Ethnic Hair Tips From a Beauty industry leader

1. Before the "protective styling" trend, I was wearing half wigs to allow my hair to rest.
2. Before "invisible part" quickweave became popular, I was the first to create that "part illusion" that I know of.
3. Four years and four months ago, I saw the vision of my hair in smaller locs.  The picture above reflects what a $750 installation and three Sisterlocks 4-day training sessions can lead you to.
4. Everyone should learn to self maintain their locs in partnership with a loctician.  
5. Interlocking can deliver a neater look to locs, but that method also enables hair from an adajacent loc to get crossed over.  Those with fine hair are more likely to get cross-over hair because one can barely see the finer hairs.  Twisting or palm rolling are probably the safest root tightening method for locs.

NOTE:  I may add on to this list periodically.

Review: Weave A Wig

Weave A Wig is like a detachable sew-in.  It is a wig construction with a net to sew down the perimeter.

Between relaxers, permanent color, aging, stress, and years of extension wear, my client's hair needed a break.  The cooler weather was coming, and we decided to give the Weave A Wig a try.  We had to cut the exotic length off to make it more practical for everyday activities.  The cost is around $50 USD, and we love it!

No shifting, No turning.  It is secured with thread and a perimeter braid around.  The hair is a human hair blend.  It can withstand moderate heat for curling. If someone is sleeping and working out and wearing it continuously, then it should last about 3 to 4 weeks before a replacement is needed.

The optional invisible part requires 6 inches of length to blend in the invisible part.  In addition, we left her perimeter hair out to blend.  The human hair blend in the color 4327 delivers a natural hair look.  The rest of the hair underneath the unit can be braided down.

Custom Made Removable Quickweave Wig

Custom Made Removable Quickweave Wig by Hairstylist Benita Blocker, 2013.

 My primary concern was to prevent any glue from getting in my Sisterlocks/hair.  Secondly, I wanted to create a straight, corporate look that I can grab that was custom fit to my own head!  Human hair that I can maintain as needed.

I started out with the U-Be Cap.  It is breathable; yet, it was designed to prevent glue from penetrating onto your hair.

Since the U-Be caps are no longer made, I wanted to protect it for reuse in the future.  I used wrap strips and paper towels held by a dot of hair glue to cover my U-Be cap.  According to the online reviews, the U-Be caps slipped off too easily. Most people complained about it moving around on their head during the day.      I am just using it as my first barrier against the hair glue.

I decided on using a wave cap versus a wig cap versus a weave cap.  I will have to do a separate article about the differences between the three caps.  I picked the wave cap because it fit really, really, tight and snug. I have heard others complained about wig caps loosening up so I figured the tighter, the better.  In addition, I had extra barriers plus my Sisterlocks to keep as compact as possible.

I started the quickweave at the back using Milky Way hair.

 The brown area on the wave cap is Roux Tween Time stick in Medium Brown color.  This area is marked for my invisible part.  ( Please see my other articles on this product and technique.)

I also planned to use the infusion hairline technique so the wefts can be placed however I need them to fall.  Please see my other articles for techniques.

I anchored some of the hair down to close out the unit.   Makeup by Benita Blocker.

I ended up tying a knot in the top of the wave cap. Then I glued underneath the knot.  Then I cut the knot off.  I then had a flat top to lay the remaining wefts on.

I custom closed this unit.  No separate closure piece was used.

I had completed all that I could complete while it was on my head!  

 So I took the new unit off.  I removed the U-Be cap.  Only a little paper towel residue was on it.  My hair was all clear.  My Sisterlocks were safe.

I wanted to use the sunlight for a better picture.  I cut and curled my new unit on the mannequin head and tripod.    

I also completed the infusion hairline while on the mannequin stand.  I found it hard to complete infusion hairline on my own head.  I could not get precision with my angling of my hands while the unit was on top of my head.  So the mannequin stand was great to finish the unit up and allow it to dry inside from the hair glue.  I did not want any residue on my own hair so I let it dry out.

I love my new unit!!!!  Hair by Benita Blocker, 2013.

