Protective Style Review: Afro Marley Weave

My Instagram followers would already know that Fro is back!

After 7 weeks of having my hair tucked up under my third protective style of 2014, I finally removed my Marley weave this past weekend. As mentioned before, the hair itself isn’t a weave. It’s Marley braid hair I got from SA based online store Obulunji. Each pack costs R150 and I wacked on two packs for this style – which was totally unnecessary. But I’m a small woman with a love for big hair. So if you’re more modest than I am, or would like to just give it a go, one pack is definitely enough. You can even cut it in half to double up on volume.

What I really loved about this hair and style is how it acts and looks like natural hair that’s been stretched into a very loose twist out. Many had asked me questions over the past couple of months so I thought it could be quite useful to tell you how I maintained the hair by answering them…

How did you sleep with all that hair?


I tied it into a low bun with my DIY tights headband (the same one I use for my puffs) because the hair was too big to fit into a normal hairband. I usually kept it in the same bun the entire week to avoid tangles. I’d then wrap my hair as usual with my satin scarf.

What products did you use to maintain it?


Whenever I have a weave or braided style, I always use Restore Plus Moisturising Braid Spray. It’s easily available, I grab it from Click for less than R40. It smells nice and helps with itching. This weave barely itched! I also use my homemade butter (see My Products page for details) for my scalp and the extensions. I use any conditioner in my bathroom to wash it.


How do you wash it? After washing it, how did the hair react? 


The first time I washed it, I tied it into a bun and tied a plastic bag over the extensions. I was then free to wash my scalp without getting the rest of the hair wet. Then next couple of times I washed it by putting the extensions into braids (about 5 big ones) and washed my scalp before gently squeezing some conditioner onto the extensions as they were still in braids. I did it this way to avoid tangles. The hair reacted well to the washes, I didn’t need to re-twist it or anything for it to revert. The texture remained the same throughout. Of course, the last couple of times I washed it, the hair was starting to look worn.


How did you keep it from matting and tangling?


I hardly wore this hair loose. I did it the first week, then maybe once every two weeks after that. It’s braid hair so it’s not actually designed to be worn as a weave. I knew this from the beginning and understood to keep it tied/braided or twisted into something to make it last longer. It acts similarly to real hair and will matt and tangle. I didn’t want to comb it everyday because I wanted to keep the texture and also to avoid shedding. So once a week, I’d release it, finger detangle then tie it back up!


It’s a weave? With braid hair? How does that work?


Yup. Ask your stylist to create a knot from the hair and use that knot to sew onto your hair tracks 😉

I re-did the side cornrows two weeks before removing the entire weave. It could have lasted longer but I knew it was time for Fro to chill for a bit. All in all, I think it’s fair to say that looking at the amount of time I kept it in for, the style was great and awesomely appreciated. I loved this style. It was funky yet could be transformed to chic. It was an awesome time saver and a style I’d definitely revisit.