Wait. What? So I looked it up. There should not even be a market for a weave loan. But you just know somebody will spend their last few dimes on their weaves. And what's even more disturbing is their advertising message ...
"Now you can afford to be beautiful."
Miss me with that, K! You don't need be weaved up to be beautiful. We are beautiful with or without weaves, thank you! Clearly, we are all getting punked on social media, and this is an attempt to profit from perceived insecurities.
Is the weave store legit?
Now, I'm not entirely convinced this is a thing. If it is ... it's getting some helluva press. The website looks kinda bootleg. Who, exactly, would give their social security numbers, government name and paycheck stub to this outfit, looking like they paid $20 for a website designed by Pookie?
Not me!
No physical address, only an email address. But they DO have Instagram, social media, Facebook and YouTube accounts. Sounds suspect!This gets the sideye. All I know is that they are on 8 Mile Road in Detroit ... But 8 Mile and what? Where?
UPDATED TO ADD: The store is located at 21621 Eight Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48219.It has a Google Maps link and e'rrythang.
Here's a pic:
Still, I'm calling it clickbait until I know a bit more. This is what their website advertises:
Don't believe the weave hype!
The whole thing sounds sketchy to me. We don't know the business owner's name. An article on MadameNoire.com lists two co-creators, one of them named "Fred," who started the business after a customer wanted to purchase weaves but could not afford it.
Ummm .... Fred. Hol' up. I'm sure you need my gubmt name for the application, so I'm gonna need to know your name too, boo!
Apparently, the owners decided to be the middlemen ... umm... hair loansharks ... putting customers in contact with lenders. The owners insist they’re just “providing options for customers to better afford weaves.”
“We’re going to treat our customers with respect. We’ll give them viable options; we won’t be exorbitant. Loans will be reasonable and attainable. We want them to know we’re sensitive to our demographic. We’re not going to disenfranchise our customers.”
I am not entirely convinced. I mean: But WHY?
Will yo' edges be secured as collateral? Are you gonna snatch my weave for non-payment? Will you repo my Yaki? Put a GPS on the Malaysian if the weave installment payment account is 60 days or more overdue? Will the Weave Loan Store lasso the lacefront after 90 days, with binding arbitration in weave court?
Bottom line: What does it cost?
They have loans for rims and tires, why not weaves? Umm.... all I can say is, don't hate the playa, hate the game.
I'm not mad at this business for catering to its target market (cause we all know that folks will spend their rent money and more getting their weave laid) but I'm mad at anyone who decides to take a weave loan. Or even considers it.
Why weave loans are BAD idea
Weaves are discretionary expenses; it is NOT a financial emergency. You will not die if you do not have your weave in. But for real tho. Like, a loan for someone else's hair on your head?
What are your terms?
Is it simple interest?
Daily interest? Is this like, a payday loan?
WHAT, Fred!!
I can think of a lot of things to go into debt for ... a college education. A business. Even the American dream of a home with a picket fence. But weave, tho?
My motto is, "Do you." But pinky swear promise: Make sure you can afford it. Got any money in savings? Can you eat your weave? Live in it? Is it really worth it to pay interest and go into debt on some hair that ain't even your?
