For a sew in, is it best to be freshly relaxed

[Supergirl]

or a few weeks into the relaxer? How many weeks?

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

I would say give it about 2 weeks. After a relaxer the hair can be a little bit weak and the tension from the braids and extensions may cause breakage. I usually deep condition and do a protein treatment before putting my weave in.
Just my 2 cents.
You have beautiful hai...can I get a reggie

 

[Supergirl]

Sure! Right now my reggie is I have a 4 month old and don't have time to do my hair! Right now, I do a shampoo/condition day once every 2-3 weeks. Hair stays in a bun or under a wig. I normally relax every 3-4 months. When I was preggers, I didn't relax at all.

In my "hair hayday" when I was very consistent and on top of my regimen like an obsessed woman, I would shampoo/condition weekly. I don't usually use heat with my conditioner--I just leave it on for 30 min-1 hour with a plastic cap. I'd rinse and comb through in the shower and then apply leave-in and detangle carefully in several sections with a shower comb. I don't towel dry or squeeze dry. I just air dry from dripping wet. Heat usage is rare. I used more heat than normal during my pregnancy stretch, but regulary, I use heat no more than 5-6 times in a year. I don't count roller setting as heat usage. I use protein as needed and in varying degrees (hardcore, moderate, light).
AND protective styles as a way of life! It became a habit. I may wear my hair down the day after wash day or a fresh relaxer (or maybe for a couple of days), but other than that I can't help but put it up.

Favorite Products:
moisturizing shampoo--Elucence MB

clarifying shampoo--Redken Cleansing Creme

moisturizing conditioner--Kenra MC

conditioner for stretching past 11-12 weeks--LeKair Cholesterol

protein products: Ultrasheen Duo Tex (hardcore); TIGI Dumb Blonde (Moderate); Aubrey Organics GPB (light)

leave-in: Shescentit Coco Creme; Bee Mine Hair Milk

 

[melissa-bee]

I always thought a fresh relaxer was a waste if you are planning to get weaved up.

 

[mzteaze]

or a few weeks into the relaxer? How many weeks?

I wouldn't relax at all...or if you must, wait a few weeks. Freshly relaxed makes the hair "slip" more and less likely for the braids to hold.

But I agree that its a waste of money IMHO.

 

[Supergirl]

Well, I'm almost 15 weeks post and I didn't know if I needed to relax then wait a few weeks or if it is okay to get one with 15 weeks worth of new growth. I think I'm afraid of matting with this much new growth. Ateeya's video of her hair matting when taking out a sew in scared me!

 

[bride91501]

Don't do it!

Although I'm now natural, I spent years getting a "fresh touch-up" and going straight into a weave. My hair was much too vulnerable to breakage so soon after a relaxer to go straight into braids or cornrows. I'm just starting to get my hair healthy after damaging it for years with practices such as this one.

IMO, you should wait until you have some noticeable new growth to "anchor" the braids. At least 2 weeks, but knowing what I know now, I'd wait at least 4-6.

HTH

 

[kandake]

Well, I'm almost 15 weeks post and I didn't know if I needed to relax then wait a few weeks or if it is okay to get one with 15 weeks worth of new growth. I think I'm afraid of matting with this much new growth. Ateeya's video of her hair matting when taking out a sew in scared me!

Well, naturals get sew-ins too so your new growth shouldn't be a problem. Maybe you can blow out your roots.

ETA: Disregard the blowout part. It won't matter if you're going to wash/condition your hair while in the sew-in.

 

[mzteaze]

Well, I'm almost 15 weeks post and I didn't know if I needed to relax then wait a few weeks or if it is okay to get one with 15 weeks worth of new growth. I think I'm afraid of matting with this much new growth. Ateeya's video of her hair matting when taking out a sew in scared me!

A little matting with most sew-ins is to be expected. What is needed with a take down is patience and working slowly.

If you have fine hair, I would avoid using synthetic hair to 'baste' the hair down. That made my hair mat badly. My stylist tried braiding a little synth hair in to get the braid a little "weight".

 

[morehairplease]

A little matting with most sew-ins is to be expected. What is needed with a take down is patience and working slowly.

If you have fine hair, I would avoid using synthetic hair to 'baste' the hair down. That made my hair mat badly. My stylist tried braiding a little synth hair in to get the braid a little "weight".

thanks so much for sharing this! I have been thinking about getting a sew in 2 months post relaxer and wondered if whether or not I should use synthetic hair for the braids w/my fine hair.

 

[ms.blue]

Right now your hair is perfect for a sew-in since it is not freshly relaxed. If you are having some leave-out, try to get a texture that is closer to your natural texture so you would not need to apply heat often. Also don't keep the weave for more than two months b/c that would increase matting. You might have to tweek your wash reggie b/c depending on what type of hair being used, increase washing will cause the weave hair to tangle up.

 

[Golden75]

Just took a sew in out - had it in for about 7-8 weeks, installed @ 4 months post. No reason to relax b4 sew in, your hair will be too fragile, and a waste of a relaxer. Wash, use a protein condish, moisture condish, and maybe blow roots out or light flat iron the roots, so they stretched out a bit. I was a long time weave wear, and honestly rarely had matting (even after 3mos). This last go round I washed & conditioned or co-washed 2-3weeks (so 2-3 times in the 7 - 8 week period). I kept scalp & hair moisturized with natural products, nothing that will leave residue or cause build up. When you remove (got this tip from another post) spray hair with a protein spray (I used aphogee green tea) then put on a moisturizing condish (not too much) then remove the braids - so much easier, no tangles, and less shed hair.

 

[bravenewgirl87]

or a few weeks into the relaxer? How many weeks?

If a stylist is willing to do a sew-in on you and you're freshly relaxed... RUN. He/She doesn't know what they are doing. You're supposed to wait two weeks post for the hair to recover before you do something as damaging on hair that's already stressed.

 

[camilla]

When i do relax it is the leave out only if it is a full install i do not relax

 

[Luscious850]

When i do relax it is the leave out only if it is a full install i do not relax

^^ THIS

 

[newnyer]

My most successful sew ins where I retained the most length and the least amount of breakage happened when I co-washed/washed my hair as if it were my own. I'd only relax my leave out hair. If my whole head was covered I wouldn't even bother with a relaxer at all.
I'd get an applicator bottle and put a poo diluted mix in between my braids and rinse out as much as I could in the shower. I'd then do the same with a conditioner and let it sit for a bit (just like a DC)...then rinse. My new growth was still soft when I finally took the sew in out...and not matted at all. If your hair is thicker I'd just be careful as to the length of time you actually keep the sew-in. My friend went 4 months the last round and had some ISSUES. I don't have the thickness problem (but trying to get it!!! lol) and I still only keep sew ins for no more than 2 to 2.5 months with or without a fresh relaxer to prevent matting.

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

I co-sign with not doing a sewn-in weave on freshly relaxed hair. I love it when people are all natural or have at least a couple of months new growth when I do weaves. I recommended you wait until about 3-4 weeks after you get a relaxer to get a weave.

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

You should be 4-8wks post. Natural hair (or in your case, new-growth) creates a sturdier, more secure braiding base for weaves.

Furthurmore, It's actually bad for your hair to get a weave on freshly relaxed hair.

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