Choosing the Right Hair Weave

By Ava Blalark

Okay, so the very first time I was preparing to get my sew-in I was so excited.  I went to the beauty supply and I was blown away by the selection, the different brands, textures, colors, styles, and prices!  A pack of hair can range from as low as $7.99 to $99.00 (sometimes lower, sometimes higher).  You can buy synthetic hair, 100% human hair, or Remy hair.   So, how do you know what hair is right for you?

Take into consideration the style you want. Do you want to wear the hair straight most of the time? (If so, don’t get curly hair).  Do you want hair that you can wear straight and curl?  (You wouldn’t want to buy synthetic hair because usually, you can’t curl it.)  If you want something that gets wavy when wet then you’ll want to buy wet and wavy hair.  Do you want it long or short? (The desired length determines how many inches you buy.)  10-12 inches is about shoulder length on most people.

What is your hair type?  If you plan on leaving some of your hair out and blending it with the weave, that may determine what type of hair you get as well.  Don’t get silky – silky hair if you have type 4Z hair (like me) because it’s going to be a pain to blend.  You’ll end up flat ironing your hair every day and damaging your hair.  You also want to get a color that is the same color as your hair.  If your hair is black don’t get a blonde weave because I guarantee, you will look a mess.  However, if you are getting a closure or a full weave then the texture and color won’t matter.

What is your price range?  That’s easy…how much money are you willing to spend?  In general, you get what you pay for so the more you spend, the better quality.   However, I have had hair I paid $14.99 for that was better than the hair I had spent $49.99 on.  Your best bet is to get on a hair forum and ask the ladies about different brands they have used.  Use Google product reviews and see what you can find as well.

How long do you want it to last?  Are you just looking for a cute curly style that you are going to wear for a few weeks?  If so, you’d do well to get a pack of Freetress synthetic weave.   It costs about 10 bucks a pack.    If you are looking for something long term you may want to buy 100% human hair or even Remy hair if you want it to last even longer. [box_help]Very quickly I’ll tell you the difference between Remy and non-Remy hair.   Remy hair is collected from a donor (think Chris Rocks’ “Good Hair” movie and his trip to India.)   The cuticles are not stripped and therefore are aligned in one direction.  That is the difference between hair that stays smooth and lasts and hair that is on top of your head looking like a bird’s nest after a week.[/box_help]

If you plan on wearing your weave a while and you want it to last through multiple installs you are going to want to go with a higher quality Remy hair from a reputable vendor.  Yes, it’s much more expensive but if all the above qualifications are yours, then this is the route you want to go.   I’ll use myself as an example.   I wrote an article“Yes I wear a weave, it’s called protective styling”.   I knew that I wanted to use weave as a protective style to help grow my hair out.  For me, that means wearing my weave for at least 2 months at a time and giving my hair a 1 – month break in between.  That would mean in a year’s time I would get my weave installed 4 times.

If I buy from the beauty supply each time and spend $25 a pack for hair, (I usually buy 2 packs), I’ve spent $200 by the year’s end.  However, because I knew I would be getting weaves I chose to buy Remy hair that would last.  I spent 200 bucks on hair but I’ve already worn it 3 times and it’s still good.  I am positive I can get 3 more wears out of it because I take care of it. When you buy good quality Remy hair you’ll be better able to take care of your own hair underneath.  You can wash, condition, and curl it just like you would your own hair.  You don’t have to worry about messing the weave up when you want to wash or moisturize you hair underneath.

Hopefully, this has helped you in your quest for the perfect weave.  Choose what seems right for you.