Caring for weaves can be a real bother. And for many, how to care for kinky weaves is the biggest bother of all. Now, if you belong to the second category of people, don’t worry because this article is for you. Buckle down because this is going to be an interesting ride.
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Kinky Weaves Are Growing in Popularity
Weaves come in different textures, and the most popular ones include Brazilian, Indian, Peruvian, and Cambodian hair, among others. However, kinky weaves are rising to prominence now because they closely mimic the black woman’s natural curls.
With kinky weaves, you look like you’re rocking your natural hair. And being that the aim is for your weaves and wigs to look as natural as possible, it’s no wonder that kinky weaves are getting the attention they are receiving from black women around the world.
But here’s the thing about kinky weaves. Just like kinky hair, kinky weaves are quite fragile and more difficult to manage than other weaves. Nonetheless, caring for them is a must if you want them to remain attractive.
There are two types of kinky weaves which are the afro kinky straight and the afro kinky curly. Thankfully, both kinky straight and kinky curly follow the same care procedure. Here are our top 8 tips for maintaining your kinky weaves. For tips on caring for other kinds of human hair, click here.
How to Care for Kinky Weaves — Top 8 Tips
1. Moisturise! Moisturise!! Moisturise!!
We can’t emphasise this enough. Moisture is your best friend when it comes to kinky weaves. Remember that you’re handling human hair and so kinky hair behaves just like your natural kinky locks. It’s very prone to drying thanks to all those twists and curls.
This is why it is very important to make moisturizing your best friend. Make sure you deep condition your weave, at least, twice a month. And whenever you feel like your hair is too dry, you can apply some shea butter on your weave for a quick rejuvenation.
Daily application of leave-in conditioner is another great way to moisturize your hair.
2. Do not Always Shampoo Your Kinky Weave
Rather than shampooing your weave every chance you get, try to co-wash instead. Shampooing too often is not good for your weave as it causes the weave to dry more quickly, and we’ve already established this as a bad idea for kinky weaves.
Limit shampooing to once a month and in the meantime, simply co-wash to keep your weave feeling fresh and moisturised.
Or if you must shampoo, you can consider using dry shampoo in between your main wash. This will help to keep your weave fresh.
3. Use the Right Shampoo and Hair Products
Now, this rule applies to weaves in general. Not all hair products are suitable for weaves. Shampoos, conditioners, and other hair products that contain sulphate, parabens, silicones, and other toxic ingredients are bad for weaves.
Sulphates, for instance, while they give a power cleanse, are really drying for weaves as they strip them of their oils. This is a major reason most experts warn you to steer clear of shampoos containing sulphates.
Hence, before you buy any product, make sure you read the ingredients on the label carefully. If they contain harmful ingredients, it’s better to spend the little extra and go for a slightly more expensive product that will be good to your weave.
4. Don’t Oil Your Weaves Too Often
Most oils are sealants, that is, they lock in moisture. So, you apply them after moisturising your hair to lock in the moisture. Generally, you don’t really have to oil your kinky weave but if you do, then make sure to avoid the roots and areas close to your scalp.
You’re doing this because you want to avoid clogging the pores on your scalp. Your scalp needs to breathe so that it does not begin to itch and smell.
Besides that, oils are heavy and can weigh your weave down.
5. Avoid Heat
Heat is your enemy, especially when it comes to kinky hair because it really dries your hair. Once your hair is dry, it becomes vulnerable and easily damaged.
When you have to dry your hair, after washing and the likes, stick to air drying. This means that you should carve out ample time to wash your hair on wash day. Don’t wash your hair when you’re in a hurry.
On days when you must use heat, try to use a heat protectant. But, all the same, be careful with heat protectants as they contain silicones and a buildup of silicone on your weave could lead to damage. This is why air drying remains your best bet.
Again, if you do blow dry, then avoid using a flat iron altogether. Using a flat iron and a blow dryer on your weave at the same time is a recipe for disaster. Your weave will not last long. If you blow dry, then style your weave using a roller set rather than a flat iron.
Whatever you do though, ensure that your weave dries completely before you start styling. If your weave is damp when you’re styling it, it could encourage the growth of fungi and mold.
6. Don’t Comb Your Weave When It’s Dry
Combing your weave when dry will cause the weave to shed. So, let the hair be slightly wet when combing it. You can spritz a bit of detangling spray on the hair to take out the tangles. If your kinky weave is the curly type, then you can simply use your fingers to tousle your hair a bit after applying the detangling spray.
7. Avoid Heavy Hair Products
We’ve talked about hair products that contain toxic ingredients but you should also stay away from heavy hair products. Such products include oils, gels, and mousses. These products are too heavy and tend to weigh down your hair which can cause the hair to tangle or mat. In the end, they could also damage your hair.
8. Carry Out the Proper Night Routine
When going to bed, pineapple your hair. Pineappling is simple. Just use a band to hold up your hair so it looks like a pineapple. Now, be careful not to make the band too tight so it doesn’t form a dent on your hair. You don’t even have to double it, in fact. Just pass it around your hair once.
Then tie your hair with a satin scarf and sleep on a satin pillowcase.
When you wake in the morning, remove the elastic band and style your weave by tousling your hair with your fingers. It will give you that fluffy, voluminous look you love. Don’t forget to condition and wet your hair as the curls demand.
Before we continue, we also have pro tips for caring for other types of weaves and hair extensions. You can click here to read them now.
