Maintaining Healthy Hair Under A Lace Wig

When wearing a lace wigs or weaves, it is very important to maintain the health of your hair while protecting it with hair extensions. I have been able to see a dramatic change in the length and health of my hair due to simple hair care practices and low manipulation.  I have added a couple of new simple steps to my natural hair care regimen which have helped restore my hair's health.

1) Weekly Hot Oil Treatments: I have been using a combination of oils to my hot oil mix that consist of Coconut Oil, Emu Oil, Jojoba Oil, Jamaican Black Castor Oil or regular Castor oil and either Hot Six Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  I combine the oils in a plastic container and heat it for 1 minute and letting it cool for about 4-5 minutes.  Then, I pour it into an applicator bottle and apply it directly to my scalp in small sections.  I massage the oil into each section of my scalp, and then I apply the oil down the rest of the hair shaft.  I run my fingers through the section of hair and work the oil into the hair really well while detangling the hair by finger combing it and separating it with my hands.  I do not use any comb during this process and I have noticed that I can detangle my hair very well without a comb.  I then twist each section of hair down to the ends of the hair.  After all of my hair from root to end has been saturated with the hot oil mix and twisted together, I pin the twists on top of my head and place 2 plastic processing caps on my head with a head scarf on top of that.  I usually leave it in overnight and shampoo it out in the morning with my usual Giovanni Smooth As Silk Shampoo and Smooth As Silk Conditioner.



 

2) Moisturizing and Sealing: After I let my hair air dry for about 15 minutes, I have been spraying my hair and scalp with  Hope Labs Energizer Hair Follicle Stimulator leave in hair treatment.  I massage it into my scalp, with my fingertips only (no nails), then comb it through to the ends of the hair with a wide tooth comb.  After that, I Moisturize by putting Beyond the Zone Split Mender throughout my hair in medium sections, then comb it through to the ends with a Denman Brush.  Immediately after that, I Seal by applying Castor Oil on each section of the medium sections, from root to end and brush it through the hair.  Applying the Castor Oil on top of the Beyond the Zone Leave in Conditioner is the process of sealing in the moisture from the water based leave in conditioner into the strands of my hair from root to end.

When I have moisturized and sealed all of my hair I either twist my hair into about 7-8 medium sized twist or braid my hair into 2 french braids on each side of my head and pin the ends up with a bobby pin.  This is how my hair will stay for a whole week to two weeks at a time, I do not comb or brush my hair the entire time.  I re-moisturize my hair every other day by spraying it with the follicle booster then lightly apply Nature's Blessing's Hair Pomade to my edges every few days.

That is basically it for my current hair regimen and it is working well thus far.  I do not have to spend a lot of time on my hair in order to care for it properly under my protective style of choice.  With the Aplus Ozone wigs I wear a black color wig cap on top of my natural hair under the lace wigs.  I recently purchased a new brand of wig caps that have Organic Shea butter, Olive Oil and Vitamin E infused into them so that they can help keep the hair moisturized instead of the traditional wig cap which can often times be drying to the hair.  To reduce any chance of breakage to my edges, I avoid using the combs that come inside of the wigs at the temple area and I make sure my edges are laying down to avoid snagging of unruly edges.  I have been wearing Ozone Aplus Lacefront Wigs for about 6 months now, and I really love them.  I purchased another Brandy Lacefront wig, but in a color 1B/30, back in March that is holding up very well.  The color is great and it looks really natural with the light brown colored lace over a natural part in my real hair, which allows my scalp to show through the lace instead of a nude colored wig cap.  I slick down the edges of my hair in the front with Giovanni Wax Pomade and pull the wig cap back about 3 inches from my edges and then place the lace wig on my head, making sure the part in the lace wig matches up with the part I made in my own hair.  As you can see in the pictures on the right, it looks natural and I do not have to apply any glue or tape to achieve this look. 

I will continue to use lace wigs as my protective style of choice because it has not been harmful in any way to my natural hair, if nothing else they have accelerated my growth.  They help because I do not manipulate or comb my hair for days sometimes weeks at a time and I do not pull my hair into tight ponytails or braids.  I have learned from those costly mistakes that I made to my hair in the past and I will not repeat it.  Lace wigs may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you are looking for a simple change, then give one a try, you just might like it.  Be sure to check out the Healthy Hair Products page to purchase a lot of the products that I have used to grow and protect my hair under Lace wigs.  Most of the products on that page either qualify for free shipping or ship for less than $2.
Happy Hair Growing Lacefora.com readers.