What is the deal w/ Weave & Breakage?

[Sade']

I would really like to get a full sew in as a protective style but I am afraid of a set back. I have read where some ladies have experienced major breakage and/or thinning. I know everyone has diff experiences and diff hair types. What are some tips to avoid these potential probs? Ladies who exp setbacks, what were u doing wrong??
Or should I just stick to bunning?
TIA!

 

[Tif392002]

i started my hhj in aug 2009... after wearing sew in's for years.. my hair had thinned out tremendously..( i wasnt taking care of natural hair AT ALL)....im natural now and wear corn rows and wear wigs for other styles.... and my hair have been thriving like never before... my sis was like "gone get a sew in" as my natural hair is about 5 inches long now.... but im so scared of the thinning and breakng... it depends on your hair, because i just think the full sew in's thin my hair out and cuz breakage for some reason.my hair just cant take it... my cuz, she has a differnt texture hair than mine, her hair thrives with sew ins.. even whn she dont take care of them..

 

[Sade']

i started my hhj in aug 2009... after wearing sew in's for years.. my hair had thinned out tremendously..( i wasnt taking care of natural hair AT ALL)....im natural now and wear corn rows and wear wigs for other styles.... and my hair have been thriving like never before... my sis was like "gone get a sew in" as my natural hair is about 5 inches long now.... but im so scared of the thinning and breakng... it depends on your hair, because i just think the full sew in's thin my hair out and cuz breakage for some reason.my hair just cant take it... my cuz, she has a differnt texture hair than mine, her hair thrives with sew ins.. even whn she dont take care of them..

See that is what I am afraid of... is it the fake hair laying on you hair or the weft that is damaging it? (I am just talking out loud). I would hate to find out the hard way. I mean I could use a nozzle tip bottle and maybe oil my real hair to death underneath. Wonder if that would help. Maybe I should leave well enough alone and stick with bunning. I had a partial but didn't keep it in long b/c I was afraid of the breakage so I took it out quick. My hair did seem brittle but I moisturized and deep conditioned immediately.

 

[Barbie83]

Thanks for the thread OP, I'd like to know this too.... I rocked sew-ins for about a year in high school, and when I finally took them out, my hair looked awful. I'm 100% sure i was NOT taking good care of the hair underneath, but its been so long that I don't remember exactly what I was doing. Id LOVE to get another one, but I'm not sure if I'm one of those unlucky few that just can't pull it off without breakage.

I hope more ladies chime in!

 

[Sade']

Thanks for the thread OP, I'd like to know this too.... I rocked sew-ins for about a year in high school, and when I finally took them out, my hair looked awful. I'm 100% sure i was NOT taking good care of the hair underneath, but its been so long that I don't remember exactly what I was doing. Id LOVE to get another one, but I'm not sure if I'm one of those unlucky few that just can't pull it off without breakage.

I hope more ladies chime in!

NP Barbie83, hopefully we will get more insight from the ladies!

Ten minutes before my staff meeting! Come on ladies! LOL

 

[Sweet_Tea31]

I have been wearing sew-in weaves for years and also do them part time. I thinks its all about how the stylst installs the sew-in weave. You don't want the braids to be too tight. I like to braid with just a little synthetic hair and use a weaving net when I do my client's sew-in. You also want to take care of your while you have the weave.

Me on the other hand, I can not seem to keep my hands out of my hair long enough to wear a sew-in longer than two weeks. So, I have been putting my hair in cornrow and rocking homemade wigs.

 

[loveisnthehouse]

I did sew ins for about three years. The first time I got them done my mom took me to a ladies house to do it, after that she did them. My hair wasn't damaged and I don't think it was done the correct way at all. My mom would relax my hair, then blow dry it (with pink oil), braid it up with loose hair and then sew in my extensions. I wore them for as long as I could stand it (maybe about three months), before staring the process all over again. Knowing what I know now I wouldn't recommend this method at all, but somehow it worked for me *shrug*.

However, what about getting a wig? That way you could do the protective style, but still take care of your hair when you take the wig off every evening.

