To Weave or Not to Weave?!

Lately to be frank I have just grown exhausted of the constant care and I know this feeling would lead to the detriment of my hard work over the past few months. So the question to weave just the back which we all know is going through a slow growth process and touch up the front as it is easier to care for. And this question lingered and I began researching on how to care for your hair under the weave and also your weave, because I am sure ladies we all want to keep it looking "dapper fresh" hence this informative blog with information I have researched on. Please share your thoughts on it. It is alot of information and maybe flawed as it isnt any expert opinion but reasoning it makes me say it does make sense.

Caring for the Hair under the weave

Source http://blackhair.about.com/od/colorenhancements/tp/haircareunderweave.htm

Shampoo and Condition

Yes, you still need to shampoo your hair on a regular basis. Concentrate the shampoo on your scalp and work it in with the balls of your fingertips. Then work the shampoo down the weave hair, but do not ball it up on the top of your head. Instead, work your fingers straight down through the hair to the ends. Let the water help guide the shampoo down. It's important to keep the weave hair as straight as possible to prevent matting and tangling.

Apply Oils to Your Scalp

Your hair and scalp still need nourishment. Work natural oils beneath the weave onto your scalp and massage them in. If the weave is made of human hair, getting a little product on it won't hurt it, but synthetic hair doesn't require additional products, so you'll have to be careful not to get oils on it.

Don't Neglect the Weave

Also, when caring for your hair, you must care for the weave hair as well. Just because you'll eventually remove it doesn't mean you can neglect it. Besides cleansing, weave hair needs to be combed to work tangles out. It should be secured at night, either under a satin cap or scarf.

Remove it After Six to Eight Weeks

Your hair will likely grow about ½ to 1 inch beneath the weave. Near the end of the recommended time frame for wearing it, the hair growth will cause it to be looser. Listen to your stylist's advice on how long to leave a weave in. If you extend this time too much, not only will your weave begin to look old and ragged, your new growth may begin to mat and loc.

Hair Care for the weave

(Source

http://www.lfhair.com/html/weave_care.php

• Wash the hair in the shower taking care to keep the hair hanging loose.
  
• Avoid cheap shampoos as they tend to contain more detergent than conditioners and will dry out the hair. Use a salon quality shampoo. Not all salon products should be used with hair extensions. See our list of recommended products below.
  
• Avoid cheap conditioners as the conditioners tend to be watered down giving less than the needed amount of conditioning to keep the hair from drying out. Remember that this hair is not growing out of the scalp and is not being replenished with natural oils.
  
• Distribute shampoo and condioners evenly throughout the hair. Squeeze the product through the hair. Avoid scrubbing, rubbing or bunching the hair together. Condition the hair well with a good creme based conditioner.
  
  NOTE: If you are planning to use a hair bonding product, shampoo the hair well but do not use any conditioners or styling products prior to applying the extensions. Condition the hair well after the extensions are in.
  
• After washing and conditioning apply a good spray leave on conditioning product. Use this product to freshen the hair between washing. Never use plain water.
  
• Pat excess water from the hair and allow the hair to dry completely before going to bed. Never sleep with with the hair wet or damp.
  
• Let the hair air dry whenever possible
  
• If you use a blow dryer, dry out the wefted part of the hairpiece first. Then finish drying the hair from the ends up. Avoid pulling the hair while wet.
  
• Avoid using excess heat
  
• Loosen hair every morning and before going to bed. Most tightly curled styles should never be combed. Shake out curly styles, comb through straight styles and use a wide tooth comb or fingers to loosen wavy hair.
  
• Avoid applying direct heat to the bonded area.
  
• Salt from perspiration, if allowed to buildup on the hair will strip the hair making it hard and brittle. If you excercise, make a practice of rinsing and conditioning the hair after each workout. Shampooing after a workout is not always necessary.
  
• Use a mild stringent on the scalp in between washings. Witch hazel works well.
  
• If you use a blow dryer use one with a diffusing tool to better circulate the heat.
  
• If you have bonded extensions, avoid applying heat to the bonded areas
  
• Most hair extensions have been processed. For this reason, we don't recommend you color hair extensions. If you find you must color to get a better color match, try coloring your natural hair to match the hair piece. Additional chemical treatment on hair extensions can make the hair frizzy dull and difficult to manage.