How to Wash, Condition, and Sealing Weave Wefts: Weave Hair Care Guide

Let's talk about weave care. Ok, I am a man and not well versed in the installation of weaves, but I know a few things about taking care of hair. Learn how to properly wash, condition, and seal your hair extensions for longevity. Here's your extension/weave care guide.

The hallmark of weave care guide = sulfate-free hair products, and wide-tooth combs. If you have these tools in your extension care arsenal, then most wefts can be reused for up to 1 year, instead of them being typically thrown out after a reinstallation (which is usually every couple of months).

Wefts are cuticle-stripped, requiring care

Benefits of Sulfate-Free Shampoo For Extensions

Sulfate-free shampoos are gentler than normal shampoos. As the name suggests, sulfate-free shampoos are formulated without sulfates – or the detergent that create that lathery foam - (think of those shampoo commercials. The great amount of foam in these commercials are created by sulfates). Sulfates do a good job at cleaning the hair...but it's almost TOO good. Sulfate based shampoos tend to strip the hair of everything that is good, which includes the natural sebum secreted by your scalp that coats your natural hair. When it comes to hair wefts that do not have access to this sebum goodness, sulfate products create the perfect
environment for excessive dryness to occur.

If you color your hair, you may have heard that sulfate shampoos will open your hair cuticle and cause the hair color to bleed over time. Hair wefts are typically bleached and colored to your specifications. Sulfate-free shampoos for weaves will ensure the vitality of colored hair wefts, allowing you to enjoy your uniquely colored hair weaves for longer periods of time.

Sulfate-free conditioners also create the optimal level of hair moisture, without product buildup. Most conditioners are slightly acidic, which will close the cuticles of weave hair. This will preserve the curl or natural wave of your hair weave, as well. Try to stick with conditioners that are formulated with ingredients like argan oil, jojoba oil, or amodimethicone.

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How to Wash Hair Wefts: Minimize Shedding

If you are going to wash your weave while it is still on your hair, then you will have to dilute the shampoo to ensure that the shampoo does not interfere with any adhesives that were used to install the weave hair onto your own hair. Pour some of the sulfate-free shampoo into a spray bottle that is fixed with a liquid-to-foam pump. This will infuse the shampoo with air, subsequently diluting. However, the shampoo will still do its job of cleansing the hair.

If you took down your weave, and want to wash the individual wefts, then follow the same principle as mentioned. Pour some shampoo into a spray bottle, and blast away. If you suspect that the weave hair has product buildup, then shampoo twice, allowing the second shampoo to sit on the hair for a few minutes before rinsing it.

When conditioning the hair, try to focus most of the product on the ends of the hair. Applying the conditioner too close to the hair wefts can cause premature shedding due to slippage. Allow the hair to air dry to ensure the health of the hair. If you are in a pinch, use a hair dryer on the cool setting to dry the weft hair.

Should I use a Leave in For Hair Weaves? The answer is yes. Silicones have been getting a bad wrap in the hair care industry, due to its proclivity to cause product buildup on hair. The key to using a silicone-based leave in conditioner has to do with balance. Too much of it will inevitably cause product buildup over time.

Silicones create a barrier between hair and external aggressors. It also bridges any gaps in the hair cuticles, creating a smooth texture. Applying silicone conditioners with a light hand will allow you to reap the benefits of silicones without the heavy feeling of product buildup.

Is sealing hair wefts necessary? Yes. It sure is. Not sealing weave hair will cause the hair to shed. Sealing it will adhere the hair onto the weave weft, halting premature shedding. Here is a how to guide to sealing hair weaves. And this right here is considered on of the top weft sealers in the industry.