If you have ever had a weave completed in a salon, you know that time is of the essence. You often spend time sitting at the salon waiting for your stylist to finish their last client. Once she's done, you may have to wait another 1 to 3 hours just to get your hair relaxed, cut, and styled.

Now there's a hair weaving technique that can shave hours off your salon time. It's called a quick weave. A quick weave will give you all the advantages and benefits of a normal weave, but in half the time. Quick weaves can also be styled a number of different ways to give the customer lots of options when it comes to the finished style.

The beauty of a quick weave is that it's just like a full head weave. Well, minus the full head weave. Unlike regular full head weaves, a quick weave does not require you to cornrow the natural hair. Instead, the hair is formed into a slick, flat canvas for the wefts to be applied to. The canvas is formed by slicking the hair straight back with gel. Once this is complete, the client must sit under a dryer until the hair is perfectly dry.

Sitting under a dryer is the most time-consuming portion of a quick weave. Fortunately, when you're done, your base is ready to have the wefts applied using a bonding adhesive. The tracks are measured to the client's head and placed on the canvas. Once the bond is dry, the hair can be styled in many different ways.

Before you run out and make an appointment for a quick weave, remember:

1. Choose the hair that you use wisely. Since all the natural hair is slicked back, the quality of extension hair you choose will make or break your style.

2. Quick weaves should only be completed by a salon professional. Make sure your stylist has experience with quick weaves, as they can be challenging for the beginner.

3. Your finished style should of course be beautiful and a representation of your personality, but it must also be low-maintenance. If not cared for properly, quick weaves can lose their lush appearance. Make sure you ask your stylist for specific maintenance tips according to the type of style you choose.

4. It's best to see your stylist when it's time to take out your quick weave. If you feel confident in doing it yourself, make sure you use only high-quality bond remover, and follow the label instructions to a T.

Completing a quick weave usually takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. Factors that can increase the amount of time needed to complete a quick weave are the stylist's experience with quick weaves and the amount of natural hair used to form the canvas. Don't forget: removing your quick weave will reveal a lot of extra build-up and residue from the gel, so make sure to wash with a clarifying shampoo. Don't forget to follow up with a deep conditioning treatment!