How To Braid Short Hair For Sew In Weave

best sew in weave

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While I do love getting braids (I've tried out everything from box braids to straight backs), run up-ins are the one mode I find myself returning to time and time again. IMHO, i f y'all're trying to grow out your hair or you just want to give your natural hair a intermission, y'all can't really go wrong with a sew-in. But if yous're thinking about switching up your look and getting a sew together-in for the first time, I'm sure y'all have a ton of questions—I definitely did before my get-go appointment. That's why I reached out to Julius Nash, Mayvenn Hair certified stylist, to walk you through every single matter you lot need to know before getting your start sew-in weave, alee.

What is a sew-in?

Beginning things first: Sew-in weaves are a process where your natural hair is braided down into cornrows, says Nash, and a needle and thread are then used to sew down hair extensions onto the braids. With a sew-in, your natural pilus is tucked away, then it requires very piffling upkeep. Information technology also gives your natural hair a break from the damage of day-to-day styling (call back: heating, brushing, and product buildup), and so if you're trying to abound out your hair, a sew-in is a great option.

How long does a sew-in take to install?

This totally depends on your pilus length, texture, and the blazon of sew-in you desire, but it'll ordinarily have between 3 to six hours to install (translation: you'll def want to bring snacks to your appointment). BTW: Sew together-ins are typically quicker to install than braids, which tin take anywhere from four to eight hours (depending on the way, obvs).

How long does a sew-in concluding?

If you're showing your stitch-in love and taking proper care of it—more on that in a bit—it'll final up to six to eight weeks, says Nash. If you lot try to keep information technology in longer than that, y'all're risking damage to your hair and scalp (aka irritation, excess oil buildup, and breakage). The easiest way to avoid any irritating side effects? Go on upward with your appointments.

Do sew-in weaves damage your hair?

They can if they're not properly installed or you don't have intendance of them. According to Nash, the best mode to prevent damage is to make sure you go to a reputable stylist and that you feel comfy enough to permit them know if y'all're experiencing any tension from the braids and/or the sewing in of the extensions. You'll besides want to inquire your stylist plenty of questions about upkeep—the more info you have, the better.

How much is a sew-in?

This depends on a number of factors, including where you lot are in the country and who your stylist is. Generally speaking, though, the install service commonly ranges from $100 to $600. And that's not including the cost of the extensions, which can fall anywhere between $80 to $600.

What'south the best weave for a sew-in?

There are two routes you tin can go when it comes to choosing a weave for your stitch-in: either synthetic hair or human pilus. Both come in a diverseness of textures (direct, wavy, and curly), but they give you totally different options in terms of styling. Since synthetic hair is fabricated up of—you guessed information technology—constructed materials that simply look like pilus, you can't heat-manner or color it without damaging it. That said, constructed hair is way cheaper than man hair and will normally cost y'all around $80. Good-quality and long-lasting human hair (which you can style and color—simply like your natural pilus) will probable set you back at least $200.

Can you launder a run up-in?

Nash suggests always going to see a stylist to become your sew together-in professionally washed (for the tape, you only need to wash your sew together-in once every ii weeks), but if you lot admittedly accept to launder it yourself, y'all'll need a gentle, sulfate-gratuitous shampoo and conditioner. Nash suggests washing from your ends to your roots, using a wide-tooth rummage or a paddle brush to distribute the production.

You'll also desire to make sure your weave and the braids underneath it are completely dry before styling your hair. If you don't let the braids underneath your sew-in dry completely, sometimes mildew or mucus—I know, gross—can grow on certain parts of the scalp, leaving yous with tons of irritation, says Nash. Equally a general dominion of pollex, always consult with your stylist during your installation so they can tell you how to best budget your sew-in. All extensions are different and require specific maintenance.

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The verdict

Even though they're on the pricey side, IMO, sew-ins are definitely worth it. Not only are they cute, just they as well allow your natural hair to abound long and salubrious. But hey, if you're nevertheless on the fence, just conversation with a stylist and get a consult before you make whatsoever decisions.

Ama Kwarteng Ama Kwarteng was previously the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan.