We all know the practicality of a weave however it’s time to wrap our heads around the hair weave family. Let’s talk about extensions, textures, hair options and everything that goes into how to choose and maintain a weave. We want our VIP beauties to be educated and confident when shopping with us. If you’re still confused after reading the breakdown, come see us at VIP.
What Is A Hair Weave?
A hair weave is an artificial or natural hair extension that’s fixed into human hair by sewing, gluing or clipping. Weaves originated in Egypt around 3400 BC. People dyed human hair or sheep wool and attached it to their heads with resin or beeswax. In fact, Cleopatra was noted in the ancient world for her peacock blue weave. Here is a breakdown of terminology that plays a major role in extension hair lingo.
Extension – Synthetic or natural hair that is usually clipped or taped into a person’s natural hair. The purpose is to add volume and/or length to existing hair.
Weave – A hairstyle that weaves real or artificial hair into a person’s natural hair. It creates a thicker, longer, or more glamorous look. Also, a weave is a type of extension.
Leave Out – The part of one’s hair that’s left out to cover the weave. Typically, when you wear a weave, you leave the front of your hair out. This is to cover up any braids or weave tracks (AKA wefts). By doing this, it gives you a more natural look because your real hairline is visible.
Closure – A closure is a circular piece of weft hair. Oftentimes, it’s used with a full weave to cover all of the wearer’s hair. It’s usually made of silk or lace. A cosmetologist attaches the piece to a cornrow base to hide any of the real hair.
Frontal – Made from the same material as a closure, a frontal covers a larger area, usually the front of the hair. It gives a straight ear-to-ear hairline.
Pack – A pack contains a certain number of hair bundles, usually 4-7. These bundles all match in color and style and all lie in the same direction. A pack can also include a closure.
Bundle – A single collection of hair usually amounting to three ounces. Bundles are sold separately or as part of a pack. Full weaves require 2-5 bundles of hair depending on the length of the style selected.
Virgin – In the hair world, virgin refers to a collection of hair taken from a single donor. This hair is not chemically processed. Additionally, all cuticles must be intact and run in the same direction.
Weft – A bundle of extensions in which individual hair strands are attached to a reinforced stitch. To make this type of hair extension, technicians sew or ‘weft’ bulk hair together into a bundle. Also, a weft can be thin and strong or thick and loose. Some wefts are hand-tied while others are machine-sewn.
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