Black women wear weaves to protect their hair and provide convenient alternatives that save time. Black hair, which is kinky and curly, is prone to drying out and breaking off due to its biological makeup and environmental causes.
Hence, black women wear weaves to give their hair a break from the wear and tear of daily styling and not because they don’t love themselves, as most people assume.
In this article, we analyze the honest reasons black girls wear weaves or wigs.
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Reasons Why Black Girls Wear Weaves
1. For ‘Professionalism’
Some workplaces require black women to straighten their hair or wear weaves to get hired. Among these unfortunate policies are schools that tell Black children they are not allowed to wear their naturally kinky hair to school.
Research shows black women face prejudice due to their natural hair at work. Though laws like the CROWN Act aim to ban hair-based discrimination, a lot of people are yet to shift their perception.
The requirement for women of color in media and entertainment to always appear “professional and presentable” is another topic that is rarely discussed. Weaves and wigs provide practical alternatives to braiding your hair because you cannot remove it within a week. You can frequently switch out your weaves and cover your hair to appear “presentable.”
Some black women wear wigs and weaves to appease upper-level management at the company they work for. Even if the work environment is not discriminatory, some black women still wear straight hair weaves in wigs to avoid negative comments or prejudice that would make their work life difficult.
As such, weaves and wigs offer black women and girls a lot of flexibility.
2. To Save Time
The truth is, weaves save you time. Since braiding your hair can take hours to half a day, weaves are alternative hairstyles, especially for busy black women.
Also, weaves are pre-styled, making your busy mornings easier. These hairstyles add length and volume where desired, hiding thinning areas. They, among others, offer a protective hairstyle that shields your hair from damage.
Weaves require low upkeep, making them suitable for black girls with busy schedules and little time for natural hair styling.
3. Cost-effective Alternative
Believe me, braids can be damn expensive! Although getting a beautiful braid may justify spending a lot, some black women find weaves a cheaper option.
Managing natural hair requires regular styling and salon trips, which can be expensive.
The cost of the weave can range from $100 to $600, a one-time expense compared to regular salon bills, offering black girls a cheaper way to achieve different hairstyles.
Additionally, weaves require minimal maintenance, saving money on salon appointments. With proper care, weaves can last for weeks or months.
4. Versatility
Weaves give you the option to style your hair shorter, longer, curlier, and thicker, or wear it in crochet. With a good weave, you can change up your hairstyle whenever you like while keeping your natural hair safely tucked underneath.
You can weave over fine, thin strands to create a voluminous mane in seconds. A weave allows you to choose regardless of how healthy your natural hair is.
5. Conceal Hair Loss
Due to the nature of kinky, curly, or black hair, hair loss is prevalent in the black community.
Although there are medical conditions that cause hair loss, tight braids, heat tools, and chemical relaxers are also common causes.
Consequently, black women wear wigs to conceal symptoms of hair loss.
Weaves give black women the chance to regain their confidence regardless of the condition of their natural hair, whether it is the result of alopecia, chemotherapy, neglect, relaxers, or tight braids.
6. For Beauty Standard
To adhere to contemporary beauty standards, which favor long, straight hair, many black girls wear weaves.
Weaves allow you to experiment with different lengths and give your hair more volume. Black girls can have various looks thanks to their versatility in style and texture.
Although embracing natural hair and challenging these biases is growing, weaves still play a role in societal expectations that devalue textured hair.
The movement in favor of natural hair encourages black people, particularly girls, to embrace their hair as it is.
7. To Look Elegant
The desire to look good is one apparent reason black women wear weaves. Any outfit will look more put together with a polished hairstyle, and weaves give you total styling flexibility.
8. Protection
Black women resorted to straightening as a means to style their hair, as they have been doing for generations in America. In recent times, however, black women have been embracing their natural hair.
To regain their natural hair, they cut the perm out for regrowth. The regrowth process takes time. As such, some black women will resort to wearing weaves for a while while their hair grows back.
Additionally, if you were wearing weaves, you could use heat and chemicals on them without having to do the same with your natural hair.
9. For Self Expression
Among the various reasons why black women wear weaves is to express themselves.
African-Americans are very diverse and have many different hair textures. For women, experimenting with various styles is fun.
Wigs and weaves are extremely versatile, enabling black women to show off their distinctive style at any time.
10. Challenge of Managing Natural Hair
Managing their coily hair is a challenge for many black girls. Coily hair has a propensity to knot, form single-strand knots, and be resistant to products. This makes styling time-consuming and challenging.
These hair issues can be resolved by wearing weaves because they are simple to maintain and style.
There you have it…
Weaves provide versatility without using heat styling or harsh treatments. While many assume black girls wear weaves due to self-esteem issues, that’s not the case.
Many black women wear weaves to protect their hair, to look professional, and, more importantly, for convenience.
However, properly caring for both natural hair and weaves remains important to avoid issues. Taking breaks between wearing weaves allows your natural hair to remain healthy and free.