to weave or not to weave...that is the question

[nychaelasymone]

How many of you have had bad experiences with sewn-in weave's. Also, how long did you keep them in? and did you have a good regimine for hair care while weaved?

 

[nychaelasymone]

maybe I ask sorta dumb hair questions but bumping for some possible responses.

 

[WomanlyCharm]

Your question isn't dumb at all.
It's something I'd like to know as well.

I've had my first sew in weave in for about three weeks now. I've been taking pretty good care of the hair underneath, using s-curl and different oils on it.
It seems like there has been no shedding or dryness. And I'm hoping for good growth when I take it out in the next couple of weeks.

 

[FeelinIt]

Sew in's have been good to me. It depends on who installs it, and how you take care of your hair underneath.

I'm HORRIBLE at taking care of my hair underneath. I have 4a/b hair and I leave mine in for about 2 months and then take it out. the one I have in now is WAY overdue to be taken out. I've had it in since Mid December of last year. It is coming out this weekend.

I usually do them myself. One BIG mistake I made was not fully combing out my hair once I removed the weave. Once I would wash it, I had the biggest tangles EVER!! I didn't realize that all of the hair that had shed needed to be combed out. My washes were a lot simple and less painful (I'm natural).

Get a good grade of hair. You will be glad you did! I bought the Outra Velvet Remy straight with this install and although it does tangle a bit (due to my bad treatment of it), it's still holding strong and I still get compliments on it.

I'm going to reuse it for the year if I can.

 

[prettypuff1]

They have been good to me usually. I like to leave them in for LONG periods of time ( six months) and i havent had any issues. I just change the hair and when i resew it, the braids get tighter. I did have a lot of shedding, but nothing out of the ordinary.. I like them. When my NG gets out of control, i may go to that

 

[nychaelasymone]

so r most of you w/ weaves, have natural hair?​

 

[nycutiepie]

I've had bad experiences with weaves in the past, but it was due to leaving them in for 3 months and also not taking care of my hair underneath. My hair would be much thinner once I removed the weave. I currently have a weave in but I'm taking it out after 4 weeks and I'm taking much better care of my hair underneath. My hair is relaxed and I've achieved great progress since I've been praciticing healthy hair habits so I'm praying that this weave does not set me back. I followed RabiaElaine's method of weaving so maybe you can search for some of her posts because she has great advice for weaves on relaxed heads. HTH.

 

[Nanyanika]

i'd love to see some responses from ladies with relaxed hair who use weaves

 

[GoingNatural]

I have natural hair and I wear weaves.

It is important to get good hair if you plan on wearing it for awhile.

Also, I recommend getting verticle braids because you are less likely to end up with matting and breakage. I keep my weave in 2 to 3 months and have never experienced my natural hair becoming matted or breaking while havign a weave sewn in over verticle braids.

I haven't been taking the best care of my hair underneath, but I haven't received any negative end results as a result of my poor care.

 

[FeelinIt]

so r most of you w/ weaves, have natural hair?​

I have natural hair and keeping it straight hasn't been that bad. I press it straight and then at night wrap it. Sometimes it puffs up but not really badly. Just get a good grade of hair and you should be fine.

Side note: I have been able to mix my 4a-b hair with that outra velvet. I think their hair is way too silky but it's blends just fine.

 

[FeelinIt]

I would say if you have relaxed hair to just be careful with the install.

Some people sew too tight and that is not good. You may also want to shorten your install time and take extra good care of your hair.

 

[determined_to_grow]

I've been rocking weaves since NOVEMBER and I love it!!!!! IF done correctly people would think it's ur hair! I am pleased- my hair is at apl length now and I am going to continue rocking weaves until below BSL!!!!!!

I am taking my weave out tomorrow and I'll take pictures at my hair length and my new weave!!!!!

I wash my weave every two weeks and I take it out every 6-8 weeks.

 

[glamazon386]

How many of you have had bad experiences with sewn-in weave's. Also, how long did you keep them in? and did you have a good regimine for hair care while weaved?

I'm natural now but wore weaves for quite a while when I was relaxed too. My hair is thin/fine. It always has been. Even as a natural it's still fine. I've never had a bad experience with weave. But I've had quite a few with braids. It just depends on your hair. I usually keep mines in about 6 weeks. I wash and DC weekly. That's about it... I followed the same regimen when I was relaxed. HTH...

 

[assiyrabomb]

First let me start off with the bad...

