Before you get a weave, let me begin with telling you how to spot a good weave when you see one. You can’t. Getting a good weave means not being able to tell she’s wearing a weave at all.

You get what you pay for ladies! When someone stops and asks you, "who does your sew in?”

That is a sign that you are not fooling anyone. Now if you’ve heard this compliment, "your hair is gorgeous!” then nine times out of 10 that person has been fooled. So here is where we start, purchasing the right hair.

Step 1: Purchase high quality hair

Finding a hair distributor is essential. The hair that you purchase at the corner beauty supply is NOT what we are talking about. Authentic virgin hair is the highest quality of hair. This hair is purchased in bulk by a distributor and then hand wefted to retain quality. Besides being cleaned, this hair has had absolutely no chemical processing. It will last through multiple sew-ins which means you can actually save money in the long run by not having to keep purchasing hair every time you get your weave re-done.

Virgin hair is also the only hair that can be colored without excessive damage to the hair. Ask your stylist, if they don’t offer a high quality virgin hair, most likely they will refer you to someone who does. If they reach for a pack, watch out. If they recommend a popular brand, watch out. This investment is essential to a get a weave that will last, will resist tangling, and will look real.

Step 2: Choosing a texture

You definitely want to go with human hair. Synthetic hair often looks cheaper, is harder to take care of and cannot be curled with heat. The hair sold at most beauty supplies is a yak mix hair which contains animal hair. With a yak or yaky mix you will be lucky if this hair lasts one full weave. It will often mat or tangle so badly, that it will have to be taken out sometimes earlier than needed. Many women think they need to match their own hair texture exactly.

The coarser textures of human hair are sometimes processed to achieve the coarseness, which weakens the quality of the hair. Look at the diameter of the strand, or feel the hair. It doesn’t need a lot of wave pattern to be a match to your own hair. As long as the hair is thicker in texture and you’re looking for coarser hair, that’s all that matters. Ask your stylist to help you find a texture that suits you. Human hair available through a distributor usually offers many different textures.

Step 3: Shampooing and conditioning

The biggest mistake women do to their weaves is not shampooing regularly. If you leave the oils and product buildup in the weave hair, it can break it down and it will not last as long. Shampooing your weave at least once a week is a good thing. Conditioning will actually depend on the texture of hair chosen. Curlier virgin textures just need a small amount of conditioner.

While the straighter and finer textures don’t need conditioner at all. If you’re going to get a weave, invest in high quality hair. It will save you money and frustration in the long run.

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