 

[ms.blue]

I have had weaves done on and off for two years and what I learned you have take care of the hair underneath the weave. Sometimes "we" forget about our own hair and only deal with the "fake hair". You should wash and condition your own hair and make sure you use a good leavin conditioner. The problem with breakage when dealing with weaves is the take down process. That is what caused me a huge setback back june 2008. I had apl hair and after I took my weave out and not properly detangle my hair, I was left with about 1-3 inches of hair all around. I lost all of my relaxed hair and only had new growth. I was upset but learned my lesson and now I am about 2 inches away to apl again.

 

[Sade']

Thanks for the responses ladies. I know I will get complacent with weave and not take care of my hair. So I think I will just stick with bunning as my PS. Better safe than sorry!

 

[Sade']

Ok ladies I have an appt this coming Friday for a full sew... can someone just send me a quick crash course in preventing breakage? Just a bullet list of key things I should do daily, weekly, monthly to maintain my a healthy scalp and healthy hair.
TIA!

 

[JENBKLYN85]

moisturize while weaved up, don't forget to wash and oil your scalp and you should be fine I wore weaves back in highschool not knowing about protective styling and my hair thrived like crazy i wore weaves for two months at a time and would wash deep condition and do it all over again and i got to bsl in 5 months from shoulder length

 

[Sade']

moisturize while weaved up, don't forget to wash and oil your scalp and you should be fine I wore weaves back in highschool not knowing about protective styling and my hair thrived like crazy i wore weaves for two months at a time and would wash deep condition and do it all over again and i got to bsl in 5 months from shoulder length

Thanks so much! How often wash?

 

[supermodelsonya]

It is very important to mention that it also matters on the condition of your hair before you install a sew in. IF your hair is breaking and thinning before you do the install, it's not going to stop after you take it down.

Also it depends on the skill and expertise of the person doing the install. All of these can lead to disaster.

I've been wearing sew ins and tree braids as my number one protective style and it hasn't failed me yet.

 

[chitowngal330]

Here's what has worked for me when I was wearing sew in: First, you need to make sure it is installed properly. Don't let them braid too tight. I even lie and tell my beautician I'm not feeling well so she braids looser (hey, whatever it takes, right?!). If your hair is long enough, I try to minimize the loose weave they braid in with mine to make the cornrows. I find that the fake hair tends to pull the moisture out of my own hair. Even if they do braid some in, just make sure to moisturize well.

While in the sew-in, I washed and deep conditioned (yes, you can DC in a sew in) weekly and moisturized daily. I left the install in for no more than 8 weeks. Longer than that, and I noticed some matting of my natural hair. Also, the key is in how you take it down. I do it myself, b/c beauticians can tend to rush. Take your time. Moisturize before during and after taking the hair down. Detangle slowly and very well. I actually only washed with conditioner after taking it down and waited a few days to wash with shampoo. Hope this helps and good luck. It is possible to see progress and thrive with a sew in!

 

[Sade']

Here's what has worked for me when I was wearing sew in: First, you need to make sure it is installed properly. Don't let them braid too tight. I even lie and tell my beautician I'm not feeling well so she braids looser (hey, whatever it takes, right?!). If your hair is long enough, I try to minimize the loose weave they braid in with mine to make the cornrows. I find that the fake hair tends to pull the moisture out of my own hair. Even if they do braid some in, just make sure to moisturize well.

While in the sew-in, I washed and deep conditioned (yes, you can DC in a sew in) weekly and moisturized daily. I left the install in for no more than 8 weeks. Longer than that, and I noticed some matting of my natural hair. Also, the key is in how you take it down. I do it myself, b/c beauticians can tend to rush. Take your time. Moisturize before during and after taking the hair down. Detangle slowly and very well. I actually only washed with conditioner after taking it down and waited a few days to wash with shampoo. Hope this helps and good luck. It is possible to see progress and thrive with a sew in!

Good Idea! Thanks I am taking heed to all these tips!

 

[supermodelsonya]

Sade go to my fotki and see the results of me wearing sew ins back to back. Heck, look at my siggy....lol

 

[Tif392002]

See that is what I am afraid of... is it the fake hair laying on you hair or the weft that is damaging it? (I am just talking out loud). I would hate to find out the hard way. I mean I could use a nozzle tip bottle and maybe oil my real hair to death underneath. Wonder if that would help. Maybe I should leave well enough alone and stick with bunning. I had a partial but didn't keep it in long b/c I was afraid of the breakage so I took it out quick. My hair did seem brittle but I moisturized and deep conditioned immediately.

i believe that it have something to do with the weft, and how the stylist uses the thread... i have soft fine strands, so i think thats why my hair was thinning and breaking , evn though i had amazing length retention from wearing sew ins.

