How To Care For Your Natural Hair Under A Weave

While a weave affords you a lot of versatility, and protects your hair at the same time, you can't neglect your own hair while wearing one. Taking care of your hair when it's weaved away will ensure that once the weave is removed, your new growth is healthy and lush. So when wearing hair extensions, you need to:

• 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.