Before ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star NeNe Leakes recently broke her weave addiction and began sporting a natural short ‘do, she turned to Atlanta celebrity hairstylist Derek J to create a similar look using extensions.

“She had another stylist for the third season to create her new short coif,” says Derek J. , who styled NeNe’s hair for the series first reunion show and throughout its second season. Derek J, owner of The J. Spot Salon, also took R&B singer Tweet to shorter lengths using the same weaving technique.

Since Leakes’ debuted the Derek J-styled short-weaved look two years ago, more women have requested similar styling that would allow them to don a spiky pixie cut — like his clients Nicole Ari Parker and Terri J. Vaughn — without sacrificing their long tresses. This is one of the reasons for the faux cut’s popularity.

The weave’s color, how it’s cut and styling are key to successfully pulling this look off, Derek J says. “The cut is really big because you want it to lay and flow like natural hair,” he stresses.

Get more of Derek J’s styling tips at Black Voices.

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