 

[Sade']

Sade go to my fotki and see the results of me wearing sew ins back to back. Heck, look at my siggy....lol

Stalking your Fotki NOW! LOL

 

[My Friend]

i believe that it have something to do with the weft, and how the stylist uses the thread... i have soft fine strands, so i think thats why my hair was thinning and breaking , evn though i had amazing length retention from wearing sew ins.

How should they do it to prevent thinning and breaking?

 

[chitowngal330]

OP, I think it's really a matter of how tightly the stylist tries to afix the weft. Sometimes in the final pulling of the string, they will pull too tightly. I have fine strands as well, so I am extremely vigilant about it. One other thing I would suggest to you that has worked for me is I go in with my hair already done and prepped to be braided. Meaning, I wash it myself, deep condition, blow it out and moisturize it so I can at least control the condition of my hair before going into the sew in. As someone before me said, if your hair was thinning and breaking before the sew in, it will continue to do so.

 

[yodie]

I was thinking about this too. Just took my friends sew in down. Her hair always thrives. She had her hair braided, with a net covering it. The weave was actually sewn onto the net, so it didn't interact with her hair and couldn't cause thinning. Could this be the healthier way to do it?

I wore tracks for a few months and noticed some thinning, but the tracks were sew into my hair. I'd never do it that way again.

 

[Tif392002]

How should they do it to prevent thinning and breaking?

i really dont know, some stylist just get in your head and use that string with no precaution and braid too tight thats why i stopped getting them.

 

[Taina]

Ok ladies I have an appt this coming Friday for a full sew... can someone just send me a quick crash course in preventing breakage? Just a bullet list of key things I should do daily, weekly, monthly to maintain my a healthy scalp and healthy hair.
TIA!

Hi
Im afraid of sew ins too, i only had them once in my life with bad results, and it was not even a full head sew, just 2 layers. But i was not taking good care of my hair, anyway with all the knowledge in here im still scared, so i will try to do clip in weaves with cornrows. I will install them every day, so i can take good care of my hair, and i will re-do the braids every week so i can DC and wash properly (i plan to last 2 weeks in rows, but im not good enough making them, so i know they wont last at first)

anyway, here you will find very good tips from people that wear weaves and still have beatuful and healthy hair

Wavw it up challenge 2010
Are you new to waves
Sew in 101

 

[Sade']

I was thinking about this too. Just took my friends sew in down. Her hair always thrives. She had her hair braided, with a net covering it. The weave was actually sewn onto the net, so it didn't interact with her hair and couldn't cause thinning. Could this be the healthier way to do it?

I wore tracks for a few months and noticed some thinning, but the tracks were sew into my hair. I'd never do it that way again.

Using a net might be a great idea!

 

[Sade']

Hi
Im afraid of sew ins too, i only had them once in my life with bad results, and it was not even a full head sew, just 2 layers. But i was not taking good care of my hair, anyway with all the knowledge in here im still scared, so i will try to do clip in weaves with cornrows. I will install them every day, so i can take good care of my hair, and i will re-do the braids every week so i can DC and wash properly (i plan to last 2 weeks in rows, but im not good enough making them, so i know they wont last at first)

anyway, here you will find very good tips from people that wear weaves and still have beatuful and healthy hair

Wavw it up challenge 2010
Are you new to waves
Sew in 101

Ahhh thanks! Just when I was about to log off of LHCF for the day! I will be reading all day now and taking notes in my note pad LOL

 

[Kneechay]

I'm going to make a list, I'm at work so it's easier for me.

-I've noticed a lot of people relax their hair in between installs. I feel this is a BAD idea.

-People are so scared to oil their own hair/scalp with a weave in, out of fear of weighing the weave down. Just do it. If the weave gets oil in it, just lean over in the sink and rewash it.

-A lot of folks don't really care for their own hair well, evident in some admissions in this thread alone. Some women fail to take care of their hair because they get so used to the weave, but fail to realize it's not theirs. It's up to you to wash it to keep the scalp clean and the hair moisturized. Not doing so can be drying and cause buildup.

- I believe in giving hair a rest, and some get weave back to back. I think hair needs a break.