Glue in Weaves
My advice: Just Don't do it!
About 3-4 years ago, I decided to put in a glue in weave to make my hair longer (@ that time my hair was a healthy shoulder length). Throughout the next 2-3 years I did the glue in periodically. The main problem, though, was taking it out. I lost a lot of my hair trying to pull/take out, the glue. Sad to say that a lot of my har was broken off and damaged because of this. Please don't do it!

Now the good...

Sew in Weaves
My advice: Def. recommend!
After losing a lot of my hair to the glue from glueing in weaves, my hair was drastically shorter (perhaps a little longer than ear length, 3-4 inches shorter than it once was ) and unhealthy. Since I never had short hair I didn't know how to style it. I wanted to protect my hair but have it appear longer at the same time. So I came up with the bright idea to have my mom do sew-ins for me. She leaves sections of my real hair out so that it can appear more real. I started about April of last year and I am proud to say that my hair is about an inch past my shoulders and very healthy now!

Any other ?'s please ask!

 

[PreteeBella]

I've had bad experiences with weaves in the past, but it was due to leaving them in for 3 months and also not taking care of my hair underneath. My hair would be much thinner once I removed the weave. I currently have a weave in but I'm taking it out after 4 weeks and I'm taking much better care of my hair underneath. My hair is relaxed and I've achieved great progress since I've been praciticing healthy hair habits so I'm praying that this weave does not set me back. I followed RabiaElaine's method of weaving so maybe you can search for some of her posts because she has great advice for weaves on relaxed heads. HTH.

ITA with EVERYTHING NY said!! I used to leave my weaves in for months at a time and although my hair grew I was unable to maintain length. Since finding this site I have made so much progress using weaves as a protective style. Four weeks is my max (I have an excellent girl who does my weaves for $50 so I'm able to get my hair done often) and I use my henna, protein, and deep condish regularly. Rabia has also been a lot of help to me also. She has great advice. NY let us join in prayer for NO SETBACKS!!!

 

[nychaelasymone]

Thank you guys for your help. I'm considering weaving for about 3 weeks to allow me some freedom on vacation but I'm really scared of setbacks. My hair has drastically improved in the last year and I don't want to do anything to go back to where I came from. I'll definitely research Rabia's (I hope I got that right) advice. Pray for me.....I don't play w/my hair no-more!!!!!!

 

[glamazon386]

Thank you guys for your help. I'm considering weaving for about 3 weeks to allow me some freedom on vacation but I'm really scared of setbacks. My hair has drastically improved in the last year and I don't want to do anything to go back to where I came from. I'll definitely research Rabia's (I hope I got that right) advice. Pray for me.....I don't play w/my hair no-more!!!!!!

Personally, I think RabiaElaine's regimen is too complicated. Especially for someone just starting out. Find a good stylist who doesn't braid your hair too tight. Keep it clean and moisturized. Don't use a lot of heat (none at all if you can help it) on the hair that's left out for blending. If you do those things, You'll be good. Rabia got a lot of her info from me as well as the ladies on the weave/extensions board over at BHM. We don't really go into too much detail about weaves over here. But there are threads on here that Rabia posted outlining her regimen that are helpful. I would suggest you also check out the board over at BHM. They know any and everything you could have ever wanted to know about weaves...

 

[nycutiepie]

ITA with EVERYTHING NY said!! I used to leave my weaves in for months at a time and although my hair grew I was unable to maintain length. Since finding this site I have made so much progress using weaves as a protective style. Four weeks is my max (I have an excellent girl who does my weaves for $50 so I'm able to get my hair done often) and I use my henna, protein, and deep condish regularly. Rabia has also been a lot of help to me also. She has great advice. NY let us join in prayer for NO SETBACKS!!!

Yes girl! I'm bowing my head right now.

 

[nycutiepie]

Personally, I think RabiaElaine's regimen is too complicated. Especially for someone just starting out. Find a good stylist who doesn't braid your hair too tight. Keep it clean and moisturized. Don't use a lot of heat (none at all if you can help it) on the hair that's left out for blending. If you do those things, You'll be good. Rabia got a lot of her info from me as well as the ladies on the weave/extensions board over at BHM. We don't really go into too much detail about weaves over here. But there are threads on here that Rabia posted outlining her regimen that are helpful. I would suggest you also check out the board over at BHM. They know any and everything you could have ever wanted to know about weaves...

Bmore - I checked out BHM before I got my current install because that is the Holy Grail of weave info. I hate to hj this thread but what about RabiaElaine's regimen do you find complicated and what suggestions do you have for simplifying it? I have curly hair on vertical braids and I'm using the African Braid Spray daily. I don't use heat because I just braidout to blend. I'll also PM you because I know you're an authority on the weaves.