How to Get Rid of Frizz in Kinky Weaves
Just like natural kinky hair, kinky weaves are also famous for frizzing. Thankfully, frizzing is not impossible to deal with when it comes to kinky weaves.
One thing you want to remember when it comes to kinky weaves is that frizzing usually occurs when the hair isn’t properly moisturized. It also occurs when humidity is high and when there is heat.
Another thing to note is that curly and wavy hair frizz more in the same conditions when compared to straight hair.
Now that we’ve established a basis, here are top tips for dealing with kinky weave frizzing.
Wash Properly
In the next section, we’re going to be showing you how to wash your kinky weaves properly. It is one of the most important steps to take if you want to keep your weave from frizzing. Be sure to use the right shampoo and take your time as well.
Never Forget to Condition!
For each shampooing session and even daily, it is important to condition your hair. Conditioning your hair keeps your hair nourished and hydrated. Look out specifically for conditioners that add moisture to your weave and keep your strands well hydrated.
Making sure your hair is hydrated is very important to maintaining its soft texture and shiny look. Your weave should never be dry and when it is dry, do not comb until you’ve conditioned it or wet it a little.
Use a Diffuser if You Must Blowdry
We don’t advise blow drying your hair. But if you must, make sure your hair is almost dry first if you want the hair to retain its soft, smooth texture.
Also, always use a diffuser when blow drying your kinky weave. A diffuser will help to limit the impact of hot air on the weave so that the hair can remain smooth, avoid frizz, and last long.
Look Out for Your Tips
Do not forget your tips when caring for your kinky weaves. If your tips look like they are drying out, rejuvenate them using some nourishing oils like coconut oil or argan oil. This also helps to take care of frizzing.
Use Heat Tools at Low Settings
When using heat tools to style your kinky weaves, remember to use them at the lowest setting possible. It’s true that it will take longer to style your hair but it’s totally worth it if it keeps you from damaging your hair. Besides, heat is another cause of frizzing which is why you must avoid it like a plague.
Don’t Overprocess
Our kinky weaves are virgin hair which means that they are open to processing. You can cut them, style them, bleach, color and do literally whatever you want with them. But bear in mind, however, that for every time you process your hair, your weave gets damaged just a little bit.
Generally, for kinky weaves, it’s best not to lighten them or put them through processes that overprocess them. This damages them and makes them open to frizzing.
How to Wash Kinky Weaves
How long and how well your kinky weaves last depend largely on your daily hair care routine, especially your wash routine. Here are a few points to note for washing kinky hair.
First, Detangle
So, first things first, before washing your kinky weave, every day in fact, make sure to comb your hair. Combing your hair regularly will keep your hair from tangling. Plus, it will make your hair easier to style.
To detangle your kinky weaves, run your fingers through your weaves first. This will help you check for knotting, matting, and tangling. If you notice any, gently tease them out with your fingers first.
After working out the knots and tangles with your fingers, use some conditioner on your hair and then comb to really work the conditioner in. To comb kinky weaves, it’s better to use a paddle brush instead of a wide-toothed comb. However, if you can’t find a paddle brush, you can manage a wide-toothed comb.
To make the combing process even easier, it’s a good idea to put a little water on your hair as well. After this, let the conditioner sit in your hair for as long as possible.
Shampoo Your Hair with Clarifying, Moisturising Shampoo
To shampoo your kinky weaves correctly, you need a good clarifying and moisturizing shampoo. Shampooing regularly helps to remove product buildup and also helps to moisturize your hair.
That said, it is important to note that shampooing should not be done too frequently as it could dry your weave out which could lead to damage. Generally, you want to keep shampooing to once or month, or twice max. When you’re not shampooing, you can co-wash your hair instead.
Now, when you want to shampoo your kinky weaves, massage your clarifying, moisturizing shampoo onto your scalp and also apply some to the tips of your weave. Note, massage the shampoo, don’t rub the weave so that you don’t cause it to tangle.
On your first application of shampoo, because of how much product has built up on your scalp and on the weave, the shampoo might not lather. So, you’re going to have to apply the shampoo twice, rinsing your hair in-between applications.
Deep Condition Your Kinky Weaves
After washing your hair, it’s time to condition it. Preferably, deep condition the weave. Deep conditioning is always better because it really moisturizes your hair better than leave-in conditioners can. This will make your weave much easier to manipulate.
Now, when applying your deep conditioner, unlike with your shampoo, do not apply the conditioner to your scalp. Only apply the conditioner to weave itself and avoid the roots of the weave.
Let the conditioner sit in the weave for, at least, 30 minutes and then rinse it off using cool water. Cool water is preferable because it helps to lock in the moisture better.
Dry Your Weave
After rinsing off the conditioner from your weave, use a light cloth or a microfiber towel to mop up the excess water. Do not squeeze the weave with the cloth, simply pat the weave to soak up the excess water.
Once this is done, leave the weave to air dry. Air drying is the best method for drying all kinds of weaves, even your natural hair. However, if you’re in a hurry, you can use a blow dryer but set it to the lowest heat. Also, when applying heat, remember to apply a heat protectant first. Remember, only use heat if it is absolutely necessary.
That’s It!
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about caring for your kinky weaves. We know it’s a bit demanding but the payoff is amazing. Your pampered kinky hair will leave you looking fabulous at all times!