According to Statistics South Africa, the personal, social and economic impact of COVID-19 has been unlike anything experienced by the world in the past 75 years. You may be a student, just got a new job, or things have just not been doing well in the financial department, then, you might be looking for a way to cut costs and save some money when it comes to your hair.
No one wants to break the bank on a new hairstyle, even though they want the utmost care for their hair. So this article speaks to saving money on protective hairstyles such as braids and weaves. Darling Hair gives tips on money-saving hairstyles that will be good on your bank and scalp.
Weaves
A weave is a wonderful way to create a new style as it gives you the opportunity to add length to your natural hair. Weaves give your own hair a healthy window to rest, grow out a relaxer and add fullness and body to your hair. Darling Empress Collection is quality weaves that are 100% premium blend for a premium look & feel. They are reusable, re-stylable and washable. It has a human hair feel and comes in 3 sizes: 14inch, 16inch, and 18inch with an option to use the bundles or turn them into a wig.
Cost
A bundle of 12A Body Wave Peruvian/Brazilian Hair will usually set you back anything between R800 – R1600 depending on texture, length and quality. Darling Hair Weaves start at R189 per pack for a 12inch, if you want to splurge for an 18inch you are looking at a reasonable price of R339 – 3 bundles in a pack. From Brazilian silky straight, Malaysian Deep Curl, Mongolian & Peruvian Wave just to mention a few. Now that’s money saved.
Another money saving tip would be to buy the bundles, closure and create a wig that you can afford to own for any occasion.
It is important to take care of your weave by:
1. Brush with a wide tooth comb.
2. Soak gently using warm water then shampoo and rinse. Do not rub, squeeze or comb yet.
3. Apply a good conditioner and detangle slowly with a wide tooth comb.
4. Rinse with warm water.
5. Pat gently with a towel and lay hair flat or hang to air dry.
6. Flat iron or blow dry if desired.
7. Avoid cream, lotion or petroleum based products.
Braids
Braiding can be a blessing in disguise in saving money while looking good. The best thing is that they require very little maintenance for 6-8 weeks. Another benefit from having braids is options!! You can go from Box braids, Marley twists, Senegalese twists, micro braids etc…there are dozens of options to choose from.
Cost
Get Affordable Curls on Tips with Darling Hair Moja Braids starting at R17.50 per pack, or the popular One Million Braid starting from R18.99 per pack. Depending on the size of your head you will need 3 – 5 packs that will last you one to two months. Now that’s extra savings on your bank.
It is important to take care of your braids by:
1. Protect Your Hair at Night
A silk headscarf or a satin pillowcase will help keep your braids from drying out. Your edges will also remain fresher. Doing both may sound like overkill but many women lose their headscarf during sleep, only to find their braids pressed up against a moisture robbing cotton pillowcase.
2. Keep Your Scalp Moist
Break out a Spray Bottle and spray your thirsty roots. It only takes a couple of minutes to moisturize your hair. Use natural oils like coconut oil or almond oil. To seal in the moisture a leading option is Jamaican Black Castor Oil. You can use it to seal entire braid strands or just your ends. The oils are really good for scalp soothing and retaining important moisture. If you need a non-greasy feeling moisturizer simply use a natural leave-in conditioner.
3. Wash Braids Bi-Weekly
A daily build-up of dirt or sweat can cause pores to clog and product build up. This is a recipe for disaster of the scalp and hair.
4. Redo Your Edges After 4 to 6 Weeks.
On average, hair grows 1/2 an inch per month. This means after 4 weeks you have some new growth and the braids around your front hairline can begin to look a bit rough.
"In this economic climate it is important to save. If anything COVID 19 has taught us is to prepare for the unprepared. Spend money wisely. Additionally, you have to maintain a healthy lifestyle and provide adequate nutrients for the body to internally produce strong hair. Nutritional deficiencies, inadequate sleep, mental and physical stress all take a toll on both the hair growth rate and quality of the hair produced,” says Brand Manager, Dipolelo Fungile.