Okay, so you’ve seen the title. Now you’re probably wondering: who is this guy that dared to touch the mighty weave?

Well, it just so happens that I’m that guy.

I’m the guy who doesn’t know that if you’re not a hair stylist or a fashion designer, you will lose ALL debates about weaves, or any kind of hair for that matter. I’m the guy who’s forgotten one of the most important rules amongst guys: DO NOT debate with ladies about their hair; you will lose – every time!

After writing this, I wouldn’t be surprised if a bunch of women wait outside my house, to attack me with hairsprays, relaxers, creams and combs – just to teach me a lesson.

I can already imagine it. My cousins would be there. All my colleagues (they’re all women!) would be there. And I’m pretty sure the group would include all my exes too – even the ones who just had short hair. And they’d all be shouting: “Sicelo, how dare you talk about hair like that? Do you know what we have to go through to look good?”

Okay, let me explain what I’ve just said before I get myself into any more trouble with you ladies. I don’t understand EVERYTHING that girls go through, but I do, at least, get why hair is such a big deal.

I have been listening to all the conversations in the salons, taxis and trains. I’ve watched hours of television and even read FOUR “hair” magazines (for a guy, that’s almost too many magazines).

And I’ve found some interesting things.

Most of my friends have been quick to tell me that weaves are bad and that girls should just keep it natural. The interesting thing is that it’s not only my guy friends who’ve said this, but the girls as well. Their reasons are simple: our mothers were rocking afros (or, ‘fro, as some call it) all through the seventies and eighties; why can’t 2014’s ladies also be proud of the afro?

A hairstylist I interviewed called a weave “an extension of swag”.

“A fresh weave is the reason why a girl will have a great day instead of just a good day. It’s the reason why there’s a difference between an awesome day and other normal days,” she said. But she was also quick to say that “a weave is not like oxygen; girls shouldn’t feel as if they need it.”

Before interviewing her, I had also found an article in one of the popular women’s magazine I read. Its message for women was simple: NEVER buy cheap weaves. Instead, save up so you can buy a quality weave that won’t make you look completely unstylish. Also, make sure you have all the necessary products to take care of it. And DON’T wear it beyond its expiry date. Apparently, a weave’s expiry date is the amount of time you can have it on without it starting to come off from your hair.

When I asked her about what she thought of the article, I got a passionate response.

“Those are just some rich people who don’t want us to look good, because we don’t have their kind of money.”

For me, it used to be pretty simple; I only dated girls with short or relaxed hair – no one else!

But I’m all grown up now and my opinion has changed.

I don’t judge women based on whether or not they have weaves, twists or braiding anymore. The reason is simple: hair is just a piece of a girl’s swag – it doesn’t really tell you about who she is on the inside.

But this can surely not be the end of it, right?

I mean, there are ladies out there who don’t really have a budget for all those expensive weaves, conditioners, gels and stuff.

What about them? Should they, then, stay away from weaves?

Should they just keep it natural or stick to something else like braids or something?

Or are weaves ANY girl’s best friend?

#ChatBack: Should a girl be judged on her hair or is it just an “extension of her swag”?

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Just_Huey’s comment takes the Moola. It’s not as if girls are not proud of their hair. There are many reasons as to why they wear weaves. It might be that society has somewhat “normalized” the act, peer pressure is another reason and lastly it might be purely preference. We are human beings and as MEN sometimes we do not realise that often these women are driven by what they think is our standard of beauty. Now I say wear those weaves girls, and wear them proudly. Umm.. just make sure though that the person putting the weave knows what they’re doing.