How to Maintain a Curly Weave

Co-authored by Christine George and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: May 13, 2021 References

Getting a curly weave is a fun, exciting way to change up your look. However, it can be challenging to take care of a curly weave if you’ve never had one before. If this is your first time with curly hair, you might be wondering how taking care of it differs from other hair types. All you have to do is carefully detangle your hair, use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, and sleep with your hair in a loose bun, and you’ll have frizz-free curls that look great every time.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Brushing Out Knots

1
Use your fingers to comb through your hair if your curls are very tight. If your weave has super tight curls, using a comb or brush might not work. Instead, you can use your fingers to detangle any knots or snarls that you find. Make sure your hair is dry, and try not to rip or pull your hair too much.^{[2]
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- Finger detangling takes more time than brushing with a tool. Set aside at least 30 minutes if you choose to do this.
2
Use a wide-toothed comb or soft-bristled brush to comb your weave. Normal hair brushes are too fine for curly hair, and they can damage the curl pattern by breaking it apart too much. Get a wide-toothed comb or a soft-bristled brush that is made specifically for curly hair to brush out your weave.^{[3]
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- You can buy these tools at most beauty supply stores.
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3
Start brushing from the bottom and work your way toward your scalp. If you are using a comb, brush, or your fingers, start from the bottom of your weave and work your way to the top. Make sure that you aren’t brushing too hard or pulling your hair at all, as this can damage your weave.^{[4]
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Tip: Detangle your weave while it is wet to cause less damage to your hair.^{[5]
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4
Detangle specific knots one at a time. Instead of brushing out all of your hair, you can brush out specific knots as you see them. Use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to gently tease apart tangles while your hair is wet.^{[6]
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- If your weave has a tangle that is particularly challenging to get out, try using the pointed end of a pick to tease apart the hair before combing or brushing it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Washing Your Weave

1
Wash your weave with a sulfate-free shampoo once a week. The natural oils from your scalp will start to build up on your weave over time. Use a sulfate-free shampoo once a week to thoroughly wash your weave.^{[7]
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Research source} Try to avoid any shampoos containing harsh chemicals like sulfates, as they can lead to damage.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
- If you have oily or greasy skin, you may have to wash your weave more often than once a week.
2
Apply conditioner to your hair once a day. The number one thing that curly weaves need is moisture. Use a silicone and sulfate-free conditioner once a day on your hair while it is wet in the shower. Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes and then rinse it out thoroughly.^{[9]
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Tip: If you have a buildup of oil on your scalp, you can use your conditioner to massage it away in the shower and then rinse it out of your hair.
3
Let your weave dry naturally to enhance the curls. Air drying is the best way for your weave to form its natural curl pattern. Try to avoid using heat tools, like hairdryers, on your weave. Regularly using heat tools can eventually cause damage.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Instead, let it dry naturally for a few hours.^{[11]
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- If you need your hair dried faster, you can attach a diffuser to your hairdryer. Diffusers spread out the heat from the dryer and make it less damaging to your curls.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Keeping Curls While You Sleep

1
Wrap your hair in a silk bonnet to protect your curls. Tie your hair back in a loose ponytail with a scrunchie or pile your hair on top of your head. Then, put a silk scarf or bonnet on over your hair. Make sure that no curls poke out of the bonnet. This will keep your curls intact while you lay on them to sleep.^{[12]
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Tip: If your hair is particularly long, look for an elongated bonnet that will hold all of your hair.
2
Put a satin pillowcase on your pillow. Satin pillowcases help keep your curls intact while you sleep on them because they don’t bunch up and create creases on your pillow.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Buy a satin pillowcase from a beauty supply store and sleep with it on your pillow instead of a cotton one.^{[14]
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- Satin pillowcases also reduce the number of pillow creases you get on your skin when you wake up.
3
Put your hair up in a loose bun. To keep your curls preserved without any extra tools, simply tie your hair up in a loose bun at the top of your head with a scrunchie. Don’t tie it too tight, or it will leave creases in your hair. Depending on the thickness of your weave, loop your scrunchie around your hair 2 to 3 times before you go to sleep.^{[15]
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- This method usually works the best for tight curls.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Styling Your Weave

1
Spray your hair with water in the morning to refresh your curls. If your curls are looking flat from sleeping on them, you can spritz them with a small amount of water to revive them. Put room temperature water in a spray bottle and spray your hair in the areas that need it. Let your hair air dry.^{[16]
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Tip: You can mix in a pea-sized amount of conditioner to your water if your hair is frizzy.
2
Add a palmful of mousse to wet hair for defined curls. If you want your weave to have more defined curls, you can apply mousse to your hair while it is damp. Get a half-dollar sized amount in your palm and spread it onto your curls, starting from your scalp and working your way downward. Add more mousse as you need it for thicker hair.^{[17]
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- You can use any type of curl defining mousse, as long as it is silicone and sulfate-free.
3
Slick down your baby hairs in a wavy pattern to emphasize your curls. If your weave has baby hairs, you can slick them down with gel in a sweeping motion to compliment your curls. Use a fine-tooth comb or a toothbrush to smooth the hairs on your head. Then, use a pea-sized amount of gel to secure them down, using a sweeping outward motion to apply the gel.^{[18]
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- Only slick down the wispy hairs that are on the front of the weave. Anything more will look too heavy.

Expert Q&A

Question

What products should I avoid when washing my hair?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Products containing a lot of sulfates and parabens strip everything out of your hair. They basically wear down the hair. Try a hydrating shampoo and conditioner instead.