 

[glamazon386]

Bmore - I checked out BHM before I got my current install because that is the Holy Grail of weave info. I hate to hj this thread but what about RabiaElaine's regimen do you find complicated and what suggestions do you have for simplifying it? I have curly hair on vertical braids and I'm using the African Braid Spray daily. I don't use heat because I just braidout to blend. I'll also PM you because I know you're an authority on the weaves.

The whole thing. I mean but just like anything on this board, what works for one may not work for somebody else. She uses clip in pieces sometimes instead of sewing them which allows her to take it down more often to wash, etc. She takes it down after about 4 weeks. I don't have the time or energy to do all that. And after I've paid money or spent 3-4 hours doing my own weave, please believe I'm not taking it out that soon. Not to mention the fact that too much manipulation can cause your braids and the tracks to loosen up. I remember when I braided horizontally too much washing would make my braids unravel in the middle on my hair. And you can get buildup in the braids if you're putting too many things on your scalp too. I just wash and DC once a week. If my scalp gets itchy, I spray my braids. That's it. I don't dilute my shampoo. I wash it in the shower like I would do my own hair. I do everything for my hair in the weave that I would do with my own hair while it's out. I don't think all that other stuff is necessary. You're just making more work for yourself. Especially if this is your first weave. Sometimes keeping it simple works the best. I mean that's no different than some of the regimens for your own hair on this board. I look at some ladies regimens and I'm like Sometimes there's just too many steps and too much going on for me....

 

[nychaelasymone]

wow. Well I decided to weave for 3 weeks tops on verticle braids and leave my edges out. I believe in keepin' it simple. That's what works on my hair. I wash bi-weekly w/ Aveda DR poo and deep condition w/ the DR. Wrap my hair, sit under my ionic dryer, apply some light oil, bump w/ my ceramics and I'm done. In-between I use rollers or pin curls to maintain my style. I have short hair so bunning and all that is currently out of the question. My hair is healthy and thriving very well. So I decided w/ the weave I would do a light protein treatment prior to the install and do a deep condition w/ moisture. And daily just spray my hair w/ braid sheen and go. That's about it. If I feel its too tight or uncomfortable, I'll just take it out and ask the stylist to do something else (that's the worst that can happen)....maybe some flat twists into a bun w/ added hair....dunno.....

 

[Nanyanika]

The whole thing. I mean but just like anything on this board, what works for one may not work for somebody else. She uses clip in pieces sometimes instead of sewing them which allows her to take it down more often to wash, etc. She takes it down after about 4 weeks. I don't have the time or energy to do all that. And after I've paid money or spent 3-4 hours doing my own weave, please believe I'm not taking it out that soon. Not to mention the fact that too much manipulation can cause your braids and the tracks to loosen up. I remember when I braided horizontally too much washing would make my braids unravel in the middle on my hair. And you can get buildup in the braids if you're putting too many things on your scalp too. I just wash and DC once a week. If my scalp gets itchy, I spray my braids. That's it. I don't dilute my shampoo. I wash it in the shower like I would do my own hair. I do everything for my hair in the weave that I would do with my own hair while it's out. I don't think all that other stuff is necessary. You're just making more work for yourself. Especially if this is your first weave. Sometimes keeping it simple works the best. I mean that's no different than some of the regimens for your own hair on this board. I look at some ladies regimens and I'm like Sometimes there's just too many steps and too much going on for me....

i'm relaxed how long could i keep my weave in, without causing damage to my own hair

 

[glamazon386]

i'm relaxed how long could i keep my weave in, without causing damage to my own hair

The norm is 6-8 weeks. Since most people relax around that time they take it down then. I've known people to go up to 12 weeks though but I've never gone that long. I would say 6-8 weeks is long enough. The longest I went when I was relaxed was 10 I believe. But I had switched the hair halfway through and sewed new hair onto the existing cornrows because the hair I had in started looking ratty. After you've had your hair weaved a few times, you'll get a feel for what your hair likes and how long you can leave yours in. Of course it depends on a number of things like how much new growth you have, how the style is holding up, etc. Most of the time now I take mines out after about 6 weeks because I'm tired of looking at the style. My braids are still intact underneath though.

