Braids or weaves which is better

I know the challenges associated with choosing a style that meets my personal taste and hair goals, so in this article I relay some of the pros and cons of different methods of protective styling. While the type of hair will influence the price of the style, wigs are generally the least expensive option. Even if you purchase one comprised of human hair you can avoid the cost of installation which often makes the cost of sewing in a weave or extensions more costly.

Wigs also have the added advantage of allowing you to change your style frequently which can be a great option for women who get bored easily. I loved wearing wigs and half wigs because it allowed me to envision how longer hair would frame my face. In fact, I eventually decided that I no longer wanted experience longer hair vicariously through my wigs and made the decision to grow and retain my own natural hair.

A word of caution: If you use glue with lace front wigs be sure that you are not allergic to the glue. A negative reaction can cause hair loss, something discussed by celebrities like actress Countess Vaughn from Moesha.

Weaves are another great option if you want to wear a style with loose hair not braided or twisted but want to keep you natural hair protected. I would caution you to keep in mind that some weaved styles require that you to keep a portion of your hair out and keep it straightened if you are blending with a straight weave.

After weeks you may find that you have heat damage to that small section of hair. Also, be mindful that you do not have the weave sewn in too tightly, as it may cause traction alopecia. Style Icon Adjoa. I came of age in the s and just about every little girl I knew had braid extensions. Extensions are low maintenance and carefree in a way that wigs and weaves are not. I also found that with extensions I was able to directly moisturize my hair using braid spray because by hair was exposed along the length of the twist and not under the hair, as would be the case with weaves.

Wearing protective styles using your own hair in my opinion is a great way for you to learn how to style your hair in a way that makes it uniquely tailored to you. However, in weaved styles your real hair is braided up in a flat sew-in pattern. Then, usually, human hair tracks are sewn onto the corn rows covering your real hair but still giving the appearance of having free flowing hair.

On the other hand, braided styles such as box braids , usually have synthetic hair braided in with your real hair giving it a fuller appearance while providing a protective barrier between your hair and the elements.

The question of which style is best for you is determined by three simple factors. Is your day fast paces? Do you have minutes in the morning for hair prep? Do you workout ofter? Do you desperately need the time you would spend pressing and curling your weave to commute to work or make breakfast?

You can relax and enjoy your getaway without spending precious minutes or hours on hairstyling. This can be especially helpful if your destination is somewhere tropical—even relaxed hair can suffer from that dreaded frizz when the sun and humidity join forces. Wear a weave for your time away and you can spend your trip enjoying the scenery instead of worrying about your look.

In the case of sewn-in hair weaves, your hair is typically braided into cornrows close to the scalp and extension hair is added in wefts. The extension hair takes the daily wear-and-tear, so your natural hair is protected from the elements as well as heat styling.

Your hair won't have to suffer abuse from blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons or hot rollers. It won't be affected by harsh weather or cotton pillowcases. Instead, a protective style will shield your hair from all of those routines and outside influences that can slowly split your ends and dry them out. Weaves are designed to be worn for a short amount of time, anywhere from one day to a couple of months.

Unlike a haircut, which you have to wait on to grow out, hair weaves are low commitment options. You're not stuck with a weave forever, which is perfect for women who like to switch things up often.

If you're not crazy about how your weave style looks on you, you can either ask your stylist to change it up or remove it. This also works well for anyone who likes to change up their color.

Now you can have blue streaks one week and pink the next, with no fear of damage or upkeep. Want a new color? Or to see how you look with straight hair without using heat or relaxers?

How about trying an ultra-short cut without having to snip your long tresses? I agree. Just a word of caution when securing with the comb of the half wig. Cut out the comb and use large hair pins instead not bobby pins. It took me a month to realize the comb itself was damaging my hair every time I inserted or removed I the half wig.

Also use a moisturizer or spritz on the braids before attaching half wig. If the hair is too dry when inserting hair pins, it can also cause breakage. Just my two cents. African Naturalistas Hair Products. I have the very same issues. I have to leave the front periphery of my hair alone when it comes to any type of extensions. My hair is shorter, thinner, and more volatile in this area. I just twist my own hair in the front and I blend it. I use a few bobby pins if needed, depending on the style I wear that day.

Because the hair I used is natural, no one can really tell which twists have extensions … Read more ». I use wigs that help keep my hair length.

I used to wear a wig cap that messed up my edges but if I just keep my hair well oiled and braided and just stick a wig on it it is all good. It is also cheaper. I typically wear wigs. I have full access to my hair and scalp. I can wash and condition my hair while its braided down. I wear my hair braided down for about 8—10wks then I remove them.

My hair is now mid-pit length. I started my hair journey in and I have had mishaps along the way. I found a method that works for me and I stick to it.

If extensions and weaves work for you by all means continue with … Read more ». Length retention means nothing if your edges are thinned and raggedy. I feel like I would have to answer yes and no to this questions as well. My hair grew great with braided extensions when I braided my own head or had someone with growing hands braid my hair. Please note that this is a term my family uses to say that the hair dresser uses practices that contributes to growth i.

I also wanted … Read more ». I definitely do retain length when I do braid extensions in my own hair, but I am in the process of trying to grow my edges out. So now I am trying to find more low manipulation styles for my hair so I can continue to retain my length without adding the stress of extensions on my edges.

Still looks good and you save the tension on your edges. It may take longer, and be a lot more work, but hair can grow without the use of augmented hair, so try it that way first, especially if you want to enjoy your hair as it grows.

Let me explain. Take for example a female with 4c, chin-length hair, with fine strands, and high porosity. Her hair grows slower than the average 0. She just wants an extremely simple style that allows her to keep her hair stretched, detangled, AND moisturized. What are her options? Thank YOU! Length retention occurs best for me when I have my hair in flat twists or loose plaits under a wig or even in a crochet curly weave style.

I think this is because I still am able to moisturize, oil and massage my hair and scalp. I believe my hair also grows just aS well when I follow low manipulation routines for several months big chunky … Read more ».

I opt for long protective styling with extensions, no weaves! I am sworn off weaves for life, I really cannot stand those anymore when I get extremely lazy with my hair and a busy life-style calls for it. Had yarns last year and they helped loads; although the installation process hurt like crazy! This poll is skewed. No mention of wigs. My results with braids are not the same as my result with weaves, which are not the same as my result with wigs.

I wear nothing on my hair, but my length retention was the most dramatic it has ever been during the three months that I had on a wig.

After I take out … Read more ». I retained length but not four or five inches a year. So then I found myself wearing buns.