Types of Hair Weaves
Do you want to know the secret to the ever-gorgeous hairstyles that celebrities pull off on red carpets and movie premieres? After all, it's pretty hard to maintain hair that long, that thick, that shiny, that smooth, and that everything when you have a gazillion different things to tend to on the daily.
Wigs? For some, maybe. But for the majority, hair extensions are the answer. These days, hair extensions are used to make celebs' hair look more voluminous and vibrant despite their hectic schedules.
In today's article, we'll discuss the different types hair weaves – one of the most popular types of extensions currently.
Weave-In Hair Extensions
Hair weaves, also known as weave extensions, weft bundles, or just weave-ins, are a type of hair extensions that are sewn into your hair.
Traditionally, your hair is first braided into a set of cornrows which will serve as the base where the wefts will be sewn into. The exact braid pattern varies depending on the style of weave you prefer. The cornrows will then be reinforced with a thread to secure them before sewing the wefts into the braids.
Here at Zala, however, our hair weaves are instead attached using silicone beads, which takes less time and effort than the traditional route. Still, because weave-ins are sewn into your hair, it’s considered semi-permanent.
It can last for around 3 months or so before you need to have them removed. Otherwise, you might put strain on your hair and scalp and hamper your natural hair growth.
Why are weaves so popular?
Hair weaves are popular for reasons. One of the main reasons is because they're very low maintenance. Once you put them in, there's hardly anything else you have to do. Just make sure to wash your hair no more than twice or thrice a week or you'll wear the weave down faster.
For active people, weave-ins are also a great choice as they tend to stay in place and look natural no matter how much jumping and running you do.
Weaves vs Wigs
Although the terms may be used interchangeably at times, it's important to note that weaves are different from wigs. Even though weaves are also worn over your own hair the same way that wigs are, these are two different products.
For one, wigs cover your entire head, while weaves only cover your hair. Two, wigs aren't typically meant to stay on your head for a long time. Most people who wear wigs remove them before bedtime or before taking a bath. unlike hair weaves which can be kept on the hair for months at a time.
Three, wigs are easier to remove and apply than weaves. This also means that those with active lifestyles should opt for weaves rather than wigs, since the latter is more prone to falling off accidentally.
Types of Weaves
Weaves are differentiated into types by their textures. Their textures also affect what styles the weave-ins are best for. There are many different types, but here are four of the most popular ones.
Malaysian Hair Weaves
The first type is Malaysian hair weaves. This type is very fine and therefore wouldn’t match well with straightened curls. It does, however, hold curls well. You just have to remember to use rods instead of flat irons and curlers to increase the longevity of your weft bundles. It's also very shiny, although the shine fades after a few washes.
Indian Hair Weaves
The second type on this list is Indian hair weaves. This type is dense and fairly silky. It's also very versatile, looking great regardless of the style. It's smooth enough for straight styles and still coarse enough to hold curls well. It also pairs nicely with most hair textures. The biggest downside is that it has a tendency to become a little frizzy in humid environments.
Brazilian Hair Weaves
The third type is Brazilian hair weaves. Compared to Indian hair, this type is coarser and thus, holds curls better. The coarseness of Brazilian hair also makes it blend well with the hair texture of women of African descent.
Peruvian Hair Weaves
The fourth one is Peruvian hair. Out of the four, this one is the coarsest of them all, hence, it blends and holds curls best. Each strand is full and dense, which makes it look voluminous even when simply styled straight.
Wearing Weave-ins
If you're looking for a semi-permanent solution to your bad hair day while waiting for your strands to grow out, you should really check out weave-ins . Who knows, like those busy celebrities, you may finally be able to get your dream hairstyle that could be difficult to pull off otherwise.
For more tips and tricks about different hair extensions, don't forget to check out our Zala blog!
