Hair weaves – definition
You would be surprised by the number of times I get asked by my non-black friends the meaning of the phrase ‘hair weaves’. I’m always happy to answer my befuddled friends. For the avoidance of doubt, weaves are artificial hair integrations that many women of colour and, increasingly, women who are not of colour, add to their hair to give it a volume boost. Hair weaves are usually woven onto natural hair by using additional hair – either human hair or synthetic hair. The method used is called the ‘track and sew’. In this method, cornrows are braided in line with how the hair should fall, which could be either towards the face or away from it. The human or synthetic hair wefts are then woven onto the cornrows using a special needle and a thread that matches the colour of the hair that is being integrated. The hair wefts can also be bonded to the hair using special bonding glue.
There are many different textures of hair weave; popular ones amongst black women include the following:
- Yaki – straight, similar in texture to relaxed Afro-Caribbean hair
- Kinky curly (very tightly coiled “s” or “z” shaped curl pattern) – similar-ish in texture to natural Afro-Caribbean hair
Below is a small selection of places where you can buy high-quality wigs and hair weaves, UK
SimiWeave™
SimiWeaves are the weaves that are ‘worn by celebrities – in secret’. It is very difficult to tell the difference between a SimiWeave™ and natural hair – a testament to the attention to detail and skill of the founder. She’s won multiple awards (14, but who’s counting?) for her patented brand to prove it. With SimiWeave™, you can *finally* say ‘goodbye’ to thread, glue and itchy scalp and ‘Yesss!’ to a range of stunning possibilities. Curious? then visit the website. A very modern approach to hairstyling.
HairToPlease UK
Perhaps the only issue with this Etsy site is the enormous choice available. HairToPlease is a good place to go if you are after braided wigs. A popular style is the Fulani cornrows Ombré box braids, but the custom-prepared wigs are also sought after.
Type Four Extensions
Not yet launched at the time of writing, Type Four Extensions promises to bring you human hair extensions that match your hair texture. On offer will be clip-ins and wigs to blend with your natural type 4 hair.
To All My Black Girls
This is a one-stop-shop for everything wig and weave-related. You’ll find a range of hair extensions here, including ponytails, wigs, wefts, frontals, closures, hair accessories and more. The site also offers samples of their weaves. For the naturally cautious, To All My Black Girls offers a 60-day warranty on hair products – contact the site for more information.
Heycurls
Love curly hair? HeyCurls provides clip-in extensions for four types of curly hair textures: spirals, coils, kinks and coils. The ‘HeySpirals’ match type 3a to 3b curls, ie those with a broad ‘s’ pattern; the ‘HeyCurls’ match type 3b to 3c; ‘HeyCoils’ match type 3c to 4a type coils and ‘HeyKinks’ match 4b to 4c kinks. Have a look – we think they are a great alternative to hair weaves.
There are numerous places to buy wigs and weaves in the UK. Unfortunately, not all offer the quality of products most of us want. Have a look at the sites in our selection, and let us know what you think.
Where do you go to buy your wigs or hair weaves in the UK?
