Vivica, you’ve been such a big star in the entertainment and movie business. [...]]]> I’ve known Vivica Fox has her own wig line for awhile now, but I never knew how she got started in the lucrative business. Essence.com caught up with the busy starlet and got the scoop on her wig and extension line.

Vivica, you’ve been such a big star in the entertainment and movie business. What made you want to develop your own wig and extensions line?
My manager used to work with Beverly Johnson for years and when Beverly decided that she didn’t want to do it anymore, they were looking for a fresh new face. All of the styles that were pitched to me were extremely classy, well-styled and up to date. I’ve been doing the hair line now for three years and we have over 120 different wigs in all varieties including human, synthetic, lace-front and we just introduced our new extension line which is doing extremely well.

What is your advice for women who are looking to experiment with new hairstyles?
Wigs are a really fun to experiment with without killing your own hair. There’s nothing worse than thinking that you can look good in a trendy hairdo and you cut or color your hair and then realize it was the biggest mistake. With wigs, you can do a test drive. My collection is also great because it ‘s extremely affordable—the styles start at only $25.

The Vivica A. Fox Hair Collection, can be found online at VivicaFoxHair.com and you can also find a supplier in your area by inputting your zip code. To read the entire interview, click here.

I know she’s a musician, but it’s been a long time since she’s changed her look, so I was getting bored with the bright red hair. But last week [...]]]> I never was a fan of Rihanna’s red Ronald McDonald hair. (But I have to give her props in this photo. She is absolutely stunning!)

I know she’s a musician, but it’s been a long time since she’s changed her look, so I was getting bored with the bright red hair. But last week she was caught shoe shopping and the pop star has changed her hair to a more muted tone of red.

I’m definitely not a fan of the dark roots, and the style is very elementary—like any stylist off the street could hook up this weave. But I like the color, A LOT. I think she’s preparing her hair for another big change, hence the dark roots and simple weave job. Mark my words, she’ll be changing this look up real soon.

What do you guys think, love it or hate it?

Here she is performing in Paris, and she is rocking a long, wavy weave. (In the photo on the left her hair looks brown, but it’s just the lights, in the picture on the right you can see her hair is shiny [...]]]> Janet Jackson was spotted last week rocking—you guessed it, a weave.

Here she is performing in Paris, and she is rocking a long, wavy weave. (In the photo on the left her hair looks brown, but it’s just the lights, in the picture on the right you can see her hair is shiny and black. Hmmm, this sort of looks like the look I’ve been rocking lately…) I love the new look and understand that she wants to change it up for performances. (It’s hard to rock a diva fan when your hair is short!) Don’t get me wrong, I love her with short hair too. She has such a beautiful smile and I feel the short hair really serves her well.

But that’s just me. What do you guys think? Love the weave or miss Janet’s short crop?

Just in case you guys don’t know what a diva fan is, watch this hilarious clip of Wendy Williams demonstrating what a diva fan is!

But all the praise should go directly to her stylist. Her real hair is in great shape! Here she is showing off her healthy locks on Twitter.

I love that her stylist [...]]]> I think Gabrielle Union rocks one of the best weaves in the business. It highlights her flawless skin and beautiful smile.

But all the praise should go directly to her stylist. Her real hair is in great shape! Here she is showing off her healthy locks on Twitter.

I love that her stylist takes care of her hair. It’s easy to style hair. But it’s a whole different ball game to take care of hair. So yes Gabrielle you have healthy beautiful hair. Thanks to your stylist.

What do you guys think? Should Gabrielle wear her real hair for a little while? Or keep rocking the weave?

Why would ANYONE put a hair weave on a THREE YEAR OLD? It’s outrageous! My daughter cut off one of her [...]]]> I love weave. I really do. But sometimes even I, (gulp) think enough is enough. Like this video of a THREE YEAR OLD GIRL getting a hair weave. This is downright sad.

Why would ANYONE put a hair weave on a THREE YEAR OLD? It’s outrageous! My daughter cut off one of her ponytails last year, (she walked around for months with a bald spot in the back of her head. When I say she cut her ponytail off, she cut it off. Right under the rubber band.) Not ONCE did I think that I would just cover the spot with a hair weave. I cleverly hid her baldness as best as I could and she kept on stepping.

