Tips to Maintaining a Weave: Products, Hair Recommendations and More

By Cynthia Alvarez,

as featured in Madame Noire

If you’re wondering how you can keep an expensive weave up without having to struggle with it too much, it’s important to know how to do the following: to prep and care for your real hair before you put the weave on it, to find the right type of hair to use, the best way to style it without overdoing it each morning under the flat iron, and what you should do for your hair when it’s time to take that weave down. Got a few minutes? Check out these tips from celebrity stylist Cynthia Alvarez.

Condition
It's imperative to deep condition your hair before attaching a weave. Dry strands underneath a heap of hair is not the way to go. Therefore, you should apply a product like Ojon’s Damage Reverse restorative hair treatment for 20 minutes under a dryer or even wear the product or something similar under a cap overnight.

Invest
When thinking about getting a weave, be sure to stash some cash. Human hair extensions are costly but they can last up to a year with proper care. The line I love is Hair Factory’s New York Remi. Sometimes the cheaper the hair you buy, the more likely it will look equally cheap on your head.

Style
Before purchasing your hair extensions, consider the maintenance and upkeep of the hair type. If you want long and straight hair that you can whip and have flowing down your back, be sure you have the time to style it. If you don’t have the time and you know you won’t put forth the effort to keep those locks intact, the curly ‘spray and go’ hair might fit your lifestyle better. Also consider a texture that will blend well with your own texture of hair.

Mix-n-Match
If you want to achieve a more natural and fuller look instead of just long and flat, know that it’s okay to blend textures that are similar to one another. High quality human hair can be used and you don’t have to worry about tangling and matting. Fuller is more fun, right?

No glue
Please avoid glue in weaves as much as possible. Not only do they not last as long, but they also pose health hazards. Small and intricately placed
braids can look just as good and natural, without the added health hazards and the possible hair damage of course.

Net it
A good weaving net can be useful in relieving some tension that can be caused by the pulling of the track on your hair. Sew the cap to your hair and the weave onto the cap. You can of course find an inexpensive weaving net at your local beauty supply store.

Protect
Don’t neglect your real hair once you’ve weaved it all up. Be sure to apply a nourishing oil to your edges like Ojon’s Restorative Hair Serum at night before wearing your silk scarf. This will ensure the preservation of your fragile scalp and hair.

Product Overload
If you’re used to using tons of product on your hair, stop it! Very little product is needed on premium hair. Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, a little styling cream and you’re done.

Personalize
Every weave needs to be cut to fit your face. Razor cutting is one of the best and most popular techniques for cutting extensions. It gives you a more natural, tapered effect.

Pass on the Heat
Try not to over-style your hair on a daily basis. If you curl your hair (I recommend BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium 1″), try to maintain it for a few days by pin curling it at night, then transition to jumbo braids to give you loose beach waves. Lightly finger style in the a.m. before you head to work or just out the door in general. Treat the extensions as you would your own, after all, it is human hair.

Time off
Last but not least, no when to give your hair a rest. It is wise to give your scalp and hair a break from the tension of being under a weave. In between, you can take advantage of other type of extensions like a fun ponytail and half-wigs. They are quick and easy transitional pieces. And don’t forget to play with and get to know your own hair by giving it some good TLC during this “downtime.”

Based in New York City, Celebrity Hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez has worked with celebrities such as Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Keke Palmer, Toni Braxton, Shakira and more. For more information on Cynthia or to get some more tips, please visit her website:    http://cynthiaalvarez.net/

Extreme Dark Roots: Tress Trend

When R&B singer Ciara attended a pre-Grammy party in West Hollywood, California earlier this month, my eyes were immediately drawn to her two-toned hair. According to her stylist and Clairol Professional celebrity colorist Kiyah Wright, Ciara's new 'do was about taking her ombre to the next level.
"It's bold, impressionable and screams artistry," says Wright.

Extreme dark roots hairstyle. Photos: Ciara, Steve Granitz/WireImage; Rihanna, Jeff Vespa/WireImage; Clairol Professional BW Bleach Powder; Zara Martin, Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Old Vic; Model at Prada fall 2012 runway show, GoRunway.com.

Drew Barrymore is known for not concealing her dark roots in between constant hairstyle changes. Additionally, Rihanna and Katy Perry have recently let their brightly-colored hair grow out. London It Girl Zara Martin's long, blond locks also have this lived-in appeal. And the models at Prada's fall 2012 runway show sported extreme ombre hair.

Wright adds, "Back in the early '80s and '90s, it was more about that grungy rebellious rock star look. Now people are going back to their roots and upping the ante. Another appeal is that it's economical. You don't have to go to the salon as regularly, which saves quite a bit of money."

However, this heavily-bleached and colored trend is better suited for women with strong and healthy hair.

"The biggest mistake is not enlisting a salon professional’s help to achieve this look," says Wright. "The products I used were Clairol Professional BW Bleach Powder to lighten and ash toners to get the red out. It took us about three days to achieve the end result you now see on Ciara."

And if you have fine hair or are just anti-dye like myself, high quality human hair extensions can be better alternatives.

"You can buy extensions that are bleach blond and then depending on your natural color, all you may have to do is dye your roots a darker brown. This way, you are not damaging your hair by putting it through the bleaching process," explains Wright.

Here, the hair color pro's final low-maintenance tips:

• Braid your hair into two large braids with one on each side. When you take them out, you will have a nice, soft and wavy look or use a 1-inch barrel curling iron to create beachy waves.
• Opt to straighten your hair with a ceramic flat iron (on low heat, of course).

What do you think about extreme dark roots? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section and check out another 'do that takes the fuss out of styling.

-Dana Oliver
 Stylist