Do Sew-Ins Ruin Natural Hair?

One of the most significant debates since time immemorial in the hair industry is which one is better: wigs or sew-ins? Well, each has its own pros and cons. However, one thing is for sure; if you are a woman who does not like the idea of doing her hair every day, sew-in will be the best option.

Sew-ins can enhance your looks and protect your natural hair by giving it a break from negative styling effects.   A professional salon stylist will perfectly sew in the extension or weave, allowing your natural hair to grow. However, one of the most popular myths is that sew-ins are not good for natural hair.

What you will know from this article:

• Do sew-in weaves damage your hair?

• How do sew-ins promote natural hair growth

• The benefits of sew-ins

• Tips to Take Care Of Your Weave And Hair Under Sew In

Do sew-ins ruin natural hair?

While many people believe that sew-ins ruin natural hair, this is usually not the case. In fact, sew-ins can help the hair to grow. Sew-ins shield the natural hair and protect it from damage from environmental factors and styling tools. Having a sew-in also means that you don’t have to wash your hair or style it more often.

As long as you wash your hair before sewing in and do not braid the natural hair too tight when sewing a weave or extension, you will not have to worry about sew-ins damaging your natural hair.

So how do sew-ins promote natural hair growth?

One of the reasons why sew-ins help the natural hair to grow is because the natural tresses are in braids or cornrows. Secondly, the twists underneath the sew-ins can easily breathe because there are spaces and gaps between the hair, allowing air circulation that promotes hair growth. This is why if you are wearing a weave, you will experience massive growth.

Another reason why sew-ins promote hair growth is that you don’t have easy access to the hair, so it will freely grow without you interfering with it in any way, like applying extra heat or harsh chemicals. Usually, the ends are the driest part of the hair, and if you wear a weave, you can tuck it away under the weave. This allows it to keep hold of moisture throughout the hairstyle.

As long as you practice proper hair care practices such as cleaning the scalp and applying oil to your roots every time you take out your sew-in, you will see tremendous hair growth that you could never imagine.

The benefits of sew-ins

Here are some of the top benefits you will enjoy by sewing a weave or extension.

• They offer a secure hairstyle

The reason why many people love sew-ins is the level of security they offer. Sew-in is securely installed in the hair. When you wear weaves, you are always confident that it can’t fall off, unlike with wigs where there’s no guarantee that it will firmly stay on the head. So if you want to boost your confidence and not constantly worry about your hair system falling off, a sew-in will be the perfect option. Although wigs come with adjustable straps and combs, their level of security cannot be matched to that of sew-ins.

• Stability and commitment

When you get a sew-in, you only think of reinstalling it after one to three months. But when it comes to wigs, you have to reinstall them every morning when going out. This can be quite annoying for a busy woman. Sometimes you just want to wake up ready to head out, not having to spend a few minutes doing your hair.

Sew-ins are perfect for a weekend road trip or vacation. You can jump into the pool anytime without having to worry about your wig floating away. To boost your confidence, you must look for a hair system that offers stability. And sew-ins are the perfect option.

• They are cost-effective

If you purchase high-quality bundles, you could have hair extensions that may last up to 2 years. This makes sew-ins more cost-effective. Wigs, even those good quality ones, can have a short life expectancy and even look messy over a certain period.

When you purchase bundles, you definitely take good care of them, and when the time comes to take them down, you give them a gentle wash and blow-dry them, and put them back in.

• They offer great convenience

Sew-ins are as convenient as wigs or even more. With wigs, you wear them the entire day and take them out when you want to sleep, and you have to repeat the process daily. But when it comes to sew-ins, they require much attention. You don’t have to wake up early to brush out or apply the gel to your curls. With sew-in, there will be no such thing as having a bad hair day. While wigs can be quite convenient because the wearer has more direct contact with the scalp and natural roots, sew-ins give an extra convenience and confidence of being able to start the day without having to spend time re-curling, straightening, or placing the wig.

• Tremendous hair growth

This is one of the top benefits you will enjoy with sew-ins. Of course, there are many factors that promote hair growth, including genetics, vitamins, a healthy diet, etc. But there is a huge difference when you have a sew-in. Wigs usually leave no room for air circulation. If there is poor air circulation, it contributes to dandruff, dirt, and sweat buildup. When this happens, it promotes hair loss and breakage. But of course, you wouldn’t want that. That’s why if you want your hair to see tremendous growth, you should consider having a sew-in instead of a wig.

Tips to Take Care Of Your Weave And Hair Under Sew In

#1 No Install Longer Than 2-3 Months!

Wearing a sewin for an extended period of time can serve as a protective hairstyle for your hair but if you leave your weave or extensions in for longer than 2 to 3 months, it's possible to have tangled hair or worst, matted hair.

#2 Perform a Hair Care Routine

Weekly How often do you perform your hair regimen? Do you shampoo wash your hair weekly or bi-weekly? Do you "co-wash" (conditioner wash your hair) weekly or bi-weekly? Incorporate the same practices when taking care of your sew a weave to prevent dry hair and dandruff problems. In some cases as well, if you constantly have a moist scalp because you work out, sweat often, or swim without thoroughly drying your hair, it's possible that your hair will smell like mildew or mold.

#3 Alternate your Braid Pattern to Prevent Thinning Edges or Trained Parting

Alternate the direction of your sew-in braid pattern by braiding clockwise instead of counter-clockwise (or vise versa). The braid pattern for your sew-in extensions can consist of one perimeter braid that goes around your hairline or two perimeter braids. The rest of your hair can be braided to the back in cornrow braids, zig-zag braids, or a beehive braid pattern (or called the butterfly braid pattern). Dilute all of your hair care products in applicator bottles for easy product distribution and effective rinsing of those products. 

Conclusion

By now you are already convinced that sew-ins do not ruin natural hair in any way. This is just a myth that has been going around for ages.  But if you are not yet convinced, you may try and have a sew-in and see for yourself how it can make your hair grow incredibly. As long as you practice proper hair care, there’s no way sew-in will ruin your hair!

Sew-in weaves won’t damage your own hair. The way you installed the sew-ins, and how you care for them can be a cause of all problems. Only if you don’t take the right steps to keep your hair healthy, the sew-in weave can damage your natural hair.

If you don't take care of your hair properly, it can lead to dandruff problems and even mold or mildew. In addition, if the hair extensions are glued together or the braid is too tight, it can lead to breaking. The hair underneath needs to be looked after with the same care you'd give it without your weave on top.