SKIN 
 

May 2020     Volume 4 Issue 3 
 

Copyright 2020 The National Society for Cutaneous Medicine 302 

COMPELLING COMMENTS 
 

 

Christina M. Jenkins: Weaving the History of Artificial Hair Extensions 
 
John Tsatalis, BA,1 Brandon Burroway, MBA,1 Jacob Griggs, BA1 

 
1University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miami, FL 
 

 
 

The desire to have a full head of hair or wear 
a different hairstyle is not unique to the 21st 
century. In Ancient Egypt and Rome wigs 
were important social markers of 
attractiveness, health, and standing. 
Evidence also demonstrates that in addition 
to wigs, primitive sewn-in weaves were worn 
in Ancient Egypt (ca. 1300 BC),1 suggesting 
our ancient counterparts similarly valued 
keeping their hairpieces in place. 
 
In 1952, an African American woman named 
Christina Jenkins solved this millennium old 
problem with the invention of “HairWeeve”. 
After working for a wig manufacturer, Jenkins 
patented “a method and apparatus by which 
commercial human hair [could] be securely 
attached to the live hair on the head” (Figure 
1).2,3 By sewing hair weaves into braided hair 
on the scalp, Jenkins invented the modern 
weave. Given the demand for her invention, 
Jenkins opened a “Hair-Weev” academy and 
spent the next 50 years training 
cosmetologists from across the world.3 
 
In the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s the 
popularity of weaves exploded as prominent 
black women like Janet Jackson, Lisa Bonet, 
Naomi Campbell, and Tyra Banks embraced 
artificial hair extensions. As weaves were 
brought into the mainstream, they helped 
initiate an ongoing national discourse on 
hegemonically defined beauty standards and 

cultural authenticity, with Oprah Winfrey 
outspokenly advocating for natural hairstyles. 
 
Today, enhancements like bonding, singeing, 
and access to hair of different color and 
texture have created more natural appearing 
products, while the well-publicized risk of 
central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia has 
created a movement toward improved safety 
profiles for hair weaves. As Jenkins’ invention 
adapts to modern values and demands, 
including a newfound appeal toward male 
users, the weave will assuredly continue to 
play an important role in hair. 
 
Figure 1. “Permanently Attaching Commercial Hair to 
Live Hair” patent illustration filed by Christina M. 
Jenkins, May 4, 1951. 

 
 
 
 



SKIN 
 

May 2020     Volume 4 Issue 3 
 

Copyright 2020 The National Society for Cutaneous Medicine 303 

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None 
 
Funding: None 
 
Corresponding Author: 
John Tsatalis 
Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and 
Cutaneous Surgery 
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine 
1475 NW 12th Ave., Suite 2175, Miami, FL 33136 
Phone: 305-243-4472 
Fax: 305-243-6191 
Email: jtsatalis@med.miami.edu  

 

References: 
1. Kemp B. “TELL EL-AMARNA, 2014.”. The 

Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. 2014;100:1-33. 
2. Jenkins C, Inventor. Permanently Attaching 

Commercial Hair to Live Hair. US patent 
26216631952. 

3. Family J. Genealogy Tracers Obituaries and 
Memorial Programs. Allen County Public Library 
Genealogy Center Published 2003. Accessed. 
 

  

mailto:jtsatalis@med.miami.edu