Fashion Blog Wed Oct 28 2020
Sew hair extension transforms the look of your hair, magically onto longer, voluminous look which you can style beautifully or sometimes comes pre-styled. Sew in hair extensions are easy to install with little effort and a helping hand, even at home. The hair density and volume are under your control as you can add as much as you want or as little as you prefer. Your hair is braided in a pattern to facilitate the attachment of hair wefts sewn unto the braids securely. Alternatively, you can also add extensions without braiding.
Get ready with the materials required for achieving that gorgeous hair.
Curved Needle: It helps in easy sewing as the tip comes up easily for pulling the thread through the braid.
Weaving Thread: Weaving thread is available in nylon and cotton materials. Nylon type is a better option as it does not retain moisture and dries quickly. Choose the color based on your hair color.
Parting Comb And Hairbrush: A parting comb will help you make sharp partings easily and quickly with precision. You need to frequently brush your hair to keep it in shape and to detangle it throughout the process.
Clips To Hold Up The Hair: They keep the hair manageable by holding it away while you braid a section
Styling Tools: Hairdryer, straightener, or curler, depending on your requirement.
Hair Extensions: Pick the type of hair. You have two choices of wefts to use in this process: natural human hair or synthetic hair. Choose the color and texture to match your natural hair.
Sew In Hair Extension Pre-Process
As a common rule, you need to shampoo your hair to remove all the dirt, stickiness, and oils from the hair. Condition it and dry it thoroughly before you start the process of braiding. You will not wash your hair as often after attaching the sew hair extensions, so make sure you keep your hair clean before the process itself.
If you feel your hair extensions are loaded with chemicals from the manufacturing process, it is a good idea to wash them before installation.
You can attach the hair in two processes of braided and non-braided styles. Though the braided style is secure, few have sensitive scalp for the braiding process, and non-braiding is a good alternative. Also, the non-braiding method gives a smoother look.
When you choose the braided process for attaching the hair extensions, you need to braid your hair in a semi-circle pattern. You can do it either from your ear to ear by leaving out the sections of hair or from front to back like cornrows.
Take care to keep the braids flat against your scalp. Else the lines will show up in the final result and create a helmet effect. Remember to leave out enough hair to cover the sew in hair extension area with your natural hair.
Once the braiding process is complete, sewing in the extensions does not take long. Each braid gets a row of weft ttached to it. For achieving high volume, you can double fold the weft while attaching it. Measure each braid and cut the weft accordingly before attaching.
The wefts are attached to the braids using the weaving thread and the curved needle. You need to begin from one end and work your way to the other end using the thread and curved needle. While attaching, leave out half an inch of braid on both sides to easily hide the starting and end of the weft.
Make sure the first and last stitches are well secured. Similarly, attach one by one weft. After adding the hair extensions, the left out hair is styled to blend into the weave and hide the sewn tracks.
Initially, you require the help of a friend when doing at home. As you understand the process, you can do it all by yourself using a mirror at the back. It is an easy, harmless, and quick process than many other hair styling methods. If you use the reusable wefts and are attaching them at home, it is also economical.
Non-Braided
You can also use the non-braid method to attach the sew hair extensions. In the place of a braid here, you make a track with thread to attach the wefts.
Part the hair from ear to ear and clip up the top portion. Knot the thread after passing it through the curved needle. Now pass the needle through a tiny portion of hair at one ear, through the hair at parting as close as possible to the roots.
Do not let the knot pass through and pass the thread through the knot and pull it through to make a loop. Continue looping in the same process until you finish making a track from left to right tightly.
This track is now useful for attaching the weft. Keep making partings with an inch spacing and create the tracks till you complete the required look. Continue working on each track by attaching the weft as you would with the braided hair.
After Attachment
You can style or cut the extensions to achieve the desired look or to blend it more naturally. Braid or cover the hair before you sleep. A satin pillowcase is also helpful. Wear your waterproof swimming cap while you swim. Condition them once in a while and wash them every week.
Take care not to tug too hard as the weave might come off. Avoid tangling your hair in the first place by using proper shampooing techniques and by keeping the tossing to a minimum. Also, cover your hair during heavy wind.
Enjoying long and beautiful hair also requires some hard work, especially during wash days. You need to choose your shampoo depending on the type of hair extensions you have.
Apply the sulfate-free shampoo from the ends to the roots and then use a wide-toothed comb to allow the even distribution of shampoo without tangling the hair.
Gently use your fingers to clean each part and do not rub vigorously but just wriggle your fingers in the place to loosen the dirt.
Let the hair dry thoroughly before you style it. It is essential to avoid mold on your scalp.
They are installable in two to four hours and take a bit longer if you need extensive styling, or your hair needs to blend into a different texture, or you need extreme volume.
Though sew hair extension lasts for 6 to 8 weeks, you need to take proper care every week. Make sure your natural hair and scalp are not loaded with dirt leading to itching and infections.
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