Anti-weave

For my new job I started a couple of weeks ago, I have been commuting via subway. I actually like taking the train. Not only do I save on gas money, but I get to work a lot faster than if I drove, and I don't have to pay attention to the road. I can read, sleep or just look at people. People watching has to be one of my favorite pastimes. Well, in the past 2.5 weeks, I have realized how many women in Boston have bad weaves. I swear, at least 3 out 5 women have weaves, and at least 2 of those weaves are horrible.

Now, I'm not judging weaves. Personally, I don't like to wear weaves, but I have no problem with someone else sporting one. I've had a weave a couple of times, and it just didn't work for me. One big reason is that I like to touch my hair and scalp, and that can be difficult or nearly impossible with a weave. Also, I never had any benefits from weaves (or braids for that matter). Maybe I didn't take care of it like I should have, but I found that the length I grew while having a weave or braids didn't matter, because I had to cut at least that same amount off because my ends were so damaged. I've also seen my friends and family members permanently lose their hair and/or thickness from constantly wearing weaves.

So, back to the women I see on the train. A lot of them wear glued in weaves, which is a big no-no. I can only imagine them going home and ripping the weave out, along with some of their own hair (yikes!). Some of their weaves are matted and dry looking and you can see a distinct difference in the texture of their real hair and the weave. I just want to tell them nicely, "Girlfriend, take that stuff out! It's better to have short, healthy, pretty hair, than to have a long, matted dry mess!" I can't believe they go to work like that. I can only imagine what people of all races think about their crazy looking hair! I was reading the latest Hype Hair magazine today, and it's so obvious how the hair industry pushes weaves on black women. I know white women wear weaves too, but I feel like we get the message (from the media and hairstylists) that if your hair is damaged and/or won't grow, you should slap a weave in it instead of putting in the effort to make it healthy again.

I guess the new trend are lace front wigs. They don't seem safe for your hair either. Like constant use of braids and weaves, those things will pull your hairline back a few inches over time. Look at Tyra, Beyonce and Vivica's hairlines...their foreheads have grown considerably over the years from fake hair. I actually saw this photo of Naomi Campbell online yesterday. If you look at the top of her forehead, you can see how far back her hairline is:


And Miss Vivica:

It makes me sad that women want long hair so bad that they would cause permanent damage like that.