More and more of us are shunning cheap hair extensions in favor of good quality virgin Indian hair and why not? Virgin hair is softer shinier, moves more naturally and lasts way longer than standard beauty supply store hair.
It would be disingenuous to suggest that there isn’t a place for non-remy or even synthetic hair. This cheaper hair can be used when you are trying out a new style that requires a lot of cutting and you don’t want to risk ruining your virgin hair. Non remy hair is also perfectly suitable for a styles that you don’t intend to keep for months on end.
If all you want is a different look for a couple of weeks, there’s nothing wrong with synthetic weaves but if you are are planning to make weaves part of a long term protective styling regimen then starting off with quality hair will help you hit the ground running.
There’s nothing worse than wearing your gorgeous Indian remy hair for a few weeks then noticing that it is continuously shedding from the weft. I once had some beautiful curly extensions which had very intense shedding during the first wear and after a month I had areas of the weft that were completely bald! Needless to say, those extensions had to be thrown away.
Good hair extension vendors will make sure that the wefts are reinforced with extra stitching to prevent shedding but not all vendors do this. In fact because adding extra stitching to the wefts can make them bulkier, some vendors find that it’s not worth it.
Sealing the wefts
Sealing simply refers to reinforcing the hair extension wefts with glue to erradicate shedding altogether. By sealing the wefts as soon as you recieve the extensions, you safe-guard the weave against excess shedding making them last longer.
Even if you manage to get your hands on extensions that have reinforced, it is still good to get in the habit of sealing those wefts as soon as you get the hair to avoid any unnecessary headache mid wear.
Types of glue
Fabric glue: This is by far the best glue to use because ir remains flexilbe, dries clear and it’s also strong and water resistant. Some fabric glues may be white initially so make sure that the bottle states that the glue dries clear.
Super glue: Some ladies have had success with super glue because it is strong and prevents shedding completely but it also leaves the wefts hard and somewhat inflexible which may be a problem.
How to stop hair shedding
Here’s how you go about sealing the wefts
- Lay the hair extensions on a long table (I use my dining table) with the wrong side facing up. The wrong side is the one where the hair has been folded and the shorter hairs are clearly visible. It is also a good idea to protect the table with old newspaper to catch any glue spillage.
- Make sure that the glue that you are using has a pointed nozzle or an applicator brush. Start applying the glue directly over the stitches on the weft being careful not to get any glue on the hair itself. If the glue is not runny and does not soak through the weft, use your finger to rub it in.
- Once the entire bunde of hair has been sealed, let the glue dry completely without disturbing the hair.
- When dry, move on to the next bundle of hair and seal as before.
This is a very simple process and you will find that it will extend the life of your extensions wonderfully. Happy weaving!