 

[glamazon386]

wow. Well I decided to weave for 3 weeks tops on verticle braids and leave my edges out. I believe in keepin' it simple. That's what works on my hair. I wash bi-weekly w/ Aveda DR poo and deep condition w/ the DR. Wrap my hair, sit under my ionic dryer, apply some light oil, bump w/ my ceramics and I'm done. In-between I use rollers or pin curls to maintain my style. I have short hair so bunning and all that is currently out of the question. My hair is healthy and thriving very well. So I decided w/ the weave I would do a light protein treatment prior to the install and do a deep condition w/ moisture. And daily just spray my hair w/ braid sheen and go. That's about it. If I feel its too tight or uncomfortable, I'll just take it out and ask the stylist to do something else (that's the worst that can happen)....maybe some flat twists into a bun w/ added hair....dunno.....

That doesn't seem too bad. It just looks like a lot of writing. How often do you plan on washing your weave? What kind of hair are you going to use? Are you doing your weave yourself or going to a stylist? How much is the stylist charging you? I mean you do want your style to be cost effective as well as beneficial to your hair right? Weaves can be expensive. I just spent $160 myself yesterday getting a new do and that was on the cheaper end of the spectrum. I just cant see paying money to leave it in for only 3 weeks. It'd be different if I was doing it myself but even then the point of getting the weave for me is to put my hair away for an extended period of time. 3 weeks is too soon to undo all my work. That's just me though...

 

[Jenaee]

I love sewn in's. They're helping me through my transition. I agree with everyone else in the keeping them in 4-6 weeks. And also keeping the hair underneath moisturized.

Got a question for all the sewn in's guru's: How do you maintain wet & wavy hair? I'm getting a sewn in today with that kind of hair and i'm not exactly sure of the up keep of this kind of hair.

 

[Nanyanika]

The norm is 6-8 weeks. Since most people relax around that time they take it down then. I've known people to go up to 12 weeks though but I've never gone that long. I would say 6-8 weeks is long enough. The longest I went when I was relaxed was 10 I believe. But I had switched the hair halfway through and sewed new hair onto the existing cornrows because the hair I had in started looking ratty. After you've had your hair weaved a few times, you'll get a feel for what your hair likes and how long you can leave yours in. Of course it depends on a number of things like how much new growth you have, how the style is holding up, etc. Most of the time now I take mines out after about 6 weeks because I'm tired of looking at the style. My braids are still intact underneath though.

so 12 weeks is a no no then? i'll won't push my luck and stick with 8 weeks. I have worn weaves in the past before LHCF, after removal my hair was always dry, however i've learned enough on hair care to know how to properly care for my hair. My hairdresser will probably sew new tracks in if they become messy and unruly. thanks for your help.

 

[nychaelasymone]

That doesn't seem too bad. It just looks like a lot of writing. How often do you plan on washing your weave? What kind of hair are you going to use? Are you doing your weave yourself or going to a stylist? How much is the stylist charging you? I mean you do want your style to be cost effective as well as beneficial to your hair right? Weaves can be expensive. I just spent $160 myself yesterday getting a new do and that was on the cheaper end of the spectrum. I just cant see paying money to leave it in for only 3 weeks. It'd be different if I was doing it myself but even then the point of getting the weave for me is to put my hair away for an extended period of time. 3 weeks is too soon to undo all my work. That's just me though...

I'm sticking to my current routine, bi-weekly washes and deep conditioners and maintaining moisture. Low minipulations and that's that. My gf is a stylist and will be doing it for cheap. I think I'm going to use the Outre' brand of hair. Well since this is my 1st attempt in a year, I'm going to start w/ 3 weeks and if my hair thrives and their is no to minimal damage to my own hair, the next time I decide to weave, I may leave it in a bit longer but for right now, I'm just going to stay on the cautious side.

 

[nycutiepie]

I love sewn in's. They're helping me through my transition. I agree with everyone else in the keeping them in 4-6 weeks. And also keeping the hair underneath moisturized.

Got a question for all the sewn in's guru's: How do you maintain wet & wavy hair? I'm getting a sewn in today with that kind of hair and i'm not exactly sure of the up keep of this kind of hair.

Jenaee - I'll PM you about maintaining wet & wavy because I have that in right now.

 

[glamazon386]

I love sewn in's. They're helping me through my transition. I agree with everyone else in the keeping them in 4-6 weeks. And also keeping the hair underneath moisturized.

Got a question for all the sewn in's guru's: How do you maintain wet & wavy hair? I'm getting a sewn in today with that kind of hair and i'm not exactly sure of the up keep of this kind of hair.

Don't weigh it down with product. Just get a good leave in conditioner. I use the Cantu shea butter leave in on mines. Even on dry hair it fluffs it back up.

 

[Jenaee]

Thanks Ladies!!!