Braidless sew-in extension technique offers more natural look and versatility- but is it right for you?
SUN Spotlight On: Ebauche En Vogue Salon
3200 W. Oxford Street
Philadelphia PA 1919
215-763-7752
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday-Friday 9AM-5PM
Saturday 8AM-3PM
Sunday-Tuesday closed
By Kiarra Solomon
Today, a woman's hairstyle is definitely an accessory. More and more women are seeking new and creative styles, many of them by installing weaves. With extensions, women are able to achieve a variety of looks without excessive damage to their own hair. Generally, the weave techniques that most women turn to for installation are sew-ins or bonding.
Although both of these techniques, if done properly, could create natural-looking style, they do have some limitations. And there are some women who dislike both techniques due to the limited ability to manipulate them like their own hair.
For women who are seeking extensions simply to enhance their natural hair, there is a technique that has been around for years but is recently becoming more popular among African American women. The "Braidless Sew-In" technique allows a client to leave out the their own hair but add extensions for length and body.
Stylist Dominique Barnes, of Ebauche En Vogue Salon, says it's not a matter of which technique is better. "It's a really a matter of what the client prefers." In order to install the weave braidlessly, links are installed into the hair using a strand by strand technique to create what is called a base.
The extensions are then sewed onto the links. By using this technique, clients maintain the flexibility of creating "natural" hairstyles like up-dos, buns and more. Also, clients can choose to add the extensions in a variety of ways with customized placement.
Dominique says the Braidless Sew-in typically appeals to two types of clients, although others are often interested as well. This technique is most appealing to those women who are more comfortable wearing their natural hair and are looking to add length or to those who have been wearing traditional sew-ins and are trying to transition into wearing their natural hair.
When deciding if the Braidless technique is right for you there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Although this technique can be achieved on virtually anyone, it generally works better for clients who have longer hair and are seeking to add more length and body.
- Because of the way in which the extensions are installed, gentler care of the extensions is required. The hair can still be washed and styled but it recommended that your stylist performs the maintenance treatments.
- An installation will typically last six to eight weeks depending on personal hair growth. Because the links are installed at the root of the hair, any hair growth would push the links further away from the scalp.
A Braidless sew in can take anywhere from two to four hours to install depending on fullness of hair and desired installation. Prices for this technique at Ebauche En Vogue Salon start at $200.
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