The world of hair weaves is no longer reserved for women as two northeastern barbers are spreading the technique to men.
“Man weaves” are an emerging hair trend that allows men with balding or thinning hair to get a full mane in a manner of hours.
Wade Menendez, a barber in Glen Burnie, Md., began installing the units, which can range in price from $275 to $800 for a single install, in 2015 at The W Hair Loft, according to NPR. Menendez hosts classes on the craft, which has barbers from around the country flocking to his shop.
Stylist John Cotton has been installing man weaves since last year. (Winston Leonard)
One such barber is John Cotton, a stylist who works at the LW Salon in Manhattan, N.Y. He took the course last spring, learning how to apply units using Menendez’s technique. During Menendez’s $650 course, he demonstrated one method of attaching a lace-based unit, which usually features hair from China, to a client’s head using adhesive to secure it.
“This is definitely going to be here to stay. This isn’t just a trend now,” said Cotton, who does five to six man weaves weekly.
Though the style generally lasts three months, Cotton recommends clients return to the salon every three weeks for a shampoo and for him to re-glue any lifted portions of the unit.
“I thought that my hair was just gone forever, that I would never be attractive,” Maryland resident Robert Jenkins, who was styled by Menendez, told NPR. “This was extremely life changing for me.”
John Cotton’s undetectable “man weave” installation. (Courtesy of John Cotton)
Cotton, who also offers classes for the technique, said women are beginning to be supportive of men delving into hair extensions.
“At first they were like, ‘Um, no.’ Now they are starting to think it’s not that bad,” he said.
The weaves aren’t limited to adding to the hair on the scalp. Using the same technique hair stylists use on women for quick weaves, Cotton also provides beard weaves by gluing the hair directly onto the face, rather than leaving their own facial hair visible like on the head.
