So, last week I got a weave.

Store bought hair: Some new shyt

I abandoned chemical relaxers for my hair seven and a half years ago and I was loc’d for five of those years. I picked my locs out last year and have been perfecting a care regimen and styling for my “Afro Reborn” for the last 11 months. It’s been wonderful and great and all that stuff, but my hair, Cookie, and I needed a break from each other. So I opted for a crochet hair weave. Check this video to see exactly what a crochet weave is.

While I love how I look with this weave, I don’t like the attention that it is garnering. Apparently, there is something about store-bought hair that attracts raggedy ass men, and a LOT of them to boot. I had no idea when I got this hair that so many LCD (lowest common denominator) fellas would try to talk to me. Let’s not get things twisted: Even at 38 years old, I STILL get plenty of holleration out in these streets, Kinky-Coily Afro and all.  I really couldn’t put my finger on why with this weave I am getting so much attention from these dusty scamps until I was talking with NaturallyAlise and Nova over brunch yesterday.

I think my weave makes me more approachable. There are men who are still very brainwashed by invested in the European beauty standard. So much so, that they are either completely turned off by natural hair or they find it intimidating. The Black woman who would choose to embrace her natural aesthetic when it comes to her hair intimidates them. *Peebz shrug* So while I get attention from men when I’m out and about with my big, fluffy natural hair, I certainly don’t get as much and the quality is a lot better.

Fab 'Fro: Business As Usual

Quality: Nova likened my weave to that Basketball Yamp, Jennifer’s colored contact lenses. He said, “It cheapens an otherwise attractive woman”.  While he thinks I look great with and without my weave, he basically said that this hair makes the bargain basement set think they could afford me (metaphorically speaking, of course.) Alise calls it “Ho Hair” and it gives off an air of accessibility.  Dudes are really out here thinkin’ “I might could get the bitch!” because I’m weaved up. But no, you can’t Mr. Thug Passion. Not at all.

I wasn’t even thinking about how I would be approached or by whom when I decided to get this weave. All I wanted to do was to let my hair chill for a few weeks and get a break from the elements, products and my hands in it. Despite my wide-eyed innocence when it comes to the tangential effects of “wearing hair”, this is something I will think about when buying hair again. I really think if I get something closer to my natural texture, I will get a different reaction to it.  Possibly. Maybe? I don’t know! I hate that I even have to consider this at all. Hmph.

Dedicated Readers, Naturalistas and Weave-wearers…what do you think?

~pbg