Your weave keeping it real

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Any woman wearing a weave wants it to be natural-looking and gorgeous. Here are a few tips that will keep your hair glowing and flowing:

TEXTURE MATCH

The last question anyone should ask you is, "Where'd you get your weave done?" Select extension hair that matches your hair texture. Be sure it's not too straight or shiny. Extended hair that has a little texture will have more body when it's flat-ironed or curled.

A GOOD FOUNDATION

Bumps and lumps are a telltale sign of a bad weave. Flat, smooth braids make the best foundation. Skip the glue. The thinner the weft, the better. Make sure your base isn't braided too tightly. This can cause breakage at the scalp and may result in permanent hair loss.

LESS IS BEST

Another common mistake is adding too much hair. This not only screams "weave!" it's also unhealthy. The weight of the added hair stresses your natural hair and can cause damage to the hair follicle and, over time, even traction baldness. Six to 10 ounces of hair is more than enough.

COLOR MATTERS

With a weave, you can experiment with color without stressing your own mane. For golden brown hair, sew in three rows of golden brown extensions, then one row of either a shade lighter or darker, depending on whether you want highlights or lowlights, and continue the pattern throughout. This will add dimension to your hair color, making it natural looking.

A SEAMLESS FINISH

Leaving out a bit of your own hair to create a part will always make for a more natural look. When attaching your last row of extension hair, whether it's at the part or around your hairline, make sure the extension hair matches your own perfectly. This creates a seamless finish.

DO YOU

No matter what the fashion is, choose a style that flatters your face. What looks good on someone else may not look good on you. The shape of your head, face and hairline should be considered when choosing a style.

KEEPING IT FRESH

Wash and condition your hair every week or two. A moisturizing and detangling shampoo, and conditioner will keep your weave soft and flowing. I created a line of hair care products, Ellin LaVar TEXTURES (available at CVS), to keep our hair soft and moisturized, but not greasy. Never keep a weave in for more than three to four months, or your hair will begin to lock and mat.

Ellin LaVar (above), Emmy-nominated hairstylist to the stars, is credited with having created the modern weave. She's the first African-American stylist to have her own reality show, Hair Trauma, on the WE channel. Visit ellinlavar.com and lavarhairdesign.com to learn more about her hair care products and her New York City salon.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning