My (Mis) Adventures in Protective Styling Land

My first weave install in years.
Sigh. Honestly, I'm not sure what's been happening with me and my hair in the last 2 weeks but I've had back to back protective styling fails! The first was my late night crochet braid attempt that ended with me taking everything out before I even finished installing them.

Then remember on Monday when I said I might just go and fix a weave seeing as it was my day off? Well, I did. First let me say, I'm so clueless when it comes to weaves that it's not even funny lol. I went to Ebeano Supermarket first and I remember over hearing my stylists talking amongst themselves about how good the brand 'Chocolate' was; so even though I was almost overwhelmed by the different kinds, brands, textures and colors on display, my eyes settled on the Chocolate brand.

They didn't have the color I wanted so ended up going to the salon Downtown in Victoria Island (which is where I ended up fixing the hair) Settled for a 16 inch straight weave in color 4. When the stylist was fixing it, he kept laughing and saying ' you don't really like weaves do you?' because every time the hair so much as stayed on my face for more than 5 seconds I kept furiously brushing it away. - That should have been my pointer to the fact that something was up with my face and the weave.


By the time I got home, I had a few spots on my forehead and what looked like a scratch. I didn't remember scratching myself enough to  leave a mark but just shrugged it off. By the time I woke up on Tuesday, the left side of my face had tiny bumps on it. I stared in horror and tried to calm myself down.


lucy photo lucy3_zps95fb678e.gif


Picked up my phone and checked my M. Cycles App in case Dr. Flo was making an appearance - but na. Put my hair up so it wouldn't brush up against my face as much and went to work - had some itching sensations a couple of times during the day but resisted the urge to rub or scratch my face. Woke up on Wednesday morning and more bumps had appeared on my forehead - now I was very worried!


 I contemplated removing it but was hesitant because I'd only just spent N14,000 2 days prior! ( N9,000 on the weave, N4,000 to fix and N1,000 tip)

By Thursday morning the right side of my face had also erupted in tiny itchy bumps and when I got to the salon, one of the girls asked what was wrong with my face and that was it! N14,000 or not, this hair was coming off. As soon as I was done with my last customer for the day, asked one of the girls to take the weave out for me.

The relief felt soooooooooo good! Went home, cleaned my face with my wipes, washed with my Simple Face wash, applied a little Moringa oil and went to bed. The following morning, most of the bumps had disappeared! If I was in any doubt as to what was causing the breakout then those doubts had been erased.

By Saturday morning, my face looked and felt much better and I was definitely a happy (ier) bunny. I think I'm just going to stick to braids as my protective style in future - I haven't had any drama with them and (knock on wood) that should remain the case going forward.

In a weird way, I also think my hair wants some love and attention and was orchestrating those mishaps lollll so I've whipped out a wig and will shower my hair with plenty plenty love. The wig will give me access to my hair so I can take care of it and I don't have to worry about daily styling manipulation. This will also give me the opportunity to be consistent with  applying MTG - I'll be able to co wash often with my hair in plaits.

So here I am, sitting with Henna in my hair, after which I shall follow up with a super duper moisturizing deep conditioning treatment, then in plaits and hidden under a wig. Matter of fact, I think I'm going to go back to deep conditioning twice a week which is what I did in my first year, and that helped me retain a lot of length.

Feeling good about this! Leggo!

24 comments

  1. My darling Kemi, you should have used Charlize Hand Tied Human hair extensions - guaranteed no itching or skin reactions..

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    1. lol! I should have abi? I've learnt my lesson oh!

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  2. I think it was the weave you fixed dear. No one uses chocolate brand anymore as there are so many fakes of it out there. You needed human hair not synthetic.

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    1. yea it was definitely the weave. I just didn't want to invest a lot of cash in a weave seeing as I very rarely fix weaves but maybe I will just for those rare moments...

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  3. Yep I'm not a fan of weaves at all its just the convenience of getting up and going that draws me to them. I've experienced the same. I prefer braids cos u can easily access your scalp and clean it with cotton wool and methylated spirit and also easy to moisturize the scalp. Even so, no protective style does your face any good after 4 weeks due to accumulation of dirt.

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    1. Tell me about it! I've always loved braids - will just stick to that for the most part

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    2. emmm.............i dunno but i really think methylated spirit should be a no no for scalp cleaning. ACV or aloevera juice should do the job well enough.

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    3. True that. Not a fan of methylated spirit - I prefer to use a dry shampoo or just rinse my hair under the shower.

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  4. OMG, horror story!!! I used to get weaves all the time and stopped, making the move to wigs. I don't know if it was the brand, or maybe that it could possibly have been fake. I also heard good things about Chocolate like a year or 2 ago, but I know our people like to import fake things too.

    Sawry :(

    http://berrydakara.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks dear. Who knows? It may have been fake or my skin is just too sensitive for that particular kind of synthetic hair. Whichever way, I'm staying far far away from weaves for now lol

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  5. Aww sorry about the breakout.
    and that 14k on hair can pain...
    if you can confirm that you are not reacting to the brand of weave, y not consider converting it into a wig. at least you'll be able to salvage 9k and you'll also get a new wig.

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    1. Aww, thank you! Thing is, since I had such a strong reaction to it I don't think I'll be wasting any more money trying to convert it into a wig only to have it irritate my skin again. lol - I'll just write it off as a bad 'investment'

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  6. Your GIF is something else, lol. Sorry about your experience. I've never been a fan of weaves. You should have given me that 14k. I'd have blessed you for it, the ones that come with no sorrow attached, lol.

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    1. Loll. When I saw it, I knew it had to feature here - it's so apt! My dear, now I've learnt my lesson - I shall direct my hard earned money wisely in future :)

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  7. So sorry about the bad experience. Good thing you got rid of it quickly. I had some scalp drama with one recently from the tightness. I'm saving myself the stress henceforth

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    1. Thank you dear! Sorry about your scalp issue - I feel you on saving yourself from the stress. I can't shout.

      My cousin was telling me about a time she fixed a weave and after taking painkillers for 2 days straight, her sister decided to inspect her scalp and found out she was bleeding! Whether it was due to tightness or the weave, only God knows oh.

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  8. wow. true horror story. i would be so freaked out if it were me. LOL
    thankfully it wasnt out of hand before u realised. may God not let one die because of fake things in this country.

    how do u manage doing a DC twice a week? isnt it too much stress and manipulation for you? i recently started protective styling (loose twists) for two weeks in a row. Meaning i get to the the whole wash process once in two weeks. Except when i feel my hair is too dry, then i do a cowash. Im sooo relieved! that weekend wash process is not a joke and in just a few weeks iv noticed real growth due to less manipulation.

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  9. Amen oh!!!

    I leave my hair in like 6 plaits under my wig so those are the plaits I work with when applying DC and when I rinse, i detangle under running water and plait right back. I find using the running water as a styling tool makes everything that much easier and I don't lose hair that way.

    Sounds like you've found a great method that works for you!

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  10. Hi.. sorry about your weave troubles.. I read somewhere that some people are sensitive to the chemicals used to coat synthetic hair so they soak it in an acv+water mixture for like an hour before drying and using. Also nobody ever pays attention to the labels on weaves but it usually gives washing instructions to follow before using.. Sorry all the same..

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    1. Thanks Noelle! You know, I've always assumed that the washing instructions are for when you've taken it out and want to re use! Hmmm! Thanks for pointing that out.

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  11. Wow! Sorry for the bad experience and thank God it wasn't anything really major because allergies can trigger off a lot! These days most weaves and even regular extensions are treated with a myriad of heavy chemicals to get that silky smooth look and unnatural color...you can tell by the chemically smell...so it's a good idea to soak it in shampoo or ACV like Noelle suggested.
    To salvage the weave, try washing it and maybe you can use it to make a DIY wig...lol!

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    1. Thanks dear! Honestly! And as a sufferer of Atopic Dermatitis for years, a lot of seemingly mild things can trigger a break out for me. As for salvaging the weave, me I already gave it out lol. I've never really been a weave person and this experience has just put me off oh!

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  12. oh wow. Sorry Kemi!
    I used to be sensitive to kanekalon fibre hair. Getting braids definitely meant a slightly irritated scalp and very hot almost burning ears when I let my hair down. Thankfully, I outgrew it.
    I'm co-signing with Noellie about the washing with ACV. It could help. They're probably selling fake Chocolate these days. Pele!

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    1. Thank you! Awww so sorry to hear about your own (past) issues. Honestly, the stuff they coat so many things with these days ehn! Just yesterday, I went with my mum to some place to check out fabric samples for her store. As soon as I entered the room, my nose started twitching, then my throat felt like it was closing up and I was lightheaded. I had to go out of the place fast!

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