2nd semester and I had bad luck though. Or she could just wear her own hair in low manipulation styles like twist outs, braid outs, buns, etc. How long is her hair?