Instant weaves/half wigs - what you should know

I have been missing in action - I know, but it is not because of a lack of zeal for keeping my blog up to date. I started beauty school because I wanted to learn more about this hair business and after doing my "own thing" to my hair for years, I wanted to learn about the right way to take care of my hair and the right way to add my extensions.
In my time away from this space I have been observing the mistakes of my fellow hair extensions wearers.
I jumped into a taxi two weeks ago and was mortifed by what was left of an instant weave/half wig - those weaves that are attached to the hair with combs. The wearer, a mature woman was well dressed except for the strings of hair that she piled high on her head.
Now if you are going to wear an instant weave, a high pony tail is not such a good idea - it tends to bulk in the areas that are without the combs and makes your hair look big and poufy.
Another rule of thumb for wearing instant weaves is to leave them be! You don't have to brush them to death like the lady in the taxi appeared to have done. Instead, use a bristle brush only if they get tangled. But for the most part finger comb them.
Excessive brushing, particularly on cheap hair, only leads to less hair on the half weave cap, as in the case, again, of the goodly lady in the taxi.
I always advise my friends to ensure that they match their instant weaves with their real hair in colour and texture. If the look is not seamless ie people would have doubt that you hair piece couldn't possibly grow out of your scalp, then that instant weave is not for you.
Since instant weaves require that you leave a little more than your hair line out, you have to select your hair carefully for believable results.
I have seen women about town wearing their instant wigs the wrong way, with the wig's hairline on their foreheads. That not only looks laughable but it looks unreal. Make sure that your own hair covers the hairline of the wig. Honestly it's not supposd to be seen.
Instant weaves are great if you don't want the committment of a sew-in or stick-in weave or you are trying hair extensions for the first time.
Here are some examples in photos of the right way to apply an instant weave (the model with the long hair), what happens when you choose wrong textures - curly instant weave vs relaxed hair ( on model with short curly 'fro) and the wrong way to wear an instant weave (as seen on this mannequin). Like I said earlier on a mannequin it's okay for the hairline of the wig to show like this. On a real wearer, this hairline should be covered with one's own hair.
Finally if you're really thinking about an instant weave know that the options are endless. Here's a a video on the right way to put on instant weaves. You Tube favourite channel muffinismylover.