Wearing a weave offers versatility and style, but your natural hair underneath needs proper care too. Without the right maintenance, hair under weaves can become dry, brittle, or even damaged.
The good news is that with some simple habits and routines, you can enjoy your fabulous weave while keeping your natural hair healthy and strong.
1. Prep Your Hair Properly
Starting with clean, moisturized hair creates the perfect foundation before installing your weave. Thoroughly wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove product buildup, then follow with a moisturizing conditioner that will help lock in hydration.
2. Choose Breathable Installation Methods
The technique used to install your weave greatly impacts your natural hair’s health. Opt for sew-ins with a net or breathable cap rather than glue-ins, as adhesives can damage your hair and scalp over time.
3. Schedule Regular Scalp Cleansing
Your scalp continues producing oils even under a weave, making regular cleansing essential. Using a bottle with a nozzle tip, mix witch hazel and water in equal parts, then gently squeeze this solution between your braided rows.
The astringent properties help remove excess oil without disturbing your installation.
4. Moisturize Between Tracks
Dry hair breaks easily, especially when trapped under a weave. Create a simple moisturizing spray by mixing water, aloe vera juice, and a few drops of jojoba oil in a spray bottle. The fine mist can reach between tracks without weighing down your weave or causing product buildup.
5. Sleep With A Satin Bonnet
Cotton pillowcases are hair’s secret enemy! The rough fibers create friction that can fray your weave and damage your natural hair underneath. Switching to a satin bonnet creates a smooth barrier that prevents moisture loss and reduces tangling.
6. Limit Heat Styling
Heat tools might style your weave beautifully, but excessive heat damages both your weave and your natural hair underneath. When heat styling becomes necessary, always use a heat protectant spray first.
7. Oil Your Scalp Strategically
Heavy oils can suffocate your scalp under a weave, causing more problems than they solve. Instead, choose lightweight oils like jojoba or grapeseed that closely mimic your scalp’s natural sebum.
These penetrate without creating greasy buildup that attracts dirt and bacteria.
8. Avoid Overprocessing Before Installation
Chemical processes like relaxers, perms, or color treatments weaken your hair structure. Scheduling these services right before getting a weave creates the perfect storm for breakage.
9. Take Weave Breaks
Wearing weaves back-to-back without breaks puts continuous strain on your hair follicles and scalp. Schedule at least 2-3 weeks between installations to give your natural hair time to breathe and recover.
10. Monitor Installation Timeframe
Even the most perfectly installed weave has an expiration date! Keeping your weave installed beyond 6-8 weeks risks tangling, matting, and breakage of your natural hair underneath.
11. Use Protein Treatments Regularly
Hair under weaves often becomes weak from lack of direct conditioning and the constant tension of the installation. Monthly protein treatments strengthen your natural hair, helping it withstand the stress of supporting your weave.
12. Gentle Removal Process
Rushing through weave removal causes unnecessary breakage and can undo months of careful maintenance. Schedule enough time for a thorough, patient removal process – typically 1-2 hours depending on your installation’s complexity.
13. Post-Removal Hair Recovery
The days immediately following weave removal are critical for your hair’s recovery. Begin with a gentle clarifying shampoo to remove weeks of product buildup and scalp debris.
Follow with an ultra-moisturizing deep conditioner applied from roots to ends and left on for at least 30 minutes under gentle heat.
14. Maintain A Healthy Diet
Your hair’s health starts from within! Protein-rich foods like eggs, fish, and beans provide the building blocks your body needs to grow strong hair. Since hair is made primarily of protein, these foods directly impact its strength and growth rate, even under a weave.
15. Avoid Tension Styles With Your Leave-Out
The hair left out to cover your weave tracks (your “leave-out”) needs special care to prevent traction alopecia. Avoid pulling this hair into tight ponytails or sleek styles that create tension at the demarcation line between your natural hair and weave.
16. Watch For Warning Signs
Your body sends clear signals when your hair isn’t happy under your weave. Persistent itching beyond the first few days suggests possible allergic reactions, product buildup, or fungal growth.