- Detangling and uninstalling disasters. If it's not removed correctly, you'll see damage. I've seen people remove other's weaves and cut their hair. I only let one of my friends remove my weave. I will cut someone for cutting my hair because they didn't have the patience to unsew a piece of thread. Hair gets tangled/matted because of the brushing. For instance, when you brush the hair, the brush pulls downward against the braided hair. I always suggest people lean to the side or backward and brush, where the brush only goes through the weave not touching your scalp.

-Improper hydration before the installation. I suggest deep conditioning, heavily oiling/moisturizing before. I ask my stylist to dip the thread in a mixture of oils I bring too. Yeah, call me anal, but hey.

Again, it's imperative to not forget your own hair underneath. A sew-in isn't going to repair hair, just help retain the growth. If it's dry & breaking, you'll uninstall to longer, thinner, dry/broken hair. Don't let the stylist braid too tight, check out the hair of their clients, that important. Your face shouldn't feel tight and pulled back because your weave is on too tight, I've seen it before.

-Make sure your edges are left out. Not only does it help with blending, it prevents your edges from being stressed.

Ladies, don't be scared of weaves, just remember it's just hair sewn into braids on your head and you shouldn't neglect your own hair. Your hair shouldn't be brittle and dry when you remove it, mine is mad greasy, and that's OKAY. At least I know it's not dry

 

[Sade']

I'm going to make a list, I'm at work so it's easier for me.

-I've noticed a lot of people relax their hair in between installs. I feel this is a BAD idea.

-People are so scared to oil their own hair/scalp with a weave in, out of fear of weighing the weave down. Just do it. If the weave gets oil in it, just lean over in the sink and rewash it.

-A lot of folks don't really care for their own hair well, evident in some admissions in this thread alone. Some women fail to take care of their hair because they get so used to the weave, but fail to realize it's not theirs. It's up to you to wash it to keep the scalp clean and the hair moisturized. Not doing so can be drying and cause buildup.

- I believe in giving hair a rest, and some get weave back to back. I think hair needs a break.

- Detangling and uninstalling disasters. If it's not removed correctly, you'll see damage. I've seen people remove other's weaves and cut their hair. I only let one of my friends remove my weave. I will cut someone for cutting my hair because they didn't have the patience to unsew a piece of thread. Hair gets tangled/matted because of the brushing. For instance, when you brush the hair, the brush pulls downward against the braided hair. I always suggest people lean to the side or backward and brush, where the brush only goes through the weave not touching your scalp.

-Improper hydration before the installation. I suggest deep conditioning, heavily oiling/moisturizing before. I ask my stylist to dip the thread in a mixture of oils I bring too. Yeah, call me anal, but hey.

Again, it's imperative to not forget your own hair underneath. A sew-in isn't going to repair hair, just help retain the growth. If it's dry & breaking, you'll uninstall to longer, thinner, dry/broken hair. Don't let the stylist braid too tight, check out the hair of their clients, that important. Your face shouldn't feel tight and pulled back because your weave is on too tight, I've seen it before.

-Make sure your edges are left out. Not only does it help with blending, it prevents your edges from being stressed.

Ladies, don't be scared of weaves, just remember it's just hair sewn into braids on your head and you shouldn't neglect your own hair. Your hair shouldn't be brittle and dry when you remove it, mine is mad greasy, and that's OKAY. At least I know it's not dry

Nichi you ROCK! Thanks so much for this information. By the looks of your pics & progress you def know what you are talking about

 

[AbundantlyBlessed]

I recently had a similar experience with my sew in due to incorrectly taking out the weave. It was a nightmare. Please share your regime in nursing your hair back to APL.

Thanks!

 

[Curly83]

I just took my install out on Sunday and I swear it took longer to take out than it took her to put in .

I had it in for about 2 months, I washed and make sure I used a leave in moisturizer, well my hair was so dry when I took it down, not to mention all the thread she used. I also used the net but upon taking out, I found that the weave was sewn to the net and my braids. She also added in braiding hair when she braided my cornrows and like someone mentioned, it takes away the moisture.

So, I'm leaving the sew ins or any kind of weave alone that will not allow me to fully penetrate my hair moisture. I think I may just stick to half wigs which allows you to let your hair breathe and you are able to condition. To each its own.