You guys know how much I love weave, but come on people—ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I’ve been rocking my real hair for a couple of weeks now and people are surprised at how lovely and thick it is. “Why were you wearing a weave with hair like that"? People ask me this question all the time, and truthfully I wore a weave because it helped advertise my business. I specialized in weave and I wanted to show prospective clients how good their hair could look with a weave. But I’m not a stylist anymore. *sigh* And the whole concept of Unbeweaveable is that Mariah had to learn to let go of her weave, to get back to the basics and find her inner beauty within and not depend on purchased locks. That’s the saddest part of all this, because after the hair is put in this little girl’s hair, (her name is Kayleigh by the way) she says she’s pretty now. Oh baby girl you were pretty before.

My daughter knows that longer hair doesn’t mean prettier hair, and that straighter hair does not a pretty girl make. C’mon guys, as much as I love weave healthy hair is cute at any age. This little girl didn’t need a weave. But what do you think? How young is too young for hair extensions?

I know I preach about how much I [...]]]> The winner of the joke contest is Nina D! Nina, email me your address so I can send your book. Thanks for everybody that entered on Facebook, but sorry folks the contest was only here on the blog. Okay, now back to our regularly scheduled program…

I know I preach about how much I love weave. And I do. It’s one of my favorite accessories. But like any great accessory, it has to be removed. (I mean who really goes to sleep wearing their Chanel sunglasses, or an armful of gold bangles?) That being said, right now I am not wearing a weave. That’s right folks, I’m wearing my real hair, and I plan to for the duration of the summer. Yes, I love my weave, but the foundation to any great hairstyle is healthy hair first. So take a look at Naomi Campbell’s bald spot.

This is sad guys. I’m not a doctor, but her bald spot looks like traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is caused by tightly woven weave, tight ponytails or anything that causes unnecessary tension on the scalp. If corrected promptly, the hair will grow back, but not if it’s been abused for years. I have seen so many clients that come to me with bald spots caused by improper weave placement. Most of them want to continue wearing their weave, not as an accessory, but because of necessity to hide their thinning hairline. Yes, Naomi is the epitome of glamour with her long locks, but her hair should never have gotten to this point. Ladies, I fully endorse the loveliness of weave, but don’t get it twisted—never at the expense of your real hair!

This post is not meant to poke fun at anyone, clearly Naomi is embarrassed by all the coverage of her bald spot. This post is meant to be a wake-up call. Ladies, weave is meant to accentuate your natural beauty, like makeup is used to highlight the beautiful features of your face. It should never be used to the extent where you have to wear it, because the hair underneath is severely damaged. Yes, weaves and wigs can be a lifesaver for those women who suffer from hair loss due to cancer or alopecia. But if your weave practices cause damage, then stop. Just stop it.

I love weave. But look at my hair.

Full, thick, but most important–healthy. (I admit it’s a little Texas Pageant, but I live in Houston folks!) At any length, healthy hair is beautiful hair. I cannot stress this enough. Yes, folks I rock a weave. But trust, my weave does not rock me.

Please give some background information about yourself. 

I’m a hairstylist and fashion student. I am a tender, but mature 21 year old [...]]]> Thanks to everyone who has submitted their weave experiences! This topic hit home for a lot of you, so keep coming back for more interviews. And with that, here is Ashley’s story.

Please give some background information about yourself. 

I’m a hairstylist and fashion student. I am a tender, but mature 21 year old Houston native, who enjoys everything fashion and beauty has to offer.

How do you wear your weave?

I wear my hair extensions in many different ways. I think that being a hairstylist is an art form, so I express my personality and creativity through my hair.

Why do you wear weave?

Weave is the modern day “IT” accessory. I can change up my look as much as I want. When I get a new weave I feel like a new character. With hair extensions, “I am every woman.”

Well said Ashley! Are you embarrassed to wear weave?

No, I’m not embarrassed about wearing a weave. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, and people are beginning to embrace it more. Plus, I have beautiful hair underneath my weave (healthy hair comes first), so if I were in a room full of people and were asked to take my weave out, without any shame, I would unveil.

How do you feel about women that pretend that their weave is their natural hair?

I tell my clients all the time, “Stop frontin’. You have a great stylist that makes your weave believable, but embrace the weave—don’t lie to yourself.”

So I gather that you are open and honest about the fact that you wear weave?

Of course! It’s not a secret, and it shouldn’t be treated like one. I will wear my short, natural hair one day, then have tresses down my back the next. I’m happy to let others know I am weavalicious!

Have you ever had someone try to root you? (When someone feels your scalp/hair for tracks.)

I don’t let those haters touch my hair!

What is your friends/family reaction to your hair?

They absolutely love it! They marvel at the fact that I’m constantly re-inventing myself.

Okay, well how does your husband feel about your weave?

Now, that’s a whole other topic! He hates my weave. And it doesn’t matter what kind—he hates any kind of weave. He says he likes my natural hair better.

Name which celebrity, (black or white), whose weave you admire.

Tough question. I admire many celebrity weaves but my favorite would have to be Beyoncé. I  know it’s totally cliché, but she definitely sets trends with her diva do’s!

Being a hairstylist, what styling tips would you give to help women maintain their weave?

There are so many, but a few are: Protect it at night—wrap it or wear a satin bonnet to prevent the frizzies. Shampoo gently—so your weave won’t tangle. And last but not least, don’t be heavy-handed with styling products! Too much product will make your weave look stiff—not a good look.

What advice would you give women considering wearing a weave?

Ladies, if you want something low-maintenance, fun and fabulous, then weave is for you!

Some women feel that women who choose to wear a weave want to be “white” or are denying their heritage by adopting long locks. What is your thoughts on this?

This is one of the reasons I wanted to participate in this, and I’m really glad I get an opportunity to answer this question. Most of us are NOT trying to make our hair look like our white counterparts. We are just exploring the many options that we have with our versatile hair. Black women have many different textures of hair, and they are ALL beautiful—kinky to straight.

I want to thank Ashley for her funny, engaging take on her weave experience!

Unbeweavable is a term I’ve coined that describes a woman who loves her weave. Do you love your weave? Addicted to your weave? Love the versatility that your weave provides? Contact me and share your Unbeweavable story. Have questions? Feel free to share your thoughts and views in the comments section.

So, for the next several months keep checking here [...]]]> Friend to the blog Lori Johnson gave me the idea to start interviewing women about their weave experiences. (Or rather, I told her I was going to copy her idea when she interviewed women who chose to wear their hair natural on her blog. Thanks Lori!)

So, for the next several months keep checking here to read real stories about women and their weave stories. So here is Kelsan, ready to share her love affair with her weave.

Please give some background information about yourself. I am 34 years old and teach middle school social studies. I am single with no children. I’m originally from Shreveport, Louisiana. I attended Dillard University where I earned my BA in communications and The University of Phoenix where I obtained my Masters in Education.

How do you wear your weave? I like to wear it a little longer than my own hair, in lots of layers. (My hair is shoulder-length).

Why do you wear weave? Weave allows me an opportunity to do things with my hair that I enjoy without a permanent change. For instance, if I want choppy layers or highlights, I can have them any time that I choose.

Are you embarrassed to wear a weave? Why or Why not? No, I’m not embarrassed to wear weave. It’s an accessory. If you want to wear an outfit that looks good with long hair, you can. If you want to wear one that looks good with short hair a good weave will allow for that as well.

How do you feel about women that pretend that their weave is their natural hair?

I think that’s fine. It’s theirs, they paid for it—or at least someone did!

Are you open and honest about the fact that you wear weave?

Only when I’m asked. I don’t like for people to take it upon themselves to just touch it and say loudly, “Is this a weave?” However, if they ask me seriously, I will tell them.

Do you hate when people ask if you are wearing a weave?

Yes! When they comment loudly about it, or when they ask in a haughty manner like: “I know doggone well she ain’t got hair like this.” Other than that, I don’t mind if someone comments  about my weave. 

How do you feel when someone tries to “root” you? (When someone feels your scalp/hair for tracks.)

I seriously hate that! I don’t like people touching my hair anyway…dirty hands…lol.

What is your friends/family reaction to your weave?

Most of them don’t know I wear a weave. Which is a good thing right? Must mean my hair looks natural.

Which term do you prefer, weave or extensions?

I don’t like the word extension…it sounds like an uppity term for weave.

What advice would you give women considering wearing a weave?

Like any good thing, weave can become addictive. Make sure you have the income to maintain it.

Many women feel that women who choose to wear a weave want to be “white”, or are denying their African-American heritage by adopting long locks. What is your thoughts on that?

Each person is an individual and must make their own decision on how to wear their hair. Who gave the women who don’t wear weave, the power to determine who or what someone else wants to be, or how they feel? Personally, they need to mind their own business ‘cause truth is, they probably would wear one too!

Thanks Kelsan for sharing your Unbeweavable story!

Unbeweavable is a term I’ve coined that describes a woman who loves her weave. Do you love your weave? Addicted to your weave? Love the versatility that your weave provides? Contact me and share your Unbeweavable story. Have questions? Feel free to share your thoughts and views in the comments section.