In a time when you can walk out of your home sporting a new hair weave every other week, it can be difficult to think back to a time where changing your hair for extended periods wasn’t so simple. Although wigs have been around since the 1700s, hair weaves are still fairly new in comparison.
So who was it that invented the weave? How did they come up with the idea of attaching another person’s hair onto their scalp?
Let’s take a look:
Christina Jenkins
The hair weave was invented in 1951 by an African American woman named Christina Jenkins. She received a patent for the hair weaving technique she created and eventually formed a company with her husband, Duke. The Jenkins’ company kicked off immediately; people were fascinated by the invention and Christina was invited by other countries so she can teach them the hair weaving method.
Before the Sewn-in Weave…
Before Christina’s hair sewing technique, people used to clip hair weaves onto their scalps, but this wasn’t a permanent solution. Hair clip weaves didn’t secure the hair on the scalp properly. Jenkins’ technique allowed hair extensions to be installed and remain there for a few weeks. Once the weave wore out, if someone wanted to switch up their looks, they could do so.
The Proc0ess
The interweaving process took hours to do and it involved interlocking strands of live and commercial hair to an attachment base made out of cord-like material.
Since the Jenkins’ method was invented, there have been other innovations in the world of weaves. Today’s weaves aren’t as chunky as they were back then. High-quality hair is imported from various parts of the world to create glossy, voluminous weaves that last.
After sewn-in weaves, clip-ins and tape-in weaves were also invented, but these weren’t designed as a long-term solution.
As sewn-in weaves gained popularity, women started noticing their drawbacks. The braided hair that was pulled back to create the foundation of the weave became weak and brittle when it wasn’t looked after. Because the hair was constantly pulled back and hidden away, it was prone to damage; in the worst cases, it would cause scalp alopecia.
The Loc System
The Loc System is an alternative to the traditional hair weaving system. It doesn’t involve braiding of the hair nor does it clog hair follicles with tape and glue. In the Loc System, a small copper tube is installed on your hair, and your hair extensions are carefully pulled through them. Compared to sewn-in hair extensions, the Loc System is gentler on your hair.
At Hair Extensions of Houston, we only install hair extensions using the original hair-loc system; this way there’s minimal damage to your natural hair.
Enjoy the perks of the hair extensions without any of the hair damage by getting hair extensions at Hair Extensions of Houston.
Visit us for our salon services, installation of hair extensions and hair restoration services. Call us at 832-717-3626 to book an appointment. Our stylists will examine your hair and help you find the perfect natural looking hair extension Houston.
