Coarse Hair, Long Hair is now...

Coarse Hair, Long Hair is now...
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My Growth and Setbacks 2003-2010

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Reader Mail: What do you think of sew-in weaves?

January 2006, my sew-in weave

I recently got an email asking about my thoughts on sew-in weaves.  Here is my response below:

Sew-in weaves can be a great option to protect your hair.  My stylist does sew-ins exclusively (with the exception of me and maybe one other person lol)  and her clients have had success with using them to retain length.  Check out her website for some progress pictures at www.reniece.com

My only caveat is this - don't wear a sew-in at the risk of developing scalp issues.  My scalp will go crazy if I wait longer than 10 days to wash it.  With a sew-in you won't be able to wash your scalp thoroughly, thus its just not a great option for everyone.  This is why I prefer to wear wigs in the winter, because I can easily remove it and wash my hair. 

Feb 2006, Sew-in curled
If you won't have any scalp issues and decide to get the sew-in, keep the following in mind:
  • Make sure the stylist doesn't braid too tightly. If your eyebrows won't come down, or you feel like you've just had an instant face lift then its WAY too tight.
  • Ask the stylist to sew a weave mesh along the perimeter of your braided hair and then sew the weave onto the mesh instead of onto your braided hair. The threads can cut into your hair when sewn directly onto your braids.
  • You still have to moisturize your real hair under the weave (use a color applicator bottle to apply it between the tracks)
  • Don't wear it for longer then 6-8 weeks, any longer and you risk finding matted roots when you remove the sew-in
  • After you remove the sew-in, thoroughly detangle your hair and remove all shedded hair before you wash.  If you don't remove all the shedded hair, you will end up with a matted tangled mess that may require cutting to remove.  I don't mean to scare you but it can get that extreme in a matter of minutes.  

    2 comments:

    K04 said...

    Great read. Thanks!

    Alicia said...

    Ms. Kibibi, you are the best!!!! Thanks so much for your thoughts on wearing sew in weaves. I ran across the sew-in specialist (more like the miracle worker) Reniece and Co. while surfing the web and saw that she was able to help women achieve healthy hair by wearing weaves. After I took down my first install I could tell that I had gained some length, but it wasn't as well moisturized as I would have liked. I've had my second install for two weeks now and I'll be using your suggestions. Thanks again for the tips and happy growing!

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