 I used to cheap to mid-grade hair for this quickweave.  Sassy (from Sallys Beauty Supply), Joie Joie,  Milky Way.  I had a lot of inventory hair that needed to be used up.  It was not Remy, but it is better than some of the hybrid hair they have on the market now.  Besides, I would not want to put hair glue on Remy hair that I was paying $200 for.  The hair that I used probably appreciated in value over the years.  I am certain that I would have been out of over $100 if I had to buy hair from the store.

I did run out of the Milky Way and Joie Joie hair.  So I had to pull some Dena Cali hair that I had pre-colored as well as some Vienna Collection that I had pre-colored.  It is great to have a stash of hair to grab to piece a style together.

 Black Wrap Strips, hair glue and wave cap that I used for this technique is pictured above.

The medium brown stick that I used to mark the invisible part area.

The U-Be Weave cap package is pictured above.

I used this ceramic, non-ionic, $20 flat iron to curl the entire unit.  It worked fine.  I did not need anything more.

This completes my introduction to my removable Quickweave wig.  I charge around $200 to make this unit. Hair cost is separate.

Infusion Hairline: Beyond the Invisible Part

 Pictured is a sew-in weave with the invisible part area glued with the infusion hairline technique.  Special thanks to my classmate who allowed me to capture her infusion hairline prior to the start of class.

Believe it or not, I was one of the original creators of the invisible part.  The technique caught on fast and others are continuing to perfect it.

 Platform Artist Travis White starts the quickweave with dry hair.  Based on his clients' feedback, they say that they encounter less itching by starting the quickweave with dry hair versus the wet mold process.

 Travis prefers the wrap strips and weave cap for quickweaves.  It is not breathable, but it is definitely quicker than the "protection serums" and their drying time.

 Clients typically wear quickweave for 2 to 3 weeks at a time.  Those who "work-out" in the bed or workout in the gym  (i.e. heavy sweating) may get some stocking cap slippage.  Otherwise, this method should hold up.

 The 27 piece or 28 piece weaving kit is core for giving contrasting style.

 Travis "The Great" does not like closures or closure pieces so he places tracks and builds to have track to cover track.

 This is the back of the finished style.

This is the front of the finished style showcasing a partial infusion hairline along the bang area plus the 27 piece clippered down with a 001 clipper head going in the direction of the weave placement pinching some of the hairline to give a piecy effect.

As far as flat iron recommendations go, Travis the Great recommends the Red Pro Titanium 460 flat iron.  He cautions about the heat temperatures.  He reminds us that 350 degrees is enough to bake a cake so careful with the heat.  The Red Pro Titanium 460 flat iron can reach 460 degrees.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know that I did not tell you how to achieve the Infusion hairline . . .  because I do not want you all to "Do it Yourself" (DIY).  I want you to book your quickweave with infusion hairline appointment with me.  Big Smile.  Or you can buy DVDs from the www.watchmeworkhair.com  team.

This class was a part of the 2013 mid-Winter Bronner Brothers International Hair show.

For more info on the WatchmeWorkhair team:

A New Look at the 27 piece quick weave

Actress Halle Berry was my inspiration for this quick weave hairstyle. It was achieved by performing the 27 piece gluefree quickweave method with invisible part. Questions about 27 piece quick weave? Please see my article on 27 piece weave. Questions about gluefree quickweave? Please see my article on the gluefree quickweave method. This look took about three hours for me to complete including the washing, molding, and final styling. I used the invisible part method to assist with my shaping. Please see my article on invisible part quick weave. I did use a few longer tracks from another package of commercial hair in order to give me the accent pieces and the "swoop!" I also used the closure piece that was included in the 27 pieces package. I completed the invisi-part before completing the final closure. I added a only a little of the colored hair. The primary color is 1B and the accent red color was #118.

The mannequin had shorter and slightly thin hair so the quickweave laid flat. I was absolutely thrilled at the beauty of the 27 pieces. The hair is already pre-curled for you! I had to hot iron the longer pieces from a different package to blend into the 27 piece hair, but I did not clipper cut. I used my shears to blend in the longer pieces, then just finger styled. Hairspray and styling spritz were also used. I absolutely adore this look!