Is Wearing a Weave For Everyone?

To weave or not to weave: that is the question.

No seriously, that is the question least thought about when considering whether or not to extend your tresses. I can’t really blame folks. The reality is that the popularity, convenience and the accessibility of hair weaves and wigs in mainstream culture has made the hair extension the informal “hat” for bad hair days. And we just assume that if it can be sewn, boned or capped into your hair, than it is a natural fit. Plus it doesn’t help that everyone from Beyoncé to the First Lady to your average chica shopping through the mall sports some very impressive hair extensions in different forms, styles and colors.

But just because some folks can pull a weave off, does that mean that everyone can?

Like recently I was reading an article about Gayle King (you know, Oprah’s best friend) and her new gig as co-anchor for the CBS “Early Show.” I thought that it was a good move for King, who will finally have an opportunity to shine, coming out from under the shadows of her famous gal pal. But then as I glanced at the picture attached to the article, all the praise for her professional achievement seemed to overshadowed by the same the burning question I have always wondered about her for years and that is: “Why can’t she ever get a decent weave?”

I could understand if it is a once and a while instance. I mean, after all, not every woman can be at the top of her game at all times. However, King’s weaves and wigs appear to always have this awkward thing happening with them. No matter the texture, the style or the color, it always looks so fictitious, so awkward, so… well, unnatural. It probably doesn’t make sense that I used “unnatural” and “weave” in the same sentence — but a good weave is suppose to have people guessing whether it is real or not. And a better weave shouldn’t offer any obvious distinction between your natural hair and where the weave begins. I can always say that is NOT true for King.

She is not the only one. Tennis star Serena Williams and the bird’s nest she calls a sewn-in is hands down the recipient of the World’s Worst Celebrity Weave award. Seriously. Despite being a pretty girl with one of the most sensational bodies ever, and stepping up her red carpet game with some sleek and fierce outfits, she is also the most consistent, evil offenders with the badly-done lace fronts. Not only are they ill-fitting, poorly-blended and sometimes missing some strands of hair, but also the texture screams synthetic yaki purchased at the Chinese beauty store on East Compton Boulevard. In fact, her weaves are so unnatural that they almost look as if she once had to fend off an attack by a wild and rabid long-haired daschund. And to celebrate her kill, she tore the fur from its dead carcass and wore it on her head. Yeah, it really is that bad.

Now to be fair, there are probably some black women, who just don’t like or cannot work with the texture of their natural hair. And I can certainly understand how the weave has become the quintessential stand-in for women attempting to achieve certain looks without the unnecessary consequences from the constant frying, dying and blow drying of their own tresses. Which is why I understand that many women in the public eye, who must stay up on their face and hair game or risk being lampooned in various gossip rags, rely on hair extensions so much. Plus I imagine that there are lots more roles offered to women with the long silky locks than there are to ones opting for the short and natural. But I digress.

Because the level of weave blunders among celebrities is beyond embarrassing. In short, bad weaves just make me sad. From Tyra Banks, whose wet and less wavy wig looks like it has been recycled and sprayed down with a can of Isoplus Oil Sheen too many times, to Brittany Spears, who is a regular offender of the peek-a-boo braid/weave track — a bad weave is not only the great equalizer between the rich and the rest of us, but also just proves that hair extensions aren’t meant for everybody.

Before anyone thinks that I’m trying to sneak in some pro-natural agenda, let it been known that I have no beef with hair extensions, especially when they look good on folks. At the end of the day, everyone has the right to choose their own hairstyle, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that certain styles or trends just don’t look good on some folks. Just like some women look bad with a face caked with too much makeup or any overweight person spilling out of too small (or just flat out inappropriate) styles, some women just don’t look good with weaves.

I don’t know if it is the shape of a person’s head or face but for some reason, too much or unnatural looking hair has the tendency to detract away from these women’s beauty. And I think that is the case for both King and Williams. Some women should adopt the “less is more” philosophy. And both would look stunning minus the 10 pounds of extra hair.

Charing Ball is the author of the blog People, Places & Things.

Is Wearing a Weave For Everyone?

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