Since last winter the curly kinky sew-in and wig trend has been gaining momentum in the Black hair community. Solange Knowles has often been seen sporting a Diana Ross-inspired ‘fro; Naomi Campbell was most recently spotted with an afro wig and even Lupita Nyong’o has added a few clip-ins to add height to her teeny weeny afro. Popular hair vloggers such as, Alex Elle and Ambrosia Malbrough are also among the lovely ladies sporting weaves and wings in natural textures.
Girls just want to have curls
Both natural and relaxed ladies are trading in straight tresses for bigger, afro-textured hair simply because it was made for us (it easily blends into our texture) and it’s beautiful. Of course, with every trend comes criticism, and this trend is no different. Some natural hair enthusiasts have expressed that wearing kinky extensions is a form of “cheating” the natural hair journey, while others have fully embraced it because the maintenance is equal to that of their own natural hair.
This protective style can work for all hair types: naturalistas who are looking for a protective style or relaxed ladies who would like to experiment with bigger hair. We’ve put together a run down (with the help of a few vloggers) of kinky hair extensions. Whether your looking for a wig, a weave, a cheap fix or an investment piece, we’ve got you covered.
The jheri curl
Jheri Curl hair is a springy synthetic hair that comes in many colors, often sold at super affordable prices at local beauty supply stores. This hair blends in perfectly with a stretched twist-out for natural women, or with perm rods for relaxed ladies. Although, the life of this hair is relatively short, it can provide a spunky protective style, perfect for the summertime. If you want Makeeba’s “Kelonge” look, get the hair she used on Amazon.
Haute kinky hair
Haute Kinky Hair is a human hair extension brand for afro-textured hair. What makes this brand of hair unique is that it comes in a variety of hair textures. Collections include Haute Kinks for denser curls or 4b/4c hair types; Haute Curls for finer textures or 3c/4a hair types; and Haute Coils for curls that are in between dense and fine hair, or for 3b hair types. This brand of hair is on the pricey side, with the cost starting at $105. Hair can be ordered in different lengths, and curly closures are also an option. Haute Kinky Hair weaves can be ordered online through their website hautekinkyhair.com.
The heat free hair movement
The Heat Free Hair Movement provides 100% virgin hair for kinky textures. Created by local salon N-ZO Hair Studios in Washington, D.C., their collections of hair weaves were created for those seeking to protect their afro-textured tresses, while avoiding heat. These collections include: For Kinks, a tighter hair texture for tighter curl patterns (4b/4c); For Kurls, a hair texture for looser curls (3c/4a); and For Koils, the finest texture of all three collections (3b). Prices start at $139, depending on hair length and with proper care the hair can last for months. Purchase Heat Free Hair online at their site.
Maintenance
As a couple of the videos mention, maintaining these weaves is similar to maintaining natural hair. You should always try to finger detangle when you can, or use a wide-tooth comb. Moisturizing the hair you leave out and your weave are essential. Twist-outs, braid-outs and wash-and-gos can all be applied to these hair extensions (with the exception of the Jheri Curl). Don’t be afraid to experiment and enjoy your new hair length!
